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Shooting from a benchrest, a 7 RM is fine, a .300 WSM gets my attention and may push my shoulder back far enough to sometimes loosen my palm from the grip but is still OK. However a .300 Win is like another plateau, bothersome, and makes me realize a few more shots and I'll have a sore shoulder, but I'm a small frame guy.

PJ

ATTA boy !! I don’t know personally ANYONE that is 82 YO and still shooting
CF rifles much less “ANYTHING” close to a 375 HH !!!!!!!!!!!

You Go Guy ! WOW

Jerry

Was at the range today with a SIL, getting him ready for elk season. He had a (1903A3) custom-built .300WM his had belonged to his grandfather and a Savage .30-06. I took my Ruger rifles in .280 Rem, .300WM and .338WM.

I think something went wonky in the Weaver scope on his .300. It would shoot a couple shots close together, then a 8” 3-shot group. We didn’t have time to sort it out so I had him shoot my Ruger .300WM. Rang the steel at 400 and 500, barely missed the steel at 600. He will be taking it elk hunting and we’ll figure out the problem with his rifle later.

Really enjoyed shooting my .280 Rem with a 150AB @ 2898fps. Ringing the steel was child play at 400 and 500 while 600 was a bit iffy due to the wind. About 19 ft-lbs recoil for the .280 Rem, 28 for the .300WM with 175g LRX and 32 for the .338WM with a 225g AB.

All the Ruger rifles were shooting fine but the lower recoil of the .280 sure made it more pleasant to shoot. While my SIL carts my .300WM around the mountains, the lighter and lighter recoiling .280 Rem is what I’ll be carrying.

Recoil? Design and fit of a stock was never made clearer to me when I built a .35 Whelen for a guy, and shot it same day, same loads with my own .35. Mine was built in the '60's, somewhat using the principle of Roy Weatherby's designs, minus the chrome wheels and pinstriping. The one I built for the guy was a so called "Classic straight comb". Put a Pachmayr on the new one, mine had an old hard rubber pad. A difference of night and day between the comfort level of the two rifles. Too bad the the old triangular forend and full comb slope away style has fallen out of style, they are a joy to shoot on a kicker, although many here would deny the Whelen is a kicker.

For me it depends on the recoil pad. My .270 has a plastic recoil pad on it that thumps me when I shoot it.
But I shot my buddies model 70 300 wm which has a nice squishy rubber pad and the recoil gave no problems. Same goes for another friends 1895 45/70 with a pachmyer pad on it.

I have a Ruger #1 in 338WM that had the old hard thin pad. It was a brute to shoot. I was catching my self flinching a lot. The recoil plus the trigger makes that rilfe hard to shoot, so I really had to focus. I managed 32 rounds last weekend and that was painful. I did manage some 1" groups with factory Barnes Ammo. My handloads were a different story, but I am working on that. I just put a Limbsaver on it the other day and give it another try next week.

I had another 338WM that had a muzzle brake and that was easy to shoot. I could go through 60 rounds without a hitch.

A 308 is easy peasy, a 30-06 is not bad, never shot a 300 win mag, but that 338 win mag is tough.

scoony

A LOT has to do with Stock & Recoil Pad.

I <HAD> a Ruger 77 OG tanger in 338 WM....same thin red pad.....

WORST kicking rifle I've ever shot. It hurt every time I shot it.
My 8 RM actually did NOT hurt, shooting 5 grs less bullet 220 vs 225 PLUS more powder PLUS more vel.

That 'concrete' red pad is a FAUX recoil pad aka FAKE.

It went down the road so FAST that it kicked up dust. grin.

You are not ALONE

Jerry

I had a CZ hogback in 375 H&H that battered my cheek pretty good. A friend now owns that rifle. Does not bother him.

The hardest recoiling rifles I have ever benched were a 375 H&H and a maxed out 45-70. I didn't enjoy it at all. They induced recoil headaches from hell. I could force myself not to flinch though and I got obnoxious groups with the 45-70. I have had 5 shooting shoulder surgeries. A 6.5 PRC is the hardest hitting chambering I have now, and I don't see any need to go beyond that.

We used to have to qualify with a Remington 870. After 25 rounds of full-house 00 buck, I was ready to tap out.

i hunt with a 257 Weatherby Mag. i can still handle a 300 Win mag. and that`s my limit now days ,i also have a Savage 220 20 gauge bolt shotgun we use in the slug zone i no longer ever want to shoot this shotgun the recoil is just nasty i seems worse than my 458 Lott rifle .

I have a Steyr Prohunter in .30-06.
Heavy rifle, got the softer pad for it.
It bumps, but aint bad at all.
I'd call it comfy.

Worst recoil experience..........Mossberg 835.

Tried 2 3/4" and 3" slugs, sabots...........shot like total crap.
First the rail didn't converge with the bore, so ran out of scope adj.
Fixed that and it still sucked.
Rough bore.
Polished that a bit after cleaning and still sucked.
Finally was usable w 3" reg WW fosters.
No 3.5" slugs at the time.
2 days............90 slugs from the bench.
Ouchy.

Took the 541T HB from the cabinet and was checking something, hurt to even shoulder it LOL
Deep down in the joint, just sore as heck.

Killed a couple deer and sold it.

I was shooting one of my 308's this afternoon with ammo approximating LC M852 Match rounds. In that rifle (Rem 700 XCR CT) it's still a fun all day shooter.

3.5 inch turkey loads are just plain brutal when testing patterns. Never seem to notice when hunting.

I’ll go seconds (or thirds) on the 3.5” mossberg with turkey loads as being the worst recoil experience I’ve had.

A light coach gun double with a knife edge comb and hard buttplate is pretty rough with turkey magnums.

All the magnums are gone, not pleasant anymore and I don't really need the extra power. I have one "big" rifle left. A 9.3X62 CZ 550. After 10 rounds from the bench I am done, I will start to flinch. In the field I don't even really notice the recoil. Then again I'm not taking more than two shots at the most. I will say I have never had a deer go more than 20 yards when hit with the rifle. Light 232g bullets.

Another nasty one was the browning a bolt slug. 3” slugs were no fun. A limbsaver helped ... a little.

Back when I was 28 yrs old I shot my then new 340 weatherby , 20 rounds off a bench rest. My nose started bleeding on my way home and ended up at a doctors office with whiplash.. guess who sold a weatherby. For several weeks after I was all healed up,I was flinching with a 10/22 ruler.

Yep. I was shooting Cowboy Action several years ago, and borrowed a double coach gun for one string. I loaded two high brass #4 shells because that was all I had. Rushing through the stage, I hit both triggers at the same time. It rang my bell something fierce. That was the first time in my life I've actually been stunned. I wouldn't do that again on a bet.