Recoil Question 458 LOTT

[colorado]

From 18 rounds off the bench with a 460 Weatherby Magnum with a T-shirt for padding.

It doesn't hurt that much. Really; only minimal tenderness.

This was the first day after I did the same thing with my 500 Jeffery. It gets way more colorful after a couple of days. You'll be fine. Don't shoot your rifle for a few weeks, dry fire and shoot less rounds per session particularly off of the bench! You don't want to develop a flinch.

 

[Grumulkin]

Really, it doesn't hurt much. In fact, I've had a sore right shoulder with limited range of motion for several months. After shooting the 460 Weatherby, it feels better! I'm thinking I broke up some adhesions. I'm ready to do it again as soon as I have an unencumbered day off.

As for developing a flinch; I don't think so. If it hasn't happened after all these years of shooting things like the 375 H&H Magnum the 378 Weatherby Magnum, the 458 Lott, etc., it's probably not going to happen.

It's kind of funny. When I first started shooting a 308 Winchester, I thought the recoil was significant. Now that seems a bit like a pipsqueak to me; even the .308 caliber magnums are pretty much like nothing to me. Then there was the 44 Remington Magnum handgun in the post Dirty Harry days; I though that was really something. Now even a 500 S&W Magnum doesn't seem bad to me.

 

[colorado]

Yup after shooting five rounds through the 500, our 375 H&H feels like a 30-06. As pretty and functional as the Ruger No. 1's are, heard a lot of stories about how hard they kick. Must be their weight or stock design. Always wanted one in a buffalo (old west) caliber like 45-110.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

A few years ago, I bought an EvoShield padded shirt (http://www.amazon.com/EvoShield-Protective-Recoil-Shooting-Shirt/dp/B006HCROYK ) for use during extended range sessions. EvoShield makes all sorts of specially sports padding for football, baseball, etc. The shirt is similar to an UnderArmor shirt and it is suggested to get one size smaller than normal so it fits really snug. The pad comes in a vacuum packed foil packet. You put the shirt on, then open the foil packet and take the pad and place it in the shoulder pouch. The pad will custom mold to your shoulder in about 10 minutes and become rigid. They also suggest mounting a gun to your should during this time and create a bit of a cavity on the outer side of the pad for the butt of the stock. The nice thing about this system is the pad is fairly thin so it doesn't change the LOP too much. It essentially doubles or triples the surface area acting on your shoulder, compared to the butt of the stock. So while the amount of impact is the same, it spread out over a bigger area. While it helps, I usually go with the Lead Sled for extended shooting sessions on my big guns.

 

[larry4831]

I never shoot without padding anymore. I used to have a .378 weatherby mag that I shot a lot. Severe arthritis and bone chips in the shoulder. I wish I had been smarter.

 

[oscar1975]

I certainly see the cartridge 458 Lott and I do not look like much . I have the Ceska 550 Safari Magnum but I have not thrown to him. I'm a mess.

Óscar.

 

[CTDolan]

I never shoot without padding anymore. I used to have a .378 weatherby mag that I shot a lot. Severe arthritis and bone chips in the shoulder. I wish I had been smarter.

Larry, I once had a 378 Weatherby as well. It is easily the most wicked recoiling rifle I've ever shot/owned, worse than even the 460 Weatherby.

 

[Bruce]

I agree with Matt here... padding upsets the process. I like to stick to the same conditions that I would be hunting in... shirt and that's it. Obviously, bench firing is a bastard in all cases and you need to divide up the time intervals between bouts of rounds.... as mentioned by others.
I find after a prolonged shoot from the bench, you tend to get maybe complacent, lose your firm grip on the stock etc and then the recoil knocks you. We never going to shoot 40 rounds in an hour while hunting, so why do it on the bench?? PRACTICE yes... test pout various loads yes...but so many rounds in a confined time frame... NO!!

 

[larry4831]

no offense intended i disagree with every one on the padding suggestions. i want as little between my rifles stock and my skeletal frame as possible. ive been shooting around 15-20 rounds from a 505 Gibbs every Sunday for the last few months. just today i fired 30 505 Gibbs cartridges divided between two rifles and another 12 rounds from a 416 RM. in my opinion soft pads such as jackets, coats, and any other overly soft pads allow the rifle to accelerate before hitting your shoulder which is just going to make it worse. now im not sure about the PAST recoil pad because ive never used one and maybe it works but again i dont like having something between me and the stock.

a few things id recommend you do to prevent this injury in the future. first, stop shooting from the bench unless your going to use a lead sled (i love lead sleds for big bores). second, spread the shooting out a little more. shooting 25 rounds in one hour is too much for my liking, i broke up the 42 cartridges i fired today over 3 hours. not to mention that shooting quickly heats your barrel up which can change the POI which means if you adjust your optic for a hot barrel it will be off when your barrel is cold.

-matt

I won't use a lead sled, I've heard stories of cracking stocks using them

 

[bassasdaindia]

I won't use a lead sled, I've heard stories of cracking stocks using them

i use one for my big rifles , IMHO they save you money with shooting less rounds. I am however not a fan of them with regards to accuracy. I am of the opinion that they effect accuracy especially in the smaller calibers.

 

[matt85]

I won't use a lead sled, I've heard stories of cracking stocks using them

ive shot some serious hardware from a lead sled and ive yet to have a rifle stock show any kind of damage from it. i actually broke my lead sled recently firing numerous 600gr bullets at 2300fps from my 505 Gibbs. its currently waiting on replacement parts that ive been too lazy to order.

-matt

 

[CTDolan]

A good stock should be able to take it, yes, but some may suffer (notably, factory work which is not quite as it should be...which would likely fail in time, anyway).

 

[matt85]

A good stock should be able to take it, yes, but some may suffer (notably, factory work which is not quite as it should be...which would likely fail in time, anyway).

better to have a faulty stock break at the range then in the field.

-matt

 

[CTDolan]

better to have a faulty stock break at the range then in the field.

-matt

Exactly!

That's the issue/concern I have with wooden stocks. At my price point, pretty much none can be trusted (in the heavy hitters, anyway). I have imagined being on a fly-in hunt in the Alaskan wilderness and being faced with a cracked stock (because I know someone who was). Not fun.

 

[8x68]

I won't use a lead sled, I've heard stories of cracking stocks using them

Stock cracks because there is too much ballast weight added to the sled. The sled can't "recoil" properly and the stock takes the hit. I use it for my 450 Rigby and have 75lbs of shot on it. That is the max one should use according to a conversation I had with the Caldwell rep. For my 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 375H&H, and 338 WM I use 50lbs.

 

[Rob404]

Stock cracks because there is too much ballast weight added to the sled. The sled can't "recoil" properly and the stock takes the hit. I use it for my 450 Rigby and have 75lbs of shot on it. That is the max one should use according to a conversation I had with the Caldwell rep. For my 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 375H&H, and 338 WM I use 50lbs.

Wow 75lbs

 

[Panielsen]

My shoulder takes a beating and swells sometimes, but I tell my nephew the swelling is just a precursor to my nuts dropping lower by another inch! Lol. I have a led sled I use when zroing or checking load accuracy. Once I have my load figured, it is off the sticks and freehand from there. Enjoy that Lott! I recently got to fire several rounds through a BRNO .450 Ackley and loved it. Gotta love those 458's!

 

[matt85]

I have a led sled I use when zroing or checking load accuracy. Once I have my load figured, it is off the sticks and freehand from there. Enjoy that Lott! I recently got to fire several rounds through a BRNO .450 Ackley and loved it. Gotta love those 458's!

+1

shooting big guns off the bench without a lead sled is self destructive and not needed. ive never shot anything bigger then a 416 from the bench and the 416 was very unpleasant. id compare one shot from the bench with a 416 to 15 rounds of heavy loads from the 505 Gibbs standing in terms of physical ware. (heavy gibbs load: 600gr bullet at 2250fps)

My shoulder takes a beating and swells sometimes

this gives me pause, what are you doing that is bruising you or causing swelling? worst case scenario is that i shoot too much and my shoulder is a little stiff/sore the next day. but never bruising or swelling.

-matt

 

[Panielsen]

+1

shooting big guns off the bench without a lead sled is self destructive and not needed. ive never shot anything bigger then a 416 from the bench and the 416 was very unpleasant. id compare one shot from the bench with a 416 to 15 rounds of heavy loads from the 505 Gibbs standing in terms of physical ware. (heavy gibbs load: 600gr bullet at 2250fps)




this gives me pause, what are you doing that is bruising you or causing swelling? worst case scenario is that i shoot too much and my shoulder is a little stiff/sore the next day. but never bruising or swelling.

-matt

Lol. So that Gibbs of yours doesn't leave a mark? Must be nice! Lol

 

[8x68]

Wow 75lbs

Even with 75lbs it still moves back 6"