Felt Recoil - what has been your experience

[Northern Shooter]

Powder charge and case capacity may be the one contributing factor between your 416 and 458 WinMag.

I own both as well and feel like my 416 Rigby recoils just as hard as full load 458 WM despite the rifle setup being 1.5lbs heavier than my 458.

A 416 Rigby case can hold 30gr+ more than the 458 WinMag.

I have the opportunity to shoot a 500 Jeffery this weekend for the first time in a very light-for-caliber rifle (Sako, 8.8lbs). This should be interesting.

 

[BryceM]

Well, everyone has made good points. I’ll just add that there is a world of difference between recoil energy, recoil velocity, and perceived recoil. It’s that last one that makes you flinch. So many factors come into play. Stock design, the way you shoulder it, the way you hold it into your shoulder, trigger technique, hand placement, standing straight up vs leaning in, etc. I think heavy recoiling guns sometimes “hurt” solid, big guys more than little flexible dudes that simply bend.

My CZ550 in .416 Rigby with 400gr bullets at 2400 fps demands attention and proper technique, but it isn’t all that bad off the sticks. I’m not ashamed to admit I used a Limbsaver pad during my last hunt. I shoot it better with it. Prone? Only if there’s a good reason.

210 gr bullets out of a .340 MkV Weatherby is unpleasant. I’d rather shoot the .416 Rigby. I would only shoot a .460 Wby if there was a really, really good reason.

The .375 H&H in a decently weighted rifle isn’t bad at all.

I have a youth model Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm-08 that kicks like a raging demon. I hate the thing. Likewise, a .350 Rem Mag in a relatively light Rem 660 kicks hard enough that it isn’t pleasant. A 7mm once scope cut me so badly I gave up hunting altogether, for a week or two.

Muzzle blast contributes to flinching too. The concussive blast wave from high velocity rounds will eventually give me a headache. Suppressors make all of this sooooo much nicer. A .375 with a good suppressor isn’t the least bit unpleasant, even prone.

 

[steve white]

I shoot a 9.3x62 in a CZ 550 FS rifle whose felt recoil is substantially less than my 30-06 shot from a ruger American rifle. And it doesn't matter the bullet weight or load. I also believe that proper form and a stiff grip on a rifle mitigates felt recoil to an extent. I have shot rifles up to 470 NE with less felt recoil than a pump shotgun shooting 3 1/2" magnum turkey loads. Just one hunters experiences.

Which is a way of saying that if you CAN shoot turkey loads you shouldn't sweat shooting a 470 at all.