Shooting a 416 Rigby

John J · Sep 19, 2017

I'm picking up a CZ in 416 Rigby on Wednesday. I have been searching all over on how to properly handle the recoil from this rifle. I have fired one a few times with poor form as the rifle came up and to the right, so I know I wasn't square. Any advice you can give is much appreciated. Thanks

375 Ruger Fan · Sep 19, 2017

For sighting in and barrel break-in, I'd recommend getting a lead sled and about 25 lbs of weight. Do not overload the lead sled with more weight. Once the rifle (and I assume a scope) are zeroed, shoot off of sticks. If you want to shoot more from the bench, a more upright position allows your body to have more give to it and makes the recoil more tolerable.

Another useful item for extended range sessions is an Evo-shield shirt.
http://www.evoshield.com/en-us/shooting

Dr Ray · Sep 19, 2017

375 Ruger Fan said:
For sighting in and barrel break-in, I'd recommend getting a lead sled and about 25 lbs of weight. Do not overload the lead sled with more weight. Once the rifle (and I assume a scope) are zeroed, shoot off of sticks. If you want to shoot more from the bench, a more upright position allows your body to have more give to it and makes the recoil more tolerable.

Another useful item for extended range sessions is an Evo-shield shirt.
http://www.evoshield.com/en-us/shooting

View attachment 202901

Good advice

John J · Sep 19, 2017

I will check that shirt out thanks. I wasn't planning on benching the gun till I was used to it, and load development. Shooting off hand and off sticks in the beginning. It's a good jump up in recoil compared to my 375 H&H. Any tips on shooting form? Just stay square to the target so the rifle comes up and back. Not to either side.

Excessexpress · Sep 19, 2017

Load your own, start with lighter loads and step up slowly. It's a heavy rifle but work up steadily and you'll be fine. A past pad will help a lot.

I've never used a sled so can't comment, but you are the weakest link here, so train yourself most of all.

Shootist43 · Sep 19, 2017

How much does your rifle weigh? My 416 Rigby in a Ruger No. 1 at 11.5 lbs. is challenging but manageable. I have a broken collar bone and need something to reduce the felt impact on my shoulder. My rifle wears a Limbsaver Recoil Pad and I wear a Paast Recoil Shield. The net results are shots on call. The 40 cals. take some getting used to. Per the advice given in earlier posts, ease into it. When pushing 400 gr. bullets with
+/- a hundred grains of powder, something is going to move.

ChrisG · Sep 19, 2017

the Rigby is going to have some thump. My .416 Ruger is close in recoil because it is considerably lighter than most Rigbys (8.25 lbs as opposed to 10-11lbs.) the best advice I can give you is to lean into the rifle from a standing position and pull it really tight into your shoulder. If the comb rises as it gets closer to the buttstock (something weatherby's were known for) you could weld your cheek to it. If it is a straight style "American" stock you can press your cheek up to it but not too hard or you'll get a knock to the cheekbone. Once it is bound in tight an you are kind of leaning into the gun, the last thing I do is to grip it tight with both hands on the checkering, twisting slightly toward my trigger finger with the rear hand and the opposite direction with the support arm. You want the gun bound tight and under tension but not so much that it causes you to shake. The recoil will still smack you but it will move your whole body so that the energy is dissipated throughout your upper body, not just your shoulder.

This is Ron Spomer shooting a Rigby, ".416 for Big Game" I think his technique is about spot on.

What you don't want to do is something like this:

If this guy was shooting anything bigger than a .338 Win mag he would probably have a painful sting on his shoulder and may even be pushed off balance.

Mcameron · Sep 19, 2017

essentially the way i shoot big bore rifles is i stand with my shoulders square to the target, and my feet in a position just like im about to throw a hard punch. the stock is placed more on my chest and less in my shoulder pocket......ide say the toe of the butt is about 3" above my nipple

this places more of the recoil into my chest, and less onto my shoulder, allowing the spine to absorb the recoil without creating a moment, which if you are a right handed shooter, will throw the muzzle up and to the right

John J · Sep 19, 2017

That helps. I guess I could have worded it better. I was looking for shooting technique or form. My question came from the big bore addiction thread where someone spoke about handling larger and larger cartridges.

TTundra · Sep 19, 2017

Some good advice of above from @ChrisG . You will also develop your own style as you become more comfortable. One of the most important aspects of shooting big bores, is to shoot them often. the more you shoot, the better and calmer/relaxed you get. pay attention at first to your stance as you do not want it narrow, but wider and offset. I too shoot a CZ550 in 416 Rigby and enjoy shooting it. Just don't fight the recoil, rather work with it in your stance and follow through.

ChrisG · Sep 19, 2017

TTundra said:
Some good advice of above from @ChrisG . You will also develop your own style as you become more comfortable. One of the most important aspects of shooting big bores, is to shoot them often. the more you shoot, the better and calmer/relaxed you get. pay attention at first to your stance as you do not want it narrow, but wider and offset. I too shoot a CZ550 in 416 Rigby and enjoy shooting it. Just don't fight the recoil, rather work with it in your stance and follow through.

This is a great point. I probably shoot 50-100 full house, 5,000+ ft.lb .416 rounds per year and 150-200 375 h&h so that when an animal walks in front of me, I'm confident that shooting the rifle is habit and conditioning. When you get buck fever, your conscious mind takes a snooze and if there is no conditioning, your instinct takes over and that usually results in a miss or worse, a wounded animal

Also recoil is like dark beer, initially it isn't something you would think anyone would tolerate, but you develop a taste for it over time. Eventually a .30-06 will feel like a .223 to you.

The next time you're at the range and a big "macho" guy is dramatizing how tough he's gotta be to put more than ten rounds through his 7mm Mag to his friends, and how it is basically the hammer of Thor. You can calmly sit down at the other end and drop in a panatella sized hunk of brass and lead and sit there and shoot as calm as can be. They'll likely notice the mortar shell impacts in the berm downrange and meander over to see your howitzer and notice the massize empty cases. Then you can calmly reply " oh it's my large-medium bore. A .416". When just the bullet weighs more than most guys loaded cartridges and the shell sends it downrange at more than Mach 2, your always going to attract some attention at the public range.

The longer I spend on Africa Hunting the more and more I feel like a .375 H&H is really a tiny gun.

PHOENIX PHIL · Sep 19, 2017

I would add that if you have a sling, use it. Wrap your forearm around the sling. You need the sling to be snug once your forearm is wrapped in it. It's easier to do standing up, but you can do this on the bench too. Doing this greatly reduces muzzle jump and felt recoil for me.

375 Ruger Fan · Sep 19, 2017

Regarding Ron Spomer's technique: I thought placing the barrel on the sticks, rest, sand bags, etc is a no-no. I thought proper technique is either putting the fore stock or your hand on the sticks.

ChrisG · Sep 19, 2017

375 Ruger Fan said:
Regarding Ron Spomer's technique: I thought placing the barrel on the sticks, rest, sand bags, etc is a no-no. I thought proper technique is either putting the fore stock or your hand on the sticks.

He's not resting the rifle on the sticks. If you look closely, the barrel is in front of the sticks. He had taken a resting shot (on the forend) from the sticks and then hopped off for two follow ups. This is a still frame from one of his off hand follow up shots but I thought it captured a good big-bore shooting stance very well.

John J · Sep 19, 2017

ChrisG said:
This is a great point. I probably shoot 50-100 full house, 5,000+ ft.lb .416 rounds per year and 150-200 375 h&h so that when an animal walks in front of me, I'm confident that shooting the rifle is habit and conditioning. When you get buck fever, your conscious mind takes a snooze and if there is no conditioning, your instinct takes over and that usually results in a miss or worse, a wounded animal

Also recoil is like dark beer, initially it isn't something you would think anyone would tolerate, but you develop a taste for it over time. Eventually a .30-06 will feel like a .223 to you.

The next time you're at the range and a big "macho" guy is dramatizing how tough he's gotta be to put more than ten rounds through his 7mm Mag to his friends, and how it is basically the hammer of Thor. You can calmly sit down at the other end and drop in a panatella sized hunk of brass and lead and sit there and shoot as calm as can be. They'll likely notice the mortar shell impacts in the berm downrange and meander over to see your howitzer and notice the massize empty cases. Then you can calmly reply " oh it's my large-medium bore. A .416". When just the bullet weighs more than most guys loaded cartridges and the shell sends it downrange at more than Mach 2, your always going to attract some attention at the public range.

The longer I spend on Africa Hunting the more and more I feel like a .375 H&H is really a tiny gun.

My large medium bore

never thought of it like that. It was always big to me. I appreciate all the help and advice. Don't remember who or where it was here but I have seen that 505 Gibbs up at that Ft Collins gun shop. It's a beautiful rifle...baby steps

stug · Sep 19, 2017

If handloading then load down to 2100-2200fps and practice with them. Use them to learn the muscle memory of the rifle. Shoot the odd full power load, but not too many.

308Win · Sep 19, 2017

I'm no big bore expert, but one thing I've learned from target rifle shooting is that dry firing is one of the best ways to learn to manage recoil once you have a sound position. You learn to operate the trigger smoothly since a jerk or a flinch isn't hidden by recoil.

Even better is ball-and-dummy drills. Make some dummy rounds and mix them in with your live ammo. Then practice. If you're jerking the trigger or anticipating recoil, there's no missing it.

IdaRam · Sep 19, 2017

Only think I can think to add, don't over do it on your first few times out. Take another gun or two along to shoot. Too much padding is no good, but a light jacket or vest like you might shoot trap with will help take a bit of the sting out of the recoil. If your form is correct you should be able to shoot a few rounds off the sticks without too much trouble. If you shoot often, but not too much at a time you'll be an old pro in no time

Have fun!

CAustin · Sep 19, 2017

Lot of go advic eand you should try it all to see what really works for you.

375 Ruger Fan · Sep 20, 2017

ChrisG said:
He's not resting the rifle on the sticks. If you look closely, the barrel is in front of the sticks. He had taken a resting shot (on the forend) from the sticks and then hopped off for two follow ups. This is a still frame from one of his off hand follow up shots but I thought it captured a good big-bore shooting stance very well.

Wow, sort of an optical illusion. OK, so Ron is not on the sticks, but I think his right elbow should be higher.

Shooting a 416 Rigby

John J

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John J

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