Training for Heavy Recoil

[edwardware]

I need advice on how to build proficiency with a heavy-recoiling rifle.

As background, I reliably shoot sub-MOA with mild-recoiling (.223 to .270) rifles, on bench and bags, with my handholds. I can use a hand on the forend or free-forearm techniques successfully with this level of recoil.

I bought an M-70 Alaskan in 375 H&H specifically to learn heavy-recoil. From the bench, shooting heavy loads (270gr LRX or 270gr Speer SP) I find that group stringing is exactly correlated to my forend control technique. If I hasty sling on the bench, the group strings up and right (directly opposite the sling). If I use an unslung hand on the forearm and pull straight down, stringing is vertical. This is perfectly repeatable. The stringing is 2-3MOA, and group dispersion normal to the direction of stringing is typically <1MOA. I'm not flinching, I've checked.

With mild-recoiling loads (ie 350gr SMK, Sierra starting data), I can print sub-MOA groups. The stringing is definitely related to the heavy degree of recoil.

I conclude that my technique is failing to consistently control the first millisecond of movement via muscle tension (left arm and shoulder). My question is: what techniques should I be practicing, and what books should I be reading to improve this?

I've read a couple articles by Nathan Foster (Hold That Forend); is his
Practical Guide To Long Range Shooting worth the cost? What else should I be reading?

 

[Riomouse911]

I really like the M-70 Safari, that';s one nice rifle!

Take it slow and limit your shots with heavy-kicking guns or a subconscious flinch will often become ingrained. Since the light-recoil loads are shooting well, and you know when you're loading mule-kickin' loads and get larger groups in a predictable pattern, the flinch very well may be unintentional/subconscious. I got myself a good one after an entire afternoon of shooting full-power 12 gauge slugs/buckshot on the range from an 870 in rangemaster school...after about 25 in a row fired prone I'll admit I was flinching like a little kid getting a shot. To this day I still flinch a bit with these guns/loads.

I've seen pictures of a lot of African guides using a standing "bench" to have their clients sight in with, especially with big doubles. I've heard the recoil allows the standing shooter to roll back while the benched shooter is usually very solidly placed behind the gun absorbing all of the recoil. Maybe a change in hold/rest may end the stringing you're describing?

John Taylor has an old book that's a classic on African safari guns, and Craig Boddington has a newer book on same. I'd try these first.

Good luck, and stay safe!

 

[z7]

Dry fire three to five times between shots

Work on using a single technique for shooting,

Exhale and fire during the natural pause between breaths

All pressure must come straight back to the rear

Have a friend load your rifle for you (and then sneak in an empty chamber on you). That will instantly reveal any flinch

 

[Garandimal]

I need advice on how to build proficiency with a heavy-recoiling rifle.

As background, I reliably shoot sub-MOA with mild-recoiling (.223 to .270) rifles, on bench and bags, with my handholds. I can use a hand on the forend or free-forearm techniques successfully with this level of recoil.

I bought an M-70 Alaskan in 375 H&H specifically to learn heavy-recoil. From the bench, shooting heavy loads (270gr LRX or 270gr Speer SP) I find that group stringing is exactly correlated to my forend control technique. If I hasty sling on the bench, the group strings up and right (directly opposite the sling). If I use an unslung hand on the forearm and pull straight down, stringing is vertical. This is perfectly repeatable. The stringing is 2-3MOA, and group dispersion normal to the direction of stringing is typically <1MOA. I'm not flinching, I've checked.

With mild-recoiling loads (ie 350gr SMK, Sierra starting data), I can print sub-MOA groups. The stringing is definitely related to the heavy degree of recoil.

I conclude that my technique is failing to consistently control the first millisecond of movement via muscle tension (left arm and shoulder). My question is: what techniques should I be practicing, and what books should I be reading to improve this?

I've read a couple articles by Nathan Foster (Hold That Forend); is his
Practical Guide To Long Range Shooting worth the cost? What else should I be reading?

Stay off the bench!

There is no substitute for Compressed Surprise Fire (LtCol Jeff Cooper)

Have your range-tormentor hand you the rifle either loaded or with a snap-cap in it - and then shoot at a 4" bull at 100 yards from field positions.

And good tight field positions will help a lot.

When you can hit the bull every live round? You are marksman qualified on that rifle.




GR

 

[dcloco]

Quit shooting from the bench. You will not have access to a bench in the field. At best, a tripod. At worst, a sling (which is actually EXCELLENT, if employed correctly).

 

[entropy]

375 H&H's aren't benchrest guns. Sight from a Lead Sled or some similar sturdy rest, then fire from field positions, as Garandimal suggests. Don't you remember the video of the guys shooting African Big game rifles from the bench? The only guy that didn't drop the gun , Klaus, knew how to properly stand and fire such a rifle:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Klaus shoots at 2:58-end of video.

The compiler of this particular version edited it to fit his agenda, but the basic lesson is still valid.

 

[Walkalong]

You need consistent shoulder pressure/resistance. With heavy recoiling rounds this starts from the ground up. Shooting from the bench it starts at the waist up.

Either I can't, or my .458 Win Mag will not, shoot sub MOA. It can do between 1 MOA and 2 MOA. That's good enough for me. It's brutal off the bench though, and I have only shot it that way to finalize sighting in.

 

[JeffG]

First and foremost, shoot 1/2 the rounds you normally would. Five is plenty to start. With my .458, I do a lot of dry firing, in between rounds. As soon as the rifle is zeroed, get off the bench. Shoot offhand, or sitting. I made a set of African hunter style sticks so I have a rest, shooting offhand. Finish off your practice session with a dose of rimfire shooting. Never push your fatigue level, if you are tired, quit. Don't keep shooting to finish off a box, save it for another day.

 

[LoonWulf]

Hows the stock fit you? a little long can be brutal, short can be uncomfortable, just right makes a huge difference.
Ive fired about 150 rnds from my .375 ruger barreled Abolt. Most of it from the bench or prone. Ive only shot about 40 of the 270s at 2800, most of my were 270s at 2650.
With the squishy pad, and fitted exactly the way I wanted its not uncomfortable, and I shoot it as well as i shoot any of my rifles.

My bench technique is to pull back firmly with my right hand, and adjust alignment with my left under the rear of the stock, while also pushing back against my shoulder. Ive found this allows me to absorb the recoil better and generally it recoils the direction im pulling so It dosent jump around as much.
Sitting or standing, I pull back with my right hand, but dont do anything with my left besides lightly grip, and support the forend.

 

[DannyLandrum]

The A-square lab video is a with a .577 Tyrannosaur, a far cry from a .375 HH mag (probably 3-4 times the recoil). That would happen to 99% of the population - the fact that they are Arabs has nothing to do with it.

 

[sage5907]

If you lean into the shot like from a bench or prone the recoil is worse. The best way for me to handle heavy recoil is to shoot from a sitting position on the ground using a shooting stick. I like a shooting stick because it is so easy to carry when hunting but a tripod would also work. When your body is in a unsupported vertical position it moves with the recoil and absorbs less recoil. I was quite recoil sensitive when I was young but as I got older I became like a punch drunk boxer and forgot about the punches.

 

[redneck2]

I had a Marlin lever gun in .45-70, shooting very heavy (but book legal) loads. IIRC, it was within 100 FPS of a .458. When it was new I had a Decelerator pad installed. It was easy to shoot. The pad made a huge difference

 

[entropy]

The A-square lab video is a with a .577 Tyrannosaur, a far cry from a .375 HH mag (probably 3-4 times the recoil). That would happen to 99% of the population - the fact that they are Arabs has nothing to do with it.

Well, yes, and I pointed out the poster of the video on You Tube cut it to support his agenda. I was pointing out that the one shooter on there who didn't drop/lose the rifle on recoil was firing it in the correct position, and holding it like one should hold such a rifle. Holding a rifle thusly reduces the likelihood it will fly out of one's grasp, no matter the caliber or one's ancestry.

 

[J-Bar]

I don't enjoy heavy recoil. So if I had to acclimate myself to a heavily recoiling rifle for some reason (all expense paid safari, maybe??!!), I would shoot some trap or skeet with heavy load waterfowl shotgun shells.

Thank goodness I have not won an all-expense paid safari...

 

[Jessesky]

I’m only 22 and for some reason addicted to big bore rifles and handguns. I’ve had a 375h&h, 338 Winchester mag, 375 Weatherby, and soon to be a 470 capstick. For the first ten shots or so, I just “do it” to familiarize myself with the recoil and get comfortable. After that I make sure to let my body move with the rifle as one piece, but if I want faster follow up shots I absorb the recoil and yes it will punch a bit more.

It really is not bad, these are some of my favorite rifles to shoot and most are like a firm shove.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I don't enjoy heavy recoil. So if I had to acclimate myself to a heavily recoiling rifle for some reason (all expense paid safari, maybe??!!), I would shoot some trap or skeet with heavy load waterfowl shotgun shells.

Thank goodness I have not won an all-expense paid safari...

Same here. Handloaded 444 Marlin and 300 win mag are top of my recoil tolerance.

 

[LoonWulf]

Same here. Handloaded 444 Marlin and 300 win mag are top of my recoil tolerance.

In general, a 9lb .300 of any sort launching a 200+ bullet, at 2900+ fps, is actually beyond my pain tolerance level.
At least for any sort of volume.
The same goes for the big .338s
It surprised me how tolerable, comfortable actually, my .375 is while still delivering significantly more recoil energy than the smaller bore rifles I've shot.
Only thing I can think of is that even with it's new hotter loads, it's still 100-200fps slower than a big 30 or 33.

Again fitment, and a good squishy pad make a big difference.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The A-square lab video is a with a .577 Tyrannosaur, a far cry from a .375 HH mag (probably 3-4 times the recoil). That would happen to 99% of the population - the fact that they are Arabs has nothing to do with it.

That video and many more like it are filmed in the basement/indoor shooting range of Saeed Al Maktoum in Dubai. Saeed is an avid hunter and shooter from the UAE.

 

[Bill1225]

I would consider looking for some mild 300gr loads the slower muzzle velocity will increase the time of the recoil impulse and make the felt recoil more like a hard push . Start in the standing position and just keep shooting it , but also limit your range time and round count not Develop bad habits. The model 70 Alaskan in 375 is a fairly light factory 375 largest bore of the barrel profile available from Winchester compared to the safari express the 375 is the smallest bore of the barrel profile and a heavy 375 . I have shot both and prefer the Alaskan mainly due to the fact I would spend more time humping the rifle then shooting it and in the field I tend not to feel the recoil

 

[Grumulkin]

I don't dry fire and when I had one, I even shot a 460 Weatherby Magnum from the bench. I still shoot a 458 Lott from the bench and neither the 378 Weatherby nor the 458 Lott are braked.

The important things are:

1. Start with things of less recoil. When I started shooting, I thought a 308 Winchester had quite a bit of recoil; now it's nothing to me.
2. Make sure the butt of the gun is in the proper place; i.e., not directly over the collar bone. It should be on the chest but under the collar bone.
3. You should be sitting erect if possible.
4. A martial arts class with some contact in sparring is beneficial.

 

[Robert]

Ok, when it comes to medium bore rifles, the 375 H&H is not a hard recoiling rifle. Well, maybe if you are loading heavy solids at speed... My mid range 270gr Barnes TTX loads are not bad at all.

What can you do? Dry fire. A lot. And get off the bench. I only shoot from the bench, using a bag rest, for zeroing purposes. After I am sure of my zero I get off the bench and into field positions. H&Hhunter and I just recently had a friendly competition shooting at 500y with our 375 H&H rifles. See the thread here:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/shooting-my-mouth-off.841705/

But the best thing you can do is dry fire, dry fire and dry fire some more. And don't try to shoot the heaviest bullets you can find.

 

[Jessesky]

View attachment 806549

I don't dry fire and when I had one, I even shot a 460 Weatherby Magnum from the bench. I still shoot a 458 Lott from the bench and neither the 378 Weatherby nor the 458 Lott are braked.

The important things are:

1. Start with things of less recoil. When I started shooting, I thought a 308 Winchester had quite a bit of recoil; now it's nothing to me.
2. Make sure the butt of the gun is in the proper place; i.e., not directly over the collar bone. It should be on the chest but under the collar bone.
3. You should be sitting erect if possible.
4. A martial arts class with some contact in sparring is beneficial.

I agree, with some of the harder recoiling rifles, I tell newer shooters to forget about the shoulder pocket stock placement and place it on your outer chest right below your collar bone. For me the larger muscle greatly takes away the punch and the recoil is much more linear letting the weight of your body take the recoil than your shoulder. I even shoot sporting clays and skeet like this, even though the shoulder pocket is “proper” and target loads aren’t heavy recoiling

 

[Grumulkin]

I think we're talking about the same thing.

 

[CraigC]

Get off the bench. Shoot the big stuff off your hind legs. Step into it.

 

[jmorris]

I always take a .22 with me and alternate to it if I notice my behavior anticipating recoil.