How'd you get that nasty flinch?

416 rem mag in a Ruger #1 about 25 years ago..... Even split the skin on my middle finger. Then shortly after a 340 WBY bit me with the scope while shooting from a less than ideal semi prone position. To this day with anything over a 375, or stout 338, I have to mentally prepare myself for the shot.

I really need to get another large bore and practice more.
 
all this talk about flinching i need to pick one up too haven't shot anything over 300 winmag i would love a 458 win mag would like to see how that bad boy feels im a big guy and like recoil but damn u folks are kind of scaring me haha
 
I think most folks should get very used to shooting up to a 375Magnum before going bigger. This would help with problems down the road.
 
I think most folks should get very used to shooting up to a 375Magnum before going bigger. This would help with problems down the road.

Wise advice, I went from nothing larger than a 303 or 30-06 to the 416 rem as a teen, learned to never trust the fellas at moose camp!
 
My 416 Ruger isn't too bad off the bench, you have to hang onto it but not bad ;)
Last time out I zero'd the scope, from the bench she was just a smidge over 1MOA @ 100 yards for 3 rounds.
Buddy smacked a steel target of mine dead center freehand, first shot at 100 yards after sighting in.
Load I've worked up is a 350 grain TSX over 82 grains of Re15 running over my chrono at 2440 fps avg vel, ~4600 ft lbs
I used to think a titanium 308 win kicked a bit, since the 416 Ruger a lightweight 308 is a joke :)
I'm convinced now that's the cure for fellas that think their 308/3006 etc kick. They need to buy themselves a big bore and put at least 50 rounds through it...
 
My go to rifle for decades was a 444 Marlin. It is about my limit when loaded stout for fun shooting, 265 gr at 2200 fps.

I did own a 375 H&H for awhile and enjoyed shooting it but it was harder than a 444. I hated a 7MM Magnum because it had a more severe slap to it rather than the sturdy kick of the 444. Practice is the key to handling recoil.
 
If a powerful rifle is to be mastered, the shooter must be dedicated and single minded to that end. The first step is to ensure the rifle fits properly, and that the scope is mounted far enough forward that it won't tag you. Glass bedding reduces but does not completely eliminate the potential for split stocks. Most flinching is a result of severe muzzle blast, so wear hearing protection. The discomfort associated with recoil is largely subjective. Shooter A is able to tolerate more recoil than shooter B, but he might loose this advantage if he is given a rifle that produces the same muzzle energy, but does it through increased velocity rather than increased bullet weight, because the recoil impulse occurs over a shorter period of time, the recoil will feel much worse; hence the claim that big bores push rather than kick. While this might be true, there are some big bore rifles that push enthusiastically.

A weight lifter over time increases the amount of weight on his bar, the shooter does likewise. He starts with a moderate load, then increase the powder charge as his comfort level allows. Do not shoot more rounds than your comfort level allows, if you can shoot 5 that's great, but if you can't manage 3, the load is too much for you, and you ought to back off another grain. Don't let that rifle hurt you. When you can manage 5 rounds, without loosing your concentration, add another grain of powder and drop back the number of rounds you fire. When shooting, concentrate on the mechanics of the shot. Start by finding then checking your natural point of aim, your position, your grip on the rifle, the position of the stock in your shoulder, breathing, relax, sight picture and aiming, pressure on the trigger, and follow through. Concentrate on each step. If you find your mind wandering, stop and take a break. The lower and more stable your position, the more uncomfortable recoil will seem, whereas offhand seems quite tolerable.
 
Last weekend a few of my friends and my wife were out shooting. I was shooting a friends .416 Ruger, 400 grain solid over a fairly stout load of Varget IIRC. My wife, who finds the recoil of my 9 lb .280 unpleasant, says "I want to shoot that one." I tried to tell her it may give her a flinch and it's really something she should work up to, but as soon as I say something is a bad idea she becomes as stubborn as a mule. We set her up right and she fires a shot, didn't say anything, but didn't want to shoot anything else that day. She showed me her bruise the next day and it was ugly. Hope I'm not helping her work out a flinch next range session.
 
I find the flinch impulse comes and goes depending on my frame of mind. If I'm feeling jumpy and edgy I will flinch with a 350 or Whelen, If I'm feeling settled and concentrated I can shoot my 470 all afternoon.
 
I find the flinch impulse comes and goes depending on my frame of mind. If I'm feeling jumpy and edgy I will flinch with a 350 or Whelen, If I'm feeling settled and concentrated I can shoot my 470 all afternoon.
I find that a couple big coffees before the range does not help.
 
i've shot a non-braked 300 RUM and didn't mind the recoil that much.
but patterning my mossberg 835 with 3.5" turkey load was a bit more than
i can handle. i don't shoot more than 5-6 shot per session
 
I am quite tolerant of heavy recoil, but would be a liar to say I enjoy it.

When one starts getting into large cases with bullet diameters over .358" and 300 grains,
recoil can start to get persuasive.

I shot an unbraked, fairly lightweight 378 Weatherby that got my attention.
I would not be wanting a bench session with that rifle.

A close friend shot his 460 Weatherby without the MB screwed on, and it did a number on him.
Several weeks of physiotherapy followed.
Therapist says to him: Quite some trauma has occurred here! [He did not reveal the source, lol]

Some rifles/chamberings need to have your respect.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
I am quite tolerant of heavy recoil, but would be a liar to say I enjoy it.

When one starts getting into large cases with bullet diameters over .358" and 300 grains,
recoil can start to get persuasive.

I shot an unbraked, fairly lightweight 378 Weatherby that got my attention.
I would not be wanting a bench session with that rifle.

A close friend shot his 460 Weatherby without the MB screwed on, and it did a number on him.
Several weeks of physiotherapy followed.
Therapist says to him: Quite some trauma has occurred here! [He did not reveal the source, lol]

Some rifles/chamberings need to have your respect.

Regards, Eagleye.

I have read that the 378 Weatherby is one of the worst rifles for recoil! I do not intend to find out for myself!!!
 
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