Managing Heavy Recoil

B

bustaduck

New member
I was wondering how you guys manage heavy recoiling rifles. I have a 300 win mag and it kicks pretty good. I can keep from flinching, but I am curious as to how to hold the gun on the bench to best manage the recoil and shoot consistantly.

I have had this gun for about 10 years and shot it quite a bit at both animals in the field and on the range. I don't ever have problems shooting off hand or from a treestand, but I have been bumped on the forehead with the scope twice in the past couple of seasons. It didn't cut me bad on either occeasion. What bothers me more is that in both cases, I was taking a fairly long shot and really focusing on a good smooth trigger pull. In both cases, the gun suprised me when it whent off as I intended. Also in both cases, as much as I hate to admit it, my shots were not quite on the mark. It got me thinking that I may be focusing on the trigger squeeze so much that I am relaxing my body more than normal and it is soaking up more of the recoil than normal. I also wondered if this contributed to less than ideal accuracy on the shots.

I want to start practicing shooting at some longer distances. I have a new hunting lease that is pretty much one great big field. The best way to hunt it is going to be to sit one one side and take pokes at deer on the other. This will require shots from 300 to 450 yards or so. I know I am going to have to do some practicing at these ranges and I want to practice like I will be hunting. I feel good about my breathing and trigger pull, but how to hold the gun when shooting of bags or rests still baffles me.

If you guys that have done some longer range shooting with larger calibers like this could give me some of your techniques, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
I can tell you how I do it. Some will agree and undoubtedly some will disagree.

I have shot several REALLY big bore rifles at some pretty long ranges I.E. Barret M82's and M99's and .338 Lapua Magnums out to 1000 yards.

I have found the opposite to what you stated above to be true. The more I relax my body the less recoil I feel, I think it helps to distribute the shock thru out my body. Also I don't anticipate the shot. I'll try to make this make sense. But I don't try to subdue the rifle either, what I mean by this is when it barks I let it do it's thing. I find this vastly improved my long range accuracy. I see guys on the range all the time with one hand on top of the barrel trying to hold the rifle down during the blast. I shoot with one hand on the rifle and the other wrapped around my forearm or bicep, which ever feels the most comfortable that day. Before I got into the long range stuff I was terrified at the thought of shooting the infamous .300 win mag, but after getting these basics down I now fear no rifle, The .300 win mag is a pop gun now to me. Infact when I shoot my 12 gauge I feel more recoil from it than I do from anything else because obviously I don't know how to shoot a shotgun properly. Anyway thats my long winded answer that probably didn't answer your question.
 
I do about the same thing as chupathingy, sometimes I put my arm on top of the gun .. just for comfort though.. I stay relaxed concentrate on the target and very slowly apply pressure to the trigger never knowing when its going to fire.. I feel this allows me to hold steady and not to flinch. I always figure you flinch cause you know when its going to fire .. but if you gently keep applying a little more pressure on your trigger you don't know exactly when its going off, the body stays relaxed, absorbs the recoil and gun remains steady.. works for me anyway

dave
 
+1 for chupa.

I shoot a 300 RUM. I try to get a consistant snug fit into my shoulder, but not so much that the muscles have trouble repeating the same pressure. Non-trigger hand is on a bag under the stock. It is not uncommon to have the gun come partially out of my trigger hand, but again it tends to be consistant depending on the load.\

Something I found working with kids it that they often do not have the body mass to really lean into a shotgun. But, they also seemed to react less to the recoil because their body just twists with it. As they get bigger they fight it, it fights thru them and then the bruises and flinching starts. At 250 lbs I do not twist as easily as I would like, but I try. The one that always hurts is the one that I tighten up on.
 
I should also mention that I don't even really pull the stock in real tight to my shoulder, only as tight as is comfortable. Even with the big nasties like the .338 LM and the .50's.

Now I'm anxious to try out that video on youtube where they are shooting the .557 T-Rex. That should be a hoot.
 
I wonder why the scope got me those two times? I didn't really do anything different than normal. The only other thing that I can think of is that both times the scope got me, I was wearing lots of cloths. I wonder if I adjusted the eye relief as I normally would and the gun just came back more than I was used to because all the thick clothing soaked up the recoil? Does that sound like a reasonable excuse? I have shot this gun a bunch over the years and these are the only two times I have had it happen. I really would like to figure out the reason so I can keep my eyebrows intact.
 
One of the interesting things about handling recoil is the shooters state of mind. You really have to not be afraid of the rifle and how jagrdawger and Chupathingy deal with shooting these big boomers is an excellent way to deal with them.

That being said theres nothing wrong with getting a really good recoil pad on the rifle. I spent lots of years shooting the big mags and my go to the woods deer and elk rifle has been Remington's 8mm mag shooting a 220 grain Sierra Spitzer at 3080 fps. This generates pretty good recoil. I've been shooting that rifle and that load since the late 70's when the 8 mag was introduced. When I went to a limbsaver recoil pad there was really a bunch of difference.

I would recommend one of Caldwell's lead sleds if you plan a bunch of bench work. This takes the kick out of the hard kickers for a day at the range. I can shoot the 8 mag all day or my buddies 300 Ultra-mag and feel like a day at the range with a 243, what a difference.

Lately I've dropped down in caliber to a 280 Remington because of recoil. I'm on blood thinners for some heart problems and tend to bruise much more from the recoil than I ever did. The answer for me was a lighter recoiling rifle, but I still enjoy shooting the big mags, just have to use the lead sled now.
 
Im with chupa i want to add that i shoot a 300UM and had a 300 win mag i had a break on the 300 win mag and it took half of the recoil out i might get one on the 300UM i shoot mine off the bench one handed too practice practice practice and you will get it
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Shoot a lighter recoiling rifle. A 308 will work well for what you want with a lot less recoil.

Use a heavier rifle. A big bang 300 is easy if it weighs 18 pounds.

Jack
 
Quote:
Shoot a lighter recoiling rifle. A 308 will work well for what you want with a lot less recoil.

Use a heavier rifle. A big bang 300 is easy if it weighs 18 pounds.

Jack



+1, A heavier rifle does help.
 
I am a firm believer that a well designed stock will reduce felt recoil. Maybe the extra cost affects my brain. Like has been said, a good pad or less powder or smaller bullets.

One day I was at the gun store when a guy came in with his wife. She was 5'11" heavy and purchased a .25 pistol. He was about 5'4" slim and bought a .300 WM rifle. Jokingly the shop owner showed him some Black Hills red box 190 gr ammo. He bought several boxes. The rifle had no mount, no sights, or scope so he ordered them.
Later that day I stopped back in the gun shop and this couple came back in. He had shot all the ammo and had a sore shoulder. It was around 100 degrees that day. He needed more ammo. We all laughed and I still wonder what he was shooting at with no sights in 100 degree weather box after box. Bet he wished for a good pad too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
I bought a 8MM Remington Mag Classic several years ago, it will produce a bit of recoil. I did not want to ding the stock up so I bought a Hogue overmolded stock, what a difference, the stock took what feels like 50% of the recoil out.

In contrast I also have a Win. Model 70 classic left hand in 338 Win Mag, and with 225 grain hand loads the recoil is not as severe as one would think. The stock design is to thank for that.

I have come to the conclusion that handling recoil is a function of mind set and posture at the bench, if you tense up and expect it to hurt, it probably will.
 
All good answers and you can try them one at a time until the recoil becomes bearable. I would suggest this order:

First, relax. Cost $0
Next try the Past Magnum recoil pad. Cost $25
Then try the Limbsaver/Decelerator buttpad. Cost $30 unless you have to shorten the stock.
Muzzle brake. Cost $150-200. Noisy but effective.
New stock. That could get expensive trying to find the right one.

You didn't say what scope you are using. Long eye-relief is critical for big boomers since as you discovered, shooting positions are seldom like bench positions.
 
Thanks for all of the responses. I think we are getting a bit off the subject. I don't have any problems with the recoil itself. I have been shooting this gun for years and I don't have any flinches or anything. I am not saying it is all that fun to shoot, but I can go through a box or two in an afternoon and not have any problems. My concern was and still is learning to manage the recoil consistantly. I feel like I am not being consistant and have concerns that this is hurting my accuracy. What I was curious about was if you guys had any special "tricks" or methods of holding the gun to get a bit more accuracy.

I don't mean to be ungrateful, but I don't have any plans to get a 308 or other gun. I have plenty of guns now. I really like my model 70 300 mag. I just want to learn to shoot it a bit better in the 300 to 450 yard range.

Thanks!
 
I shoot some fairly heavy recoiling rifles 375RUM, 300RUM, top loaded 1895GS 45-70, 308 Norma Mag, 270 Weatherby Mag etc etc...

I do not like muzzle brakes at all so will never have them on my rifles.

My main recoil reduction tool is I install Kick-Eez recoil pads they are the best recoil pads I have ever tried.

Here is their link.

http://www.kickeezproducts.com/index.php
 
Add a muzzle break and it will kick like a 243 shooting 100g bullets. At the same time, purchase a set of Peltor Tac 6 electronic ear muffs, best decision that I have ever made.

The muzzle break will allow you to shoot MUCH more accurately because you have such a HUGE reduction in foot pounds slamming into your body.

A great recoil pad will help, but nothing will help like a Muzzle break.

Brownells sells a brand of muzzle break, Shrewd for $45, and it is simply fantastic in how it takes all the hurt out of these big boomers. For instance, the 300 RUM will kick like a 25/06 with one of these breaks on them.

If you are recoil sensitive, don't screw around with a lot of nonsense, get a muzzle break installed an you will be able to shoot that 300 Winchester Mag with 180's @3100 all day long without developing a flinch!
 
I shoot a 300 win mag with 200 gr bullets and I find that the more relaxed you are the better you can manage the recoil
I have never been recoil sensitive but you aren't either from what your post said....
Try this.....
Based on a right handed shooter
sit at the bench (I sit with my left shoulder facing target),
place your right hand in the normal shooting position with hand holding rifle as you normally would now with your left hand wrap around and under your right and hold the butstock with your left maybe only be able to get your fingers on it but get a grip and get comfortable(by now you should have a sililar position as you did in school when you crossed your arms and laid your head down)
The recoil will now be in you left hand and shoulder and the jump will be more controllable
 


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