Against doctor's orders I went to the range yesterday. First time out of the house in about 6 weeks; couldn't stand staying indoors any longer.

Anyway, took my new .405 Winchester Ruger No. 1, and ammo loaded with a rather tepid charge of IMR-4064 and the 300 gr. Barnes "Original" bullets, in original Winchester brass.

Dang, that thing is a typical big-bore No.1 !! -- seems to kick about 25-50% more than other rifles in the same chambering.

Now I'm glad I took the advice of all the folks here on AR, who advised me some weeks ago to order a 9.3x74-R and a .405, rather than the .450/.400. I've owned several .450/.400s previosly. All but one were double rifles, and they were pussycats. Well, either this Ruger surely is NOT a pussycat or I am becoming one. It was the first time in 40 years I've gone home with a "shooter's headache". Neither my .404 or the .458 (both bolt actions) does THAT to me.

I had also gone ahead and ordered the .450/.400 after ordering the .405 and 9.3, so I'd have all three anyway. But, I'm gonna call today and cancel that order. (And, either finally find a 9.3x74-R, or build one. If I end up building one, it will definitely have a 25" or 26" barrel of moderately light contour, with a Jaeger "night-type" front sight.

I have a Winchester in 405, the hunter model with recoil pad, it is not really bad with recoil.

I've got a Ruger #1 in 7mm Rem Mag that seems to recoil more than my Rem 700 in .375H&H! And they are within a quarter pound of each other.

Canuck, I used to have a Ruger No. 1 Tropical in .416 Remington. It was a great rifle but boy-oh-boy would it whack you, especially from the bench. I finally traded it off on something. They make the medium sporter in 9,3X74R but it is only 7 1/4 lbs so it should kick pretty good too but not as bad as the 45-70 in that same rifle. I agree with you that the No. 1's seem to kick you more than a bolt rifle in the same caliber. That is why I opted for the 9,3X62 in a bolt which runs about 8 lbs without a scope. It is fairly pleasant to shoot. I would love to have a 9,3X74 in a nice double but I think the ones made by Merkel and Chapuis are too light. The Blaser in that caliber is also only 6.6 lbs. I think the Krieghoff is a bit heavier but I think they should run about 8 to 8 1/2 lbs to be comfortable to shoot.

Dave

Ruger #1 has horrible stock design and no facility for recoil dampening. You get the whole enchilada delivered through that tiny buttstock and hard rubber non-pad.

Interesting that you guys should make similar observations...

I have a 9.3x74-R double and the kick of it is not at all severe...hardly noticable. I have had a Husqvarena 9.3x62 for many years and it is a real pleasure to shoot....and that's firing a bullet only 14 grains lighter, but 250 fps or more faster.

I have a friend here who has a Model 95 Winchester (Browning clone) in .405, and his is also not bad to shoot. I should have expected this. I used to have a No. 1 in .375 H&H and it was a real bear from the bench too, though no big problem offhand.

My bolt action .405 Winchester and bolt action .375 H&H are "brisk" but nothing at all in the way of difficult. My .470 double was virtually nothing compared to this Ruger No. 1.

As stated here before. I have Ruger #1 in .375 and Wby. custom in .460. The .460 with 500's @ 2700 is far nicer to shoot than the .375 with 275's.

Do you have a muzzle brake on the .460?

Absolutely! Do the math - it's not just the net recoil - it's the neanderclub stock that's the killer.

Recoil

I think the only .460 Wb I've seen and fired (once) had a built in Magna Port style thing.
Is that normal? It seemed OK to shoot, (once,standing.)

Canuck, if I may ask, what make is your 9,3X74 double and how much does it weigh? Is it an O/U or a side-by-side?

Dave

Macifej,

What level of felt recoil would estimate a .460 Custom with a muzzle brake is in? .458 Winchester? .375 H&H? .338 Winchester?

Thanks.

AC,
My 10 lb. 450/400 3 inch is a breeze to shoot. My new Chapuis 9.3X74R is a sharp kick'n baby!

I am a recoil wuss. I admit it! I don't like getting beat up. That's why I own a 450/400 3 inch and not a 470! My 404 Jeffery is heavy enough to be managable. If I never shoot another 500 NE it will be too soon!

460 would be in the range of 105-110 true with 55-60 net. Everything else would be proportionally lighter. A few lbs of added rifle weight makes a big difference here. Mercury recoil reducer (for weight) a pound or two for glass, loaded magazine, etc.

Take two 12gauge hulls, fill both with #8 birdshot, crimp, grind the rims off and tape together. Put that in the stock screw access hole under the recoil pad with a wooden spacer to hold it agains the stock bolt.

Seemed to help with my #1 shooting 400gr Woodleigh's at @ 2,000 fps in the .405.


You're not a wuss, #1's just put recoil where it's less than comfortable...

quote:

Well, either this Ruger surely is NOT a pussycat or I am becoming one. It was the first time in 40 years I've gone home with a "shooter's headache".

Here's a pussycat that seems to have managed to tame the 405 on a #1.



Brittany Boddington.



Cheers,
Canuck