Author Topic: What's the most recoil you can handle? (Read 3018 times)

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 11, 2004, 03:17:11 PM »

I have shot quit a few different rifles and handguns. I am not recoil sensitive. But there are some big boomers out there that I don't shoot much. I had two 50BMG's and the were a blast to shoot. The sound was the killer apposed to the recoil. But one day I decided to take the muzzle break off the 50BMG and boy did I pay for that, a severely bruised shoulder. I only did that once. :shock:

TreeFarmer · « **Reply #31 on:** June 13, 2004, 04:05:25 PM »

The most recoil I have handled was from a friend's CZ 550 Safari chambered in .416 Rigby. Managed to go 9 rounds of full power handloads from the bench before I decided I had had enough fun. My 375 H&H is fun to shoot by comparison.

5.56er · « **Reply #32 on:** June 14, 2004, 07:47:26 AM »

W&W Greener 10 gauge double standing up 4 shots and I said quits 5'11 240LBs, it would move me back a step each time i shoot it

Thunder38849 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 14, 2004, 02:23:49 PM »

Saw a video of a guy shooting a .577 Tyrannasaur. Talk about major recoil!!! He was standing in front of safety glass when he shot, the rifle kicked him backwards so hard that he busted through the safety glass, gun flew out of his hands.....

Think I will pass on shooting on of those....

Dad has a .460 Wby.... It isn't as bad as you'd think it would be.... Just make sure you have a nice FIRM grip before firing.

Zachary · « **Reply #34 on:** June 15, 2004, 03:37:46 AM »

I think that I saw the same video. Was it the foreign guy that was wearing white and was apparently cussing and swearing in his native language?

If it's the same video, I think that the guy never even shot a gun before in his life. Actually, that's not good because he will probably have flinching problems every time he picks up a gun for the rest of his life.

Zachary

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #35 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:14:08 AM »

Those videos are part of Saeed's at AR. That's his range and reloading room, located in Dubai UAE. He's got several videos of people shooting that rifle, some big guys from the US are shooting and don't handle it too much better than the small Arab.

If you go to AR's Homepage, you will see a link to the videos, there is a bunch of them, including some African hunts.

JJ79 · « **Reply #36 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:19:26 AM »

I have to agree with most of the folks who have commented that recoil problems are largely mental. For me, muzzle blast is much more uncomfortable than recoil... I also agree that it has much more to do with the gun you are shooting and the position you are shooting from than anything else.

My Marlin .44 mag just plain hurts to shoot from the bench!!!! :evil: It is awful!!! Three shots in a row is all I can stand without taking a break!!! However...if I stand up and shoot offhand, it's the sweetest shootin' gun I've got!!!!

No problem!!!!

Zachary · « **Reply #37 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:50:11 AM »

Yukon Jack,

What is the actual link to the site? I would like to look at the videos, and I'm sure a lot of our guests and members would too. I think that it might be conducive to the topic of this post (not to mention just plain 'ole fun

).

Zachary

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #38 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:53:53 AM »

http://www.accuratereloading.com/
This link takes you to the homepage with several links to videos, pictures, etc...

The video page is http://www.accuratereloading.com/videos.html

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #39 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:57:49 AM »

One other thought about recoil, regardless of stock design and proper shooting position, when you get to around 90-100 ft-lbs of recoil at around 25 fps or more, it's going to be jarring. I'm not talking about comped or braked rifles. At this level of recoil, your brain starts to shocked, much like a boxer's during a heavyweight boxing match. Even with lots of practice and proper form with a good stock design, 100 ft lbs of free recoil is not going to be pleasant.

Zachary · « **Reply #40 on:** June 15, 2004, 07:01:50 AM »

I just went to the site. Wow! :eek:

Seriously though, I thought that the videos would be conducive to this topic, and I think they are.

Specifically, take a look at this video: http://www.serveroptions.com/humor/ajit.mpg

It appears that the shooter didn't properly hold the gun. From what I can see, the shooter did not place the but of the gun on his shoulder. Rather, it kinda looks like he placed it more on his arm!

This definately is a no no and can significantly affect the amount of recoil a person is able to comfortably withstand.

Zachary

Rmouleart · « **Reply #41 on:** June 15, 2004, 07:47:25 AM »

Well he was lucky he was standing, if he was benched he would of broke something

Dumb A*S LOL. You think they would learn how to properly hold a rifle. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Zachary · « **Reply #42 on:** June 15, 2004, 08:09:01 AM »

That's another good point you make. I can handle recoil much better when standing up than I can when at the bench. I wonder why?

Zachary

Rmouleart · « **Reply #43 on:** June 15, 2004, 08:50:18 AM »

When benched you are in a locked position, when you are are standing you are free floating, from the waist up you are very flexible, your body absorbs the recoil, still recoil is always the same, but you have something of matter that moves with the recoil and benched you have matter that is solid in place and don't move well to recoil but of course more stable for the shot. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Zachary · « **Reply #44 on:** June 15, 2004, 08:56:56 AM »

Makes sense. Still, even when some of the shooters in the video were standing up, the recoil just flat out knocked them back several feet! Ouch!

Zachary

Rmouleart · « **Reply #45 on:** June 15, 2004, 09:01:37 AM »

Better than busting a shoulder benched LOL

Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Zachary · « **Reply #46 on:** June 17, 2004, 03:39:49 AM »

Everyone,

Take a look at this particular video:

http://www.serveroptions.com/humor/ali3.mpg

This guy takes 3 shots. I would specifically like you guys to take a look at the second shot. It appears to me that the lower the rifle is, and thus the lower you have to lower your head and thus drape over the rifle, the less recoil that we can handle. When he shoots in this manner, you can see the effects of it....everything comes off - his hood, his ear muffs, etc.

How do you guys shoot? Do you similarly crouch down on the rifle?

Zachary

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #47 on:** June 17, 2004, 06:20:16 AM »

From what I can see, he appears to be holding the rifle all wrong for that type of recoil.

Take a look at these video's, they are shooting a 470 Mbogo, and using much better form. Easier to look at these video's than try to explain in words.
http://www.470mbogo.com/RecoilVideo.html

Even still, I've found (at least for me) a higher elbow position on your shooting side allows more give and less jarring. These guys seem to handle it well though. Each to his own.

magnum308 · « **Reply #48 on:** June 29, 2004, 03:32:18 AM »

Hi,

I have reached an age (or shuold I say experience) where I try to choose an adequate and appropriate rifle for the game/hunt/conditions and try to know the rifle very well. That doesn't mean that I don't have some magnums in my gun safe and enjoy hunting with them. Though my biggest rifle is not as big as some (577 T Rex???).

I did find that a benchrest session with my 375 Chatfield-Taylor (375/338) was not a pleasant experience. But I was able to produce a 1" group with it at 100 yards without developing a flinch. I also have a custom 308 Norma Magnum with a classis straight comb stock built for me and I find I shoot as good with that as I do with my Winchester pre 64 M70 featherweight 308 Win (with its original metal butt plate). Though once I've developed good and accurate hunting loads for my rifles at the bench I then practice hunting postions with them, particularly standing with shooting sticks and kneeling rested.

The benchrest position is all wrong for a moderate to heavy recoiling rifle. Back when my brother and I used to shoot a 458 WM at the bench to sight in the position we would adopt would be a modified benchrest position, with the left hand holding the fore-end and leaning the body into the rifle to move with the recoil. (I could see in some of the videos of firing the 577 T Rex that the shooter was not leaning into the rifle sufficiently to allow the body to move with and consequently absorb some of the recoil).

Even an experienced shooter and hunter with big guns like Craig Boddington finds benchresting heavy rifle unpleasant.

It's not about ego its about shooting an appropriate rifle well.

Magnum308

leverfan · « **Reply #49 on:** June 30, 2004, 07:37:35 PM »

I would like to see a lot more standing rests available at gun ranges, myself. They are much easier on the shoulder than benching when you're shooting a really hard kicker. They also seem to give a better indication of where bullets will strike when fired from field positions.

Bighorn75 · « **Reply #50 on:** July 01, 2004, 06:44:02 AM »

When I'm at the range, it amazes me how many guys either don't know or won't admit they flinch when shooting their magnums. And these days alot of guys show up with magnums. Its funny to stand back and watch a guy flinching like crazy after he's just spent fifteen minutes telling you how well he handles recoil. Then they shoot eight-inch groups (if they group at all) and gripe about the gun. I know a number of guys who have owned Weatherbys and complained about their poor accuracy when it probably wasn't the gun's fault.

Of course, when I was younger I did they same dang thing. I guess I just got old enough to feel comfortable admitting I prefer the "sissy" stuff.

magnum308 · « **Reply #51 on:** July 01, 2004, 01:07:26 PM »

Bighorn75,

It is a temptation to flinch when you're shooting something big. I don't have a difficulty with my 308 Norma Mag as it has a classic custom stock with a straight comb and inletted shadow line cheek piece. This makes the felt recoil very tame for the calibre.

I did however have to concentrate on not flinching when bench testing some loads for my 375 Chatfield-Taylor. When I felt myself flinching, or tempted to, I would unload the unfired round and then dry fire the rifle a couple of times (aiming as if loaded) and see where the cross hairs were on the target after I had squeezed the trigger. I found this told the true story. As I mentioned in my previous post this enabled me to get a 1" 3 shot group at 100 yds which satisfied me. But as I mentioned it wasn't a pleasant exercise and now that I have a good load most of my range shooting with this rifle will be with field positions.

Magnum308

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #52 on:** July 25, 2004, 09:27:51 PM »

I cant say how much recoil is too much...my first gun was a winchester model 37a 410 I was 4 then and later on got a 22. I shot my first deer with my Dads help with his Rem. 700Bdl 30/06 I was 6 or 7 I have a pic somewhere with the date on it but cant find I got a 870 express serial # ending in M for my 10th birthday, I dont know how many rabbits I missed cause or the size but I loved shooting it even the 3 inchers...but I continued hunting with the old 37 until I was a little longer-armed. I have shot .50 BMGs and consider it weak in recoil I have never fired a BIG african magnum but the hardest kicking thing I ever shot was a NEF 10 Gauge singleshot 3 1/2 and I handled that...