Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Worst kicking gun you ever shot.

Mossberg bolt gun in 7mm Mag. That sumbitch HURT!

Gifted new, but I sold it off with the remaining half box of shells. Bad stock design and with a hard recoil plate, but I've had little use for 7Mags since. I know- not the calibers fault, but there is nothing a 7 Mag can do in my world that a less harsh '06 won't, or a 300 Mag won't do better with the same felt recoil as the 7 Mag. I'm not recoil sensitive within reason. I handle my Ruger 338 mag up to 10-15 bench shots, then I give it a break for a day before I do develop a problem.

That's my opinion, and you're not changing it after 40 years! Probably that first experience has made me mentally recoil sensitive to the 7 Mag. Never liked but one that I've shot over the decades.

I did once try to buy a customer out of a Husquavarna in 7 Mag after working on it. I'd have kept that one. Sweet handling/ sweet recoil, and a sub MOA, near one-hole shooter. I'm prejudiced, but I'm not completely foolish! Arguably.

A 458 Lott and 338-378 both on #1 Rugers. #1 's don't fit me very well for some reason but those cartridges have substantial recoil an any rifle.

Yep, I shot a 12 gauge Mossberg with 3 1/2 inch slugs...once.

Boat paddle Ruger's in any of the magnums with heavy bullets and slow powders are no slouch in the "ouch" department either.

My Savage 110 .338 Win Mag was a creampuff. It was a heavy rifle with a laminate stock, but I've had .308's kick worse.

Had a Savage 99 in .308 that kicked as bad as any rifle I ever shot.

10 GA single shot with slugs. Like shooting a bullwhip. Fierce, to say the least.

Quigley shot with s 50-140 Sharps, but at only 200 yards. I was not ready for how light the set trigger was. I did not have a firm grip on it and did not have it in my shoulder properly. The new owner took it to Fairbanks. Hope I never see that gun again! I did hit the bucket though.

my 870 supermag with 3.5" superx turkey loads. we call it "the headache gun".

Ruger 1B 45-70. Only weighed 7 1/4 lbs. Used the Hornady 50K loads for the 500gr soft point. I nicknamed the gun Buster.

M-71 Winchester, 200 gr bullet, 63 grns of 4350. Shooting at deer 175 yds from the prone position and not quite settled into a proper position due to deer wandering. Killed deer and nearly myself. Collar bone (mine) seemed to be severed.......it was a warm day in SD, so no thick jacket. The stars stayed misaligned for a time.

I had, emphasis had a 300 Weatherby that for some reason kicked like a government mule. I shot harder kicking stuff but it was like hit by a short straight right cross and just snapped me every time. I named it the Chiropractor because my back popped the first time I'd pull the trigger every session.

Mossberg 500 12 gauge with 3" Copper Solid Slugs

A 3.5" turkey load from a Remington or Benelli pump are tied for worst. A close 2nd place finisher is a Marlin 1895 with hot loads.

An Ex buddy's 12 Ga. 3" mag slugs

Next in line is my Kel-Tec fold up Backpacking 223
it is like a knife is cutting you.
Not pleasant at all.

I do not mind heavy recoil it just needs to be distributed properly for me.

Two come to mind, A Fox SXS in 16g first time duck hunting, had "chopper" mitts on, touched off both triggers/barrels. Went over backwards in the boat.. Did get the duck I was shooting at.. Was black and blue for weeks and did not want to shoot that Fox again. Second is my first deer rifle, a Bishop stocked 98K Mauser in 8X57. Must be the stock fit, but that SOB hurts every time..

M2 HB, but as it was on a tripod it did not hurt.

I have an absolutely beautiful Ruger #1B in 300 Win Mag that I am good for about 6 rounds. It makes me a believer in 243.

Single shot 50 BMG.

.500 A-Square

Ruger M77 paddle stock in .30-06.

Once while using a buddy's Ithaca featherweight, I accidentally scooped up some debit in the barrel.
Upon firing at an incoming mallard the barrel exploded, the recoil was tremendous and i really didn't notice the barrel at first.....my buddy hollered from across the pond "What the hell was that?"

I bought him a new barrel, but got damn lucky nobody was hurt or killed.