Well I did it! I fired off the 416 Rem mag this afternoon. I don't know how you guys do it! I held the rifle the way Retreever told me to, and I was able to tough through 16 shots of factory 400 grain loads. Actually, the first three weren't to bad, I was getting sore after number 3, by number 12 it was plain aweful painful, by the 16th round I was done! My right arm/shoulder is badly bruised, actually my armpit is black and blue, I can not lift my arm past horizontal, as of right now. How do you do it?

You guys are a whole lot tougher than me, my hat is off to you all! I now know what geronomo was talking about with regard to recoil, these big bores are in a league of their own.

ASS_CLOWN

Mr A C
The rifle must be too light. The 416 I have shoot where nice and even cchunters 470 NE was no problen I shoot it in the bench no problem and no pain.
You must hold the rifle very tight in to the schoulder and relax in the rest of the body.
I am glad you had a good time.
I would like to thank you for the computer load data for my 500 Jeffery. I might try some of it out.

Cheers,

Andr�

Scott,
good for you.. Let that heal up... two or three weeks... then next time, pop off just three... then shoot your beowolf or something...

You did good.. aleve will help with the arm pit.

aint "tough" it's "seasoned"

good work

jeffe

Doesn't Past make a strap on sholder pad? When I was at the range with my buddy chronoing his 340 Wby loads, he used one, I didn't see what brand it was.



I got a finger recoil pad from Brownells for shooting the 470 as the trigger gaurd really smacks my middle finger bad.



Sounds like it was fun though.



The first time I shot a 475 Linebaugh, I touched off 10 rounds and was done for the day. Now I can shoot way beyond the Linebaugh, but still have to know when to stop to avoid brusing my hand.

Very good AC. Just so you have something with which to compare, a typical 9 lb. .416 Rem generates 60-62 ft/lbs. of free recoil. An 11 lb. .500 NE generates 71 ft/lbs. Are you having fun yet ?

But don't be dismayed, the more you shoot these big calibers and develope the proper technique of holding the gun tight to your shoulder and allowing your upper body to roll back with the recoil, the less painful it becomes. Truth be known, I find shooting the mid weight magnums(.338-.375) from the bench more objectionable.

Geronimo

I use a Past shoulder pad, my buddy laughs at me but my shoulder's not sore after.

I also will only shoot off the Bench to sight in, after that, I shoot off-hand which is not an issue.

Jim

I think the best way to handle these big boomers is to use the recoil sheild most of the time if you plan on shooting 15 or more shots, but shoot it about 3 times without it on so you know mentally that you can handle it, but not to actually shoot it more than 3 times "bare shouldered" so it doesn't scare you either.

geronomo,



I was shooting the rifle standing up and holding it as many have told me too, retreever here at AR told me the same thing, that being to hold it snugly to your shoulder (but not super tight) and pull back with your left hand (forearm) and push forward with your right hand (pistol grip). After 10 shots this way I changed which hands did the pulling and pushing. It did not seem to matter, as that rifle kicked the everlasting crap out of me .

Just to make sure I understand your holding technique, which several others seem to be advacating as well, I should pull the rifle into my shoulder as hard as I can before I shoot, is this correct?



By the way, the rifle had a scope on it, a 1.5X5 Leupold, I think, anyway it kept "kissing" my safety glasses. The gentlemen who owned the rifle told me this was because the pull was too short for me so my head was able to "whiplash" into the scope. Is this true? If this is in fact the truth, does this mean I need to get a custom stock with a longer length of pull?



Thanks, guys, I am off to shop around this afternoon. I think I will be shopping for both a rifle and a recoil shield!



ASS_CLOWN

Scott,

if it touched you AT ALL, it's WAY too short...



thank god it didn't give you a nice scope cut or two....



you could, for the short term, put on a f990 pad and a .75 spacer ... then decide on what stock to do later on.



btw, the cz is about 1" longer than a stock winnie





jeffe

I think most of the advice given herein is good. I use a Past Mag Plus pad every time I go to the range, whether I'm shooting a 6.5x55 or a .500 NE. Usually I am shooting several rifles and the pad just eliminates much of the wear and tear on one's shoulder.

As far as technique is concerned, I use the right hand to pull the stock firmly into my shoulder while the left hand adds a bit more. No need to exaggerate this, it's only to make sure the stock isn't away from your shoulder when it recoils- giving it a running start into your shoulder...ouch!

I also agree that if the scope tapped you on the glasses either the pull is to short or the scope is adjusted for too little eye relief, or both. BTW if the pull is too short this will tend to increase the "perceived" recoil.

Geronimo

If it is too short try a temporary fix by throwing a sandbag over your shoulder and butting the gun up to that. Kill two birds with one stone, longer pull and added weight.

Hart

As to "kissing" your safety glasses, I had the same sensation while shooting my Rigby. I think it actually was that my glasses were lifting off my nose slightly during recoil, and when they popped back it had the sensation of something touching the glasses.

Hart

I consider myself one of the more recoil disturbed, on this board but I can shoot a 416 all day long off the bench..I usually fire up to 40 or 50 rounds in a session, along with a 375, 9.3 and then the .470...Mostly it has to do with how the stock fits you...

I can get pretty beat up by a 458 Lott, 505, 470 N.E. and upwards, they work me over pretty damn good...my shoulder never gets blue, never bothers me, but my cheek and headaches come into play with the really big bores. Also my trigger finger and second knuckle with a double give me fits from time to time...you can actually get punchy shooting the really big bores..

Thanks everyone for the comments, I really do appreciate the feedback!

The rifle I was shooting was someone elses so I won't gbe doing anything special to it, and I doubt if I will shoot it again, at least not for some time. It is clear to me that I need to "season up" some, as jeffeosso put it.

I bought a Pedersoli Sharps this afternoon that has been rechambered to 45-90, and this will be my first "Big Bore" rifle. My plan is to start off with 45-70 level loads and work up to near 458 Win mag loads. I figure if I can handle a near 458 Win mag load with that steel buttplate I can handle damned near anything shoulder fired that exists on this planet.

I really did learn some important stuff this weekend about the shooting and handling of these cannons. Much came from the actual shooting, but a great deal also came from all of you. Again thanks.

hart, when I said "kissing" I know the scope was hitting me. The safety glasses were getting shoved into my brow. There actually is a bruise above my right eye, by luckily no permanent mark.

Thanks again,
ASS_CLOWN

Scott,

For what it's worth, when I started shooting my CZ .416, i was probably holding it right, and ended up using a Kick-Eeze (or some such name) pad of recycled jelly at my shoulder, but I found that the real thing that made it shootable for me was getting some nice heavy scope mounts and a steel Weaver on the thing. When the weight got up to 10.5#, that's when everything was OK.

BTW, I probably didn't shoot more than 10 or 12 at a time, but the first time back my shoulder was black & blue. a little.

Mainly wanted to let you know that weight seems to be really significant with the .416, at least for me.

Have FUN with your new Pedersoli, and DON'T feel obliged to load it heavy.

Definitely a nice-looking gun.

AC - I'm glad you had a good time shooting. Good job on the
Sharps. Please don't turn the Sharps into something it isn't. It is heresy and blasphemy to put smokeless powder
or a copper jacketed bullet into that rifle.

Try about 80 - 85g Goex Fg (Blackpowder) with a .060 wad compressed down to seat a 540g cast lead bullet and get ready for the time of your life!

Scott,
if you are so inclined as to shoot true BP in that rifle, you'll need to learn how to CLEAN DRY and OIL it....

for BP, use triple 777

jeffe

Scott,

Have to agree with the above assesments re: something wrong with the rifle, at least as far as fitting you.

I took my Taylor to the range a few times before selling it, and never had a problem like that. Even my brother-in-law, who had never fired a centerfire rifle before, didn't find it too bad (he insisted on trying it, against my recommendation). Perhaps the stock was too short for you?

My most painful rifle in recent history was actually a light 8x57 sporter with a hard rubber buttplate. Not a strong push like a big bore, but the toe of the stock jabbed hard, right into the pectoralis muscle...

Todd

And what is the point to shooting 16 rounds thru a 416, besides making the ammo manufacturer happy?

Will,
There you go getting cranky again...I like to shoot my 416 and I practice a lot of off hand shooting...but I won't do that anymore if it's bothering you!

Strap on pad and small excercise sand bag between stock and pad. Helps loads. D

Will,
don't you practice and then train with your rifles?

Shesh, the guy finally pulled the trigger on a big bore...


as for "for purpose"

hell, ITS FUN to shoot

jeffe

Todd,

I think there is some merit in what you are saying, regarding the shape of the butt pad. The bruising I have is all in the area where the bottom of the pad met my shoulder.

What do you think about this. The Winchester has a straight butt pad, while the Weatherby is angled. The angle of the Weatherby seems to be set-up to allow for a better fit between the slope of you shoulder and the butt pad i.e. increased contact between the shooter's shoulder and the butt pad.

ASS_CLOWN

Will,

Since this particular rifle wasn't mine, and I did not know if I would buy a 416 Remington either, and the fact that ammo comes 20 to a box, I figured that I would buy (1) box of ammo and shoot it all through this gentleman's rifle.

Remember what they say about the "best laid plans". Well I made it to number 16, and then the wimp in me overtook the miser (who was demanding all those 20 rounds bought and paid for me by me, be shot by me).

I don't think I will ever be able to shoot 16 rounds comfortably from such a rifle. My hope is to build up enough of a tolerance to handle 10 shots without undue difficulty.

ASS_CLOWN

I agree with LAR45's post of "The first time I shot a 475 Linebaugh, I touched off 10 rounds and was done for the day. Now I can shoot way beyond the Linebaugh, but still have to know when to stop to avoid brusing my hand."

I first got use to the recoil of my 300 weatherby(unbraked). After putting many rounds through it I bought a 378 weatherby(unbraked). After time you get use to the recoil and move up. I now shoot a 460 weatherby(unbraked) and am use to the recoil. In some ways the 378 kicks alot sharper than the 460. However I dont think i'll be buying anything that kicks more than these 2.

Just my 2 cents worth..

Just how hard / "bad" is the recoil of that 460 Weatherby mag? I admit to always being fascinated by the 460 Weatherby magnum and would really love to acquire one, someday. Anything you can tell me about the BIG Weatherby is much appreciated!

ASS_CLOWN

Scott,
the 460, in a too light, unbraked gun, is the most unpleasant round to shoot... recoil as high or higher than a 577 ne, much faster recoil in fps,

to me, it felt like TWO 416 rems..

jeffe

jeffeosso,

That bad!!!! Geez I don't think I want anything to do with that one.

ASS_CLOWN

^^^Nor does Craig Boddington according to his latest article in Rifleshooter. I wouldn't either. Not many people would! .500 NE is big enough

Ray,



I guess I must admit that I'm just not a big bore fan for big bore sake.



I take the 416 to the range ocassionally to make sure it still hits were I aim it, but beyond that I haven't convinced myself it is of much use. I can do a decent job of braining a running elephant and haven't choked on any charges, so I guess I'm good to go.