How do you handle recoil?

Recoil used to bother me. Then one day - I can't explain why - it just didn't anymore. And it wasn't just a psychological thing either. My 12 ga used to bruise me after a session, but it's been ages since I've had any bruising from any rifle at all. Maybe my form just improved or something.

There certainly is an element of psychology as well. You need to get into a zen state where you don't care about the recoil of the next shot. Not to brace yourself for it, or try to forget about it. Simply realize that it won't hurt you, and it's no big deal. Like boxing - you can't be afraid to get hit

Though I have caught myself flinching from time to time, usually when it's an unfamiliar gun or one I haven't shot for a long time. A few shots usually corrects the situation. You know you're not flinching when you see the muzzle flash through the scope - no blinking usually = no flinch
 
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Until you get to the REAL heavy hitters- Like the 416's and above..

Felt Recoil has more to do wiht stock fit and recoil pad, than it does wiht the cartridge.

My 30-06 Stevens didn't fit me well, and had a hard recoil pad. It hurt worse than any 375 i have fired.

Shoot alot, you will learn to not be bothered wiht it....
 
Get yourself a Past pad so that your should doesn't get bruised then shoot lots with your biggest guns. Recoil from the lightweight high speed guns can be soaked up by the pad. Serious recoil (.416 and up, way up ) takes mental training, lots of rounds and shooting only thinking about your hold and trigger control. Once you get to the big boys, the ones that send you flying back limit your rounds to 10 or so to avoid small concusions. While I can and do shoot the big ones I've found there is a senceable limit, 6-8000 ft/lbs is more fun than most can really take.
 
what works for me

1. always hold the gun tight in your shoulder pocket.. a bit of downward pressure on the foreend if needed

2, if on a bench, use PAST, lead sleds, etc benchrest shooting is the most tiring for recoil

3. roll with the shot.

4. shoot offhand, kneeling etc - you'll learn a lot more in the process too.

5. shoot lots. to me 90% of recoil is in the anticipation -fear of the unknown

6. for pistol gripped Shotguns, pull forward on the foreend, back on the pistol grip, extend your arms at shoulder level. I shot slugs in my SMD 12 and 14" *870 with Breacher's grip that way- no issues.

finally, recoil seemsto have nothing to do with physical size.
 
I don't use anything at the bench or otherwise. As stated, I think the key is to shoot a lot and shoot a lot of different guns. Eventually you learn that recoil is not the end of the world and it ceases to be an issue.
 
First, I would never shoot a new to me medium or big bore rifle off a bench for the first go round. Standing allows you to absorb alot of whatever it's going to toss at you. For the first couple of rounds i just focus on holding a comfortable position, most stocks are too small for me so not getting bit requires alot of concentration when shooting other dudes guns. being able to isolate really helps, snug butt to the sholder with a relaxed waist and base will eat lot of recoil.
 
If in doubt with a gun you have never fired before, get proper recoil management in place (ie. stock fit, good recoil pad,etc.) If you flinch once with a rifle, might as well sell it because you will always flinch after that with that gun, even if you get a recoil pad on it later. It's a natural instinct of self-preservation.
 
These Past pad should seem to come well recommended. That sounds like good advise for bench shooting, where flinches are born. You guys that have them really like them ???
 
I used to have a 7600 in 35Whelen that still had the factory hard plate on it. I owned that rifle for about 4yrs. I could shoot 250gr hunting loads from it in a tee shirt, but as soon as it hurt me, I would put it away and shoot something else.

At the bench, I stack up the bags so as to be able to sit up straight behind the rifle. This allows my body to roll back with the rifle instead of being hunched over behind the rifle with nowhere to go when the rifle goes off.


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As super said, set yourself up nice and vertical don't lean into the big ones. The PAST pad will allow you to shoot anything without hurting your shoulder. I'm talking about impact bruising. Head shaking/concusion is something else. I find the PAST pad allows my to shoot Rigby, 378/460WBY with no bruising.
 
I shoot alot of large bore rifles, but one of the hardest kicking was a 338 i owned it just did not fit me, and kicked like a mule, over my 375s,416s and 458s!, got a 350 mashburn when loaded up knocks ya around but hey when you push a 225 gr bullet at 3300 fps what do you expect lol!
Just grin and bare lol
 
I built this to sight in the heavy hitters. Heavier than a led sled even (28lbs).
But for some reason, I still like shooting them off the bags better.

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gitrdun said:
I built this to sight in the heavy hitters. Heavier than a led sled even (28lbs).
But for some reason, I still like shooting them off the bags better.

Apr0027.jpg
Click to expand...

Very nice! I especially like the main beam length adjustment for different length rifles.:cool:
 
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