Heaviest recoiling gun you’ve shot?

[Smoke]

Who's the lucky guy who gets to hand the ammo up to the guys on the gun platform?

I don't have a good picture of it. But there's a mechanical loader on the left side of the gun that it reaches down into the ammo carrier and the ammo crew loads around onto it.

They did occasionally however make us carry those rounds a quarter mile or so from one gun to the other. They weighed 206 pounds. I get a check from the VA every month because of that.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Not sure if it was the "heaviest" but the most unpleasant recoil I've experienced was a 16ga., single shot H&R shotgun. Could have been the light weight or stock length but that thing just sucked! Also had. 12ga., Beretta 1201FP that smacked the side of my face with every shot. Swapped the factory stock with on made by Choate that had a pistol grip incorporated and it was much better.

 

[WardenRoss]

I should preference this with I am used to qualifying annually with an 870 pump, 20" riot shotgun. We rapid fire and I can handle it. Pretty stout kick too.

I always felt sorry for the petite females, especially if they failed and had to repeat. They really had to lean into that 870 when firing.

But, I purchased a 45-70 Guide Gun with the 18.5" barrel. Just had to have one.

It kicked like a mad mule. Five repeated shots would ring my bell. Forget shot placement after the second round. Made me feel like a wimp.

I traded it.

I won't even mention the 454 Casull pistol.


,

 

[hkcavalier]

10g single shot. Yikes.

Can't think of a truly punishing rifle I've shot. Ruger American .450 Bushmaster leaves a nice bruise after 10+ shots, but it's not in the same league as that 10g.

S&W .500 4" for handguns was the biggest push, but the 329PD the worst feeling kick.

 

[stu1ritter]

The heaviest thing I ever shot was in artillery repair school after we took it apart and put it back together, the 280mm Atomic Canon! 1959, Aberdeen Md.

Stu

 

[Muley Gil]

Back when I was 'smithing in Miami the TC Contender came out with what I believe was their first rifle barrel, in .30-30.

As you know, rifle primers are harder than pistol, and one of our customers has this new barrel but it wouldn't fire reliably.

TC said they had a stronger mainspring coming but the customer needed the gun for a scheduled hunt, so I did some simple (and reversible) mods to strengthen the hammer fall.

Of course, with this kind of repair a test-fire is mandatory, so out to the test range I went. Five shots later I had had enough, even with a padded shooting glove.

.30-30 doesn't strike much fear as a rifle cartridge, but in a handgun it's a whole different ballgame!

I shot one of those early .30-30 Contenders with the wooden grips. The owner handed me a golf glove to put on first. Yes, it kicked!

I bought a 12 ga SxS Knickerbocker shotgun without a buttstock. I whittled one out of two pine boards glued together. Carried out squirrel hunting. Didn't see any, but on the way back to the house I decided to shoot an overhead pine cone. Yep, it doubled at about the worst possible angle. OUCH!

Elmer Keith always shot hard recoiling rifles from a bench in a sitting position, rather than bending over. Less kick thataway.

 

[CptCurl]

My vote is for an Alexander Henry 8 gauge double rifle. The rifle itself weighs just over 16 lbs., but watch how it comes back!

Be sure to have a look at the ammo, which you can see on the bench just beside my right elbow.



8 bore Alex Henry Double Rifle

What a ride!

Curly