I got banged up with my first 460wby having never had a bigbore before. I was 19, 6'3" and around 210lbs at the time-and just plain wasn't ready for it.
I'm about 255 now and don't get particularly bothered by recoil these days.My brother is an inch or two shorter at 200 and he handles more shots from the bench than I with the 375 H&H. However I handle the 585 better standing or sitting than him for long sessions.
I think for the ultralarge bores the recoil produces secondary problems from moving the shooters mass,causing the head and neck to flick about a lot.All else being equal a bigger guy gets less of this whiplash effect.
Whereas at the 375 level etc it comes down more to just whoever has the most conditioned shoulder.
Karl.
Posts: 3533 | Location: various | Registered: 03 June 2000
Put me in the same size catagory as PC and with the same feelings. However, I am loosing weight (and it's no fun!) so in six months or so, I may have a different attitude . . . or not.
Posts: 2690 | Location: Lakewood, CA. USA | Registered: 07 January 2001
5'8" and 215 lbs. Yes I shop at "Mr. Short and Fat". Until I get to the really large stuff (450's and up) I don't find recoil that big a deal. Even with the big stuff, I find the "shove" recoil easier to work with the the "sharp jab" you get from some over bore smaller calibers. - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
When I started shootin' big bores I was 6'2" and 240 lean pounds. That was about 15 - 20 years ago. I am now still 6'2" but only 215 flabby pounds. To handle recoil well takes first proper fitting of stock, second wood stock (plastic sucks), third the desire to shoot the cannon well. I once had a friend of only 140 pounds and 6'4" who shot the big guns very well. It was fun to watch him shoot though, if you get my drift, he was well moved by his big bore shooting experiences!
Scott
Posts: 1662 | Location: USA | Registered: 27 November 2003
I've been kicking around the idea of getting a .375, but at 5'5" and 130-150 lbs (depending on if I've been eating everything in sight and going to the gym) I'm almost intimidated to just go ask to see a .375 at the gun store
A .375 w/270s in a 9lbs gun has about 36 lbs of free recoil, which I guess isn't too bad. The same chart lists a 8.5 lbs 300 mag at 26 lbs, which I've shot and handle fine.
I'm not so worried about buying a gun that kicks too hard to shoot (I can always sell it) but more worried about developing a flinch.
Posts: 510 | Location: North Carolina, USA | Registered: 27 August 2002
READ AFTER ME: "It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head! It's all in your head!"
Posts: 11142 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 22 September 2003
I am 5'11" & 211 pounds and I find the best way to handle the big bangers is to shoot off hand or have a standing bench. Also I put some padding on my shoulder while benching them, in the field you do not notice the kick. However I often get headaches later on, On one occasion I was shooting my .416 Rigby from the ute window and was screwed around the drivers side pillar to take a shot and it threw something out in my neck....I still whopped the grassy but needed about 8 panadol
Posts: 7505 | Location: Australia | Registered: 22 May 2002
I don't think your height/weight has that much to do with how well you handle recoil. If anything I would think that the bigger guys would soak up more of the recoil. The lighter guys body will move more in recoil while the heavies will soak up all that recoil energy. Mostly I think recoil tolerance is something you work up to. My first "Big Bore", was a Marlin levergun in 450 Marlin. After three shots at the range I was done. The more I shot the more rounds I could shoot before reaching my pain threshold. Now with that rifle I can shoot it all day from the bench without any ill affects. I also have a 470 NE Encore pistol with a 15" barrel that was fairly painful to shoot in the beginning. Now I have no problems shooting 20-25 rounds off the bench with it. You just need to work your way up. With the .375 you can start off with lighter loads and work your way up. Making sure the gun fits you properly is also important.
Dude, you're just about my size minus a few pounds. You probably have the same reach or lack of reach as I do. I suggest the Ruger RSM Mk II to start off the big bore shooting. All the other makes have LOP's that are way too long and your rotator cuff will suffer as a result. I learned this lesson when I was in my twenties and have calcified my shoulder. Some will reccommend X brand as the best rifle, but you can get the Ruger that fits you and won't beat you to death as it weighs 9 1/2 # with LOP of 13 1/2". If you were in Kalifornia, I'd offer to let you try mine. Another thing with the Ruger is that you don't have to spend $50 to let a partschanger cut your stock and put a proper recoil pad on it and wait a couple three weeks to get it back.
In my hay day, 6'7" and 240 lbs, 15% body fat. Now, 6'6", 205#, who knows how fat (for my standards).
Used to hate shooting the 12 gauge with 3". Then started test firing the 458 SOCOM on a regular (read sometimes daily) basis, and now I cannot tell if I pulled the trigger on a 223 .... have damage to my shooting shoulder from canopy issue back when, but that doesn't stop me.
As to recoil, indeed, mental aspect is tremendous. While practice and working up help, get the mind over the hump and you are more than half way there. Case in point, we have a 12 yr old boy here shooting a 50 BMG .... granted, heavy rifle and good brake, but still, a lot of grown men are intimidated by the size of the bullet. Don't let yourself get beat by your own brain ...
Posts: 327 | Location: Texas | Registered: 22 July 2003
big buys tend to take more of the whack in recoil, because the TRY to fight it, rather than just shoot...
case in point, at carter's country, there's a itty bitty range hand (5'8, 145# guessing) that shoots my 500 jeffe, and a "meat" guy wanted to shoot it after he did. meat was about 6', 250, fireplug build. It WHIPPED him hard, and the muzzle came over his head... the itty bitty guy shoots it like a 12 ga.
as for 50 bmg... well, hmmm, a 30# rifle, with a brake, it aint much "recoil" but it is LOTS of noise
Go take a look at the pictures of Coni Brooks in the Barnes Reloading Manual sometime. She's about five feet tall and couldn't weight 100 lbs. Shoots .338's and .375's and so forth without a problem...because she knows how to shoot and isn't afraid of her rifles. Recoil management is partly skill, partly training, partly experience, partly physical conditioning, and partly mental control.
And when I forget to apply all those things, the rifle helps me remember...
Posts: 119 | Location: Ketchikan, AK USA | Registered: 20 January 2003
I am 5' 9" or so and weigh about 170 lbs. My first big bore was a Ruger No 1 in 45-70 that I hot loaded per old (and now repudiated) manual guidance with 400 gr bullets humming along at 2175 fps. This, from a 7.25 lb rifle. Recoil was obnoxious, especially from the bench. But I could stand 10 or 12 rounds before it became no fun to continue. A huge guy once shot this rifle and went speechless and white-faced, so I think being able to roll with it helps. I found that by gripping the stock and forearm sufficiently to not lose my hold and then fully relaxing beyond what was necessary to aim, I was best able to tolerate the recoil. I liked to shoot it sitting cross-legged.
In other circumstances, I have shot the 375 H&H prone, where such tricks can't be used and its not that bad at all. Granted you don't want to settle in for groundhog plinking, but for practical shooting its not a matter worthy of a second thought. In the field I have fired my 340 Wby prone and have no recollection whatsoever of the recoil. I also have a .458 Win Mag and a .416 Rigby. Both are no fun from the bench after 10 rounds or so, but you can manage it with some determination (and I don't have 20 lbs of lead shot under the rifle butt). A 375 H&H won't be nearly as rough.
I find that the most obnoxious aspects of recoil for guns smaller than the true cannons (500 magnums and up) tend to be things like skinned or rapped knuckles, bruised cheeks and the like, all caused by a poorly designed or fitting stock, rear-swept bolt handle or other non-ergonomic feature. The recoil itself is far less annoying than these.
A straight classic stock or even one with a slight rise in the comb helps avoid a bashed cheek and puts it straight back into your shoulder as well as keep your head and neck in a more natural posture. A soft recoil pad like a Pachmayr Deccelerator is good, but honestly I think you are better off with a slip on PAST shoulder pad for bench work (you wear it). You won't notice in the field so why bother changing the rifle? A Mag-Na Port will greatly help some rifles if there is excessive muzzle whip, as this aggravates the sensation of recoil. It doesn't reduce the rearward push very much. I like this style of port because its not noisy like a true muzzle brake and doesn't ruin the appearance of the gun.
Just a couple of quck thoughts from me-first off I do believe that gun fit is good, and I am a big fan of having enough tubve weight on a rifle.
Years back I was lucky enough to start hanging out with a couple of gents with quite a few more whiskers than me and with a lot more experience than me.
I learned quickly that guns with skinny/light tubes and big holes in the end were no fun! However take and put a tube on there that will go .7" or more at the muzzle and you have quite a different story. At least in my opinion.
Oh yeah I am 6'1" and go 212 most days.
Have a super day.
"GET TO THE HILL"
Dogz
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
I'm 6'0 and 145, and I can shoot my 5.9 lb 358 norma mag or my 9 lb 375 ICL all damn day, though with good handloads the norma will kick the snot out of me, I can still put 40-80 rounds down range a day.
Posts: 675 | Location: anchorage | Registered: 17 February 2002
I've not much experience with the big-boys, but can vouch that to at least some degree its all in the way a rifle fits.
we have a pair of -06s, a 25 and a 30. the fit on them is different enough that the 25 absolutely whacks me on a bench, but I don't even feel the 30. now, off hand, I don't even register the recoil of the 25 (feels like a 22 as compared to the 20, which feels like my daisy BB gun!), its like its not there. but off the bench it just kicks my ass. maybe its the hornady LMs???
6' even, 220-230. You should do a search in this forum on recoil threads, as there have been many excellent posts on how to deal with recoil. Physical size has no effect on how well you can handle recoil. Unless you have shoulder or back problems, you can shoot very large guns w/o flinching or physical harm. The gun has to fit you, a past shoulder pad is highly recomended, and you need to want to shoot the gun. Then each shot is simly a reinforcement that the gun won't hurt you. If you are tired, or simply not in the mood to deal with recoil, put the gun away for the day.
The stoutest load I've fired to date is a 600 gr @ 2200 fps from my 500 Jeffrey, and it was off the bench. You simply roll with the punch, and grip the rifle firmly enough not to drop it.
I advise that you start shooting big guns in a standing position, and use an elevated padded rest under your fore hand grip.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I'll echo the idea that big guys can get hammered. I personally have never tried to resist the recoil of the BB's, just bear down, squeeze slow and hang on tight. That last I believe is important. Others at the range have shot my .450 Rigby and complained about thumbs in the nose, trigger-guard bitten fingers and such. That comes from not holding on tight enough . . . with BOTH hands. That death grip on the forend is important.
Posts: 2690 | Location: Lakewood, CA. USA | Registered: 07 January 2001
I'm 5'9 and 170 pounds. Shooting a hard kicker is mostly attitude and realizing that it won't kill you. I'd just compare it to a receiver catching a pass and knowing you're going to get hit. It's nothing to be afraid of and your mechanics with the smaller guns will probably be better as well. A .416 rigby or .458 will quickly teach you to mount and handle the rifle properly.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
I bought a Merkel 470NE and have been working up loads for a Buff hunt in Zim in May. I'm 5'8" and 170lbs. I agree with the comments of some that felt recoil "it's all in your head".....
I shoot of the bench to get the right group and then offhand, kneeling, sitting etc. I don't walk away with a headache, but you know you shot something big..
I don't use padding, or anything besides what I'm wearing for the day (shirt, sweater etc).
All I can say is WHAT A BLAST!!
JUST DO IT !!
RH
Posts: 10 | Location: San Diego CA | Registered: 12 August 2003
Recoil resistence is two a two fold process - 1.) experience 2.) technique.
It takes time and experience to handle the mental game of recoil. Flinching is a natural response to shock and sound. It becomes a mental game to ignore the natural response. The technique comes into play by pulling the butt of the rifle into your shoulder and griping the fore end. Allowing the butt to get a running start at your shoulder and/or forehead is a disaster waiting to happen. You cannot physically stop recoil, you gotta flow with it.
All you need to do is get cut once by your scope, and you will spend hundreds of rounds attempting to retrain your brain. Pain & blood is a powerful motivator. I have seen a few guys who could not recover from getting bit by their scope. But I have also taken a few naysayers and converted them.
I shoot full house .450 Dakota rounds off the bench with little trouble. Yes, it can rattle the brain after a while, however, my groups are just as good as if I was shooting my 6mm Rem. It just takes practice and technique.
Posts: 10780 | Location: Test Tube | Registered: 27 February 2001
Well, I have a lot of practice shooting thousands of rounds on the trap field. I realize that is a totally different kind of recoil, but that will probably help me some (I'm not a total rookie).
Posts: 510 | Location: North Carolina, USA | Registered: 27 August 2002
I started shooting my dad's 375 Chapfield-Taylor when I was 12 years old. I have never been bitten by a scope but my sister who shot that rifle has. Somehow she caught the scope on the bridge of her nose. Needless to say she didn't shoot that rifle anymore. She couldn't get passed the fact that it had caused her actual pain. I guess I weighed about 120lbs back then, I currently weigh 230 and am 5'9".
I don't gain and lose weight often but I do go through periods of lifting weights and then some times just not working out that much so my fat content fluctuates. I find when I'm toned up a bit and have been stretching I don't feel recoil as much. Recently I've been testing different powder and bullet combinations in my 416 Rem. I have shot as many as 60 rounds of loads at +/- 5000lbs of energy off of the bench in one afternoon. I didn't sustain any permanent damage and all shots went within a fist sized cluster at 100 yrds with every bullet and powder type I tried. I think that the real issue is learning to psyche yourself out. The bigger the cartridge the more difficult this is to do. You just have to learn to concentrate on where you want the bullet to go, be concious of your breathing, have a firm grip on the rifle, make sure of your eye relief and squeeze. If you are thinking about all these thing simultaniously, I promise you will eventually find it difficult to focus on recoil.
---Catter
Posts: 789 | Location: Central Texas, U.S. | Registered: 20 December 2001
6' 225. I love the big guns- rifles and revolvers. I think it all has to do with how comfortable you can get and how relaxed you are before you fire. I am not talking about a loose hold but a relaxed body that flows with the recoil. Read about a little guy that is very well known for promoting big bores. He shot a 577 in africa along with everything else at that time. I think something like 5'5' and none too stout- Elmer Keith. Just enjoy the excitment. Frank
Posts: 6935 | Location: hydesville, ca. , USA | Registered: 17 March 2001
Well, I shot big bore (500NE, 458Lott) when I was 300+lbs and after I lost 112lbs. They sure kick a lot less now I'm smaller (but the same height) I believe this is because your body moves back with the rifle more easily, rather than stayin still to have the shit kicked out of your shoulder!
Posts: 1785 | Location: Kingaroy, Australia | Registered: 29 April 2002
Quote: I would suggest that felt recoil may actually be less for someone average sized than for a heavier person. Only because it would seem that a lighter person would roll more with the recoil and not soak up as much into the body.
Ken is right! Look at Elmer Keith!! He was a relatively small, wiry guy, but had the reputation of beig "recoil-proof"! Also, a lot of women seem able to handle some pretty big guns!! The more you shoot the big 'uns, the easier it is to deal with the recoil!
