Big Bore DG Rifle - Recoil Energy - How Much is Too Much?

[JG26Irish_2]

I know this topic has likely been hashed, re-hashed and then re-re-hashed in the past, but I missed the party. Some recent experiences have opened my eyes and I wanted to share them and ask your impressions.

Below are a few of the rifles I either own or have shot:

Caliber----------Recoil Energy-------Bullet Wt
270W----------------16.5--------------130g
308-------------------18.1--------------165
30-06-----------------20.3-------------180
7mm Mag------------21.7-------------175-----9.0lb rifle/scope
7mm Mag------------23.3*------------175-----7.0lb ultra-lite rifle/scope w/brake 33.3 w/o brake
375HH---------------37.3--------------300
12ga dbl-------------23-45------------1-1/8oz to 1-1/2oz loads in light wt upland double bbl

416 Rig---------------58.1-------------400g
458WM---------------62.3-------------500g
50BMG---------------70.0--------------647g-----30lb rifle i.e. Barrett
500NE----------------74.5--------------570g

I own all of the items in the upper chart and always would tell people reluctant to try the 375HH that it did not kick any worse than a 12ga shotgun. I have experience with the 50BMG in a bolt action arrangement and recently got to try the 458WM belonging to a friend. I will be honest, I did not think it was that bad. Had I not shot the 375 and the 458 back to back I would have said they felt close to the same. But that is not true the 375 is a softer recoil by a small amount.

I have always wanted a 416 Rigby but have a hard time justifying the purchase since I would not get to use it much. I had almost convinced myself that the recoil was too much. But, now realize it is not much different than the 458. I am not really that recoil sensitive and wanted to ask all of you.
"What DG rifle that you have tried that was too much recoil for you?"

 

[Hooked Now]

Many moons ago I shot a. 375 H&H CZ 550 in a B&C stock and got the worst (and only) recoil headache I'd ever had. Bought exact model rifle in same stock and now I only stop shooting it when I run out of money to buy or reload shells. I absolutely love it and the recoil feels only slightly more than my .308. No rhyme or reason to that. I think I also shot a .416 Rem Mag a few times and didn't have the same reaction.

 

[Hooked Now]

Many moons ago I shot a. 375 H&H CZ 550 in a B&C stock and got the worst (and only) recoil headache I'd ever had. Bought exact model rifle in same stock and now I only stop shooting it when I run out of money to buy or reload shells. I absolutely love it and the recoil feels only slightly more than my .308. No rhyme or reason to that. I think I also shot a .416 Rem Mag a few times and didn't have the same reaction.

Also, I realize most folks don't really consider a .375 to be big bore. I would think big 4's and 5's would be actual big bore and I haven't gotten there yet. .375 is my gateway caliber until I get @Goose Cracker to sell me his sweet .416.

 

[Finprof]

I know this topic has likely been hashed, re-hashed and then re-re-hashed in the past, but I missed the party. Some recent experiences have opened my eyes and I wanted to share them and ask your impressions.

Below are a few of the rifles I either own or have shot:

Caliber----------Recoil Energy-------Bullet Wt
270W----------------16.5--------------130g
308-------------------18.1--------------165
30-06-----------------20.3-------------180
7mm Mag------------21.7-------------175-----9.0lb rifle/scope
7mm Mag------------23.3*------------175-----7.0lb ultra-lite rifle/scope w/brake 33.3 w/o brake
375HH---------------37.3--------------300
12ga dbl-------------23-45------------1-1/8oz to 1-1/2oz loads in light wt upland double bbl

416 Rig---------------58.1-------------400g
458WM---------------62.3-------------500g
50BMG---------------70.0--------------647g-----30lb rifle i.e. Barrett
500NE----------------74.5--------------570g

I own all of the items in the upper chart and always would tell people reluctant to try the 375HH that it did not kick any worse than a 12ga shotgun. I have experience with the 50BMG in a bolt action arrangement and recently got to try the 458WM belonging to a friend. I will be honest, I did not think it was that bad. Had I not shot the 375 and the 458 back to back I would have said they felt close to the same. But that is not true the 375 is a softer recoil by a small amount.

I have always wanted a 416 Rigby but have a hard time justifying the purchase since I would not get to use it much. I had almost convinced myself that the recoil was too much. But, now realize it is not much different than the 458. I am not really that recoil sensitive and wanted to ask all of you.
"What DG rifle that you have tried that was too much recoil for you?"

View attachment 668700

A 31/2 inch 12 gauge turkey load has 71 foot pounds of recoil. I only shot mine once from the bench. A 3 inch 2 ounce turkey load also has stout recoil in my 6 1/2 pound turkey gun.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Here's a thread on recoil from six while ago;

Thread 'Large Caliber Recoil Chart'

Jan 14, 2025

Hi all,

I decided to create this chart for ease of reference. Hopefully it's helpful to someone out there! I used the .375H&H as the baseline for "relative recoil" analysis.

.375H&H to .500 NE. I can add additional calibers and weights if interested, just DM me.

• x84958
• Replies: 45
• Forum: Firearms & ammunition

• 

My post within this tread is on page 2, post #38 and includes this table.

Felt recoil is factored inversely for the weight of the gun.
Increases in recoil velocity also can make recoil seem much worse for many shooters.

What isn't normally considered are:

1. Muzzle blast or atmospheric overpressure that can give shooterd like me a headache and,
2. Duration of the overpressure as part of the total units of pressure, decibles of sound times the duration per every 1/1000 of a second. This is similar to the total area under a bell curve.

Overall, recoil force (foot pounds) and recoil velocity and amplitute of overpressure for the duration of it ALL factor into felt recoil.

Things like a wider recoil pad can mitigate how one preceives felt recoil.

The thread below is of @Altitude sickness and I shooting big bores.

Thread 'Winter Shooting'

Tuesday at 5:52 AM

It has been a very cold winter even for Michigan with @Altitude sickness and I live. Finally, the barometer raised above freezing for the entire day. What to do but grab our rifles and head to the shooting range. That heading wasn’t really hard since I have a range in my back field and a John Deere Gator to take us there!

Now, what we did not anticipate that we should have was a drastic change in weather meant a new weather front. What brings new weather? Wind! And the wind blew making 45 degrees Fahrenheit to (7 degrees Celsius) feel like 25 degrees F (-4 for the rest of the...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Firearms & ammunition

• 

This is a photo of him shooting my 450 Rigby with 90 ft. lbs. recoil energy.

I fired this rifle seven times and quickly had a headache for five minutes or so. The recoil didn't seem as bad as the muzzle blast!

Concerning felt recoil, your milage may vary...

 

[AZDAVE]

Everyone has a different level of recoil tolerance. The ability to shoot well with bigger kicking rifles is something you can learn within reasonable limits. Each person has to determine their reasonable limit.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Felt recoil is factored inversely for the weight of the gun.
Increases in recoil velocity also can make recoil seem much worse for many shooters.

What isn't normally considered are:

1. Muzzle blast or atmospheric overpressure that can give shooterd like me a headache and,
2. Duration of the overpressure as part of the total units of pressure, decibles of sound times the duration per every 1/1000 of a second. This is similar to the total area under a bell curve.

I fired this rifle seven times and quickly had a headache for five minutes or so. The recoil didn't seem as bad as the muzzle blast!

Concerning felt recoil, your milage may vary...

Good input. The weight is a big factor and the tables are all based on an assumed weight. Muzzle blast, while not directly related to recoil energy, does impact the overall experience. Example was the first time I fired a 50BMG bolt rifle. We were under a covered bench and the very heavy rifle had a big muzzle break that directed the blast backwards at about a 45 deg angle. The recoil was not that bad due to the weight and the brake but the muzzle blast was so bad that it was like getting punched in the head. My vision went white for a couple seconds. Even with muffs and earplugs it was unpleasant.

 

[Sideshow]

Good old poorly designed muzzle brake will make you think you want to poo ya pants and throw up at the same time

Before those were invented we had to put up with this!!

 

[Puddle]

My recoil tolerance to where I can shoot them well and quickly is both the 450/400 NE 3" and the 400 H&H, both weighing all up at just over 10lbs and launching at their traditional MVs.

Beyond those, it begins to be not fun.

 

[ftrovato]

I own 416 Rigby, 470 NE & 500 NE. I find that the heavier the rifle the better. However, none are 'fun' to shoot with full charges and heavy for caliber bullets.

But, they have a purpose and one doesn't feel the recoil when using them for their purpose. With this the effect on the other end of the muzzle is always devastating 'if used properly'. As we know, this is their purpose.

For me once I've worked up a hunting load for these rifles I then go to minimum powder charges. Then and only then are they enjoyable to play with at the range.

 

[Tanks]

Everyone has a different level of recoil tolerance. The ability to shoot well with bigger kicking rifles is something you can learn within reasonable limits. Each person has to determine their reasonable limit.

It is all in the technique and fit of the rifle. Here is me shooting the .500 NE, notice my lower body does not move.

Here is the friend that took the video a few moments later. He had a 1" caldwell recoil shield as well.

Look at the movement of the gun at both videos. On the first one I let recoil happen and roll with the recoil. I don't even hold the gun that tight. On the second video he is holding the gun so tight and fighting the recoil that it is pushing him straight back.

 

[Flewis]

I find that if I shoot my very heavy recoiling rifles first then the 4s and 5s are a lot easier to shoot.

 

[375Fox]

I do not find anything above 375 enjoyable to shoot. However, I found Hornady’s 480 gr DGX at 2400 fps from my 450 Rigby exceeded by recoil tolerance. I considered selling the rifle. I stepped down to Norma’s 550 gr at 2100 fps and found them inside my tolerance. The bullet velocity makes a big difference in recoil velocity and your ability to handle it.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Did you take those recoil numbers from the Chuck Hawkes recoil table?

Rifle weight is an important factor here as the rifle you own may not line up with the weight used in the calculation in the table.

I personally own 375HH (9.6lb rifle), 416 Rigby (11.5lb rifle), 458 WM (8.6lb rifle) and a 470 NE (12.5lb rifle).

The 375 is very manageable in that weight class. The 416 Rigby is better now that its been topped with a scope and I swapped out the original B&C synthetic stock for the original wood stock. The first box of ammo I put through it left me with not only a headache but a dislocated rib haha. It's much tamer now at 11.5lbs.

The 458 WM, being in a light for caliber rifle is quite the handful with full 500gr Hornady loads.

the 470 has similar ballistics but weighs almost 4lbs more than my 458WM so it's far tamer.

The worst recoil I've experienced was a 500 Jeffery out 9.0 lb Sako rifle. That would be in the 120-130 ft-lb range with the Norma loads we were shooting.

No thanks.