What is the largest calibre and heaviest load that you shoot prone?

This probably doesn't get discussed much among African hunters, understandably, and African hunters certainly provide the background framework for those who hunt with big bores.

In Africa, one shoots over tall grass, often from shooting sticks, or off-hand. Frequently, one may lean against a tree, carefully using a hat or some material to keep one's hand from being scraped and the gun from touching something solid. On quite a few occasions I have assumed a 3-point "stance" using a sitting posture and two knees for shots from 150 out to 300 yards. (My son shot his hartebeest that way last October, 180 yards, after a 2.5 km tracking.) The closest to a prone position that I have used on big African game is lying against an anthill at some sort of angle. The only occasions that I remember using a full prone position are when shooting geese on the other side of a river with a 270 or 222. That was generally done prone.

However, in the US, hunters often use a prone position when shooting across canyons and down a slope.

So what is the largest calibre and load that people are comfortable shooting prone?

Probably 338WM or 375H&H unless
it was a Stock designed for such
like a Sniper Rifle in 338LM or
50 cal.

I have shot 375H&H and 378 Weatherby rifles prone quite a bit. The 378's did have either a MagnaPorted barrel or a KDF muzzle break.

I have also sht a lot of 50BMG rifles prone as well, with BIG brakes of course.

Personally I draw the line with an unbraked rifle at the 458 Win Mag level of recoil.

I have shot a 458 Mag prone, but do not recommend it as you might break your collar bone. Also you need to make extra sure the scope does not hit you in the forehead, asa your head is usually tilted farther foward, when shooting prone. If you try shooting a hard kicker prone you might want to back your head of a few inches for the first few shots.

If I was going to be using any of the hard kickers a lot prone, say 338 Mag type recoil and up, I would mount your scope farther foward than most people do.

I mount my scopes farther foward than most for that reason, even kneeling, and especially setting, MY head is farther foward than when I shoot standing.

NOT the 4 bore!

Have shot 338 win mag prone quite a bit- its handleable but I wouldn't want much more.

It is a great turtle gun when you lay on the front side of the dam and peak over at the water----

I have shot my .416Rigby a few times in prone position. It can be done as I have proved it can, but shooting a full rangesession of 20-40 shots I wouldn´t do. A few shots in a huntingsituation is fine and can be done by most people in a tight spot.

50 BMG

I shot my Lion with a .458Lott from the prone position in a tree blind, and I have the scar to prove it!

There were lots of reasons I decided to make the shot prone, suffice it to say I knew I would likely get an owie but was willing to make the sacrifice. My hunting partner was a surgeon and stitches were applied via flashlight back at camp. I got a Lion that was #1 in Zambia and scored 11 in SCI. See my avatar.

quote:

Originally posted by jens poulsen:
I have shot my .416Rigby a few times in prone position. It can be done as I have proved it can, but shooting a full rangesession of 20-40 shots I wouldn´t do. A few shots in a huntingsituation is fine and can be done by most people in a tight spot.

Did you have a scope? What eye relief? And what kind of power level--factory loads, or +1000 ftlbs.?

My .375 RUM with 270 gr Barnes TSX handloads at 3043 fps under a Leupold 2-7x scope.

On my last trip to South Africa with this rifle I shot 3 animals from prone with it: a Bontebuck, a Black Springbok, and a Vaal Rhebok. I had to belly crawl the last 20-30 yds to get in position for the Vaal, there was virtually no cover and the grass on the top of those mountains was only a couple of inches high.

I have a KDF brake on that rifle, and it dosen't kick much harder than a 7mm Rem mag.

I have shot my 416 prone off a bi-pod

20mm Lathi off the sled! Quite impressive. Use to shoot .50BMG off the ground in competition too. No where near the Lathi for entertainment value.-Rob

500 A2 with a bipod-Ross

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
20mm Lathi off the sled! Quite impressive. Use to shoot .50BMG off the ground in competition too. No where near the Lathi for entertainment value.-Rob

I got to fire a Lahti at night, the whole world disappears in fire.

Mark

700 Overkill! Just once though.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
700 Overkill! Just once though.

So tell us why? What happened?

I have been thinking about this very subject. I am taking my .375 on a moose / Mtn. goat hunt in september. As i was doing some prone practice sunday i wondered what the .375 was going to feel like from the prone position.

375 Weatherby. There's no way I'd shoot a 378 Bee or my 500 Jeffery prone. Kneeling with a sling, no problem.

Shot the Kimber 505 Gibbs prone for a 150 yard buffalo across a mudflat near Lake Kariba. One shot, one kill (thankfully). Actually not a memorable recoil experience. Thank God for adrenalin...
Regards,
Inyati

My 338 Lapua Improved...my buddy shot my 45-120 with Lott level loads prone and said it wasn't fun.

The various 500 bolt guns.

416 rem was more than I wanted, Any thing heavier could do damage

I've shot a few .375's prone, including Saeed's 375/404. I dont think a 416 would be a problem, but i'd want to sure of my eye relief (no steep uphill shots!). My buddy shot his mountain buffalo prone with a 458 win mag. He had no problem, albeit with open sites.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
I've shot a few .375's prone, including Saeed's 375/404. I dont think a 416 would be a problem, but i'd want to sure of my eye relief (no steep uphill shots!). My buddy shot his mountain buffalo prone with a 458 win mag. He had no problem, albeit with open sites.

Thanks, Canuck--
So there is a purpose for having 5" eye-relief on scopes!

And Jeffeoso--
It is encouraging to know that some have done 500 AccR and 500 Jeffrey/A2 lying down.

Any tips?
Such calibres are not the kind where one simply rests the forearm of the rifle across a rolled-up blanket.

One could also ask:
has anyone broken a collar bone on this list, shooting prone?

Similarly, is there any special advice for avoiding a 'magnum eyebrow'?

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
One could also ask:
has anyone broken a collar bone on this list, shooting prone?

Similarly, is there any special advice for avoiding a 'magnum eyebrow'?

Saw this on a Crested Butte T-Shirt:

"Ski the headwall, chicks dig scars, bones heal, glory is forever"

50BMG, 458WM, 416Rem, ultralight 338.

stiff loaded 404J, 450/400 3". I miss that little 404J, a little takedown English rifle.

.375 Cheytac.

Most bolt action calibres inlcuding 460 wby on occasion. Also fired a 460 from the hip once, was not very pleasant on the master hand

Karl... post that vid of you shooting the 450 Rigby prone. Wasnt that you?

Smallfry must be another Karl you are after. I haven't used a 450rigby before and my last 460 was pre internet media era.

Being allergic to recoil the largest I shoot prone is a Daisy Red Ryder. But to tell the honest truth at my age and arthritis if i get prone it is usually to sleep and rarely done for any other reason. And if the bed was not higher than the floor I would have great difficult getting up. So caliber is a moot point. However,that said, the last time I actually REMEMBER shooting prone was on the rifle range when in the Army with an M1. I cannot EVER remember actually shooting prone as a civilian. Why would you shoot prone?

quote:

Originally posted by Inyati:

Shot the ... 505 Gibbs prone ... Thank God for adrenalin ...

OUCH!

I suppose a .338 Win..but I have not seen much use for prone shooting in hunting situations with big bores..The .338 had a brake on it, and dust and pine needles went every where and one pine needle stuck in my ball cap and my head, but pine needles are light and lack penetration, thank God!

Well,

On those 505's, 460's and others, were they scoped? How does the eyebrow handle it?

I'm going to be looking forward to some prone shooting this summer.

.416 Rigby no problem and .458 Lott didn't notice any problem....

Both scoped didn't get "whacked".


.

Scoped and prone included 375H&H, 460wby, 416 rigby. Never got hurt but I was mindful of my position before I took the shot. most chance I found of getting scoped is taking a hurried shot especially concentrating on running game etc.

I have no problems to shoot my 375Ruger from prone position.
I have a Leupold VX-I 3-9x50 on it.

I recall that Rainer Josch in Mountain Buffalo shot a buffalo prone with a double .500NE.