Hello all,

I have just received a new Kreighoff 470NE in Left Hand. I am the only one that i know of that has a double in this big of caliber.

I need some tips on managing the recoil. I have about 20 rds through the gun and i can shoot it quite accurately, but i am developing the 'flinch'.

The odd time my middle finger on the trigger hand will smack into my top lip (kinda hurts). This only happens on the front trigger pull.

This is what i know so far:

-no bench shooting (sticks and freehand only)
-hold on tight (thats becoming more obvious)
-where light leather gloves

What other tips can you guys give me? My elephant hunt is 7 months away!!!

A recoil reducer can be inserted into the stock. JJ Perodeau at Champlin Firearms does this. Different powders seem to recoil more than others. I use 79gr of IMR 3031 cause the felt recoil is less than slower burning powders. I never shoot my double more than 4 times a session--that's easy for me because I live on a farm. I'm no expert and others on this forum are so I'm sure some good advice is forthcoming.

1. SHOOT A FEW ROUNDS FROM THE 470 Standing OFF HAND at a general sod of earth or something down range - where you are more relaxed and not having to concentrate on a fixed point of the target.

2. Take a .17 HMR, .22 or 22 Hornet and at the end of your range session
with your 470, shoot off a box of ammo. This achieve a couple of things.

The last thing your brain and muscles (ie memory) remember is the light recoil from the .22. This goes a fair way to getting rid of a flich.

3. You can practice your sitting and standing shooting positions
and improve them and your accuracy.


Not sure how your middle finger hits your top lip ???? but
I'd also try to find a shooting position that doesn't allow
your hand to connect.

Bryce,

Welcome to the Board.

Yes, you need a program for managing recoil and, at the same time, getting the practice you need.

Here's what I did one year when enough time was available to do it right. Take your .470 and a smaller caliber (ideally a double, but even a bolt gun will do), say a 30-06 or something with manageable recoil.

Use the following drill: four shots (or three depending on magazine) from the bolt to a target at 100 yards, offhand. Then four shots from the double to a target at 50 yards, also offhand.

Four more from the bolt rifle or smaller caliber doublt at 100 yds. offhand. Then four more from the .470 offhand at 50 yards.

Finish your range session with four from the smaller caliber rifle at 100 and call it a day.

Repeat after three or four days and you will be amazed at how your offhand shooting improves and no flinch develops as your muscles "remember" the lighter recoil of the smaller caliber rifle.

Re: middle finger hitting top lip: sounds as if your stock is too short, or, maybe, you are crawling up the stock as you settle in to shoot.

Regards, Tim

quote:

Re: middle finger hitting top lip: sounds as if your stock is too short, or, maybe, you are crawling up the stock as you settle in to shoot.

+1 Sounds like your LOP may be too short.

bryce ,
couple oif good solutions , have superior load you some downloaded bullets with lead slugs , they have half the recoil so you can get the practice without the pain

also get a 20ga shotguin side by side with double triggers so you can get used to the action --shoot a few clays like that and you will have gotten far better with that action.

practice your reload - thats as important as your first two , take two snapcaps , get them off , open the rifle , reload from your belt and shoot twice , doing this excercise will help your familiarity and speed a bunch -

good luck , welcome to the board and congrats on your new double rifle

When I first received my K-Gun in 470 (and Left Hand) it would slap me around pretty good. The length of pull was way too short. After lengthening it became enjoyable to shoot.

Something else I do is video my shooting. It helped me pickup on several things I was doing wrong.

New England Custom Gun sells these. I have one on my .450 N.E. and I find that I get no brusing even if I am sloppy a bit holding the rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Chobe Bushbuck:

quote:

Re: middle finger hitting top lip: sounds as if your stock is too short, or, maybe, you are crawling up the stock as you settle in to shoot.

+1 Sounds like your LOP may be too short.

+2, your LOP is too short anytime this happens (middle finger slapping you in the lips or trigger thumb crammed into the nose) to a shooter who is doing everything else right as you mentioned, tightening your grip.

Thank you all very much! I really appreciate the advice. I am going to start such said recoil programs to help get rid of that flinch. I also thought that having a friend load my gun for me (behind my back) with the odd dummy round would also help.

I am going to investigate the LOP a bit more, but my concern there is that it is only happening when i shoot the front trigger, where my LOP should be its longest? I think it may be more likely that i am crawling up the stock on that second shot as some have mentioned.

Thanks again everyone! What a great forum!