Big bore shooting effects on your body?

[Ridge Runner]

Excellent informative thread. I don't have it yet but I've recently purchased my first .375. And I'm honestly apprehensive of the recoil having never fired anything that large.
Everything I'm reading here will help with my learning and shooting practice.
I'm most concerned with getting it zeroed properly from the bench. Not so much after that.

Words of Encouragement:

Personally...(and another member on AH also).....think our 30-06's recoil/kick harder than any of the .375's.

Once the initial shock of the first two or three rounds wears off...you'll enjoy shooting your new 375.

 

[bruce moulds]

trouble with offhand is that it can teach you to snatch shots, which will guarantee flinching.
follow through is very hard to do offhand, and when you are being buffeted in the wind, even harder.
bruce.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Great response! Before my first elk hunt my uncle told me to sight in at 100 yards off the bench and then never use the bench again. Tack 8 inch paper plates at 50 and 100 yards and practice putting accurate shots on those plates as fast as possible. I've never shot better than that year when I fired a couple hundred rounds off hand. If you can shoot accurately off hand then any rest is just that much better.

Good Point!

I prefer the smaller desert size paper plates....actually.....When it comes to shooting and what is acceptable.....I intentionally try to "Robin Hood" arrows, and whether I shoot 2 rounds or 20 rounds, all the holes should be covered by a Kennedy half dollar. BUT THATS JUST ME!!! and how I was tutored in my early years.

Aim smaller miss small.

 

[chashardy]

I was thinking about this thread yesterday when I went to the range with my 416 Rigby and my M70 safari express 375 H&H. My first shot at 100 was about an inch and a half below dead center. My second shot I flinched so bad it was almost off the paper. I had not practiced with the new gun in a couple of weeks and I had to laugh at myself for that flinch. I settled down and shot three pretty good 3 shot groups.
I then switched to the 375 and shot one group that was pretty good and noticed that the 375 recoil was significantly less than the 416. I let a hunting buddy shoot the 375 for a couple of 3 shot groups then we switched to shotguns and I shot 60 rounds of 12 gauge at clays. Except for one poorly mounted shot with the 12 bore, I really didn't notice much recoil and no bruises or soreness in my shoulder.

I will need to practice more with the 416. I agree with NewBoomer above who suggests squeeze and hold trigger pressure and staying on the cheekpiece and scope. I got the same advice from a hunting buddy who does Army Ranger training. (He's a retired Lt. Col). He did a drill with me with the 375 where he stands behind me and loads the rifle, but doesn't tell me if there is a round in the chamber or not. He then hands me the rifle and I get on the sticks and aim and squeeze and hold the trigger. If you do that drill a few times it will really help with flinching.

 

[Ridge Runner]

trouble with offhand is that it can teach you to snatch shots, which will guarantee flinching.
follow through is very hard to do offhand, and when you are being buffeted in the wind, even harder.
bruce.

+1 Totally.

Trap and skeet shooting helps IMMENSELY with follow through shots off hand.

Also: (Grasshopper you must have Great Imagination)

I like to set a target at 50 yards and 100 yards. Using sticks the first shot is made at the 100 yard target...the second and third shots are made off sticks (off hand) standing, at the 50 yard....I concentrate on shot placement, steady hold, cross hairs on a 2 inch dot at 100 yards.....as fast as I can (a mental charge or running animal) follow up off hand shot at the 50 yard target......the third shot is a mental running away animal shot, off hand....

 

[Ridge Runner]

I was thinking about this thread yesterday when I went to the range with my 416 Rigby and my M70 safari express 375 H&H. My first shot at 100 was about an inch and a half below dead center. My second shot I flinched so bad it was almost off the paper. I had not practiced with the new gun in a couple of weeks and I had to laugh at myself for that flinch. I settled down and shot three pretty good 3 shot groups.
I then switched to the 375 and shot one group that was pretty good and noticed that the 375 recoil was significantly less than the 416. I let a hunting buddy shoot the 375 for a couple of 3 shot groups then we switched to shotguns and I shot 60 rounds of 12 gauge at clays. Except for one poorly mounted shot with the 12 bore, I really didn't notice much recoil and no bruises or soreness in my shoulder.

I will need to practice more with the 416. I agree with NewBoomer above who suggests squeeze and hold trigger pressure and staying on the cheekpiece and scope. I got the same advice from a hunting buddy who does Army Ranger training. (He's a retired Lt. Col). He did a drill with me with the 375 where he stands behind me and loads the rifle, but doesn't tell me if there is a round in the chamber or not. He then hands me the rifle and I get on the sticks and aim and squeeze and hold the trigger. If you do that drill a few times it will really help with flinching.

, You will definitely be embarrassed, snickered at, when you and everyone at the range sees that massive Yank/Flinch/Air recoil, reaction you make when the rifle goes CLICK......instead of BOOM!

Been there....Done that.....

A great way to practice and learn.

 

[bruce moulds]

it is a good way to demonstrate that they guy does not have his basics right, but does nothing to fix it.
unless you establish basics and maintain them, any practice you do is doing harm, developing bad habits.
this is where it behoves us to start new shooters the right way, and impress upon them the importance of follow through over speed.
if they listen, they will never have to break a bad habit.
the flinch habit stays ingrained 'till you die.
you just have to keep working at it.
bruce.

 

[Ray B]

Back in the day USMC recruits spent two weeks of recruit training on the rifle range. The first week was spent in lecture and dry fire, which included learning positions and trigger squeeze. During the second week recruits finally got to shoot at targets with qualification on Friday. At the end of two weeks most of the recruits could shoot quite well, regardless or more likely, in spite of previous experience.

 

[Fred Gunner]

That wasn't James Bond.

You'll hate the next one

 

[Rimbaud]

I have a Blaser R8 w a .375 H&H barrel. I hunt deer, boar, etc with an R8 .308 barrel. I am prepping for a buffalo hunt. My practice is the same with all calibers and rifles as I prepare for a hunt. I keep the rifle near me in my office and home and handle the rifle and dry fire, so that the weight and dimensions becomes part of my muscle memory. I do not like to shoot from a bench, and prefer field positions and my shooting sticks. I zeroed the .375 H&H on sticks using grid targets that you can download from Larue. I just recently bought a 12 oz recoil reducer from Blaser that is supposed to reduce recoil by 20%, but I haven't shot the rifle yet w the reducer. The constant for me - I find I shoot better and handle recoil much better - is to be physically fit. I focus on shoulder and core strength, in particular. When I'm fit, I could shoot any caliber all day. Of course, the irony is that when hunting we do not even notice recoil.

 

[Ray B]

You'll hate the next one

There has been only ONE, despite all of those Hollywood pretty boys that have attempted to usurp the name.

 

[Standard Velocity]

 

[Fred Gunner]

Here's a Dry fire drill I learned in the Army

Standing unsupported with or without sling (we wrap the sling around the support arm) sight in on a target.

Have your partner balance a quarter on the barrel just behind the front sight.

The object is to stay on target release the safety and break the shot without disturbing the coin.

Hold this off-hand unsupported stance dry firing without dropping the coin until your magazine is empty of dummy snap caps.

We have even managed to occasionally keep the quarter on the barrel throughout working the bolt to reload and fire a second shot...however this is done much slower that you would want for a follow up shot..just did it to see if it was possible.

 

[quacker attacker]

I agree, but will also say that knowing how to use a rest optimally is key. Shoot too much offhand and never rested and it's a foreign thing that causes doubt.
Best rifle I ever had was a .300 WM that I was afraid of the recoil, so I fired sixty rounds before I ever went into the woods. I was killing left and right with that gun. It was quite a time for accuracy and speed. I think this is the best way to prepare for any hunt.

The hunt I described was still hunting in the timber so fast accuracy was key. Shooting from sticks is definitely its own technique. When our kids were little we would go on Balloon safaris where my brother and I would blow up balloons and tack them to trees then our kids would "hunt" them. If a person has a safe area to do this it is great training. Find a tree to rest against. Sit on the ground and shoot off your knees. There are a lot of fun ways to get in effective practice. We just used a pellet gun with the kids.

 

[CBH Australia]

Effects on your body.
I dont hear of anyone shooting thousands of big bore.
People ive know with detatched rerina have had head trauma and been careful after recovery.
Im sure enough heavy firing will have some effect but once you satisfy your self of your ability i guess you will find a regimen for practice.
Perhaps this question is better asked of a big bore club where shooters are shooting big bore competition eg .375H&H , elephant guns and up
I have owned .458wm and replaced it with. 375H&H for various reasons. But im no big bore expert.
I did recently hunt Africa with satisfactory results after minimal practice on sticks so i guess its up to the individual and what works.
I used a 6" gong at various distance /rifles so i could hear hits.

 

[grand veneur]

The big bore shooting is like many things in life , some can do it , others will never learn it.

If you cannot or are afraid of your health , better you should leave it and not force it with the help of various devices. In the latter case , uncertainty will always remain.

 

[Pondoro]

But why oh why do many rifle makers make rifles .375 up too light..?

My .375 weigh in at 5kg (11lbs) Scope and all, yup heavy to carry but lovely to shoot..

A double rifle in the .450 - .476NE range should be around 11lbs too.. 10 is just to light..!

 

[grand veneur]

What means too light ?

A light rifle also has advantages by handling in the field. The recoil is certainly stronger , but as I wrote above , you shouldn't have to make too many compromises with the management of the recoil of a big bore rifle.

 

[Pondoro]

Well..proper weight, balance and fit are non negotiable factors in a DG rifle for me..

A fit man should be able to carry a 5kg rifle in the african heat..

 

[Standard Velocity]

The big bore shooting is like many things in life , some can do it , others will never learn it.

If you cannot or are afraid of your health , better you should leave it and not force it with the help of various devices. In the latter case , uncertainty will always remain.

I know guys who happily shoot 3” 12 guage shells but cringe at the idea of shooting my rifle. Sure, off the bench a big rifle kicks hard and fast. Take the same rifle and shoot offhand so you can roll with the recoil and it’s just not that bad.

In fact I shoot every new rifle a few times offhand before sitting down to the bench just to get rid of any fear I may have and to confirm stock fit. If it doesn’t fit quite as well as it should I will be less surprised at the bench. I have an ill fitting 308 that beats the heck out of me and a 375 that’s a kitten.

I hunt with guys who have various ailments and who have throttled back on what they shoot to accommodate their conditions. 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.