Large Caliber Recoil Chart

[BeeMaa]

I’d like to have one of these sleds to do a better real world comparison.

https://youtu.be/ZRqLlWxbBrg

 

[Jefferry404]

For those interested in the math, this is what I use (includes ejecta, recoil velocity, etc)
Steve

 

[Tex .416]

For those that handload, test a few suitable powders. Different powders can produce very noticeable differences in felt recoil.

 

[Justbryan]

My Personal Recoil Measurement:
1. WOW (light 375 H&H)
2. Owie (458 Win Mag)
3. MF (505 Gibbs and Bigger)

I'll stick with my 375 H&H.

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

Wanna add my handgun to this chart? It weighs 5lbs, and shoots a 400gr copper solid at 2526.7fps. Its loaded with 85gr of CFE BLK.

I should've mentioned that. My apologies for not mentioning that earlier! This is using a 10lb rifle for all calibers.

Here's a new chart with several other calibers for those curious.

View attachment 658067

 

[DLSJR]

Wanna add my handgun to this chart? It weighs 5lbs, and shoots a 400gr copper solid at 2526.7fps. Its loaded with 85gr of CFE BLK.

You’reouttayourfuckingmind!!!

 

[CamoManJ]

I was thinking about this very subject and discussing recoil the last few days with a few people. I have a 458 B&M and she sure does kick me around pretty good, still trying to acclimate to such abuse, slowly but surely. I wish I knew what recoil numbers she’s beating me with, I’m shooting 295 Raptors & 350 TSX.

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

You’reouttayourfuckingmind!!!

I plead the 5th! The recoil, while enormous, isnt actually horrific. My .460 S&W is actually more painful to shoot than the .500 Bushwhacker. The main difference is the function of the recoil works differently due to the guns design. The .460 has a compensator to keep muzzle rise to a minimum, keeping you more on target. Where the Bushwhacker has a full titanium muzzle brake, which does nothing to inhibit muzzle climb. So the .460 directs all of its recoil energy into the webbing of your hand, the .500 converts it into rotational muzzle climb, and if you allow your arms to let it climb, it does so nicely without any pain. Here's a slow-mo i took that you can see the amount of muzzle rise on it.

 

[AZDAVE]

It is nice to see interest in the recoil on specific rounds. First there is the mathematical numbers that the charts above have. Out of all of them the recoil velocity is the one you feel the most. Next is that rifle fit and stock design can influence perceived recoil. Along with proper shoot technique. Help to mitigated the perceived recoil. Lastly everyone's recoil tolerance is different. An example is my wife shoots her 375 off the bench and sticks in prep for our safaris and doesn't blink a eye at the recoil where a guy two benches down that is twice her size is complaining how much his 30/06 kicks.

 

[Daisy]

It is interesting to go up 25% in cartridge weight from 300 375 to 400 416 doubles the recoil. Def something to think about and make the people that stick with 375 look a little bit smarter!

 

[Bandera]

Thanks for posting. Recoil velocity is one of the over looked values.
As we know rifle weight calms down the violent reaction created by pulling the trigger.
8 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 19.57 fps.
Recoil energy of 47.61 ft lbs.

9 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 17.4 fps.
Recoil energy of 42.32 ft lbs.

10 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 15.66 fps.
Recoil energy of 38.09 ft lbs.

 

[Daisy]

Thanks for posting. Recoil velocity is one of the over looked values.
As we know rifle weight calms down the violent reaction created by pulling the trigger.
8 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 19.57 fps.
Recoil energy of 47.61 ft lbs.

9 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 17.4 fps.
Recoil energy of 42.32 ft lbs.

10 pound rifle
300 grain bullet
2403 fps
79 grains of powder
Recoil velocity of 15.66 fps.
Recoil energy of 38.09 ft lbs.

That’s a little hard. Long range guys have always known that and shoot 15lb rifles.

But most of us here are stalking miles through the bush. Not so easy just to make it heavier.

 

[Bandera]

That’s a little hard. Long range guys have always known that and shoot 15lb rifles.

But most of us here are stalking miles through the bush. Not so easy just to make it heavier.

What’s hard? The recoil? The Math is the math.

My 375 Ruger African weighs in around 8 pounds.
A CZ 550 375 H&H weighs in at about 9.3 pounds.
A double rifle weighs in about 10 pounds.

I take it you mean carrying a heavier rifle is hard. Yup it can be.
Depends on your conditioning.

If you mean making a rifle heavier, that is very easy.

 

[Daisy]

What’s hard? The recoil? The Math is the math.

My 375 Ruger African weighs in around 8 pounds.
A CZ 550 375 H&H weighs in at about 9.3 pounds.
A double rifle weighs in about 10 pounds.

I take it you mean carrying a heavier rifle is hard. Yup it can be.
Depends on your conditioning.

If you mean making a rifle heavier, that is very easy.

Ha. Lots of different thoughts there.

It’s not as easy to just make your rifle heavier when carrying it miles through the bush. I walked 17 miles in one day tracking Eland. Not a great way to tell people to reduce recoil imo.

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

Ha. Lots of different thoughts there.

It’s not as easy to just make your rifle heavier when carrying it miles through the bush. I walked 17 miles in one day tracking Eland. Not a great way to tell people to reduce recoil imo.

Well a muzzle device helps. There's other recoil management options. Noreen has a spring loaded stock on their .50bmg's thats quite effective. There's also spring loaded weight buffers i've heard of being installed in rifle stocks, then of course recoil pads, padded jackets for recoil and the like. But the most effective route, is still adding mass to your gun. If you have a synthetic stock, you could set it up to be hollow, and fill it with sand on site, but i dont really know of any other way to add mass while in the field tracking game.

 

[Bandera]

Ha. Lots of different thoughts there.

It’s not as easy to just make your rifle heavier when carrying it miles through the bush. I walked 17 miles in one day tracking Eland. Not a great way to tell people to reduce recoil imo.

Not telling people that is a great way to reduce recoil. Was just showing that rifle weight can make a difference on recoil.
Most people do not have a 10 pound 375. At least they don’t start out that way. Add a scope & rings it starts to add up quick.
You take a 375 Ruger African at 8 pounds and shoot it and then shoot a 9.3 pound CZ550 and there is a noticeable difference in felts recoil.
The CZ feels softer shooting. It is a heavier gun.

 

[Daisy]

Not telling people that is a great way to reduce recoil. Was just showing that rifle weight can make a difference on recoil.
Most people do not have a 10 pound 375. At least they don’t start out that way. Add a scope & rings it starts to add up quick.
You take a 375 Ruger African at 8 pounds and shoot it and then shoot a 9.3 pound CZ550 and there is a noticeable difference in felts recoil.
The CZ feels softer shooting. It is a heavier gun.

I’m confused. I think the whole world agrees a heavier gun recoils less.

A heavier gun sucks to tote through the bush. It’s not a good recoil mitigation strategy for stalk hunting imo. People won’t ever be shooting these hand cannons off a bench

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I think everyone agrees that additional weight mitigates recoil. That is why I color coded the 10.5 lb (green) and 11.5 lb )yellow) columns in the chart I posted in this thread on page one.
The figures in the table were derived using this calculator:
https://shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php

Adding 10% more weight reduces recoil by 10% and so on...

How much recoil one can handle and shoot accurately depends on the person.
How heavy a rifle one can carry in 100 degree heat for 10 miles a day also depends on the person.
Perhaps this is why the moderately recoiling .375 H&H weighing about 10.5 lbs with scope is so popular?

Shoot well, shoot often!

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

I think everyone agrees that additional weight mitigates recoil. That is why I color coded the 10.5 lb (green) and 11.5 lb )yellow) columns in the chart I posted in this thread on page one.
The figures in the table were derived using this calculator:
https://shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php

View attachment 658973

Adding 10% more weight reduces recoil by 10% and so on...

How much recoil one can handle and shoot accurately depends on the person.
How heavy a rifle one can carry in 100 degree heat for 10 miles a day also depends on the person.
Perhaps this is why the moderately recoiling .375 H&H weighing about 10.5 lbs with scope is so popular?

Shoot well, shoot often!

You not gonna add my handgun to the chart? It ranks pretty high on recoil.