Basics for a Big Bore Newby

[WannabeDeepSea]

Well I went to the range and shot my Ruger SRH in .480 Ruger.  I must say, it was a lot of fun.  Only shot at 20 yards, but after 12 rounds the bull was almost shot out with factory irons.  Scope will be coming soon.  One question, is there a special way to hold these long barreled revolvers?  I held it like I would my SP101.  The reason I ask is because my trigger finger was taking a whoopin.  Seems as if I may have been doing something wrong as it felt as if all of the energy from the round was transferring through my finger.  I was shooting factory Hornady 400 gr xtp.  
Thanks for your help,
Bill

[Tom W.]

I held mine with two hands, and I pay even more attention when I  hold my .454!

[WannabeDeepSea]

I was shooting from a bench.  My thinking is: with the barrel rested on a caldwell "The Rock" and butt of the handle resting on the bench... it caused the recoil to have more barrel lift than if I had not rested the handle on the bench.   

[Catfish]

When shooting the big bore handguns from a rest you get all of the recoil. Shooting them off handed there seem to be alot less recoil. If you rest your weist or hand on something your hold won`t be quit as study, but recoil will seem alot less.

[timothy]

Sounds like the overtravel is slapping your finger upon recoil. You might try using more of the tip of your trigger finger. Good luck

[shot1]

Rest the butt of the grip on a small sand bag and rest your wrist on a sang bag as well and don't try to hold down the recoil. Keep your wrist firm and let your arms bend at the elbows. Put something under your elbows to pad them also.

[AtlLaw]

Rest the butt of the grip on a small sand bag

A question from another Big Bore Newby (I ain't usin the feminine "Newbie" there Wannabe!     )

When sighting in the scope on my Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter I found the butt resting on a sandbag as well as the barrel to be the steadiest position I had used.  Later I read somewhere, don't remember where or who wrote it, that you never rest the butt an anything, only your wrists.

Is that correct or not?  Obviously you don't think so Shot1, but why?   

[WannabeDeepSea]

Rest the butt of the grip on a small sand bag

A question from another Big Bore Newby (I ain't usin the feminine "Newbie" there Wannabe!     )

Hehe, I guess you learn something new everyday.  I didn't know there was a masculine vs. feminine way-it is modified.

Thanks for the heads up 
Bill

[AtlLaw]

I didn't know there was a masculine vs. feminine way-it is modified.

THERE IS!?   

Whoda thunk it... 

[SHOOTALL]

I shoot the 454 ( i admit not as much as i used to ) and find if the butt is touching anything solid on a bench when you transfer to a field position things will change . The gun will recoil different causing the sight to move different and not be where the bullet will hit a bad thing. If you shoot creedmore the bbl and hand touching the leg is steady . Both hands with wrist on a bag is good . I didn't like the bbl on a block or bag as it made controling movement harder. When you shoot you move learn to control the movement not try to stop it . Remember the body moves for a time after death so trying to stop it while breathing is almost impossible and is impossible to repete at will. Shooting at 20 yards is good pratice but tells little really . shoot at 50 and see group size . Try to relax , trust your sights , trust your wiggle or shake learn your trigger and shoot . After trying to force a bullet to go into a tight group just relax and see how much better it goes when you try it this way . If you get in a bind and clamp the gun in a bind how do you repete that in the field . As for your finger get a shooting glove or jusy put a piece of armoflex tape on the inside of the trigger guard like i do sometimes ( you didn't think you were the lone ranger with a sore finger did ya ? )

[Tom W.]

Don't let your grips touch anything, unless you put your hand under it. Along the same line, don't rest the barrel on anything either. You'll not get true results from the bench that way, and your POI in the field won't be the same.