I think that the recoil fear factor is mostly unfinded and totally unjustified.

Long time ago when we were kids about 13-14 years old we decided to go out and shoot some birds etc. We all turned up with air rifles and one of the kids rocks in with his fathers M 98 in 9.3x64mm Brenneke and full pockets of factory ammo. (4500fp.range).

We buried our air guns under some branches and we all went bit further out.

We all were at it with absolute frenzy and we blasted off the factory loads at no time. We all were hitting marks on the trees, rocks, tree stumps with 90% regularity.

NO ONE even thought of a recoil as we were far too excited about the whole experience.

When I really think of it, the rifle most likely had only butt end cover (a steel plate, plastic)??

Pyzda

By the way, a 500g bullet at 2150 fps is what the 470 Nitro Express is rated at, I've never heard that's inadequate for any dangerous game. Once it's sighted in do not shoot it from the bench, instead shoot offhand and off of sticks. The big bores are much more punishing off of the bench. Offhand most of them, once you get used to them, are just plain fun.

Here's my old Sako that I recently got re-barreled to .458 Lott from .416 Rem. mag. Same barrel contour as before except now it has less wall thickness so it's lighter. Shooting 500gr bullets at around 2100 fps the recoil isn't nearly as sharp compared to 300gr bullets at 2950 fps.

The 458 Lott in a Ruger #1 is a bastard to tame when shooting full house loads..it plain hurts. Matter of fact, when I purchased it maybe 3 years ago from Bill/Oregon after two of those full house Barnes banded solid loads it went into the safe and has not seen light since. However, now that I got a new CZ in 505Gibbs (which is a handful too when loaded up) I have a hankerin to break out that bad boy 458 Lott #1 again..I just won't be loading it so stiff. That was a mistake from the get-go. Good advice from the group so far too. BTW, I learned with the 505 not to place the butt in the shoulder joint area...dammit.

Stick a Limbsaver on it, it tames the Ruger No 1's in big bores.

.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
The 458 Lott in a Ruger #1 is a bastard to tame when shooting full house loads..it plain hurts. Matter of fact, when I purchased it maybe 3 years ago from Bill/Oregon after two of those full house Barnes banded solid loads it went into the safe and has not seen light since. However, now that I got a new CZ in 505Gibbs (which is a handful too when loaded up) I have a hankerin to break out that bad boy 458 Lott #1 again..I just won't be loading it so stiff. That was a mistake from the get-go. Good advice from the group so far too. BTW, I learned with the 505 not to place the butt in the shoulder joint area...dammit.

I rarely shoot my 500 Jeffery from the bench, when I do,I usually use a lead sled if it's for more than a shot or two. Offhand it's a riot to shoot. Of all of the rifles I've owned my CZ in 500 Jeffery has the best balance, natural pointing and best trigger. I plan to take it elk hunting in a few weeks. It's good to 300 yards or so with me shooting, but I hope to be much closer.

If the rifle fits the shooter it is as half as easy to shoot and the recoil becomes un-noticed.

Even if the rifle doesn't fit as it should it is still possible to shoot it without being troubled by the recoil too much.

My biggest kicker 8.5 pounds Ruger#1 with 27" slim barrel .460Wea without a muzzle brake never ever had nothing else through it than full power loads. 2700+ fps with 500gr. and 2100+ fps with 735gr. casts.

It never fitted me at all, but I was never bothered enough to do something about it.

Decelerator pad was the only difference. The Ruger original pad got hard with age and eventually it got as hard as a piece of wood.

The sharp pad edges and the sharp 160fp/33-35fps range recoil velocity made me finally to replace the pad.

It takes only few things and the recoil becomes un-noticed even if the fit is bad.

Butt pushed firmly onto the rib cage, say 3"-4" out of the shoulder pocket, firm grip on the forend and the grip, face pressed firmly into the comb, the elbow of the arm holding the grip is pointing down, slight lean forward onto the rifle so the butt makes full contact with the body and any udjustments (up or down) of aim are done by pivotting the hip waist area. NEVER BY LIFTING OR DROPPING FOREND ARM. THE BUTT HAS TO KEEP FULL CONTACT WITH THE BODY ALL THE TIME.

Aim for short time, just like if it was a shotgun and the target is disappearing. Squeez the trigger with full control within 1-2 seconds.

You can roll with the recoil by pivotting in the hip waist area (preferred), or you can be as stiff as you want and fight the recoil.

Just by following this few steps will help you to go up by 2 calibers even if the rifle doesn't fit you as it should.

Pyzda

Hello, but from what I've read the 458 Lott compared with a 460 Weatherby is a pussy lol.

Ovny.

I struggle with a .416 Rem Mag. I have owned a couple of Lott's and could never shoot them well. I am not real keen on the .416 right now and prefer the .375 H&H. Good luck. I hate getting beat up when I shoot.

BTW my 500 Jeffery has two mercury recoil reducers in it (mainly to add weight and correct the muzzle heavy balance), a Decelerator Pad and I use a slip on Limbsaver (adds cushioning and LOP (my LOP is 14 1/2")).

What a wussy!

Round 2 went better. I'll add that all my shooting has been offhand. I have no need to shoot off the bench at this point. I kept all 10 in a paper plate at 50 yards, and that is plenty good for now (and maybe later).

I didn't try to fight the recoil as much and let the muzzle rise a bit more. I tried a slip on pad, but it added too much length.

As for rifle fit, I think that I got it pretty well worked out, but am not an experienced builder. So, I could be totally nuts.

All of the comments that shooting a big rifle first makes the smaller ones seem insignificant are spot on. I shot my 9.3 Brenneke after the 458 and it was a pussycat.

Jeremy

Limbsaver Recoil pads work well on big bores which
is how I got into them.