Author Topic: "Proper" technique for 375 H&H? (Read 2565 times)

KDM · « **on:** December 22, 2006, 06:17:42 PM »

OK...I've got a question for ya. Can you guys share with me your experiences / techniques / methods for shooting a 375 H&H? There's more to it, I'm sure, than shouldering then pulling the trigger. What I've gleaned so far is: 80% weight on front foot, 20% back; stiffen your neck; relax, and roll with the recoil; hold the fore end gently (no deathgrip). Are these fairly accurate? Do you have others to add? Much appreciated!

GrassLakeRon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2006, 12:56:34 PM »

I think you are on the right path so far. I didn't do any of that the first time I shot mine. I thought it would be a more painful experience. I was wrong. I believe that what you said is accurate. I don't tense up at all. I push forward with my left and pull back with my right (right handed shoting). Lean forward, take a breath and sweeze. No shooters shoulder yet. You will love this round.

Good Luck

Ron

KDM · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2006, 02:00:22 PM »

Thanks, Ron. This'll be my first big bore...can't wait!

lgm270 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:33:24 AM »

A couple of points:

Make sure the but of the stock is securely against your shoulder.

Make sure your scope has enough eye relief that you dont' get wacked on the forehead when it recoils. i speak from experience on that one.

You can't shoot a .375 H&H as casually as a 270 or '06. Recoil is real and must be considered.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:57:38 AM »

I shoot my 375 H&H and 416 Rigby as I would any of my other rifles. I know they are going to have more recoil and I just let it happen. Nothing you do is going to stop recoil, just know it is there. The proper technique is the same for any rifle not just big bore heavy recoil rounds.

I don't hold on to tight to my big bore rifles, because it will affect the impact, I shoulder my rifle in the natural pocket on my shoulder. I make sure I have enough eye relief form the scope and just concentrate on the target and slowly squeeze the trigger.

The biggest problem I see with a lot of big bore shooters is, they anticipate recoil and push the rifle forward trying to compensate for recoil. Just let it happen.

GEMSBUCK · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2006, 04:12:36 AM »

All I do is mount the rifle and shoot, the erecoil of a fullhouse 375H&H load even in a modest weight gun is not that great IMHO. No worse than a 3" mag 12 ga slug off a bench. My wife all 107 # of her shoots her 375H&H, in an 8 1/2 # rifle, with 300gr loads off a bench and doesn't complain.
If your that untolerable to recoil try standing and shooting off sticks.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2006, 04:26:16 PM »

Quote from: GEMSBUCK on December 24, 2006, 04:12:36 AM

All I do is mount the rifle and shoot, the erecoil of a fullhouse 375H&H load even in a modest weight gun is not that great IMHO. No worse than a 3" mag 12 ga slug off a bench. My wife all 107 # of her shoots her 375H&H, in an 8 1/2 # rifle, with 300gr loads off a bench and doesn't complain.
If your that untolerable to recoil try standing and shooting off sticks.

I am glad to see that someone else thinks the 375 H&H recoil is not bad in there opinion. I think once you overcome the thought of the recoil it is really not that bad.

drdougrx · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2006, 03:35:12 AM »

Merry CHRISTmas All!

I'm with Red...I have an 8lb 375HH and shoot 300gr noslers and don't shoot it any different than any other rifle I own. I suppose if you treat it different, it may not fit. Suppose the only gun I shoot different is a 12ga ithica 37 pump with magnum slugs.....I justclose my eyes real tight wait for the bruise........

dave375hh · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2006, 03:52:56 AM »

The .375H&H dosen't kick all that hard. One thing I have learned is to hold the forend with your hand off the bench when sighting it in. Allowing it to bounce off the front rest will give you a false point of impact. Rest the back of your hand on the bag and let it recoil normally. Check it off hand to make sure. This applys to shotgun slugs also. I've been kicked harder by shotgun slugs off the bench.

nasem · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2006, 01:23:46 PM »

as far as recoil goes.... recoil woun't break you nor hurt you, but like redhawk says, its there.

When I first got my 375 h&h, first day at the range, i purposly took only 5 rounds with me, I did not want to over do it and start developing any flinches..... 2nd time to the range, again I took only 5 rounds.... 3rd time (If i remember correctly), I took about 10 rounds.... but I stayed at 10 rounds for a few months.... When I was confortable, I started poping off 15-20 then thats it, i get tired after that and my groups start to open up a bit.

As far as recoil "figures" goes.... ever shot off a 165 grainer from a 30-06 ?, multiply that force X2 and thats your 375 h&h....I can't simply say "the h&h doesn't recoil a whole lot" but I will say that alot of women can get the hang of shooting them at full loads.

as far as holding the gun goes, its all about your physical structure......., so we rean't can't advice you on how to hold it, if your gun has open sights, try it out with the open sights and no scope, see how it feels for u.... then you can scope it as you wish

jro45 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2006, 04:11:41 AM »

With my Big Bore rifles 375 H&H, 416 Rem , and my 338 RUM shooting heavy bullets I just hold the rifle snug into my shoulder pocket when shooting. That way the recoil moves your shoulder with the rifle and not the rifle into your shoulder. That works for me!

drdougrx · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2006, 09:49:26 AM »

Hey Dave...the Ithica is a pump that goes out of battery when it fires. It's the old model without the trigger disconnecter. You can hold down the trigger and pump and fire till it's empty....not that I've ever tried that...more than once!!!

I sould also say that I really like the limbsaver recoil pad...really helps!!!!

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2006, 01:59:21 PM »

I used to have a flinching problem shooting a 7mm-08 at metallic silhouettes until someone, I have forgotten whom, gave me the best advice I have ever received concerning the management of recoil:

"Whether you hit your target or not, the rifle will still kick, so you might as well focus on making the shot and forget about the recoil"

I drilled those words into my head and my flinch was cured within a couple of weeks. I have killed at least 10 critters with a .375 H&H using 270 gr. bullets and every time I shot, I neither heard the rifle go off nor felt any recoil. The only time I am aware of recoil is at the shooting bench when sighting in or developing loads. A folded towel on the shoulder and elbow pads take the sting out of just about any rifle ourt there.

I hope this helps.

GEMSBUCK · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2006, 06:22:05 AM »

spend $100 and buy a Caldwell Lead Sled for the bench work

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2006, 06:43:18 AM »

Quote from: GEMSBUCK on December 28, 2006, 06:22:05 AM

spend $100 and buy a Caldwell Lead Sled for the bench work

That's cheating. LOL

I still like to get the trigger time in with my big bore's and the lead sled takes away from that experience. But it is a good idea for someone that is recoil sensitive.

GEMSBUCK · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2006, 07:31:03 AM »

red: I agree it is cheating but the Lead Sled does have it's uses while sitting at a bench trying to sightin. I own one and use it when rezeroing my 458Lott. ONCE dead on off the bench I then shoot from sticks and/or off hand. Very easy too see if you flinch or even how good of a shot you are then. In my case quite a humble experience

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2006, 11:31:11 AM »

GEMSBUCK, I know what you are saying.

Some guns can be a real pain when sitting on the bench. I know, I have sighted in my share of 12 gauge slug guns.

I had a buddy go to the range with me, he handed me my gun. I did not know if it was loaded or if he left it unloaded. I would get on target and pull the trigger. Some times it went boom some times it did not. But when it was not, I would know if I was anticipating the recoil. It is a good way to see if you flinched and also will cure you if you do.

GEMSBUCK · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2006, 02:35:52 AM »

Same thing happens with my Zastava Custom Safari when I shoot it. It has a crappy trigger with alot of creep. Sometimes when I anticipate the bang the creep isn't all out and I flinch.

jw4570 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2006, 11:39:02 AM »

My Rem 700 Classic 375 H&H isn't that bad. Now, it's not pussy cat. Shoot it standing up first and see how it goes. I'm considering getting a 375 H&H barrel for my Encore as backup when I fly somewhere to hunt (that won't be for a few more years again) so it will use the same ammo. That will probably kick a little more.

Using a shoulder pad and full house 375 Ammo, I can only serisouly work on sighting it in for about 15 rounds and I have had enough. I can keep shooting, but I am fatigued. But I haven't had to do that since I got it and sighted the iron sights in as well as a scope.

JW

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2007, 02:33:49 PM »

I have the Ruger #1's in .375 H&H and .458WM.

Kick is there, but survivable. Between the above two and an H&R Handi rifle in .45-70-500 shooting max loads in all three my friend and I did 80 rounds. He did 30, I did 50. We were both shooting from the left shoulder before we quit. He was black and blue from elbow to collar bone; I don't bruse but there was a yellowish tinge.

Technique:

FIRST, don't do 50 rounds. It was fun but kept hurting from Saturday clean through Friday.

I shoot from standing position. Keep your thumb to the right side of the rifle - so it doesn't beat up on your nose and doesn't get cut by hitting the safety. I hold the action lightly with left hand just at or in front of the action (tigher grip opens up the groups, more forward opens up the groups). Moderate grip and pull with the right hand.

I load the cast Lyman 485gr slugs just as fast as the 500gr solids - maximum. Practice with the real thing.

corbanzo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2007, 07:11:48 PM »

Definite attention to eye relief. I still remember the first time I shot a .338mag, being use to the -06, I was too close to the scope... got a nice half moom cut right between the eyes, and my buddies rolling on the ground laughing at me.

Relaxing and letting the recoil do what it wants is important, dont try and anticipate the reciol, or itll make you flinch.

jro45 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2007, 12:55:59 PM »

When I first got mine I had a brake put on it and shot with the brake on for about 10 years but scence then I've put on about 15 lbs and the recoil doesn't bother me any more and I've taken the brake off. I now weigh about 180 lbs

Dictator · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2007, 03:18:19 AM »

I agree with Gemsbuck. Get a Lead Sled. It is invaluable when shoot the big stuf. I have found it is nice for all calibers, even down in the 30 calibers for bench work. I now use mine for 30's, my 375 and my 600 JDJ. Once sighted in, get off the bench and practice like in hunting conditions offhand and off sticks or other hunting rests. I got my Lead sled for load developement for my 600 rifle because it just beat you to death at a bench and you just can't shoot offhand accurate enough at 100 yard to really develope proper loads. It also dramatically reduce flinch introduction as most of the urge to flinch starts at the bench. Once it's sighted in, get up and enjoy fun practive offhand.