Recoil Question 458 LOTT

[Honeybadger]

Hey guys, got kind of a strange question. I had an extended range session with my 458 Lott today. After quite a few rounds sent down range.........my shoulder started to feel it pretty good..........deep muscle ache, pain in arm, etc, etc, etc....................took a bit of a break and got back at it......didn't think much of it. Anyhow, after five or six more shots I called it a day, packed up, and drove home, shoulder throbbing away, lol. Anterior muscle of shoulder is swollen to look at it, tender to the touch and what not..........I don't mind the discomfort at all............but I've never had this level of swelling after shooting before, never fired that many rounds in one day though. My question to you guys is as follows.....is this a normal reaction that many of you have experienced?? Or does it sound like I did some damage?? I would doubt very strongly that you could actually tear your shoulder up from shooting a big bore, I use proper form and have been shooting for a long time.....just got a bit carried away today I think.....................what are your thoughts on this guys??

 

[AZDAVE]

You just tenderized the shoulder area a bit. Kinda like playing rugby and having a big guy run over you a couple times. Little swelling, some discomfort but will be good in a could days. Couple years back I broke a blood vessel in the shoulder area and all the way to the elbow turned many shades or purple and yellow. Since then I tend to shoot my big bores 6 shots, then drop down to a 22lr, then to a small or mid bore, then 6 more shots out of a big bore and repeat for the duration of the session. If the swelling and pain don't go away in 7ish days give the doc a call.

 

[ActionBob]

How many shots are we talking about?

 

[Honeybadger]

Dave,

Thanks for the reply. What you said is pretty much exactly what I was thinking. I have NEVER been recoil sensitive............today I just think I fired to many shots in to short a time period. My gun doesn't weigh much either.......it's a Ruger #1. I do LOVE my big bores...........and I am saving up money right now to purchase either a 600 Overkill, or a 505 Gibbs. Anyhow, I'm sure I'll be back at it soon...........today was the first range session of many I have planned with my Lott..........I've not shot the gun for a while, and I am doing some shooting drills with it in the effort to improve my speed and accuracy.........getting on target quickly and making a good killing shot. I have NO bruising as of yet, we'll see if any develops...............the discomfort is already less than it was a little while ago..............the visible swelling is what kinda freaked me out a bit...............was just wondering if any of you fellow here have experienced that on a regular basis.........or ever?? Anyway, like I said, I LOVE my big bores and I plan to shoot them and hunt with them for many years to come............hopefully my shoulder toughens up a bit the more I shoot and I will be able to shoot more rounds more often. Thanks again for the reply.................anyone else with info, experience, or stories, please feel free to chime in on this.

 

[Honeybadger]

How many shots are we talking about?

About 20-25 in around an hour.....................roughly half standing, and half seated...........................405 grain bullet......................2548fps................................my light skinned game load.............and yes I've chrono'ed it.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Shot my .458B&M yesterday with 260gr loads at 2900fps. Thin shirt at first as I forgot to put on my PAST (sissy) pad.......ouch. Yeah, this doesn't sound like an abnormal deal. Make sure you've got a bit of padding on the shoulder. I put my PAST on and totally different deal. Then my 17 year old shot it, with the PAST on. I don't know, maybe 15 rounds for him, no big deal.

 

[Honeybadger]

Shot my .458B&M yesterday with 260gr loads at 2900fps. Thin shirt at first as I forgot to put on my PAST (sissy) pad.......ouch. Yeah, this doesn't sound like an abnormal deal. Make sure you've got a bit of padding on the shoulder. I put my PAST on and totally different deal. Then my 17 year old shot it, with the PAST on. I don't know, maybe 15 rounds for him, no big deal.

Yeah, I was wearing a skin tight under-armor heat gear shirt.....................it's like a second skin, no padding of any kind. I def think I should be good in a day or so.........heal up and be ready to rock again!

 

[CAustin]

The Ruger #1 in 458 Lott kicks like a mule! Enough said! Same kind of results! 13 rounds and my shoulder was bruised and sore. But it's an elephant killer for sure!

 

[Honeybadger]

The Ruger #1 in 458 Lott kicks like a mule! Enough said! Same kind of results! 13 rounds and my shoulder was bruised and sore. But it's an elephant killer for sure!

Glad to hear that it's not just me. Like I said, I've never been recoil sensitive in my life. After today's range session, as I sit here my right shoulder is sore as hell, lol............def gets my attention when I go to move...............I just wanted to see what you guys had to say, and make sure I hadn't been experiencing any unusual affects..........like a torn rotator cuff, or a ripped up tendon or something.

 

[BWH]

Everyone's body is different on how it responds. I had a buddy separate a shoulder with 1 shot from a 7mm..... If the gun didn't something else probably would have. I duck goose hunt sometimes in short sleeve.... 3.5" mag, 2 shot..... That's high recoil. I'm 5'8 & 170.... No sweat.... Little bruising. If you feel like you F'd something up.... Give Advil a few days the go get an MRI/exam.

 

[Honeybadger]

Everyone's body is different on how it responds. I had a buddy separate a shoulder with 1 shot from a 7mm..... If the gun didn't something else probably would have. I duck goose hunt sometimes in short sleeve.... 3.5" mag, 2 shot..... That's high recoil. I'm 5'8 & 170.... No sweat.... Little bruising. If you feel like you F'd something up.... Give Advil a few days the go get an MRI/exam.

Nah, I def think I'll be OK.........................just in a bit of discomfort with some visible swelling............no bruising of any kind, and no bad pain or anything..............just very tender.......feels like I got punched in the shoulder real hard, a few times.......that's about all. Def don't think I'll need any attention from a doc...................don't have any insurance anyhow, lol. I'll be fine and back on the range soon, I'm sure!

 

[BWH]

They pocket of the shoulder is very sensitive..... It's a place with lots of tendons, muscles, ligaments & joint. And it doesn't get pounded on daily. Then when it does.... It pounds back!!!! Stop!!!

 

[Honeybadger]

They pocket of the shoulder is very sensitive..... It's a place with lots of tendons, muscles, ligaments & joint. And it doesn't get pounded on daily. Then when it does.... It pounds back!!!! Stop!!!

Oh yeah, definitely it does. I'm wondering that if I start to shoot more often once I feel better..........if my shooting shoulder will toughen up and be able to take more abuse more regularly??

 

[BWH]

My 2 cents..... Not worth anything....

Next time out....

We're 2 shirts, light jacket & pad on the rifle (i.e. Limbsaver). See if that doesn't make it feel like a peashooter!

 

[matt85]

no offense intended i disagree with every one on the padding suggestions. i want as little between my rifles stock and my skeletal frame as possible. ive been shooting around 15-20 rounds from a 505 Gibbs every Sunday for the last few months. just today i fired 30 505 Gibbs cartridges divided between two rifles and another 12 rounds from a 416 RM. in my opinion soft pads such as jackets, coats, and any other overly soft pads allow the rifle to accelerate before hitting your shoulder which is just going to make it worse. now im not sure about the PAST recoil pad because ive never used one and maybe it works but again i dont like having something between me and the stock.

a few things id recommend you do to prevent this injury in the future. first, stop shooting from the bench unless your going to use a lead sled (i love lead sleds for big bores). second, spread the shooting out a little more. shooting 25 rounds in one hour is too much for my liking, i broke up the 42 cartridges i fired today over 3 hours. not to mention that shooting quickly heats your barrel up which can change the POI which means if you adjust your optic for a hot barrel it will be off when your barrel is cold.

-matt

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The PAST pad is pretty thin overall. Fabric and the actual padding all together, maybe a 1/4", not sure if even that. The padding I believe is sort of a high density memory foam, like what they make the Tempurpedic mattresses out of. Same rules apply with all rifles, you still want to pull the rifle in firmly to your shoulder and have a strong grip with your forward hand.

This is my older boy shooting yesterday. Closest thing he's shot to this is my .375 in 250gr bullets going roughly the same velocity. However, that rifle is much heavier.

 

[Grumulkin]

From 18 rounds off the bench with a 460 Weatherby Magnum with a T-shirt for padding.

It doesn't hurt that much. Really; only minimal tenderness.

 

[CAustin]

Yep that looks about right!

 

[BWH]

Try the pocket of the pit/shoulder.... With a pillow.

 

[Rob404]

I put 40rds of 375HH loaded with 300grs from a bench I'm slightly sore, I have a Tripod on order and now that the rifle is zeroed I'll do my shooting standing so my whole frame will take the recoil not my shoulder alone, plus shooting from a Pod is good practice for my next trip to Africa