entropy
Member
That is the pocket, the pectoral muscle is your recoil pad.
Training for Heavy Recoil
- Thread starter edwardware
- Start date
- Status
Jessesky
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 981
I should say slightly more inside than the actual pocket. A little more pectoral than usual
entropy
Member
I shoot my .223's from there, and wingshooting, too. But not sure if I'd put a .375 H&H in that far; I'd want it on the thickest part of the pectoral, with a Kick-eez or Limb Saver and a Reactar or PAST pad in there, too.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
Hold a .375 exactly like you hold any other rifle. The .375 does not produce really big recoil numbers. Once you start getting into the .40 cals that can produce 5,000 ft lbs the recoil starts getting noticeable. But the the real recoil starts with .45 cals that can push a 500 gr bullet at something faster than 2300 FPS.
Once you get into the high velocity .45’s such as the .450 Rigby or the .460 Weatherby you are starting to need to modify how you hold the rifle. And the big .50’s and up are definitely in need of modified grip.
Shooting a heavy recoiling rifle requires a firm grip on the forend with a full hand. Do not “pinch” the forend. Grasp it like you are giving a firm handshake. 80% forend grip 20% grip on the trigger hand.
That works for the largest shoulder fired sporting rifles on the planet up to and including the 8 and 4 bore rifles.
Once you get into the high velocity .45’s such as the .450 Rigby or the .460 Weatherby you are starting to need to modify how you hold the rifle. And the big .50’s and up are definitely in need of modified grip.
Shooting a heavy recoiling rifle requires a firm grip on the forend with a full hand. Do not “pinch” the forend. Grasp it like you are giving a firm handshake. 80% forend grip 20% grip on the trigger hand.
That works for the largest shoulder fired sporting rifles on the planet up to and including the 8 and 4 bore rifles.
Jessesky
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 981
I will remember this when I finish my .470 capstick build. 500gr bullet at 2400fps. It’s the 375h&h blown out to the largest diameter bullet it will allow
edwardware
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,424
I am surprised at the suggestions to get off the bench as soon as possible. I don't see how a field position will be more consistent. I have no plans to hunt this rifle, so why take it off the bench before seeing good results?
Any book suggestions?
Any book suggestions?
It sounds like you're shooting almost free forend, with downward pressure with your right hand. I had assumed this would allow excessive muzzle jump; I'll have to try.
I have actually done this in my pistol collection, and it's effective. . . but I'm not buying .458!
Granted. After finding an appropriately short stool and sitting upright, it doesn't hurt. With a tall stool, it was awful.
I gather the dry fire is to build consistent muscle tension and memory without the interruption of recoil, correct?
It really depends on the rifle, but yes unless you put some serious weight on the forend it will jump off the bags.
My .375 only weights 8.25lbs scoped, Its GOING to move, and it does jump a few inches off the bags. The trick ive found is to have the initial recoil come straight back, and let the muzzle come up....er....naturally? Thats why I pull the rifle back into my shoulder as hard as i do, It seems to deaden the initial movement of the rifle.
To be fair, Ive only shot a few cloverleaf size groups, most average around 1-1.25" BUT thats about as well as I do consistently with any of my rifles.
Ok, I have to ask, if you have no intention of hunting with it, why on Earth buy a 375 H&H? Is it accurate? Sure. But it can beat you up and it ain't cheap to shoot. It is not a bench gun or a bench caliber. It is a hunting caliber. I love shooting mine. I shoot it as much or more than my other rifles. But I'm shooting to stay familiar and to get better from field positions for hunting. I like shooting mine seated on the ground or standing. I need to practice off sticks and makeshift rests more. But, as they say, to each their own.
edwardware
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,424
I think you answered your question pretty well. I bought it to shoot, because I enjoy shooting. Most guys with Corvettes don't drag race them, and I don't hunt. . . but I shoot every week.
And that is perfectly fine. In fact the simple, pure joy of shooting is the best reason!
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
I’m a bit surprised that .470 Capstick can get up to 2400 FPS with a 500 gr pill. It must have a better expansion ratio than the .458 Lott. You really have to work with a Lott to get it much over 2300 fps. In fact I treat a Lott more like a lower pressure .458 Win and just load them to a nominal 500 gr at 2150 fps. It is very managable to shoot and matches traditional 470 and 450 NE express loads which have a track proven record on DG. And in fact us what the .458 Win was supposed to do when it was designed.
Speaking from experience a quality .458 or .474 diameter 500 gr bullet will reliably penetrate length wise through a Cape buffalo and will penetrate all the way through a bull elephants skull and exit into the neck on a frontal brain shot. I’m really not sure how much more you need?
Jessesky
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 981
Truth be told, the Lott is probably the most I need and is more practical. But I’m so enamored with cartridge named after capstick and the exotic .470 caliber I wanted to build one to say I did.
TeaCoffee.Guy
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 66
I can feel myself flinching after firing my 12 gauge shot gun a few times.
I use a recoil pad that has part of gel bicycle seat inside of it to make it even more shock absorbent.
That certainly helps a lot - but still I flinch befor pulling the trigger.
I use a recoil pad that has part of gel bicycle seat inside of it to make it even more shock absorbent.
That certainly helps a lot - but still I flinch befor pulling the trigger.
Trey Veston
Member
My training regimen...
Shooting off the bench is a necessary part of load development. I have a 1-1/4" Montana sling on my .375 H&H and I use it when shooting off the bench. I take a tight wrap of the sling and rest my support hand on the bag and under the forend of the stock when shooting. That technique works for me. It's no mystery that shooting big magnums well is all about recoil management. The .375 H&H is capable of excellent accuracy and precision when shot properly. A 5-shot group at .620 moa is evidence of that. The groups shown below were shot before I bedded the recoil lug. I haven't managed to shoot more groups since completing the bedding job, but with hunting season upon us in less than two weeks I need to check zero if nothing else. I wish I had time to work up a 270gr LRX load for this rifle but the 250gr TTSX load at 2,800 fps isn't too shabby.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
I’ve gone exclusively to the 270 Gr LRX with excellent accuracy results and a touch more velocity than a standard 270 Gr TSX. I highly recommend this bullet.
I spent an inordinate amount of time searching for a Redding .375 H&H neck sizing die yesterday in my chaotic gun room but finally managed to find it. I annealed the case mouths of 15 pieces of brass, pressed in GM215M primers, neck sized five cases, added 73.0gr of VV N540 and stuffed in a 270gr LRX bullet in each of five cases with a COAL of 3.580" and finished up by crimping the case mouth with a Lee FCD. I'll be shooting them during lunch and hoping that I get at least 2,600 fps and a group that's under 1-1/2" for this first load. Anything better than that will be a plus. The finished loads look virtually identical to the 250gr TTSX load so I'd better not mix them up.
I shot a group today with the .375 H&H and the 270gr LRX ... I started a new thread in the reloading section rather than hijack this thread.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/more-load-development-for-the-375-h-h-mag.842483/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/more-load-development-for-the-375-h-h-mag.842483/
tark
Member
Amen to that. The 4 bore I had the privilege of shooting 30 years ago could not be fired from the bench. It would knock you off the chair. You took a step backward with the shot. Load was 385 gr 1F with a 2000 gr conical bullet. Calculated recoil was about 240 ft lbs. A 458 Winchester has 70.
I'm not sure if I'm impressed, or concerned!
My .375s as much fun as I really want. If I want to get hit by a truck I'm sure my wife will oblige.
When I was young magnums and such never really bothered me. At some point in my 40's I started developing a flinch with higher powered rifles. I decided it was the getting older and wiser theory. I just avoid higher recoiling magnums now. My 06 is about all I want at the bench shooting upwards of a dozen and a half rounds.
Jeff
Jeff
Peakbagger46
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 1,475
Lots of good advice here. I will add that working out the upper body helps. While I don’t own a large bore rifle, shooting my elk rifle is much more comfortable when I’ve been keeping up on pushups and sit-ups.
Pecks and a strong core make a big difference!
Pecks and a strong core make a big difference!
- Status
