Savage model 116 338 win mag

[adcoch1]

I will say in my experience that savage rifle stocks are set up pretty good to keep from pounding you even on light recoil cartridges. My buddy's 7mm 116 hits a lot softer than the Winchester model 70 in 7mm that I used to have. And they were very similar guns. Also, 338 seems to be right about at the "that's not fun anymore" threshold for most people just flirting with high power rifles. Its also usually the biggest belted mag in cheaper entry level bolt guns. A 375 is not likely to come from Walmart for a few hundred bucks. It is in the realm of serious rifle shooters. And 338 does kick pretty sharp compared to some of the bigger boys, but usually because of poor stock design or too light of a rifle.

 

[The Big D]

QUOTE: Except everything is not equal. The .375 has "more" recoil, but spread out over much more time. It's much more pleasant.

No need to put quotation marks around the word "more"-the .375, in fact, delivers more recoil to the shoulder than the .338 does (assuming the same weight gun and all else being equal in terms of stock configuration, etc.). You may find the recoil of the .375 to be "much more pleasant" than the .338 but that's not been my experience. And the idea that the .375's recoil is "spread out over much more time" is a claim I'd love to see the empirical evidence for.

Have you ever shot the two rounds out of comparable guns side by side? I'm guessing no, because if you had we wouldn't be having this discussion...

 

[SwampWolf]

QUOTE: I will say in my experience that savage rifle stocks are set up pretty good to keep from pounding you even on light recoil cartridges. My buddy's 7mm 116 hits a lot softer than the Winchester model 70 in 7mm that I used to have. And they were very similar guns. Also, 338 seems to be right about at the "that's not fun anymore" threshold for most people just flirting with high power rifles. Its also usually the biggest belted mag in cheaper entry level bolt guns. A 375 is not likely to come from Walmart for a few hundred bucks. It is in the realm of serious rifle shooters. And 338 does kick pretty sharp compared to some of the bigger boys, but usually because of poor stock design or too light of a rifle.

You made some good points, adcoch 1. I don't think I've ever seen a .375 rifle for sale at Wal Mart or any other big box store but I have seen rifles chambered in .338 on rare occasion. The configuration of the stock and/or the overall weight of the rifle has everything to do with real and/or "perceived" recoil, which is why, when comparing recoil between different cartridges, I always reference the caveat "everything else being equal", at least insofar as practicality permits.

 

[Clark]

I handload 338 Win Mag to 2500 fps on 250 gr.

With a large grind to fit Limbsaver recoil pad, that has not been ground to fit, it does not hurt.

I could go on and on with boring math, but the more area the less pressure on the shoulder. The more the pad slows down the recoiling rifle, the more time the recoil gets spread over, so the lower the pressure on the shoulder.

The threshold of pain is ~ 20 psi, and my 338WM stays under that.

My 257 Roberts Ackley with 115 bullets at 3100 fps and a small area steel butt plate, it hurts.

Area: Think of a girl stepping on you with pillows with big area, or stepping on you with high heels, with small area. Which is likely to reach 20 psi somewhere on your skin?

I am taking a lot of heat for an ugly gun, but I was rather be verbally abused than have a black and blue shoulder.

Lately I have covered up the reveal with a cheek rest ammo pouch.
http://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Shar...n-Professional/dp/B00TRAX3XK/ref=pd_sim_200_5

 

[lefteyedom]

Would y'all boys and girls "MAN UP"

338. Win mag in a proper sized rifle, shot with good form is totally manage able.

My "Truck Gun" for years was a little $50 H&R single barrel 12 gauge, 19 " barrel and a cheap slip on recoil pad. Shot nothing but Slugs and Buckshot. Yeah barked and punched. Put was totally "manageable" for the two or three shots I ever need to make with it.

Manageable is the important thing. I do not need to shoot 15 rounds of 338, rare that more that three would be need on a game animal. The trajectory 338 is about the same as an 06. Practice with your 06, and when you feel the need, hunt with a 338.

 

[adcoch1]

I "discovered" at a bachelor party shooting trip that 338 blows up bowling pins & balls better than the 44 mag or 30-06. 47 rounds later I had a pretty sore shoulder. But I have never even noticed it for the few shots hunting with it. Looking for another one at the moment and the savage is on the list

 

[TwoEyedJack]

Would y'all boys and girls "MAN UP"

338. Win mag in a proper sized rifle, shot with good form is totally manage able.

My "Truck Gun" for years was a little $50 H&R single barrel 12 gauge, 19 " barrel and a cheap slip on recoil pad. Shot nothing but Slugs and Buckshot. Yeah barked and punched. Put was totally "manageable" for the two or three shots I ever need to make with it.

Manageable is the important thing. I do not need to shoot 15 rounds of 338, rare that more that three would be need on a game animal. The trajectory 338 is about the same as an 06. Practice with your 06, and when you feel the need, hunt with a 338.

I went duck and goose hunting today, and went through more than a few rounds of 3" magnum 12 ga. shells out of a pump gun. I swear it kicks as hard as my .338. Chuck Hawkes says 52 ft. lbs. of recoil for my 12 ga. load, but only 37 from the .338 win mag. But you rarely hear about people whining about their duck gun. Strange.

 

[SwampWolf]

Maybe because the recoil of the 12 gauge is "spread out over much more time" and is "much more pleasant"... NOT!

I think the biggest reason hunters don't complain about their duck guns kicking so much is because shooting at waterfowl can become fast and furious, leaving less time to worry about recoil. Too, waterfowl hunting usually involves inclement weather and the extra clothes being worn can "soak up" some of the recoil generated by heavy duck/goose loads.

 

[ontarget]

And I can't say I know anyone that shoots their duck gun off a bench. Huge difference in PERCEPTION when bench shooting or concentrating on a moving target.

 

[Clark]

On a dirt road on a ranch an antelope herd was crossing right in front of the front bumper. I was shooting between a truck door and the truck body. I was dropping ammo. The driver was yelling at me. I did not feel magnum recoil. I did not feel the pain from the bipod pinching my left middle finger against the passenger side mirror. Years later I have still have a scar.

Years went by.

A few weeks ago, after I shot 3 deer and left town, the driver and other hunters were yelling about some deer crossing in front of them. The driver parked in the ditch.

The passenger mirror and door have since been replaced. He is shopping for a new camper.

 

[Frostbite]

And I can't say I know anyone that shoots their duck gun off a bench. Huge difference in PERCEPTION when bench shooting or concentrating on a moving target.

This.

 

[dogrunner]

Like Clark, I also have a BAR in .338............lightweight model at that and quite frankly I don't believe it's nearly as punishing as my old A/5.....

Yep, recoil is there......just longer in duration than in my lite weight 20" bbld BAR '06 but not a hulluva lot different than my old 70..

What's not being mentioned is that both action type and stock design are major factors in perceived recoil...now that old a/5 I mentioned will flat hammer you well when using a rifled slug tube.....and especially so from a bench....but who hunts big game from a bench? With no doubt the worst kicking gun I ever fired was an old 1950's H&R .12 topper.......always made me check to see if my bicuspids were still there in my 14 year old head. That .338 is a pussycat compared to that gun!

 

[Clark]

My father's bi cuspids cut his face when the army had him shoot a 1903 Springfield. He did get a marksmanship badge.

Later in 1946 he got out of the Army and bought a 1903 for $39.95 from Sears and Roebuck.

Still later he derived an optimization algorithm for constant force hydraulic recoil cylinders, instead of empirical tables that Rock Island Arsenal had been using. This is parabolic taper of the piston is in terms of the viscosity of the oil and squareness of the hole.

 

[zb338]

I have quite a bit of experience shooting the 338. Ask anyone that has
one and they will tell you that it kills big game very well. There is something
about the medium bore guns that really does the job. When I started big game
hunting I could only afford one rifle. I chose the .338 and never looked back.
It's the only big game rifle you will need in North America. If you are recoil sensitive
get a gunsmith to put a muzzle brake onto it. It will feel like a much smaller gun.

Zeke