Real world perceived recoil vs "the charts"
- Thread starter 0357
- Start date
I have a Blaser R93 so my stock doesn’t change, just the barrel does. The 300 winmag feels more like a hard kick while the 375 H&H feels like a hard shove. When target shooting on a bench I have a weighted kickstop that gets screwed into the stock which reduces recoil about the same amount as a muzzle brake. When I go hunting I remove the kickstop so I’m not carrying the extra weight. Some days I feel the recoil more then other days so I’m careful not to keep target shooting if I’m starting to flinch or I’ll drop down to one of my lighter calibers - 6.5x55, 243 or even 223 barrel.
However my worst recoil flinch came when I was patterning 12 gauge turkey loads using a variety of bands, size and different chokes in one day. Ended up with a huge shoulder bruise that took almost 2 weeks to heal plus 6-8 visits to a chiropractor to me back in alignment plus I had to shoot skeet loads for a while to overcome my flinch. Never shot that many turkey loads to do any patterning ever since!
However my worst recoil flinch came when I was patterning 12 gauge turkey loads using a variety of bands, size and different chokes in one day. Ended up with a huge shoulder bruise that took almost 2 weeks to heal plus 6-8 visits to a chiropractor to me back in alignment plus I had to shoot skeet loads for a while to overcome my flinch. Never shot that many turkey loads to do any patterning ever since!
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Mastering heavy bore rifle recoil is great fun. Once you've made good progress in this endeavor at the range through practice (which amounts to becoming desensitized) you won't notice recoil in the field.
Physical stature plays a role. First video is me firing my 458 WM. 2nd video (FF to 1:20 & 2:15) is an individual of more diminutive stature firing her 458 WM. Note the difference in effect.
I'm not sure you leaning in on a rifle, set in a holder is quite comparable to that little gal shooting off hand.
I don't see mastering recoil as how little the gun moves on recoil, but how the recoil moves through me. It wants to go somewhere, so let it. Firm and relaxed at the same time, and a 458 will kick up and back, and that recoil will flow right through to your side chubs or hips.
For sure, first thing I noticed was how much the rest jumped while the rifle did not move rearward at all, anythings easy in one of these..
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- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Strapped not utilized, nor was any ballast put in the rest which would have been the same as using a lead sled which isn't good for the stock or scope so I never use those. Not exactly leaning on the rifle when it was fired. A heavier shooter won't be driven backward nearly as fast as a lightweight shooter, that's physics.
The whiplash effect is quite apparent with the young lady firing her 458 WM. Risk of developing a repetitive strain injury to her neck maybe.
The whiplash effect is quite apparent with the young lady firing her 458 WM. Risk of developing a repetitive strain injury to her neck maybe.
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You have to accept it and realize that it isn't going to kill you. It may be briefly unpleasant...then it is over. Did it hurt? Maybe. Did it kill you? Not likely. Was it fun? Probably. Recoil is a by product of larger calibers, it's just how it goes. BTW 45-70 doesn't count.
I love my 30-06 Tikka, it's as accurate as I'll ever need but you are not wrong about that lol. I can only shoot off 10-15 rounds accurately before I start flinching from the bruising pain.
I find stock fit makes all the difference to me. I love Browning rifles but even standard cartridges hurt and are hard to control. I think the stock is just a really poor fit for me. I was surprised when I got a sako in 338 because it didn't bother me to shoot as much as some smaller calibers. Its a bit heavier than a Browning which helps and I don't enjoy shooting it all day but it just doesn't kick the snot out of me. That being said, I think magnums are over rated and I'm starting to daydream about classic European calibers that can do it all without the fuss.
In my experience the stock design makes a huge difference. I have fired 9.3x62, 300 WM, 300 WbyM, 375H&H, and 458WM. None of them seem to "bite" like my Savage 99 in 284. I am not even sure where it stings me but bench shooting is restricted to a sight in shot, hopefully. A buddy who shoots F class fired one shot and walked away muttering "Don't need a flinch from that f@#%&$g thing"
One thing about recoil with typical light rifles is it's over fast. No use dwelling on it when its over in the blink of an eye. A cobra couldn't reach for the bolt handle even if it had hands. Besides, people slap their steering wheel harder when Shania Twain comes on the radio.
The big guns are different. Once they start there's no stopping them so you have to ride it out. About halfway through you might as well work the bolt because there's nothing else to do. Also, anything that needs to be shot that hard might as well be shot twice so its just good planning.
The big guns are different. Once they start there's no stopping them so you have to ride it out. About halfway through you might as well work the bolt because there's nothing else to do. Also, anything that needs to be shot that hard might as well be shot twice so its just good planning.
Yep. glad its not just me. I will admit i'm a novice shooter with not much to compare it too but i definitely had the feeling it was a bit more intense than the way people describe a 30-06. the t3 lite is a pleasure to carry though. I've only shot it at game 4 times and adrenaline runs so high i don't even notice in the field. i might take doglegs advice with the limbsaver. it certainly can't make it worse.
some rifles just hurt. Stock design is a big factor. Example for me a Rem 700 in 7mm mag really hurt when sighting it in. Changing the stock for a B&C and it was fine just a normal rifle. with recoil but it didn't hurt. Plus a lot of factory recoil pads were and probably still are cheap and hard. A good recoil pad is a big help.
I can deal with the big push, some bruising, and all normal results from big magnums. However my friend had a .416 Rem and I couldn't take more than 1 shot on it without completely losing all feeling in my right hand for a few minutes. Not sure if it was the stock, rifle seemed to weigh plenty. I wouldn't pack that thing anywhere a second shot could be needed.
These things can happen. When I first got my .416 Rigby and shot it without scope and practically Weatherby level loads it was like a combination of being stomped, shot and electrocuted all at the same time. Pain then numbness shot down the length of my arm right to my finger-tips. Unfortunately the numbness didn't last, and the pain came back. Obviously some nerve was getting hit. A change of pad and/or the additional weight of the scope changed everything and it was fun to shoot. A later stock change and it was downright pleasant. Same rifle otherwise.
I try to keep that in mind when I say the recoil is all in your head, and throw in a "mostly."
We keep hearing people comparing the recoil of two rifles, and asking which cartridge kicks harder, or claiming their recoil "limit" is at such-and-such a cartridge. The plain and simple truth is that the only way to accurately compare these values is to do so when all other factors are equal, the only difference being the cartridge being fired.
News flash: Everything is never equal. When you consider rifle weight, recoil velocity, comb height, recoil pad angle, drop at comb, drop at heel, length of pull, consistency of recoil pad and God-knows-what else, you can see that you will always be comparing apples to baseballs.
So, just follow these simple rules for ensuring that recoil is absolutely as bad as it can possibly be. They will be true regardless of all the other variables in gun fit and design.
1. Spend all you free time worrying about it. Work yourself up into a good tense lather in the days or hours leading up to a range session. Convince yourself...and I mean really make yourself believe...that the gun is going to kick the ever-loving snot out of you. This is the mental side of shooting.
2. Ask other people about what it will be like, but make sure they haven't fired the gun in question. You want to get the opinion of experts who rarely shoot, but read a lot about it. They will re-affirm the nature of the brutal pounding you are about to experience. This is the social aspect of shooting.
3. Read every thread on CGN that relates to the larger chamberings; usually any mention of a .338 or larger cartridge is bound to attract somebody who will comment on how bad it's gonna hurt you. As a bonus, they will often do an aside about how the animal being shot will be completely vaporized by the awesome power you will be unleashing. Learn how to spell "overkill", because it will be repeated like a mantra. Print out all the charts and graphs and then laminate them to your gunstock for quick reference. Consider this the research portion of shooting.
4. Don't waste time perfecting your shooting technique. Shooting position, scope mounting for proper eye relief, cheekweld, trigger control, proper grip and stance: Bull$hit, all of it! Propaganda to make you spend more money on ammo! Practice is over-rated; sure, there are some folks who need to do it a bit, but you are special. You're a natural marksman, it's in your genes. You don't need no stinking practice. This is the Zen aspect of shooting.
5. Finally...and this one is often overlooked...make sure that all your shooting is done from a stable, low seated position. Ideally, you want to lean forward into the gun so far that when it recoils, the energy will be directed in a line that is as close to parallel with your spine as possible, but offset slightly so as to maximize damage and pain by both crushing and twisting your backbone simultaneously. This type of shooting practice is especially useful because it mimics the way virtually all hunting shots are taken, so it prepares you for the reality of field shooting. Under no circumstances should you shoot standing up, or even sitting in an erect posture; doing so will cause your body to "give" with the recoil. You want your body to compress like a shock absorber, not bend like a leaf spring. The practical aspect!
That's pretty much the whole thing. Five easy steps to allow you to get the maximum benefit from your gun's kick. A related but helpful item is to have your scope mounted at the gun store, by a tiny lad half your size. Trust that he will set up the eye relief perfectly for you. This will help you look the part of the seasoned pro that you are about to become; you'll see what I mean after your first shot.
You're welcome!
News flash: Everything is never equal. When you consider rifle weight, recoil velocity, comb height, recoil pad angle, drop at comb, drop at heel, length of pull, consistency of recoil pad and God-knows-what else, you can see that you will always be comparing apples to baseballs.
So, just follow these simple rules for ensuring that recoil is absolutely as bad as it can possibly be. They will be true regardless of all the other variables in gun fit and design.
1. Spend all you free time worrying about it. Work yourself up into a good tense lather in the days or hours leading up to a range session. Convince yourself...and I mean really make yourself believe...that the gun is going to kick the ever-loving snot out of you. This is the mental side of shooting.
2. Ask other people about what it will be like, but make sure they haven't fired the gun in question. You want to get the opinion of experts who rarely shoot, but read a lot about it. They will re-affirm the nature of the brutal pounding you are about to experience. This is the social aspect of shooting.
3. Read every thread on CGN that relates to the larger chamberings; usually any mention of a .338 or larger cartridge is bound to attract somebody who will comment on how bad it's gonna hurt you. As a bonus, they will often do an aside about how the animal being shot will be completely vaporized by the awesome power you will be unleashing. Learn how to spell "overkill", because it will be repeated like a mantra. Print out all the charts and graphs and then laminate them to your gunstock for quick reference. Consider this the research portion of shooting.
4. Don't waste time perfecting your shooting technique. Shooting position, scope mounting for proper eye relief, cheekweld, trigger control, proper grip and stance: Bull$hit, all of it! Propaganda to make you spend more money on ammo! Practice is over-rated; sure, there are some folks who need to do it a bit, but you are special. You're a natural marksman, it's in your genes. You don't need no stinking practice. This is the Zen aspect of shooting.
5. Finally...and this one is often overlooked...make sure that all your shooting is done from a stable, low seated position. Ideally, you want to lean forward into the gun so far that when it recoils, the energy will be directed in a line that is as close to parallel with your spine as possible, but offset slightly so as to maximize damage and pain by both crushing and twisting your backbone simultaneously. This type of shooting practice is especially useful because it mimics the way virtually all hunting shots are taken, so it prepares you for the reality of field shooting. Under no circumstances should you shoot standing up, or even sitting in an erect posture; doing so will cause your body to "give" with the recoil. You want your body to compress like a shock absorber, not bend like a leaf spring. The practical aspect!
That's pretty much the whole thing. Five easy steps to allow you to get the maximum benefit from your gun's kick. A related but helpful item is to have your scope mounted at the gun store, by a tiny lad half your size. Trust that he will set up the eye relief perfectly for you. This will help you look the part of the seasoned pro that you are about to become; you'll see what I mean after your first shot.
You're welcome!
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Different reactions for different folks. My Sako Hunter 416 RM was never a pain to fire. I'm 6"1" and 210 lbs. Would seem more body weight helps because then you won't be knocked back as fast compared to a lighter weight person would. Recoil pad left as is, it's fine.
Now it's a 458 Lott.
Now it's a 458 Lott.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
stock design makes a big difference. I like tikkas t3s and x bolts. there is a huge difference in how those 2 feel for me even with a limbsaver on the tikka. the tikkas just plain hurt. the xbolts do not there insanely comfortable compared to the t3 with limbsaver. don't ask me why exactly.
The Outsider
CGN Regular
Overcoming fear of recoil is just a "mind over matter" issue.
I remember when I was a kid in the early 1970's, I flinched once while sooting a shotgun and missed my target.
I thought about that for a while, decided that recoil is a none issue, and have never flinched since.
These days I don't know what recoil is, I don't even think about it, I shoot with a completely relaxed hold on my guns, even my .300 and .338 mags.
Someone wrote once that rifle recoil results in nothing more than a friendly push into the shoulder.
I remember when I was a kid in the early 1970's, I flinched once while sooting a shotgun and missed my target.
I thought about that for a while, decided that recoil is a none issue, and have never flinched since.
These days I don't know what recoil is, I don't even think about it, I shoot with a completely relaxed hold on my guns, even my .300 and .338 mags.
Someone wrote once that rifle recoil results in nothing more than a friendly push into the shoulder.
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