I have gotten two Weatherby eyes from my 300 mag. Not lately, so lesson learned.
Rifle that kicks like a mule....
- Thread starter Ron M.
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I always figured that .378 for a stomper. Never shot one but have shot a .30/.378; it had a good brake on it, and while the muzzle blast from that brake was pretty fierce, the recoil wasn't bad at all. Shot a .500 black powder express double rifle once or twice; not bad, just a big push though it had a lot of muzzle rise. A .375 H&H I found quite manageable, though I didn't shoot it from the bench. My .45-70 Marlin can be loaded to painful levels, but I don't. It eats 350 grain cast bullets over enough 5744 to get 'em going about 1600 fps and that's plenty good for my needs. Don't enjoy hard-kicking guns like I used to. Could be old age, could be I got smarter; just sayin, ...
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David LaPell
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Before I got hurt I used to be able to shoot about anything, now not so much. Because of the stimulator they put in my back they had to trim out a part of a vertebrae to make room and when I fire a bigger gun it tends to send a shock through where they implanted that, after a few shots from anything larger than a .308 and it's a wake up call like no other.
One of my favorite rifles I had that wasn't bad to shoot was a Mauser 98 custom I had in .338-06 Improved. That felt like a .30-06 with a 180 grain bullet. I think the only two guns i ever really owned that hurt was a T/C Renegade in .54. It didn't hurt on the shoulder, but on the cheek. After a few rounds and I had a triangular shaped bruise that was black and blue for a week. The other was a Mossberg bolt action 16 gauge, I had the barrel cut down to 20 inches to make it a wet weather deer gun. It was like shooting a howitzer, compared to my Ithaca Deerslayer it was nasty on both ends.
Now I have a couple of guns, my Ithaca isn't too bad but three or four rounds at a time will put me on the couch afterwards. I shot a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in .308 with mild handloads, from the bench five rounds were it. Another reason I went back to the .30-30, recoil isn't bad.
Still the worst thing I ever shot was never a rifle, but a Thompson Center Contender handgun in .35 Remington, that gun actually tore the Pachmayr grips with factory ammo.
One of my favorite rifles I had that wasn't bad to shoot was a Mauser 98 custom I had in .338-06 Improved. That felt like a .30-06 with a 180 grain bullet. I think the only two guns i ever really owned that hurt was a T/C Renegade in .54. It didn't hurt on the shoulder, but on the cheek. After a few rounds and I had a triangular shaped bruise that was black and blue for a week. The other was a Mossberg bolt action 16 gauge, I had the barrel cut down to 20 inches to make it a wet weather deer gun. It was like shooting a howitzer, compared to my Ithaca Deerslayer it was nasty on both ends.
Now I have a couple of guns, my Ithaca isn't too bad but three or four rounds at a time will put me on the couch afterwards. I shot a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in .308 with mild handloads, from the bench five rounds were it. Another reason I went back to the .30-30, recoil isn't bad.
Still the worst thing I ever shot was never a rifle, but a Thompson Center Contender handgun in .35 Remington, that gun actually tore the Pachmayr grips with factory ammo.
Mine is also the Marlin 1895 in .45/70.
I've slipped on ice and injured both of my shoulders, and I'm not going to reinjure them. Bought Black Hills cowboy ammo and a LimbSaver pad, but still haven't tried it yet. Hope these two changes will lower the recoil enough to make the rifle usable.
I've slipped on ice and injured both of my shoulders, and I'm not going to reinjure them. Bought Black Hills cowboy ammo and a LimbSaver pad, but still haven't tried it yet. Hope these two changes will lower the recoil enough to make the rifle usable.
cbore
Member
Worst kicker I have used
Old Remington 12 gauge 30" full 11-48 of my Father's
Marlin 444 magnum
A Remington pump in 270 (weird stock fit)
Old Remington 12 gauge 30" full 11-48 of my Father's
Marlin 444 magnum
A Remington pump in 270 (weird stock fit)
Well you can count me in with those who picked the Ruger #3 .45/70. It's 6 pounds, with a curved butt plate. It was the first rifle cartridge I reloaded for. In the old Speer manual, it had listings for using 2400 in the .45/70. I had already used 4198 in some mild loads and was pleased. That is when I learned the difference in slow burning powders and fast burning powders. Warning! 2400 is way too fast a powder to jack up a .45/70. You will know what "sharp" recoil is. I loaded up 20 with 350 gr. Sierras and a middle of the road dose of 2400. Yow! I shot a couple, it had no signs of high pressure and let my buddy shoot it. We were shooting in the sitting postition. I think I saw his butt scoot when he dropped the hammer on it. I pulled the bullets in the last 15 or so.
I'll give mention to cbore's post. I have shot an 1148 12ga. and I agree completely. I had a 20ga. 1148 that had an 18in barrel, and I swear it kicked just as hard.
I'll give mention to cbore's post. I have shot an 1148 12ga. and I agree completely. I had a 20ga. 1148 that had an 18in barrel, and I swear it kicked just as hard.
3" 12 gauge slugs from a CZ612 shotgun. Calculates to 44 ft-lbs of recoil energy. My Sako in 300 Win mag is pleasant by comparison.
Hickok45 just posted a video featuring the Ruger 1 in 375 HH. Didn't look like it beat him up too bad, of course he's 6-8 and probably weighs 300 lbs.
Best way I've found to shoot heavy recoil when accuracy matters is from the classic sitting position using a loop sling. The blow gets pretty well spread among all the body parts that way. Sitting on a bench is the worst.
Hickok45 just posted a video featuring the Ruger 1 in 375 HH. Didn't look like it beat him up too bad, of course he's 6-8 and probably weighs 300 lbs.
Best way I've found to shoot heavy recoil when accuracy matters is from the classic sitting position using a loop sling. The blow gets pretty well spread among all the body parts that way. Sitting on a bench is the worst.
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Only rifle that ever got my attention like that was a CZ-European .416 Rigby. But there are plenty of rifles I have not shot yet!!!!
I agree. I bought one for any friends who may fly in or just show up for deer season.
I put it on a lead sled to sight it in and it was like a bull in the starting gate. Maybe shooting freehand would help, but that gun does not like to be held down. NOT a bench gun for sure.
I thought being a semi auto would help...not!
I'm just glad that I didn't get it for me.
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The size of a bowling ball? Hmm...........
Here's an example of the average muzzle flash from a 91/30
Not really something you want to fire at night, if you want to be able to see afterwards.
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gksr
Member
heavy recoil
I had a TC contender carbine in 45/70 with a 16" barrel it was uncontrollable. I sold it to my brother in law.
I had a TC contender carbine in 45/70 with a 16" barrel it was uncontrollable. I sold it to my brother in law.
Davinman
Member
i have a ruger compact rifle in 308 win. 16" bbl, laminate stock, weighs a lil over 5 lbs. it shoots best w/hand loaded 180 gr bullets at max charge. well im surely no "recoil wimp" by any means, but this little rifle will take your head off with its recoil. my buddy wanted to buy it off me as his 12 year old sons first deer rifle, after i had him shoot a few rounds from it, he quickly changed his mind. lolol (BTW, the muzzle blast isnt very pleasant either.....)
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The Soviet army didn't waste money by adding flash suppressors to the powder. IIRC, the 54R was loaded with something similar to IMR4895. Would be interesting to see how much flash there is from a Springfield shooting the old GI ball ammo. Maybe the US Army didn't waste money either....
vigil617
US Veteran
One time while deer hunting with an old .303 Enfield we got back to my old truck and the battery was dead. So my buddy hopped up in the bed and put the butt of the rifle against the back of the cab and shot 4 times real quickly and that got us rolling, I popped the clutch and she started right up.
True story.
Now known as "The South Carolina Jump Start."
Did you hold his beer while he did it, Mike?
Great story!
Mine is a Ruger #3. Even shorter and much lighter. Kills at one end, and maims at the other.
Ouch!!
Comrad
Member
Apology in advance, I can't help it, every time I see this thread title this song goes through my head and now it will go through y'alls.
Now Lucy looks sweet
'cause he dresses like a queen
But he can kick like a mule
it's a real
mean team
Bowie
Now Lucy looks sweet
'cause he dresses like a queen
But he can kick like a mule
it's a real
mean team
Bowie
Rock185
US Veteran
I've shot the .458 Winchester with 500 grain bullets, SAKO 20" carbine in .375 H&H, heavy 45-70 loads in a Ruger #1,3" 12 Ga. Magnums in a cheap and light single shot shotgun, etc. but the one that really kicks me is the little Remington Model 660 carbine in .350 Remington Magnum. I bought one of those PAST recoil shields several months ago but decided I didn't need it the last time I took the little .350 Mag. carbine to the range. After 4 rounds I fully realized the mistake I'd made in not wearing the PAST shield
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4330Inroute
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For a shotgun a single shot Winchester in 12gauge. Even with a recoil pad it hurt.
I have a 721 Remington in 270 that weighs in at 6 3/4 pounds loaded with a Bushnell 3x9 on it a sling and recoil pad. My Dad bought it for me when I was 16 and went on my first deer hunt. I have fired about 15 rounds over the last 40 years it hurt so bad even wearing a heavy jacket won't tame it. I fired the majority of the shots with a sandbag against my shoulder. I won't sell it or give it away but I won't shoot it anymore either. I've thought about re-barelling it to a lighter caliber but I just can't make myself do it. I have fired a Win Model 70 in .300 H&H and it was a dream compared to that 721.
Another is an 1895 Winchester in .405. The stock is thin and angled wrong as it has a brutal kick to it. Bloodied my nose with it and left me with a head ache.
I have a 721 Remington in 270 that weighs in at 6 3/4 pounds loaded with a Bushnell 3x9 on it a sling and recoil pad. My Dad bought it for me when I was 16 and went on my first deer hunt. I have fired about 15 rounds over the last 40 years it hurt so bad even wearing a heavy jacket won't tame it. I fired the majority of the shots with a sandbag against my shoulder. I won't sell it or give it away but I won't shoot it anymore either. I've thought about re-barelling it to a lighter caliber but I just can't make myself do it. I have fired a Win Model 70 in .300 H&H and it was a dream compared to that 721.
Another is an 1895 Winchester in .405. The stock is thin and angled wrong as it has a brutal kick to it. Bloodied my nose with it and left me with a head ache.
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