Do any of you use a recoil pad when practicing. Have any of you tore anything in your shoulder shooting bigger bores. My Lott weighs 8.2 and last week was shooting and messed something up in. Y shoulder.

I have used 450 NE, 458 LOTT and my Lott is 9 lbs. I have had no issues but have never been shy to recoil. If you are a reloaded, practice with reduced loads, you will likely NOT notice the recoil when in the field. That is something that irks for many. Good luck.

I have never had any problems before. I hadn't shot anything bigger than 375 for a few months. I only shot 12 rounds I'm not bruised but I can't hardly lift my arm. I think I pulled something.

I use a PAST recoil pad for shooting my 8.5 Lbs. 458 Win Mag at the range.

I think I will buy a recoil pad. It must be from where I haven't been shooting bigger rifles here in the past few months.I can usually shoot at least 20 rounds with no problems. After I get healed up I guess I'll have to start slowly working back up and shooting more often.

No bruising with my RSM Safari 458 Lott or 500 Heym but when I shot them I shot max 15 rounds a session. The RSM has the factory pad on it.

You get a beating shooting the Lott that is for sure.Especially if you are not built like an ox and are over 50.I've broken two teeth too.Once I was using sandbag on my shoulder and that slipped off while I shot and the butt hit me near the clavicle.I was in so much pain for weeks.

I was just wondering if it's possible and if people have torn ligaments or muscles shooting some of the bigger rifles. I guess when you shoot regular you're muscles are used to the punishment and when you haven't Ben they weaken. I guess it's like working out. I done nothing different than I usually do except I hadn't shot anything bigger than my 375 for several months, and I haven't been shooting as regular. All I know when I pulled the trigger that last time. I was done and I was hurting. I had been a little sore before after putting over 30 rounds thru the gun in one day. But nothing like this. The gun is a shooter though if you do you're part it will shoot an inch group.

8.2 lbs is real light for a 458 Lott. My 500 Jeffery is 11.25 lbs without scope, 12 lbs with a Leupold 1.5-5x on it. I use a slip on Limbsaver recoil pad over my recoil pad at the range and I have a PAST recoil pad sewn into my shooting vest. I'm a real wuss, but I learned my lesson early on shooting a bunch of hot loads through it with just a T-shirt. Now it's my favorite rifle to shoot and when hunting I don't use any of the extra stuff and never notice the recoil.

Before I learned better ...

Ouch! Chuck375, you got a scar on top of your right shoulder?

Johnnyreb,

Trouble/pain with lifting your arm straight out to the side at the shoulder suggests a rotator cuff problem.
The shoulder joint is amazing, like a tea cup on a saucer, ball and socket, held together by a cuff of muscles and tendons, the rotator cuff.
Hopefully just a strain or partial muscle injury/tear, or tendon inflammation that will heal well with some rest for a few days, then gentle range of motion for a few weeks before strengthening exercises.
Or go get an MRI and see a surgeon, hopefully not.

However, as we get older, seemingly minor trauma sometimes makes something go snap.

The worst I have had happen to me so far is with a 500 A-Square and getting too relaxed, forgetting to tense up the muscles before the shot.

Stretched my brachial plexus nerves in right shoulder enough to cause an electric shock sensation down into my right hand.
Like a funny bone knock on the elbow, only starting in the shoulder.

Pushups!
Build up those pecs for the muscle pocket to tense up and rest that buttpad in.
And grip tightly with both hands, relax only your trigger finger until the shot.

And of course, a Past Pad, bag of shot or sandbag, etc. anytime before you start looking like Chuck375.

Rip
.

Ouch for reals, but I did find out I could get a sub MOA load for the 570g TSX at 2510 fps. The hunting load I've settled on is a 570g A-Frame at a sedate 2300 fps

Damn!' Chuck you're arm looks like what mine feels like. I'm hoping it's not a rotator cuff problem, but I definitely done something. It's been 9 days and doesn't seem to be doing much better. I have a regular Dr.appointment on the 31st. If not better by then I'm going to have them look at it

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:


The worst I have had happen to me so far is with a 500 A-Square and getting too relaxed, forgetting to tense up the muscles before the shot.

Stretched my brachial plexus nerves in right shoulder enough to cause an electric shock sensation down into my right hand.
Like a funny bone knock on the elbow, only starting in the shoulder.

Rip
.

Now that's interesting. It sounds exactly like what happened to me many years ago. It was just a .416 Rigby, but loaded to near Weatherby levels in a lighter iron sighted CZ. I don't know one nerve from another, but whatever got pounded shot a wave of pain right to my finger-nails followed some welcome numbness, followed by another wave of pain that had me wishing for the numbness to come back. It apparently also effects rational thought because I shot it another 4 times before sanity kicked in.There's also the chance of being a slow learner, but in any case agony doesn't even begin to describe it. Putting the scope on the gun and a pad change returned recoil to lively but fun. My .458 Lott is fun to shoot, up to a couple boxes at a time.

Normally I'm not that sympathetic when people talk about recoil, but when people talk about being trampled and mauled by their rifle I always have at least slight thought that they just might have experienced whatever happened to me.

I'll admit it. I am a pantywaist when it comes to recoil. I only managed to put a half dozen or so rounds of full-tilt Lott through my Ruger No. 1 before I decided it was just too darned much gun for my shooting pleasure. I first replaced the recoil pad with a Limbsaver and added some lead wire to hole for the stock bolt in the butt, but even at that I had to catch the damned thing the first time I pulled the trigger. Only time I have been punched harder was when testing 3 1/2 inch turkey loads in an H&R single shot 12 gauge. Concluded that test after just a couple of rounds, with my head ringing.

With all due respect, your holding the gun wrong! You don’t shoulder a big bore the same as a 30-06 class rifle. The stock
should be placed in the pocket of your chest off of the shoulder and you place your body facing the target not sideways. Try that and you won’t have any recoil issues with guns way bigger than a Lott! No shame in using a PAST recoil pad in my opinion either although you really don’t need it. Hope this helps!

I always use a recoil pad on the rifle, pad in a vest or whatever it takes for my rifle not to hurt me. I'm not recoil shy, but if your rifle ever causes you pain you will have a hard time ever liking it again. I use a lead sled to sight in, then shooting sticks or off hand to practice. Make sure your rifle fits you well, it really makes a difference on hard recoiling rifles.

Interesting thread.
I am in the US doing annual load development, which often leads to bruises on the first day of shooting after several months "off".
This weekend was especially problematic because I was feeling a raw throat, possible sniffle and slight chill. Not the best time to be sighting in loads at 6000-7000ft#. This time no bruises, or maybe a few minor thread lines. I second RIP and ROB, hold on with both hands and with the butt more into the body. The extra hand adds weight to the recoil absorption and is good practice for field situations where a person wants to be holding on to a rifle for a fast second shot. I always wear a sissy-pad at the bench, never in the field. Big bores definitely get one's attention, but you just ride the bronco and concentrate on the sight picture. Dry fire or shoot some smaller caliber at the same session so that a flinch doesn't development. Let the bronco surprise you.

I tried dropping about 6-7 grains from a particular load to drop a .510" 450 gn GSC down from 2600-2650fps to 2500fps. The accuracy was OK, 1.2" for the two groups, and no bruising. With more testing I may decide to go with such a load. It only drops an additional 1.5" inches at 300 yards and I can live with a 12" drop at that range. I don't think that the buffalo will notice a difference between 2600fps and 2500fps. The rifle? The Hawkeye with 22" barrel is just over 9-lbs but that becomes 10.5# with a scope and rings. Not too heavy to carry and not too much recoil for a few shots a day.

Ricardo Montalban did his pushups to prepare for his role as Kahn in "Wrath of Kahn" Star Trek II:



But even with that a session with a steel crescent butt plate on a big bore can be nasty:



The pectoral muscle pocket where the butt pad goes is medial and inferior to the shoulder joints
(both glenohumeral-ball&socket and acromioclavicular with collar bone),
and well superior and slightly lateral to the nipple on the manboob!
Just about where Ricardo got cut in the image above, which is actually left-right reversed for whatever artistic reason.



Ricardo was shooting lefthanded?
Girls love pecs like that:



Rip
.

Last time I shot my Lott in Montana I felt the bag holding my eyeball in place want to come out of my skull and plop on to the ground.

I pressured my little brother into having a shot with my .500 Jeffery the other day. He somehow hurt his nose at the shot, and happily for him the buffalo only made ten paces before falling over dead. One shot was enough for the bull and my brother!

quote:

He somehow hurt his nose at the shot

I've done that a time or two...hope you are doing well Ben.

Imagine how much fun they are to shoot when they beat you up like that but you still want to shoot them.I have 5 Lott's in line waiting for rebareling.

Thanks for the information. I will definitely try and do some shoulder exercises when I get healed up.

Johnny reb,
Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if you are not a lot better after a few days.



Rip
.

Marvellous what another 100fps can do. I've found shooting a 458 WM no big deal but, despite a long stock, the Lott and a badly placed thumb nearly took my nose off. Maybe the increased ejecta of the extra powder also takes a toll.

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
With all due respect, your holding the gun wrong! You don’t shoulder a big bore the same as a 30-06 class rifle. The stock
should be placed in the pocket of your chest off of the shoulder and you place your body facing the target not sideways. Try that and you won’t have any recoil issues with guns way bigger than a Lott! No shame in using a PAST recoil pad in my opinion either although you really don’t need it. Hope this helps!

Yes indeed! I learned that lesson years ago, the hard way! Then I had to learn not to fight the recoil but to lean forward a little, on my front foot, and let it rock me back on my back foot. It was a .458 Lott that made me search for more info on shooting big bores also. My shoulder and bicep took a beating too! At least it wasn't your .600 Overkill teaching me that lesson!

I shot big bores for years, age has changed that somewhat..I never suffered injuries from shooting big bores..your picture tells me you are holding the rifle improperly inasmuch as the bicep is bruised...pull the rifle hard into the cleft of the shoulder with both hands and the gun rocks your body but doesn't bounce into your arm. a must for shooting big bores are most any gun IMO...As one ages the body goes to shit in a handbasket, best to shoot a 9.3x62 at some point, at least that and the .338 is where Im at today, who knows what tomarrow holds and who cares as by then you realize its all albout sticking the bullet in the right spot..I shot even with steel butt plates and big bores in the above mannor, still do with a 9.3, 338 or even a .375, but nothing wrong with a muzzle brake, recoil pad, or shoulder pads if it makes one shoot better then by all means use it, but I suggest you still use the above..Ive seen a lot of folks hold a big bore like it was a 222 and get the snot kicked out of them..as a wise man once told me a recoil pad gives the gun a one inch run at the shoulder!! Maybe he was on to something!

I shoot my Gibbs .505 and .577 NE regularly in summer but after winter I build up to them with my 375/505 s first. I do chest muscle building particularly pectoral and push ups and lifting 25 lbs in each hand as if bringing up a rifle to shoulder Both weigh about the same with scope on 505. I usually start with a Evoshild vest molded for either prone (not 505 or 577!!!) or shooting off sticks. As pointed out angle to target is critical and tuck the butt in otherwise it slips out and your biceps take the hit as in Chucks photo. I added a Boyt broad leather pad over my 577 butt for more length and moulding. I start with reduced 70% loads. After settling in I have fun shooting 25-30 rounds with either preparing full loads. Off sticks I don't believe in letting the rifle rest with loose left hand but hold the fore end tightly with my left. Lean into the shot and ride it back. Means
also quicker second follow up shot. I ve had bilateral rotator cuffs from sports injuries and they don't bother more because of shooting if you tuck the rifle in properly. If shooting at odd angles make sure it's still tucked in. Good luck.

I have a sort of checklist I go through before firing my 460 Weatherby; front hand not too close to the swivel stud, middle finger behind trigger guard-be careful, tight against shoulder, teeth clenched tightly, good cheek weld, let one off.

Because I don't hunt with it I have time to do this.

To prepare for shooting my 458's and above, I take a ten pound potato sack in each hand and hold my arms out for 30 seconds. Then I add 5 seconds until I can do one minute. Then I move up to a 20 pound potato sack and do the same. When I get to the 50 pound potato sack, sometimes I even put a potato in the sack. BTW I don't even have anything above a 30-06 in recoil.

I have not shot my Lott in a while. It is an open sighted CZ 550.
I have lifted weights most of my life so that issue has never bothered me.
As others have said a good recoil pad and added weight will certainly help.
Another few simple aids that I add when shooting off the bench,in my case I fill up the magazine with 5 500 grain rounds to add a little weight. Then as an additional "Hi tech" recoil compensator I fold up a thick cotton hand towel a couple of times and throw it over my shoulder. That works great!
You can always add mercury tubes to the butt stock.

EZ

quote:

My Lott weighs 8.2

I think I understand the problem.

Personally I have no desire to shoot light weight big bores.

IMHO any over 375 should weigh at least 10 lbs.

I fire one shot through my 8 pound 416 Taylor then added weight until it was 10 pounds field ready.

Some people here are not recoil sensitive. I personally find no pleasure getting the snot kicked out of me.

At my age Ive discovered a method that works so well that it brings screams of anguish from the people of the land..Its called a muzzle brake by some! Anguish on anguisher!!

Anyone who gets a bruised bicep shooting a gun is holding the gun wrong. God put a nice little pocket in your shoulder right under your cheekbone for a reason.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
To prepare for shooting my 458's and above, I take a ten pound potato sack in each hand and hold my arms out for 30 seconds. Then I add 5 seconds until I can do one minute. Then I move up to a 20 pound potato sack and do the same. When I get to the 50 pound potato sack, sometimes I even put a potato in the sack. BTW I don't even have anything above a 30-06 in recoil.

Yes that was a very good one.
I was laughing so hard first time I read it that I was ROFLMAO and could not reach the keyboard.
Then something else interrupted my train of thought (peepeed my pants and had to go change) and I forgot about it.

Bravo carpetman1!


Anyone who claims the .458 Winchester Magnum is ineffective has either not tried one, or is suffering from .458 Winchester Magnum Derangement Syndrome.
Rip...

I'm about to load up some rounds for Africa (500AcRlNyati) and have been listening to this thread, the 458 yhread and others. But the 360 grain tipped CEB .510" just turned in a 0.4" group at 100yrds. There is no point in dropping down from 2800fps when such a load exists. The 450 grain GSC are similarly nice at 2600fps. So I take the 6750-ft# muzzle energy and its jolt to have bug hole accuracy. Eyeball of buffalo capability.

Ok now you guys know how to hold a real Big bore and not get the snot kicked out of you! Now the issue is how fast can you shoot 3 shots at 50 yrds Standing offhand into a 10 inch pie plate? I say 3 seconds aught to be doable with anything below a 500 a2. 4 seconds for up to .600ok! This is from the waist high ready position. This is how a big bore bolt gun really needs to be used. This is what you need to practice with your big bores! It’s fun and really improves your shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
At my age Ive discovered a method that works so well that it brings screams of anguish from the people of the land..Its called a muzzle brake by some! Anguish on anguisher!!

It brings screams of anguish to everyone near you when you shoot it.