Heaviest recoiling gun you’ve shot?

[Frailer]

If I may be permitted to measure "heaviness" of recoil by how unpleasant the recoil was for me, an Airlite J-frame with 125gr .357 defensive ammo would take the prize.

I'd shoot one again if I had to, but I don't want to. It hurts.

 

[GypsmJim]

There is one other rifle I own that deserves honorable mention for the most felt recoil and largest fireball/muzzle blast on any range. That would be the 1944-vintage Soviet Mosin Nagant M38 in 7.62x54r. Everytime someone sees me touch off some Russian surplus ball ammo out of the short 20" barrel, they ask: "What kind of magnum rifle round is that?"

Maybe it's just my perception, but my milspec 03-A3 has more felt recoil to me that an M44 Mosin Carbine. One thing I will say though is that with that short barrel it sure is a flame thrower.

Same thing with the Mark 5 jungle carbine, though the flash hider seems to calm down the flames a bit.

 

[dmn57]

12 gauge 3'' magnum slugs from a pump gun - one handed. This definitely could have been noted in the 'Stupid things...' Lounge thread. What the heck, I was 20, and I did it more than once.

 

[Greyman50]

Pistol was a good friend brand new S&W 500 when they first came out. Had a thin leather glove on and 5 rounds were enough for me. Hand felt like a Nun had " spanked" my hand. Rifle was my Ruger No.1 in 375 H&H Mag, then a MN mdl 38 7.62x54 Russian. Muzzle blast was about the same as my 375 H&H. Those that have fired a shoulder fired recoiless rifle know about blast. Then there was the 4.2" mortar with no ear plugs what did you say??? Lastly was the 3" anti tank gun we used at Jamestown MTA with 1 pound of cannon powder. We had to turn the gun more toward the river as they were afraid the blast would break windows. The fun we have had..

 

[ruger 22]

Handgun--500 magnum

Rifle--460 Weatherby followed closely by a lightweight 378 Weatherby

Shotgun--my brother's Mossberg 3.5 inch 12 ga.

 

[Michaelp57]

10mm

Nothing overwhelming on the handgun side (I'm surprised 10 mm hasn't made an appearance). On the rifle side, Marlin 1895 in 45-70. The cartridge isn't that brutal, but the 1895 is so light.

Since you mention it, 220gr coated hard cast 10mm loads rated at 1225fps out of my m&p kick pretty good.

Rifle: 45-70 with 430gr coated hard cast moving around 1900fps out of a Henry golden boy with a brass butt plate leaves a pretty nice bruise after a tubefull or two. My friends wouldn't shoot more than one round of it.

Shotgun: lots of 3" slugs, but I couldn't tell you which one kicked the most. None more than the 430gr 45-70 rounds I have.

Good question OP. I love threads like this.

 

[ajgunner]

No question my old Mark 5 Weatherby 460 Magnum. I used it on one Alaska hunt and then sold it to save my shoulder.

I have handled a few loaded rounds of this stuff. I even have a loaded round on my bench as a conversation starter. If we happened to be out at the range and someone offered to let me fire it a few times, I am man enough (and smart enough) to say that I would politely decline. No reason to intentionally inflict harm on ones own body.

 

[Leonard]

45/70 in TC hand gun, 500 A Square with 707 grain bullet, 577 nitro in double rifle , a 577 nitro in a farqunson single shot and a lot of lessor but large calibers

 

[gmiller0737]

Rifle: A Friends Left Hand Weatherby 460 Weatherby Magnum
Shotgun: Another Friend's Ithaca Mag 10 3.5 " 00 Buck
Handgun My Ruger Flat Top Blackhawk .44 Magnum

 

[Amp]

Late 60's full choke 12ga with pumpkin ball ammo.
I remember well how much it su8ked.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm a wimp. I had a 7mm Mag that I gave away after hunting with it one season. Too much recoil. I didn't like football in high school either although the coach thought I was a running back. Good speed, 5-11 and 190 lbs. Takes more than just a physical ability to be good at any sport. The desire has to be there also. I played baseball and loved it.

 

[mrcvs]

12 gauge side by side, pulled both triggers at once
.30-06 with a heavier load 220 grain bullets
Runner up is a .30-30 crescent butt rifle with point of crescent lined up with shoulder

 

[biku324]

Remington 700 SPS DG - a 7 pound 375 H&H. I knew better, but had to buy it anyway. Should have listened to Forrest Gump's mama.

 

[Buzzzer]

Handgun - Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum with my own 300 grain reloads.

Rifle - Sako 375 H&H Magnum. Not mine but did shoot it 4 times in a row with some "hotter" reloads (also not mine). After those 4 shots I was glad it wasn't mine. The first shot I felt the scope gently brush my eyebrow. Held it tighter for the remaining 3. No messing around holding that thing...

 

[crstrode]

I have a .458 Win. Mag. that I shoot fairly often. I wouldn't call it painful but it's probably the hardest kicking rifle I have. The 50/90 Sharps will wear you down with a heavy bullet and gets pretty painful after 8-10 rounds. A 45-70 Trapdoor carbine with a full power gov't load (500 fr. bullet and 70 grs. of FG black) is a surprisingly hard kicker. Hardest kicking handgun for me was a 4" 500 S&W but the most painful one was a S&W 340 PD with full power magnums. That little booger hurt!

I shot a 458 Win mag HANDGUN at an IHMSA unlimited match. Those were the good old days!

 

[Ingramite]

I had a S&W Model 337. An Airlite J frame in .38spl.

The first time that I fired it I laid it back down on the bench and wondered if maybe I was holding the wrong end by mistake.

After 5 rounds I was ready to trade it for a pack of cigarettes and i didn't even smoke.

I did trade it away as quickly as I could but it took me several range sessions to train out of the flinch, long after it was gone.

 

[jmace57]

I've bought 2 S&W Model 29s in my life from individual sellers. Both were basically brand new and both came with a box of shells with 44 remaining rounds.

 

[Valmet]

.378 Weatherby Mag, no question.

 

[mchom]

458 win mag in a 10 lb m70 25 years ago

Pushing 60 I'm done with that

 

[jeffrefrig]

The only handgun I've ever shot with any real kick would be the 629-6 with factory .44 magnum loads. After the first shot holding on to see what it's gonna do so I don't lose it. After that it's shoot and don't fight it; it seems the bullet is long gone before the gun kicks and I usually hit close to what I'm trying to hit. It's actually in my hands my 2nd most accurate gun. The trigger guard on my middle finger sucked until I found some wood stocks to keep my finger away from it. Still, 4-5 cylinders is enough before the Specials go in. No experience with anything bigger. My dad bought a 30-06 when I was maybe 13-14 and skinny. It wasn't that bad though and I usually had a heavier coat on, but it didn't knock me back. I'm not power hungry I guess.