Recoil...how do you handle it?

oldafsp

oldafsp

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Everyones idea of recoil is different.

For some even light loads are troublesome. And I understand those that have trouble with their hands,wrists ect.

Just curious how the rest of you feel about certain calibers and much you enjoy shooting them....

The politically incorrect statement on the back of my shirt has has been removed for the purpose of this being a family type forum....:cool:

.500 S&W recoil with 500gr Hornday XTP not a sissy load in anyones book.

500SWRecoil500gredited.jpg
 
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Not sure what you are asking.
The technique for exceptionally high recoil handguns generally is the opposite of shooting moderate loads rapidly, where the object is to get the recoil to come as straight back as possible. The high recoil grip is lower on the butt, and the idea is to allow the gun to arc upward and back, rather than straight back.

If you're asking do I shoot guns like your .500 magnum just for the joy of experiencing recoil, the answer is no. Neither do I care for the "handrifles" which are almost as heavy and awkward as a light rifle, but are missing the buttstock.
 
I got my 1st 44 magnum in the 80's and shot everything through it with the excitement of a kid full of P&V. I had a 300gr load I worked up that would just about make you numb in 6 shots. I soon learned that for every day fun, my 1000fps load was much nicer to shoot and relegated the hot stuff to on occasion status. About the same time I acquired my 1st Freedom Arms 83 in 454 as I had a bear hunt trip planned for Alaska...never happened. I found the Bisley frame of the 454 was much better for handling recoil and never worried about loading it down much. I also had the chance to experiment with one of Linbaugh's original 500's and still found the single action more pleasant. I guess it's the way it rolls in your hand, and once you get used to that idea it aint a big deal.
I own another FA 83 now with 45acp, 45 Colt, and 454 cylinders. The 454 gets loaded as intended, the 45 Colt at about 1100fps, and the 45acp at warm target velocities.
Now long gun wise, when I was shooting Int'l Skeet I used the hottest load I could legally use with no ill effects out of my Browning skeet gun. I was also rather fond of the H&H family of magnum rifle calibers especially the 375. All that changed in 1999 when I got run over by a pick-up on my motorcycle...the shoulder just dont handle it like it used to.
 
I think recoil is more about the gun, the frame, than about the caliber or the person shooting. E.g., shooting a 357 in a 6" N frame vs a lightweight J frame.
 
How I handle recoil. As I get older, if it hurts, I don't shoot it. At one time (in my young and foolish days) I hunted deer with a 300 WinMag in a light weight rifle. Now I use a vintage Mdl 99 Savage in 250 Savage. Guess what, the deer are just as dead, and don't run far after being hit. It isn't how big the bullet, it's where you place it.
 
Age is the determining factor I agree.

When it hurts you..thats bad. It takes much longer to recover now than 30 years ago.

Once in a great while, I still enjoy touching off a large caliber handgun and hitting my target. That being said, I get most of my enjoyment out of being able to shoot .38 spl's the entire day and not need physical therapy afterwards.
 
Can't handle it well, therefore use standard pressure .38sp on all my j & k frame revolvers whether they are rated for +p or not. Got rid of my only 357 and continue to grow my .22lr collection and it just might take more than one shot to take down that zombie but I'll take my chances.
 
I don't want for one second sound like I am down playing the thump you get from many a fire arm. But for me the ability to handle recoil is 100% between my ears, and behind my eyes. I know shooting a 300 Wby or 454 Casull (insert your Thumper of choice here) is going to hurt, but I also know if I hold either of them correctly they cannot injure me (I can tell you what I did wrong for every scope cut I have suffered). What did it for me was the mantra "by the time I feel it, the bullet is gone".

I remind myself that there is a reason to shoot this beast (i.e. big elk 300+ yds out, African game, etc.) the reward will equal the pain and "by the time I feel it, the bullet is gone"... That said there are guns I shoot better with light loads (but I continue to work at it), and for anything smaller then black bear I stick to my 25-06, or smaller. I neither stupid nor a glutton for punishment.
 
What with being abuse tolerant and recoil insensitive...I jest take it.

Kind like the ol tale about the white hunter shootin the elephant with a heavy rifle.

The elephant goes down from the shot. The hunter goes down from the recoil.
The first one to get up wins! :D


Su Amigo,
Dave
 
With handguns, comfortable grips are a must! S&W grips do not fit my hands, so all my S&Ws have either Pachmayrs or Herrett's. At 200+ more or less muscular pounds rifles are not as much of a problem, a slip on recoil pad usually does the job.
 
Recoil is rear mindset for me. I'm only interested in hitting what I aim at. I concentrate on the total package, grip, stance, aim point and trigger release. Never the recoil. I have found in combat and hunting I never remember recoil. I'm expecting the same if I ever have to shoot for self defence. Bench rest is different for me, I feel it then.
 
Another old fart here with hand and wrist issues. I know my limitations in a handgun and in my case it's 357 Magnums in my 38 ounce 620. I'm perfectly happy to leave the heavier calibers to those who are still young and foolish.
 
When the power to weight ratio of the loads becomes painful, I no longer shoot that load. At my age, I have shot more than my share of heavy loads, and don't have any need for Grisly Killers in IL.
 
Find recoil very odd, have had rheumatoid arthritis since age 7. Started with 9mm for semi-auto and my wrists don't have a problem with that. Tried .40 S&W, and my wrists did not care for the snap of that caliber, however, I find .45ACP very manageable. For revolvers I have only shot magnums: 357 and 44. I can shoot both but find my wrists become fatigued from the recoil of the 44 sooner. Would not even attempt a .500, as a man has to know his limitations.
 
Guess i'm in that "young and dumb" crowd. I don't have a problem with recoil. As Rimfired said it, when shooting at game, the recoil and even the report of the shot don't even register in my brain. I'm just concentrating on that shot. I thoroughly enjoy shooting full house mags out of my 629 Cl and 686. Recently had the opportunity to fire a S@W500 for the first time. It was the 4" version, compensated. It was alot of fun and I actually found the recoil to be less violent than I expected. Granted it WAS compensated....When someday I find myself physically unable to safely and or relatively painlessly fire the mags I'll give it up... Till then, fire away!
 
Grips and grip angle have everything to do with how a heavy caliber handgun reacts.

One of the most comfortable 44 mags I ever shot was a Ruger SuperBlackhawk with a 6 inch barrel.

Sweet and easy with 240 gr factory loads.
 
I enjoy shooting loads with a bit of recoil sparingly. I find that, in spite of my best efforts, the more thumpers I shoot, the worse my aim gets.

I've shot stainless steal 357 j frames quite a bit. I can't imagine what a scandium frame 357 shoots like. I don't want to know.
 
At 64 I still enjoy shooting my pre 29's. First 5 rounds or so smart but after that I don't seem to feel the recoil. When I was younger I used a 29 for everything from tin cans to paper to IHMSA. I think recoil is felt differently for each of us but for myself I think it is more in my head than in my hand. I do think a 44 in N frame is more comfortable to shoot than my 4" 19.

Ted
 
all guns recoil

even the lowly .22 lr.

Learning how a given gun recoils and how to respond to it is the key.

The first time I shot a .44 magnum my hand hurt - the Pachmyr grips dug into my hand. I was trying to prevent the gun from recoiling. After my neighbor (his gun, a Super Blackhawk) stopped laughing he told me the best advice I've ever been given about recoil: hold onto the gun so it doesn't go in an unsafe direction and go with the recoil...ever since then I don't have any recoil issues.

Someone was shooting a .454 Casull at the range one day - asked him how it felt...he said it hurt. When I asked him why he shot it, he repeated: "It hurts." Some are sicker then others!
 
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