The .375 wounds more than the 416 rigby/remington/ruger? Than the .458?
I’d think if people were atrocious shots with the .375 they would be in the larger calibers as well.
Or do you mean that the hunters who bring .400+ caliber rounds are more used to large bores, thus better with them. Whereas most .375 users are getting a larger caliber than their normal for the first time?
Speaking only from my perspective here.
The first center fire rifle cartridge I fired was a 7-08.
That had minimal recoil. Then I shot a .308 Winchester and for work I shot a lot of .223/5.56. Got good with the .223 with some practice. Got decent with the other cartridges too with practice. Then up to the 30-06, .300WM, .338WM, 25-06, 45-70, and finally the .375 Ruger.
I remember being worried about the recoil of a .300WM until I shot one. I still have that trepidation with the larger Weatherby cartridges so I avoid them. The point to this rambling diatribe is that often I’d shoot a cartridge, found its recoil wasn’t as bad as I imagined, then I’d go on to practicing and shooting that cartridge. I know when I’m going to flinch and that’s when I go back to the basic fundamentals. I concentrate on my breathing, body position, and a slow, steady, even rearward press on the trigger.
Often we build things up in our mind to where we think it’s a ferocious beast the size of a house when in reality it’s like a lap dog that just wants to kiss you. I’ve found that when I fear a cartridge, after I fire the first shot, I realize it really isn’t that bad. That and realizing that others have shot the cartridge too helps.
Given that hunting has become somewhat costly, especially if you venture from your home territory, I think a lot of people select the cartridge before they are capable. For example, Joe shoots a lever action pistol caliber carbine at home for deer. He then plans a hunt overseas and goes to the store and buys what the clerk advises him. Let’s say a .375 of some sort.
Joe proceeds to the range with said rifle and sets up at the bench. Snuggles in and proceeds to fire off one round. OUCH!!! DANG!!! OMG!!!! So then he goes to the gunsmith to have him boresight the rifle and calls it good telling himself he won’t feel the recoil when he’s hunting but his body remembers and takes subconscious protective action. The dreaded flinch. Or he buys a lead sled to sight in his rifle and proceeds to go hunting.
As we all know changes in body position equals a change in your point of impact relative to your zero however you zero your rifle. I zero my rifle how I expect to shoot it.
Being that Joe bought a .375 of some flavor because the gun store clerk told him that’s what he needed for Africa and he zeroed it as described above it’s no wonder that the .375 is responsible for wounding the most game.
I like to shoot what I’m going to hunt with, a lot, but while I’m letting that rifle cool between sessions, I shoot lesser recoiling cartridges to avoid becoming tired and concentrate on the fundamentals.
Also, how many of those guys and gals like Joe spend time daily dry firing and getting behind their rifle? I do a lot of that when I’m practicing. It helps with instilling confidence, getting on your sights quickly, and in helping you become familiar with YOUR rifle to where it becomes a part of you.
My $0.02
