I met him at a 24hrcf hog hunt, and we are pretty similar in size. I also have owned and shot a bunch of big bore rifles up through the 50 cal Elephant rounds and shoot a 416 Rigby loaded to 416WBY levels pretty regularly.
(ask Scope Eye 416 how he got his campfire handle
)
The thin stock with lots of drop at the comb plus the unforgiving steel buttplate makes the recoil of those older lever rifles, with top end loads, a whole different animal from the big bores designed for heavy recoil.
But, we all feel and sense recoil differently and he may be able to fire hundreds of 250gr at 2500fps loads with nary a peep or bruise to show for it.
And, for all of my funnin about them, I would love to get my hands on a shooter grade Model 71 again some day. The model 7600 in 35 Whelen that I bought to fill the empty niche of my 71's is an OK rifle with identical ballistics but is no where NEAR as high a cool factor. And, knowing me, once in my possesion I would once again be throwin 250gr Barnes slugs at around 2500fps again. Just like I do with my lighter weight model 7600.
