For those of you who get recoil induced headaches, try one of the mouth guards that football players use. The kind that you heat in water then bite to fit it to your teeth/mouth.
I used to work for D'Arcy Echols and had to shoot the rifles from the bench. The mouth guard helps.
I have always been abit confused about the "logic" that claims small people get kicked less than big folks. If that were true it wouldn't it be safe to assume that smaller guys would win the heavy weight weight boxing division ?
It has to do with the laws of physics (although the weight of the individual is only one variable among many when discussing the physics of something as subjective as felt recoil).
Basically a heavier person has less "give" to him and absorbs more of the force initially, prior to being "moved" backward by the recoil. A lighter person is moved backwards more easily, allowing the force of the recoil to be somewhat dispersed by the "opposite reaction of the rearward movement. Of course, like anything there is a point of diminishing returns. A small-boned person who weighs 80 lbs would probably suffer more from the effects of heavy recoil than someone who weighs 280 lbs. The larger person's ability to absorb the punishment due to larger bones and more tissue to cushion the blow would offset the fact that they are actually absorbing more force than the lighter person.
Next time you shoot your big bore, brace yourself by leaning against a wall and let loose. Then you will get the "full effect' of the recoil.
I believe having a heavy bone structure (otherwise known as big boned) and being in good physical condition, along with mental toughness, is the key to being able to shoot beg bore rifles without being impacted too much by heavy recoil.
I also believe that every time you shoot a big bore, your body is learning to adapt to the heavy recoil.
As for boxing, if a lighter person could punch as hard as the heavyweights, then he/she would probably be a good match for the heavier fighters.
If you want I can look up the formulas that explain this (I still have my university physic's book).
Yep. That sounds about right. Just before I lay my hands onto one of those heavy kickers I tend to feel as if I'd earlier taken a "physic."
Jim
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
What I find interesting is how physics notwithstanding, recoil seems to disappear entirely when shooting an elephant at 30 yards.
BH63
WHAT!?!?!? Recoil did that?
Excellent job!
Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
What I find interesting is how physics notwithstanding, recoil seems to disappear entirely when shooting an elephant at 30 yards.
BH63
Nice job
Shortly after shooting Gunner's .577, I commented that if an elephant was charging me, and that rifle was lying in front of me, I would have to think about it...
^ Sometimes you do have to chose the lessor of two evils.
And yes the recoil did that. Perhaps that's why I didn't feel any recoil, it was diverted to the elephant and gave him a stroke? I think we discovered a new law of physics. The formula is:
recoil (in ft.lbs) X puckerfactor(squared) + 400 gr solids = dead elephant
Recoil is a detriment to rifle shooting. Find your limit and stay with that cartridge to sway the concern towards repeatable and controlled bullet placement.
You can never count on "one shot" to get it done. John
Last edited by AussieGunWriter; 12/22/15. Reason: sp of course.
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
^ I agree that you have to be able to shoot your gun accurately no matter how impressive the ballistics, but I also believe you have to "Use Enough Gun" for what your shooting.
I suppose that is why many PHs tell stories of clients who refuse to shoot an elephant and asks the PH to kill the animal for them.
If you can't handle the recoil, stick to deer and small game IMO.
I have had a 7 Rem mag that I really prefer not to shoot from a bench and the same may be said for a 30-06 and 270 winchester.
On the other hand shoot any of the mentioned rifles from a prone position and the concerns either go away or are greatly diminished.
To tell the truth anymore the 243 or 6mm Remington along with the 6.5 Grendel bolt action rifles are at the upper end of my really comfortable firearms to shoot.
If you're rifle is comfortable to shoot you are likely to practice more and become a better shot without flinching.
Too much recoil along with lack of hearing protection will inadvertently teach a person to flinch more than most people will admit.
The most painful one I ever shot was a Savage M24, .22 LR over a 20 gauge shotgun. The stock was designed with a monte carlo stock to accommodate the use of a scope on the rifle barrel. Every shot with the shotgun hammered the cheek piece into my cheek and caused extreme pain. I never tried a slug in it a 7/8 oz. shot load was the most I could handle. As others have said, stock fit is everything.
Only if I pull the trigger and do not feel recoil. Aside from that,mathematically I've only experienced approx. 60 to 62 ft/lbs of felt recoil.Though,it is experienced pretty regularly,it comes from my go-to and only hunting rifle. More than 20 or 30 rounds from the bench are plenty. It doesn't seem to affect that day's shooting, but the next day my groups often will nearly double in size. memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
My buddies #1H 375 H&H kicks harder than his 458Win (BRNO), or CZ 416 Rigby, or my 300 WBY Vanguard. But the hardest kicker I have experienced has been a Mossberg 12g with 3 1/2 Turkey loads. That plastic stocked sumbitch hurt!
After owning multiple 45-70s, 444, 7STW, 340 & 270 WEATHERBY and 375hh and 376 Steyr... The worst in recoil was the 340 Weatherby. Intolerable ...brutal!
Yet we continue to crave and buy those hardkicking, hardshooting big bore beauties.
I guess there is just something about being a relatively frail human being caught between a hardkicking rifle and some of the world's most dangerous animals that appeals to our primitive nature.
I also love it when people say recoil doesn't bother them. Go to the range with them and have them shoot that canon a couple times, then load it for them with an empty chamber and watch how much recoil doesn't bother them...
memtb 