Ultra-light .358 Norma Magnum

[Boomer]

Actually, I've found prone the easiest to handle big boomers. I've been shooting an 8 lb. .300 RUM and a .458 Win Mag from prone position, and had no problems at all.

You found prone the easiest position to absorb recoil from?? My experience is a little different.

My limit prone with the .416 Rigby (350@2850) was 3 rounds, with the .375 Ultra (300 @ 2600) and the .458 (500@2000) is 5 rounds. I wasn't particularly interested in shooting the .500 NE (570@2150) prone, but had circumstances called for a long shot across open ground, I'm sure 2 rounds would have taken the shine off. Shooting off hand I went 10 rounds before allowing the rifle to cool.

Stock shape come into the equation, and if your stock requires a very tight cheek weld, your head will be snapped back in a very painful manner when shooting prone, so there is more going on than the impact on your shoulder.

 

[Art]

I gave up shooting from a bench and started going prone about 2 years ago. For me, I just found that even on a bench, couldn't hold as still as I'd like. Mind you I was using a portable bench and naturally it wasn't as stable as a heavy bench.

Also I have found my "Lead Sled" to be a real saviour. I just load it up with bags of shot and can shoot away all day with out any worries about recoil. I find it really works wonders on the heavy hitters.

 

[X-fan]

Shooting a 458 prone with 350gr loads is no problem. Substituting hot 500gr loads will reduce the fun factor significantly!

What is your 500 chambered in Boomer?

That would be me green with envy!

 

[Boomer]

Shooting a 458 prone with 350gr loads is no problem. Substituting hot 500gr loads will reduce the fun factor significantly!

What is your 500 chambered in Boomer?

That would be me green with envy!

Sorry, didn't mean to imply I owned one, but I hunted with a John Wilkes SXS in Tanzania, and it is the gun I used to kill my buff. Since then I have thought about getting a #1 built, just to say I had one. You know how that goes though, it starts with the .500 NE, then you start thinking about getting a 602 made up in .500 Jeffery, .505 Gibby, or dare I say .510 Wells. Then I slap myself and realize I don't need a heavy and go back to shooting my .375 Ultra gopher gun.

 

[X-fan]

I recently saw that Brno is building classic stock configured CZ 550 chambered in 505 Gibbs!
Not to mention Montana has finally started making their 505 Gibbs action....Just in case you didn't know!


The 500A-2/460 G&A/458 Lott probably makes more sense, but that 505 holds the proverbial magnetic attraction for me!

I bet there are some good deals on double rifles right now!

 

[Rick]

Hey guys, I just made up a new toy. I happened upon a Parker Hale action with a light sporter barrel in .35 Whelen. I decided the .300 RUM wasn't painful enough, so I reamed it out to .358 Norma, switched bolts for a magnum boltface, and put it into a really light sporter stock. Voila! A 6.74 lb. .358 Norma Mag!

Husqvarna beat you to the punch about 45 years ago - a 6.5 lb 358 Norma Magnum, and I have one...

Recoil isn't a big deal - you just want to be sure you're holding on when you pull the trigger.

For a mountain rifle in this corner of BC, I don't think you could have done much better in what you decided to build.