So you think you need to own a Stopping Rifle...

[Creigh]

I have shot all up to 470 NE and 458 Lott. I settled on .375 HH and 404 Jeff. All I can handle!

Yeah the 404J is a lot of gun for me. I'm not the biggest guy.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I love my 458 WM but Winchester seemed to produce the latest Safari Expresses a little light for caliber in regards to the 416 RemMag and 458 WinMag at 9.0lbs.

Running the hottest factory loads (Hornady) it is producing just under 73 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

I'm hoping to bring the rifle weight up to 10lbs in order to drop that recoil down to 65 ft-lbs (less with all other factory loads).

What are some options to add weight aside from adding a scope or drilling the stock?

 

[Creigh]

I love my 458 WM but Winchester seemed to produce the latest Safari Expresses a little light for caliber in regards to the 416 RemMag and 458 WinMag at 9.0lbs.

Running the hottest factory loads (Hornady) it is producing just under 73 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

I'm hoping to bring the rifle weight up to 10lbs in order to drop that recoil down to 65 ft-lbs (less with all other factory loads).

What are some options to add weight aside from adding a scope or drilling the stock?

Fill the magazine

 

[Northern Shooter]

Fill the magazine

Haha, I have noticed a slight difference between the rifle fully loaded and that last round.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I put a Trijicon 1-6 Accupoint with Warne bases and QD rings.

This added well over a pound and a half to my Model 70 Express. Made a world of difference. Then I filled the magazine and added a carry strap.

When I was charged by a buffalo bull, the scope at 1x worked perfectly at close range.

You could put a cartridge holder with ammo on the butt stock as well.

Mason Leather makes really good cartridge holders and heavy duty carry straps that would go perfectly with your Model 70.

 

[baxterb]

I’ve got a hankering for a 458 Win Mag. No reason than “just because.”

As I read older safari books I do take note that white hunters of old were not bruisers, yet shot big doubles or magazine rifles a great deal. I remember Harry Selby mentioning to me once about recoil-shy clients. Of recoil he said to me he could “…not care one whit.”

 

[Northern Shooter]

If I were to ever overcome my common-sense and buy one of these thumpers I think it would have to be a 500NE, albeit in a 12lbs double.

If I went the bolt action route I think it would have to be the 450 Rigby. Big energy, high S.D, low pressure, affordable reloading components, cool name and less recoil than the 500J.

 

[Rare Breed]

I love my 458 WM but Winchester seemed to produce the latest Safari Expresses a little light for caliber in regards to the 416 RemMag and 458 WinMag at 9.0lbs.

Running the hottest factory loads (Hornady) it is producing just under 73 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

I'm hoping to bring the rifle weight up to 10lbs in order to drop that recoil down to 65 ft-lbs (less with all other factory loads).

What are some options to add weight aside from adding a scope or drilling the stock?

My recommendation if you want to reduce your felt recoil is to find the FPS of your favorite load then source a powder that requires less of a load yet will produce the same FPS. In my example on my 470 I could use H4831SC at 112 grains with a 500 grain bullet to get 2150 FPS. Instead I choose to use RL 15.5 at 84 grains, same bullet size that still produces 2150 FPS yet with significant felt recoil. The problem with weighting your stock can potentially result in the loss of balance between your hands.

 

[Rare Breed]

My recommendation if you want to reduce your felt recoil is to find the FPS of your favorite load then source a powder that requires less of a load yet will produce the same FPS. In my example on my 470 I could use H4831SC at 112 grains with a 500 grain bullet to get 2150 FPS. Instead I choose to use RL 15.5 at 84 grains, same bullet size that still produces 2150 FPS yet with significant felt recoil. The problem with weighting your stock can potentially result in the loss of balance between your hands.

meant to say RL 15.5 at 84 grains has much less recoil than the 112 grains of H4831SC

 

[Cheesehead]

I put a Trijicon 1-6 Accupoint with Warne bases and QD rings.

This added well over a pound and a half to my Model 70 Express. Made a world of difference. Then I filled the magazine and added a carry strap.

When I was charged by a buffalo bull, the scope at 1x worked perfectly at close range.

You could put a cartridge holder with ammo on the butt stock as well.

Mason Leather makes really good cartridge holders and heavy duty carry straps that would go perfectly with your Model 70.

My goal is to get the weight of my recently acquired Model 70 in 458 from 9 lbs up to 10.5 lbs following this same recipe. I think that weigh will be adequate to tame some of the full power loads. In the meantime, I have been shooting some light loads (400gr @ 2100fps) for practice

 

[Northern Shooter]

My recommendation if you want to reduce your felt recoil is to find the FPS of your favorite load then source a powder that requires less of a load yet will produce the same FPS. In my example on my 470 I could use H4831SC at 112 grains with a 500 grain bullet to get 2150 FPS. Instead I choose to use RL 15.5 at 84 grains, same bullet size that still produces 2150 FPS yet with significant felt recoil. The problem with weighting your stock can potentially result in the loss of balance between your hands.

Thanks again for your advice.

As someone who has never reloaded, are there any downsides to these loads with the lower powder charges? I'm guessing they are a faster burning powders, does that affect the pressure?

I always assumed that all of these large, voluminous cartridges like 416 Rigby, 470NE etc would have comparatively lower recoil but it appears to be the opposite due to their higher powder charges.

For example, I used to assume that the 416 Rigby would have less recoil than the 416 RemMag and 416 Ruger due to it's lower pressure, the opposite seems to be the case.

 

[BJH65]

Recoil can be subjective depending on shape of the stock, LOP, rifle weight, cartridge choice, etc. Like others suggest, add weight with a scope, steel mounts, steel rings and a sling. I recommend taking steps to protect yourself when practicing. I religiously use a P.A.S.T. recoil pad for my shoulder when practicing with the big bores. You won’t notice recoil when shooting at game but you certainly can when practicing. Also, like others have mentioned, after sighting in from the bench, all of my practice shooting is subsequently done off shooting sticks and offhand where recoil is easier to handle.

 

[Brian]

It's not really necessary but a 500NE is sure satisfying to shoot cape buffalo with. ( I like CEB Safari Raptors and Solids.) I find that my, easy-to-shoot, 50-110 Win. with 410gr CEB Safari Raptor at under 2,000 fps consistently kills buffalo with one shot. That is the same as a very light load in a .500 NE. I have noticed that there is a difference in "knock down" when you get away from .375 and reach the .500 cal. bullet. Buffalo really go down when hit with a premium .500 cal flat nosed bullet. and they usually have little respect for a .375. Brian

 

[Brian]

Thanks again for your advice.

As someone who has never reloaded, are there any downsides to these loads with the lower powder charges? I'm guessing they are a faster burning powders, does that affect the pressure?

I always assumed that all of these large, voluminous cartridges like 416 Rigby, 470NE etc would have comparatively lower recoil but it appears to be the opposite due to their higher powder charges.

For example, I used to assume that the 416 Rigby would have less recoil than the 416 RemMag and 416 Ruger due to it's lower pressure, the opposite seems to be the case.

Yes, faster burning powder feels like less recoil. Also, I'm guessing that with the big case on the 416 Rigby, slower powder is used in factory loads.

Personally, I find that the .500NE does not feel like it kicks much more than a .416 Rigby. Slower push kind of kick maybe.

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks again for your advice.

As someone who has never reloaded, are there any downsides to these loads with the lower powder charges? I'm guessing they are a faster burning powders, does that affect the pressure?

I always assumed that all of these large, voluminous cartridges like 416 Rigby, 470NE etc would have comparatively lower recoil but it appears to be the opposite due to their higher powder charges.

For example, I used to assume that the 416 Rigby would have less recoil than the 416 RemMag and 416 Ruger due to it's lower pressure, the opposite seems to be the case.

My bad…I thought you reloaded. No downsides whatsoever. The only difference is you use a filler with my load which is easy. I have always used Quick Load to check my pressure and I am not even close to my max load for pressure. Of course for DRs it is all about regulation versus looking for hot loads

 

[JD Noblin]

In giving additional thought to the OP’s question, it occurred to me that we as hunters probably overlook what could be a really important factor in making a decision about how large of a DG cartridge we use (or can use)….and that is how fit and in-shape our bodies are when shooting. We spend lots of time and effort (rightly so) analyzing rifle manufacturers and models along with cartridge specs such as velocity, bullet weight and type, and actual/felt recoil. Yet it seems to me that we don’t take into account how in-shape and fit our bodies are to handle the carry weight and recoil impulse of a particular DG rifle/cartridge combination.

I could be wrong on this but it stands to reason that if the same DG rifle/cartridge combination is fired repeatedly the recoil curve and amount of actual recoil is going to be the same from shot to shot, all else being equal. Perhaps one key factor on how large of a DG rifle a shooter can handle is the actual physical conditioning of the shooter. Take two men of equal weight and structure, the first man does not workout with weights and has soft muscles. The second man works out with weights and his body is fit and muscles/connective tissues are tight and firm. It seems reasonable to me to conclude that, all else being equal, the physically fit man can handle a larger, heavier DG rifle/cartridge combination and the recoil generated by it than the non-physically fit man can. This is because the physically fit man’s well-conditioned body (especially upper body) can absorb and/or handle the DG rifle’s weight and recoil much better and with less pain. If this conclusion is true, then strong physical conditioning may, by itself, allow an individual to move up to larger DG rifle/cartridge combinations than he would otherwise not be able to handle with a weaker, less in-shape body.

For me, I go to the gym 5-6 days a week even if it is only for 20 min. While I do engage in overall physical conditioning, I expressly focus on the muscles that I need to carry, raise, steady, and shoot my Heym 89 500 Nitro Express…..biceps, upper chest, deltoids, triceps and forearms. I also focus on abs because I’ve learned that if you clench your abs when shooting the 500NE, clenched abs actually help control/absorb the recoil impulse of the rifle as well as prevent the muzzle from climbing as high since the upper body does not rock as far back.

In sum, if a hunter wants a larger DG rifle (for whatever reason is fine) but currently can’t handle the weight and/or recoil of that specific rifle, perhaps he can handle it after a few weeks/months of proper physical training. If consistent physical training helps to satisfy a man’s desire for a specific DG rifle and gets him into the fields of Africa, then why not do it?

 

[Rare Breed]

Very true. I do 100 pushups in a single set three times per week. I do pelvic and abby exercises every day my physical therapist taught me and that handles my core. I then power walk from 20-30 miles per week with three months before a safari I take my 15 pound cardio steel bar on all my power walks simulating my rifle. Forget hunting it helps me enjoy life with my grand children.

 

[JD Noblin]

....I take my 15 pound cardio steel bar on all my power walks simulating my rifle.

Excellent point. It reminds me that I take a 15-lb kettle bell when I go on walks around the neighborhood. I swap the kettle bell into the opposite hand as each arm gets tired during the walk. This simulates carrying a double rifle in Africa.

 

[colorado]

Just an example with my 500 Jeffery which I love but I limit how many rounds I shoot at a time. CZ 550 12 lbs with scope and rings unloaded. Here's the stats

570g bullet 2300 fps 103g H4895 recoil is "sporty" but rifle is still fun to shoot and easy to control.

Energy: 6694 TKO: 95 Recoil: 88.12 ft/lbs recoil velociy 21.74

570g bullet 2510 fps 120g IMR4350 recoil is "punishing" fun index approaching zero

Energy: 7972 TKO: 104 Recoil: 108.99 ft/lbs recoil velociy 24.18

Seems like a lot of pain for not so much gain I've settled on the first load at 2300 fps

 

[Northern Shooter]

Just an example with my 500 Jeffery which I love but I limit how many rounds I shoot at a time. CZ 550 12 lbs with scope and rings unloaded. Here's the stats

570g bullet 2300 fps 103g H4895 recoil is "sporty" but rifle is still fun to shoot and easy to control.

Energy: 6694 TKO: 95 Recoil: 88.12 ft/lbs recoil velociy 21.74

570g bullet 2510 fps 120g IMR4350 recoil is "punishing" fun index approaching zero

Energy: 7972 TKO: 104 Recoil: 108.99 ft/lbs recoil velociy 24.18

Seems like a lot of pain for not so much gain I've settled on the first load at 2300 fps

So roughly 20 ft-lbs more recoil than my 416 or 458 which I'm good putting 40-60 rounds downrange in a range session. Far more energy and higher TKO however.

Have you ever fired a 505 Gibbs, 450 Rigby or 500 A square to compare?