Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only how bad is recoil of a 375 from the bench???

I have never shot a big bore or a 375 for that matter from the bench, I see alot of guys are using the weighted rests, I don't use one of those, I can handle the recoil of a 300 mag with no troubles, I am just wondering how bad the recoil is from a 375H&H on a typical varmint benchrest with a rabbit ear bag in the rear.

I found it to be a long slow shove opposed to 300 magnum which is a fast sharp kick.If you can shoot a Remmy 870 With 3 inch slugs you'll have no problem with the 375.

I would rather shoot a 375 off the bench than a 300 Weatherby. Like 7 STW said a heavy push compared to the faster sharper 300 Mag. I used a borrowed Past shooting pad with my new 375 Ruger it helps too, just got a Limbsaver shooting pad for myself haven't had time to try it out yet.

Not too bad. As suggested use a Limbsaver or Past shoulder pad, or just hang a folded up towel over your shoulder. After twenty shots with a 9lb rifle though I have enough.

Anonymoust a/k/a Vigillinus

I don't think the recoil of a 375 H&H should bother you off of the bench, but it's a step up from a 300 H&H, don't know about the 300 Weatherby as I've never had the pleasure of shooting one (but I think I want one!). A 375 was my first big bore and I had no issue shooting 40 rounds from the bench the 2nd time I took it out. Your Limbsaver shoulder pad is a great idea.

Chuck

The .375 is not nearly as bad off the bench as something like a .300 RUM. A big shove compared to the fast whiplash like action of the giant cased .30 calibers

Of course,once the rifle is sighted in there should be no reason to shoot from the bench!

Exactly, I only shoot from the bench for load development and sighting in. I then verify sight in shooting from offhand, kneeling and sitting ... Then we just go blow stuff up (water jugs, cheap soda cans (which we recycle) etc)) at 50 yards, oh I mean practice offhand shooting, while we're waiting for hunting season to roll around ...



Chuck

just pad up good when bench shooting....a thick gun case draped over your shoulder , a sandbag , or the like . A 375 won't really hurt you from field posistions.....maybe excluding prone .

cummins cowboy,
They feel like a 10 gauge shotgun. A big push, I suggest you build a shooting rest that can be fired standing up. We have a bench at the gun club that is the right height for shooting standing resting off a sandbag. It is good for shotgun slugs and big bore rifles, muzzleloaders etc.
An 83 Subaru Station wagon of mine had a 458 Win mag shot off the roof many times. After about 6 rds I called it quits because the groups got bigger and bigger.
whelennut

I've found that your position on the bench can make a big difference. If your stool is too high and you lean way forward, the rifle butt will be against the top of your shoulder, which can be quite unpleasant. If you are in a verticle position, your body will move with the recoil and it won't be nearly as bad. Unfortunately, most of the people that I see at the range are in an uncomfortable, bent over position.

I've found that if the gun is put together in what I'd call an intelligent manner then they're not the end of the world to do some work with.

The more you work with them the easier they are to deal with.

I find that if the barrel is in the .65" at the mzl to .7" at the mzl that really helps a lot. Also if they're in the 8.25 lb plus range that helps a lot as well.

To me, a 375 is a joy to hunt and to shoot.

Dober

Shoot standing at the bench.

Take your bench stool, and place it on top of your bench. Place your sand bags on top of the stool. Rest your rifle on the sandbags. The standing postion will allow the recoil to move your entire body, instead of hammering your shoulder. That is the ONLY way I shoot NE Doubles anymore.

I've had a few 375s and except for a POS Browning Medallion, all were pleasant from the bench, pleasant being in the eye of the beholder of course. I can shoot mine with full blown 300gr Swifts all day from the bench with no issues. It's a stock Model 70. jorge

Shooting 300gr Swifts all day from the bench sounds expensive.

I personally find the .375 to be far less uncomfortable than a souped up .300 Mag off of the bench.

I've shot two from the bench a lot for load development. No problems with a good pad. Make sure to hold the forearm down as it will tend to jump quite a bit.

It is, but when you have 25grand on the line for a 16 day safari, it's chump change. jorge

As posted previously I find it about like a Magnum shotgun load. I would rather shoot my H&H any day rather than shoot 3.5" Turkey loads off a bench to test patterns.