When did folks become such recoil wimps?

I really enjoy a friends .416 Rigby, Not as painful as a 45-70 trapper with max bullet weight and charge, like someone's Marlin the owner was afraid to shoot that I sighted in for him..

I agree , I have a 45/70 that can be loaded mild to bloody nasty. My 375's are much more pleasant . My 416 Rigby and 458 win mag smart less . My 458 Lott can be a handful , especially if you don't hang on . Had the trigger guard smack my middle finger quite a few times. I would still much sooner shoot the Lott than a Benelli nova 3.5 inch magnum . That thing is rude.
 
It wasn't that long ago when the .308 and .270 Winchester were considered very capable but mild mannered big game cartridges that were well suited to nearly anyone women and teens included. When did they become beyond the comfort level of most meer mortals?
I am by no means unaware of how effective mild recoiling rifles shooting quality bullets can be I have just been noticing a lot more hunters and shooters being very concerned over the amount of recoil produced by rifles that as recently as 10 years ago were often suggested as all around cartridges for those looking for a first rifle.

Ever watched Concussion?
 
as I do recall. Weatherby ammo had a note in their big bore ammo boxes years ago warning about continued use can lead to spinal cord injuries. any truth to this.
 
I think when shooting from a bench became the norm. You can shoot just about anything standing without too much discomfort, but attaining bragging rites about small groups necessitates much practice from a standing position.
 
Quite the opposite for me most rifles are too damn short. Fit is important. Factory rifles are designed around a universal human form. One that a lot of us don't fit. If you are shooting at game and thinking about the recoil, it's time to do something about it. Fix the stock or trade the rifle would be my choices.

you re not alone and i needed to put an extra slip pad on of one inchon most of the rifles im using, a big difference and in winter im using the stock without the extra and that is still good for me.

unfit sotck is always a problem. and seems Mike get the right answer with the adjustable lenght coming with the ruger stock.
 
I bought a .444 in my teens. Now that I have more meat on my bones I love shooting the 500 Jeffery. I've learned to love recoil over the decades. Low-recoiling guns are no fun.

I'm also a 444 fan. I've got two of 'em, one is a 1978 Marlin "JM" (twist is 1:38 microgroove) and the other is a 1997 or 1998 Winnie '94 side eject Big Bore (with a 1:12 twist rate) which was gifted to me. The funny thing is that the Winchester is about the same weight (within a couple of ounces I figure) as the Marlin. Yet I can shoot the Marlin literally all day, 40 or 60 rounds no problem except to my wallet. The Winchester kicks like a mule, 5/6/7 rounds and I'm pretty much done for at least when shooting with lighter clothing.

Both have newer Limbsavers (less than a couple of years old), both are shooting the same bullet weights (265 Hornady FP's). I find the Marlin groups tighter at 100, but that could possibly be due to subconsciously flinching at least a little bit when pulling the trigger on the '94.

I find the Marlin does a nice, linear "push" but the Win slams pretty hard and fast. The only thing I can attribute it to is that the drop at the comb on the Marlin is greater than the '94's, tending to move the recoil force lower on the shoulder pocket and spreading the load out a little bit.

O.N.G.
 
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High recoiling firearms are a buzz to shoot while standing, benched or prone, not so much.

Shooting standing i never was hurt by recoil and always get pleasure out of it.
 
number 1 in heavy caliber are not fun to shoot anyway ... stock design.

Stock design and appropriate weight makes all the difference in the world. It has even had the strange effect of people confusing painful recoil with killing power. Case in point, the 45/70. It was nothing but a low recoil military pop-gun that took a distant second to a proper buffalo gun or reasonably loaded muzzleloader. Put it in a stupid enough stock and it might hurt a little. It sure doesn't kill any better.
 
Stock design and appropriate weight makes all the difference in the world. It has even had the strange effect of people confusing painful recoil with killing power. Case in point, the 45/70. It was nothing but a low recoil military pop-gun that took a distant second to a proper buffalo gun or reasonably loaded muzzleloader. Put it in a stupid enough stock and it might hurt a little. It sure doesn't kill any better.

The .45-70 loaded up to max in a Ruger No.1-S will get your attention when shot from the bench. But loaded to a reasonable level it is quite comfortable, as for it's killing ability, the physics involved do not lend themselves to spectacular kills, but they do lend themselves to "certain" kills... I am good with that... sometimes I want to be just as effective, but in a different way... I bowhunt too, which is just a little further down the sliding scale.
 
I believe the bottom line is if the rifle fits you well, it won't punish you. The one cartridge I avoid is the .340 Wby, cause I haven't found one that fits!
I shoot lots of big bores and none really bothers me, right up to the doubles, although I well remember an 8 bore once that was stiff! Lately my pet one is a .470 in a #1, ...... shoots tighter than most of my medium bores although I've never been silly enough to use a benchrest, ....... just a standing rest or offhand. One secret is to use both earplugs and muffs!
And I'm i my 70's with over 1/2 a century of practice!
 
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I watched Boomer shoot his Ruger #1 416 Rigby prone. That was not for me.

number 1 in heavy caliber are not fun to shoot anyway ... stock design.

They say that when facing dangerous game or when in a gunfight, its best to increase the range between you and your adversary. I just thought that sliding backwards along the ground resolved two problems at once; my target was diminished and the range between us increased.;)
 
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