Big bore shooting effects on your body?

[crs]

"It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a 270 where a 300 Win Mag is unnecessary or a 375 where a 416 is not required."
Surprise, surprise!

I might add, with a 20 gauge when a 12 ga is too heavy,

 

[Nyati]

After 50 years of shooting with all kinds of firearms in competition and hunting, I assure you that it does affect your body.

So, I would advise to keep big bore shooting at a minimum, just to keep your proficiency when you have to use it on a DG hunt. Most practice can be done with standard calibers.

And, as @crs wrote, I have yet to see a red partridge who could not be shot with a 20 gauge.

 

[nztimb]

View attachment 327048

Regardless of how much I admired the parts he played, carrying a knife like that is just asking for trouble and puts the lie to having experience anywhere off the movie set.

 

[Ray B]

a couple of twists with the knife in his belt would have caused the removal of his dangling participles, leading to his irresistibility.

 

[BigSteve57]

I have been seeing a retina specialist yearly since 2016 when it was found that I had a tiny swelling in a vein in my right retina. That issue has since gone away thank goodness. Doctors always ask for a medical and social history and under "hobbies" I mentioned competitive rifle shooting & hunting.

The doctor said that recoil from a rifle can contribute to a causing a detached retina. How much recoil? the answer was "it varies" and "Your Mileage May Vary". To be clear that wasn't my issue but he made plain that my shooting & hunting "hobby" made me at increased risk for detached retina.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I have been seeing a retina specialist yearly since 2016 when it was found that I had a tiny swelling in a vein in my right retina. That issue has since gone away thank goodness. Doctors always ask for a medical and social history and under "hobbies" I mentioned competitive rifle shooting & hunting.

The doctor said that recoil from a rifle can contribute to a causing a detached retina. How much recoil? the answer was "it varies" and "Your Mileage May Vary". To be clear that wasn't my issue but he made plain that my shooting & hunting "hobby" made me at increased risk for detached retina.

Did your doctor say why or how recoil could cause a detached retina?

 

[BigSteve57]

Did your doctor say why or how recoil could cause a detached retina?

The subject came up in a conversation about overall lifestyle and risks to eye health. We didn't have a lengthy discussion about detached retina since that wasn't my specific issue...my recollection is that any force to the head was a potential problem. I'm assuming that the impulse-like force occurs mainly through the cheek weld but that's my conclusion; the doc did not say that specifically. He did say he advises anyone that already has a detached retina not to engage in rifle shooting if it involves significant recoil. I dunno what he would have told me if I had said I box for a hobby.

I'm also guessing that it's complicated, like a lot of things regarding one's health. Recoil or anything causing jarring to the head is just one of many risk factors for detached retina AFAIK. Others are diabetes, aging, cataract surgery and genetics. Add recoil to the mix and maybe you have that final factor. With someone with all those issues you'll never figure out which combinationmostly did it.

 

[Ridge Runner]

BigSteve57,

Thanks for your latest extended response.

 

[BigSteve57]

I decided to do some research on detached retina and rifle recoil using Duck Duck Go and it returned a link right back here!!! There's a AH thread on this!!! GEESH!
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/recoil-your-retina.14724/

 

[bruce moulds]

there is a school of thought that masturbation as a teenager can cause blindness too.
bruce.

 

[BigSteve57]

there is a school of thought that masturbation as a teenager can cause blindness too.
bruce.

I thought it caused hair to grow on your palms.

 

[bruce moulds]

that too.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I decided to do some research on detached retina and rifle recoil using Duck Duck Go and it returned a link right back here!!! There's a AH thread on this!!! GEESH!
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/recoil-your-retina.14724/

More great info.....especially for us older folks.....and who like us elders didn't do......hopefully the young and dumb will do as we say and not do as we did......yeah right, like that will ever happen....will take better care of their health and bodies so that they will be in better shape when they get to be our age.

If I knew I would be in the (bad) shape I am in now...back then....I would have done ten times as much, 20 times as fast, to justify my aches and pains. (We lived every minute like it was going to be our last! We worked hard, trained harder, and played even harder!)

 

[perttime]

Some advocate using the big bore together with a 22LR that is dimensioned as similar as feasible. Something like a Ruger 77/22, for example. Shoot a "moderate" number of shots through the big bore - and then shoot the 22LR to ensure you are not developing a flinch, and to get more trigger time.

 

[BryceM]

Great thread on a great topic. I work as an orthopedic surgeon and I do rotator cuff and other shoulder work. I'm also getting ready for a trip to hunt buffalo in June. Before my first safari, I decided to actually master the .300s. I probably put 1000 rounds of .300 WBY downrange over the course of a few months. It took some doing, and some bad-habit breaking, but eventually I learned how to shoot from sticks reasonably well. Learning from someone who already knew how to do it would have saved me a lot of time and a barrel. It came in handy when the kudu wasn't cooperating and the only available shot late in the evening was off the sticks at 250 yards. That isn't so easy!!!! but it worked out.

I fell on some rocks during a mountain zebra hunt a few years later and messed up my right shoulder. I was to scared to have it really checked out but I resumed a steady diet of shooting. Somewhere along the way I developed calcific tendonitis in my rotator cuff. Pain! The MRI at that time showed the problem and fortunately it healed with enough rest. Shooting was out of the question for many months. It finally got better, and I started shooting a suppressed .300 WM as my go-to rifle. I could probably put 100 rounds through that off the bench and not even feel it.

More recently, I've been back to the CZ 550 .416 Rigby shooting 400gr TSX of the sticks. I can do three or four rounds per session with no trouble. I use a .22-250 or a .243 for 90% of my work and do a few paper plates at 50, 75, and 100 yards with the big gun. Learning how to be steady on the sticks is also huge. I probably dry fire 10 times for each actual shot. Good follow-through, being solid and steady, and making a deliberate first shot are pretty important. Most of what I'm doing is focusing on making one good shot. Always practice with a full magazine, run the safety, work the bolt, and make sure everything cycles well. You should practice like you play and play like you practice.

Neck problems and retinal problems are real, but shoulder issues are also incredibly common. A steady diet of even 300 magnums can result in cumulative damage. A good stock fit and good technique really helps, and when possible use light recoiling stuff for practice. The magic sauce for PG and USA stuff for me is a suppressed 300.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I don't think repeated shooting of those calibers cause so much damage (possibly the 458 but certainly not the rather pleasant shooting 375.) These are just the beginning of larger caliber rifles. It's the 577-600-700s that are legendary for causing serious shoulder issues, et. al. Read up on recoil energy imparted to your body in Kevin Robertson's books. Many rifles only impart 60 or so ft-lbs of E but others are considerably N of 100. The .375 is quite tame, IMO. Hot handloads in 416, 458 and up can be quite punishing as well. The higher velocity guns (i.e. 460 Wby) impart more energy in less time to your bod, whereas a lot of the 400-450-470 NEs are more of a slower push (and as a result more of a pleasure to shoot.) Had both the 375 and 458 WM and never an issue. I could see how repeated shooting of hot handloads in 416 and up could be punishing. 'Dialed my 416 to 2450ish Vs using 400s and it's fine. Once dialed in, you're taking a few shots to check sight in at home and afar, and hopefully 1 (or 2 if a finishing shot is needed) shot at intended targets when quite excited to do so. True BIG Bores can be damaging (why many famous Hunters dropped them in-favor of 264s, 7s, 3006, etc.) when shooting a LOT. I don't believe in using "lead sleds" and the like, as it's not a very good simulation of your performance shooting your weapon of choice! Use the 375. It's easy shooting, more versatile and a better performer than the 0.3" shorter 458 WM case. I could see repeated shooting of the Lott/Wyatt/Ackley 458s smarting a bit, unless gun weight, butt surface area, best recoil absorbers were factored into the gun design. Have fun!

 

[Hunt anything]

I have developed degenerative disc between my c3&4 and c6&7, woke up in mid February with a sore neck it got progressively worse over a couple of weeks and went and had X-rays. Almost became non functional, learning to live with the pain and shot a feral hog with my .375 Ruger this past weekend. I can only think that shooting up to 2 cases of 3.5” 12 gauge shotgun shells from November- January hunting waterfowl for 30+ years in awkward positions may have contributed to this. Sorry not big bore rifle but close to equivalent recoil, but I won’t stop shooting my .416’s , just have to live with the pain I guess. Now it’s mostly cost that limits my shooting even though I think shooting more than 3 or 4 times off of the sticks per session is counter productive.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I have developed degenerative disc between my c3&4 and c6&7, woke up in mid February with a sore neck it got progressively worse over a couple of weeks and went and had X-rays. Almost became non functional, learning to live with the pain and shot a feral hog with my .375 Ruger this past weekend. I can only think that shooting up to 2 cases of 3.5” 12 gauge shotgun shells from November- January hunting waterfowl for 30+ years in awkward positions may have contributed to this. Sorry not big bore rifle but close to equivalent recoil, but I won’t stop shooting my .416’s , just have to live with the pain I guess. Now it’s mostly cost that limits my shooting even though I think shooting more than 3 or 4 times off of the sticks per session is counter productive.

Agreed. Didn't think of it until you mentioned! Some of the heaviest recoiling guns ever fired were (typ American, too lightweight) shotguns firing slugs, as a kid/teen! 450ish gr slugs (or the 3.5 heavy shot waterfowl loads) going 1800 fps out one end, and the fallout imparted to your body on the other! The 375-416s (properly weighted) are much more pleasant to shoot!!! ty for mentioning. I've heard of people w/ (r.) shoulder issues, switching to (l.) handed guns, as their eye dominance allowed it (because they didn't want to give up their passion!) 'Also a lot of people that shot their large Wbys a bit much and had messed up shoulders late in life.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Agreed. Didn't think of it until you mentioned! Some of the heaviest recoiling guns ever fired were (typ American, too lightweight) shotguns firing slugs, as a kid/teen! 450ish gr slugs (or the 3.5 heavy shot waterfowl loads) going 1800 fps out one end, and the fallout imparted to your body on the other! The 375-416s (properly weighted) are much more pleasant to shoot!!! ty for mentioning. I've heard of people w/ (r.) shoulder issues, switching to (l.) handed guns, as their eye dominance allowed it (because they didn't want to give up their passion!) 'Also a lot of people that shot their large Wbys a bit much and had messed up shoulders late in life.

I have developed degenerative disc between my c3&4 and c6&7, woke up in mid February with a sore neck it got progressively worse over a couple of weeks and went and had X-rays. Almost became non functional, learning to live with the pain and shot a feral hog with my .375 Ruger this past weekend. I can only think that shooting up to 2 cases of 3.5” 12 gauge shotgun shells from November- January hunting waterfowl for 30+ years in awkward positions may have contributed to this. Sorry not big bore rifle but close to equivalent recoil, but I won’t stop shooting my .416’s , just have to live with the pain I guess. Now it’s mostly cost that limits my shooting even though I think shooting more than 3 or 4 times off of the sticks per session is counter productive.

Shoulder injuries just don't come from the various heavy recoil of firearms, but also from repetitive bow shooting, especially from shooting 60-80 draw weights. Seems now even the lighter draw weight archery competitors using 45-50 pound draw weights are either having to reduce thier competition draw weight down to the 40 pound draw weight and switch to crossbows for hunting.

As we get older we all start to feel the effects of our youth whether it's the repetitive shooting of our heavy recoiling firearms and/or heavy 60+ pound draw weight hunting bows. Add tinnitus from not using hearing protection while hunting (or at the range) with firearms.

 

[mdwest]

for me its a combination of factors... mostly time, money, and pain tolerance

when I hit the range, I typically go with several firearms (4-6)... I generally want to get some trigger time in with a variety of platforms, calibers, etc... and only have so much time to spend shooting.. so that limits how much time I can spend on each weapon.. (I'll spend a couple of hours shooting... but if I have 6 rifles, that limits me to about 10-15 minutes with each if you factor in walks down range to change out and more closely inspect targets, etc..)

money is also a consideration.. I reload.. but only with premium components... a box of 375 and/or 416 isnt cheap.. and then factor in the other 3-5 calibers I am likely shooting that day, a couple of hours can easily be $300+ without trying too hard.. do that 18-20 times a year and things get a little pricey..

and then there is the discomfort consideration... Im a big guy (6'4" @ 255lbs at the moment), absorb recoil well, etc.. but Im also not afraid to be honest... when you combine 15-20 .375 H&H with 20 .308 with 20 7x57 with a mag out of the .458 SOCOM, and a box of 300 H&H... she shoulder gets a little spent... when its no longer fun and I can feel myself not being all that interested in pulling the trigger again because I'm tired and/or the shoulder is starting to get sore... its time to wrap things up and go home.. theres no sense in wasting ammo if Im not really all that in to it anymore or developing a flinch response because the shoulder strikes are getting to be a little much...