(.400 member)

01/06/06 10:03 AM

WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I have several big bore rifles but some seem to smack me worse than others. Most seem to fit well but bite just the same.

I have a 375 H&H, 416 Rem, 458 WM, and 470 NE among the serious big boys.I would rather shoot the 470 over the 458.

The scopeless 458 Wm is no fun with hot 500 gr loads weighing in at 8 pnds,6oz. I can't cycle the bolt as fast as I can shoot the 470 Double either.

All this groaning being said I must say that I didn't even feel the 458 gun kick when hunting.Mind over matter I guess.

What is your worst thumper? How would you make it better??

Thank you for any responses beforehand!

(.450 member)

01/06/06 10:09 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

My worst thumper isn't even a big bore. It's an older Remington Model 760 Carbine, pump action in 30:06, with an 18 1/2 inch barrel. With 220 grain loads, it just flat out wallops the snot out of me: much worse than shooting my 458 Win. Mag, or Ruger 416 Rigby.

(.224 member)

01/06/06 12:14 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

i'm new to the big bores... i have a .458 win mag on a ruger #1... with the 510 gr loads, its rough on the bench, trying to get a good sight-setting... with the 350 grain, it's easy to shoot.... i also shoot a winchester m70 in .375 h&h....i seem to notice more recoil from it than i do the .458....the ruger will get a mercury reducer later this month and a better recoil pad......the .375 will probably follow.... i have a 9.3 x 74 in a ruger #1 tropical on order... i was told friday that it will be here in about 3 weeks... i'm looking forward to that 1...i have plans to look at a 9.3 in a double this coming weekend.. good thing my significant other shares my shooting desires as much as i do... she received a colt gov't satin .45acp for mother's day....

(.300 member)

01/06/06 12:44 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

Got rid of my worst one.. A wonderful looking with all the bells and whistles, 450 Dakota African.. Thing would beat me to next week

(.333 member)

01/06/06 02:46 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

That would have to be my Gibbs 505!

However my 375 H&H was nasty at 8lbs!!

(.416 member)

01/06/06 03:37 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

A 14.75 pound .600 NE caused me to black out momentarily, followed by a wave of nausea.

(.400 member)

01/06/06 08:37 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Had a friend who shot two Ele with a 450 Dakota with no muzzlebreak.I think it has 8000 ftpnd energy at the muzzle.
He wants a different rifle now.

He said he is looking for a 470NE/500 NE Double to hunt with instead of that 450--it bites BAD!!

(.300 member)

02/06/06 09:47 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Hoppdoc,

I once built a .416rem mag with a 22" barrel and it came in at about 7-7.5 pounds. Ouch was an under statement.

Once sighted in an ultra low weight .264win mag with 140grs rocketing out at warp speed. It weighed in the low 5 pound range. OUCH.

(.375 member)

02/06/06 02:10 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I have a 450 dakota and max loads run out to 6766 ft. lbs. It kicks, but my stoutest gun is a 14 lb. 585 nyati loaded to 10300 ft. lbs. no break. I have a 600 O.K. coming, should be here in july. With max loads, it should be a real ball buster, we"ll see.

(.275 member)

02/06/06 02:16 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Okay, I'll confess.

My Marlin 1895 .45-70 flyweight, shooting max loads of 400+ grain bullets, beats my .375s, my .416s, my .458 and my .500 all to hell in the recoil department.

It's just too light weight, with too much drop at heel. And with no recoil pad, it just damned well HURTS! My other, much more powerful, rifles are pussycats in comparison.

(.375 member)

02/06/06 02:19 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I forgot about a 10 lb. 500 nitro single shot ruger #1. I have run max loads of 570 grain bullets out to 2365 ft./sec for a hair over 7000 ft. lbs, it is a pretty good thumper. I have not been shooting in a couple of months since my boys accident. But I hope to start shooting again in several weeks. It is just hard since Kyle was my shooting buddy for the past 10 years.

(.333 member)

02/06/06 10:29 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Biggest is a 16.5lb 4 bore, 383gns 2F, 88gns lube and wads, and 2133gn conical at 1200fps. Knocked my glasses off and almost dropped the gun. Decided to back down a bit!

But the Worst..
Yet another Marlin, a 16.5" unported 50AK (an even 3kg) with a 13" lop. Shot 10 rds of 525/1865 before deciding this wasn't fun anymore and haven't touched those loads since.

Bob

(.400 member)

03/06/06 08:02 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

In reply to:

A 14.75 pound .600 NE caused me to black out momentarily, followed by a wave of nausea.

I fully understand, 500grains! I get a wave of nausea every time I look at a 600NE! I had a 577NE double that I got rid of simply because it was so unpleasent to shoot!
I wimp out at the door of the 500NE, in a 10.7 lb double. Anything bigger is useless to me. In the hunting field a 470NE isn't noticable, but on the range, even standing it isn't fun. I do all my practice with the heavies by stump shooting in the woods, much more like hunting. The range is for masacists, if big boomers are involved!

(.400 member)

03/06/06 09:34 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

I have a friend GD who had bragged he would shoot ANYTHING once.

I have relayed the story before but basically GD shot one barrel of a 600 Nitro Double. It knocked him down and dazed him.He thought he had a concussion.

HE NO LONGER SAYS HE WILL SHOOT ANYTHING ONCE!

My hats off to Mark Sullivan or others who shoot the 600 regularly. Not my kind of gun unless I have to hunt reborn Tyrannasaurus Rex's

(.224 member)

06/06/06 02:42 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORSE BIG BORE THUMPER??

I have to agree with mrlexma...I had an older marlin 1895 and I cut the barrel to 16.25 inches. Loaded up some very warm 405 grain loads, and kept the original stock and recoil pad. Damn thing brought tears to my eyes every time I pulled the trigger. I could shoot no more than 2 rounds at a session before I would have to stop before developing a severe flinch.
Sent it back to Marlin and had them put a new 22" barrel on it, and I backed off the loads...now a pleasure to shoot.

(.333 member)

07/06/06 10:18 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I shoot a very light 375 (under 8lbs w/scope & fully loaded), no problems. My 470 gets my attention. But the Browning/Winchester 1886 45/70 with 405 gr @ 1900+ fps that I used for American Bison (buffalo) has a curved steel butt plate.....hurt everytime I pulled the trigger. In fact, the buffalo reqired 2 shots and I remember them both! 5+ years since then, it hasn't been shot! I need to change the stock or settle for reduced loads.

(.224 member)

07/06/06 04:04 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

A .460 Weatherby that started out as a .458 CZ 550. No brake and the only weight that has been added is that from bedding it. Full power loads with 500 and 600 grain bullets are pretty harsh. My uncle is in the process of buying a .577 Tyrannosaur. I fired a few rounds of 750 grain bullets at 2200 fps. Felt VERY powerful, quite a big shove. It should get real interesting when we start trying out hotter loads.

(.333 member)

09/06/06 01:10 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Ruger # 3 45-70 500 grn handloads,
steel but plate, plus it gets your hand
every time.

**DONOTDELETE**

()

21/06/06 02:23 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

For shoulder bruising it is without a doubt the M1874 Sharps carbine reproduction loaded with hot 45-70 (405 at ~ 1900 fps). That little crescent steel buttplate tears you up in a hurry! The other "toy" that bruises the crap out of my shoulder is a Kalashikov (AKM) fired full auto for about 400 rounds in less than 30 minute (a welding glove is a recommended for the off hand).

Scott

(.224 member)

28/06/06 04:38 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I have a 375 H&H that kicks a bit but nowhere near a bad as the wallop my 300 Wby mag gives me.

But...............my worst thumper is a 12ga. SxS shooting magnum turkey loads...............It kicks the snot out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!

After shooting that for Turkeys and Coyotes, I have no fear of getting a 416 Rigby

(.275 member)

29/06/06 05:19 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

My 300 Wby kicks pretty good but by far the worst that I've owned and shot so far was a NEF single shot 12 ga. shooting 3" mag slugs. DAMN!!

(.300 member)

12/07/06 12:43 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I had a 7 1/4 lb 404 jeffery with a steel buttplate,it was nice to carry but things would get fuzzy when you shot it.
Fred

(.300 member)

19/07/06 02:45 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I had a light weight Italian Sharps carbine replica in .45-70. Nothing was right about it and it hurt to shoot worse than any of my much larger guns. I could either keep shooting it to develop a monster flinch or get rid of it. It is gone.

(.300 member)

19/07/06 05:48 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

have an italian single shot break breech 12 bore, very ligth , dont know the weigth but very ligth not more than 3 pounds.
its build like a poacher gun, you can turn the barrel for maybe 170 degrees so get it under the jacket.
Have take it allways for blackpowder plinking with 80-90 grains ffg and lee forster slug. hits like a horse and allways look for my teeth.
if someone was very cool on the range give him this gun and ammo and look what happens. many of them get it hard in the face, can see this when they shot.
tell me it was nice and I laugh when they gone.

(.224 member)

21/07/06 09:00 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I had a 375 H&H in a Remington KS Mountain Rifle. It weighed 6.5 Lbs and I tried to shoot it off the bench. I hated it! I put a large folded towel over my shoulder, instead of softening the blow it hurt me from my left ear to my right knee. I shot some big NT boars with it and felt nothing, but I still sold it!
I now have a 460 Weatherby with a brake. On this forum 460 Weatherby's with a brake are anathema!
I have a 375 Weatherby on a Ruger #1 Custom (long time members will remember the story of the hunt I did with NitroX) the #1 is still tough off the bench but much more manageble than the remington. I have bought a double in 9.3x74r plus 16 bore drilling (see other thread) I intend to use this in OZ for NT boars Vic Sambar and anything else that moves.
I have reloaded the 460 with the 400 grn Woodliegh at a very manageable 2600 fps. We shot a feral cat with it and it blew the back half off the cat as if it had been dissected in half. I have read a great deal about "shock" and I think this may be an example of shock. See Gregor Woods on Rifles for Africa, whilst respecting Boddington as I do he has a very different position on the need for magnum rifles!
PS I have spoken personally to many PHs about brakes and their almost unanimous opinion is to shoot a rifle that you can hit the target with! but they are probably mostly deaf! Don't tell anyone else on this forum that I have a rifle with a brake or they won't speak to me, but I reakon that if you need to shoot rabbit, goat, duck pig or paper, at some time in your life you need a 460 Weatherby.

Regards,
The Professor.

(.375 member)

23/07/06 05:49 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Don't feel bad, I have 2 460 weatherby rifles with breaks. I can easily take the one break off of the dangerous game rifle and shoot it. I know most guys on this forum don't care for weatherby's, but I like shooting mine.

(.400 member)

23/07/06 06:41 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

When I was14 years young, 180 pnds and quite gullible I once shot an old Spanish ?10 gauge(heavy and a larger bore than a 12 ga) SxS double hammer gun with a bent barrel.No doubt I shot it with the wrong technique but the experience was quite memorable.

It hurt like crazy and bruised both my shoulder and my cheek badly.After that, I don't think I shot anything bigger than a 22 rifle for a year!!

(.224 member)

18/04/07 11:39 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

A Win. .356 94 Big Bore that I used to have-250 grainers really got my attention!!! I thought it felt harder than my .458's by a fair margin.
BigMike

(.275 member)

19/04/07 08:51 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

My 10.5lb Ruger #1 in 600JDJ with a Beartooth 1040grn @ 1900+ fps

(.400 member)

19/04/07 11:52 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Makes my head ache and teeth hurt just thinking about shooting it!!

(.375 member)

19/04/07 01:57 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Comes out to about 193 ft.lbs of recoil. That is pretty stiff and will definatly make you notice!

(.300 member)

19/04/07 02:00 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

600JDJ;
What case if the 600JDJ built on? I have always
thought the 577-3"NE was as big as you could cram into
a No. 1.
Thanks
Raff

(.275 member)

19/04/07 09:42 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

It is based from a 577 Nitro blown out to 620 caliber. These are Bell brass cases w/ a Woodleigh 900 gr SP loaded to 1950 fps.

(.300 member)

20/04/07 12:18 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

I thought that might be the cartridge, but wasn't sure.
Nice looking rifle and a very interesting recoil pad
arrangement.
My worste thumper is also a No. 1 but in 577-3". The 650 gr.
loads are fun to shoot, but the 750 gr. TRex wannabe loads
are just plain painfull.
Thanks
Raff

(.333 member)

20/04/07 01:01 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Great photo of the 600JDJ. Can I borrow it for my next groundhog hunt. They charge when they are wounded, you know.

My current 'worst' recoiling is a new CZ Safari in 505 Gibbs w/brake but still a handful. My all time worst was a lightweight Weatherby DGR in 378 WM. The WMs and Dakotas get their performance with steep 'power curves' and have an aburpt and sharp recoil. By contrast, the 505 is more of a push like a still 12ga (or maybe a 10, although it has been years since I tried one.) Stand up, roll with the push, and the 505 is not so bad. The WMs and Dakota big bores are just plain nasty anyway you try them. Dave

(.700 member)

20/04/07 03:30 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

No detached retinas for me. The .458 Alaskan on a M70, shooing 560gr. cast at 2,200fps was quite enough. Enough that I bought a .458 2" reamer, shortened the barrel, rethreaded, rechambered to .458 2" and no have a pleasant, hard hitting "North American" Thumper that is difficult to improve upon. This gun merely replaces my old .458 2" that I retired after 15,000 rounds. Best loading with jacketed was 510gr. softs and solids at 2,060fps.
: Indeed, Elmer himself suggested that with my 560gr. flat nosed cast bullets, hardened and driven at 2,000fps, that my old 2" would work well in Africa for all the really Big Game. Of that, I am totally in agreement. A backup of 500gr. steel jacketed solids at 2,060fps would also work.
: Best loading presently, very easy to shoot, are 350gr. and 400gr. Barnes "X" HP's and 450gr. solids at 2,150 fps to 2,300fps. They would also do for most game "over there".
: The 2" case (or newer .450 Marlin on a bolt gun) is very much neglected by the faster is better modern crowd. This is unfortunate as it is the "bestest brush gun" (out to 250/300 yards) that a big game hunter here could use when after big moose, elk and big bear.
: Hoppdoc - I used to revel in how my AYA 10 bore crumpled ducks and geese. I re-worked the chokes and got it shooting 94% right, 96% left. At 40 yards, the mallard silouette had 184 pellet hits with #5's. "Crumpled" is the correct term.
: Dnovo - that 20 bore rifle should work on groundhogs, if you hit them right.

(.275 member)

20/04/07 06:39 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Quote:

Great photo of the 600JDJ. Can I borrow it for my next groundhog hunt. They charge when they are wounded, you know.

My current 'worst' recoiling is a new CZ Safari in 505 Gibbs w/brake but still a handful. My all time worst was a lightweight Weatherby DGR in 378 WM. The WMs and Dakotas get their performance with steep 'power curves' and have an aburpt and sharp recoil. By contrast, the 505 is more of a push like a still 12ga (or maybe a 10, although it has been years since I tried one.) Stand up, roll with the push, and the 505 is not so bad. The WMs and Dakota big bores are just plain nasty anyway you try them. Dave

You might also need a bayonet

(.400 member)

20/04/07 06:45 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Daryl,

Maybe you can clear up something I ahve been curious about for a long time. But first, I need to establish a commonality of terms. When you say .458 Alaskan 2", are you referring to the .458 Winchester Magnum case shortened to 2"? In my book, that cartridge is a .458X2" American, and the .450 Alaskan is a .348 Winchester opened up to .450 for use in the Model 71 Winchester.

Assuming that it is, what exactly is the purpose of changing the case length on the .458 WM? I have been shooting a .458 WM for 47 years now, and if I wanted to reduce the velocity, I just reduced the powder charge. Same with my .450 Watts, which I have had for 30 + years now. Is there some advantage, other than case capacity, with the 2" case? I know that according to Cartridges of the World, the original .458X2" was built on a 722 action, which is too short to accomodate a full length .458 WM, so that makes sense, but putting on on a Model 70, unless it is the short action post-64 model, seems like an exercise in futility.

In my opinion, the .458 WM case is too small to start with. Most full power loads are compressed, with the result that performance can be erratic. Leaving the case length the same and reducing the charge seem to me the best way to achieve ideal loading density.

Is there something I am totally missing here?

To return to the topic, I think the worst I have ever been beat up by a rifle was when I was sighting in a Remington 760 pump rifle in .30-'06 off the bench for a friend. The stock slapped me in the face every shot. He can sight his own rifles in from now on.

(.400 member)

20/04/07 07:34 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

600JDJ--

What type of recoil devise do you have on that gun?
How well does it work?
Looks like a Graco recoil reducer I used to have on a shotgun.

(.275 member)

20/04/07 07:59 PM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

Hoppdoc,
It is a hydraulic recoil system call Coil-check I believe. It was installed by JD Jones of SSK when he built the gun. The system compresses appr. 2" in recoil. It is adjustable for the degree of pressure needed. Although you have to be careful as I learned. If you turn it to too much resistance, like I did, you can rupture the cylinder from very heavy recoiling rounds (that brutal recoiling 1040grn @ 1900+ fps). The main purpose isn't so much recoil reduction for the shooter, although it has this affect, it is to help prevent the stock from cracking in the wrist area. Cracked stockes is one reason JD recomends 900 gr loads @ 1850 fps. The action can take more. The shooter may be able to. But very heavy loads I beleive will sooner or later, crack the stock if your not carefull. My current heaviest load I will use now is the 900gr Woodleigh @ 1950 fps. It performes well and is tolerable to shoot for me @ I don't think the stock will crack with this load. That Beartoothe 1040grn @ 1900 was an unbelievable penetrator but I couldn't get good accuracy (5" @ 100 yrds)with it at this speed. When slowed to around 1600fps it shot much more accurate. I now cast my own 800gr 90% meplat flat nose below at 1500 fps as a great plinker and hunter. It is very accurate and shoots to the same POI as the 900gr Woodleighs @ 1950fps.
Long winded answer

(.224 member)

30/04/07 04:07 AM

Re: WHATS YOUR WORST BIG BORE THUMPER??

K-80 is right on line. I HAD a Ruger #3 in 45/70. Sold it after the first trip to the range. I hope the new owner loves it, I did NOT.

A load with a 525 grain cast gas checked bullet over H-322 was WAY too much fun for me. Knocked off my glasses, gave me a scope cut and just plain hurt like hell.

I'll never miss that thing.

I own several biggie Ruger #1s, 416 Ribgy, 375 H&H, 458 Lott, and none of them kick anything like that little #3 did.

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