Analogy: Shooting big bores versus small bores is like playing in the NFL versus flag football in the park! You can get "hurt" doing either one; however, the pros in the NFL will use all the equipment, tricks, and techniques available to their advantage - if you are shooting big bores you should too!

Nitro, Dreamin, Gator, Dreamin, Rather, Stuble, Otis - those are some great tips, much appreciated! All the following ideas are oriented toward sight in and practice, not necessarily for hunting.

EQUIPMENT:
(1) Make sure the the stock is long enough, add "plates" if necessary don't allow yourself to get "hunched up."
(2) Scope forward with lots of eye relief was an essential tip - don't get "hunched up."
(3) Make sure your trigger pull is not too heavy or too light (2 to 4 pounds) you don't want it to surprise you (too light) nor have a delayed shot when you are trying to squeeeeeze off a shot (too heavy).
(4) Stock up on "cheaters": good recoil pad on the rifle for sure, "strap on" shoulder pad for you, and take a pair of leather gloves with you for spacing or for additional padding.
(5) The bully/ear protection tip was a great one! I wear plugs AND muffs not that the muzzle blast is bad, but as was said earlier I want to TOTALLY ELIMINATE report so that only recoil remains to be dealt with. It makes the whole process more tame and tends to "remove" and "detach" you from explosion that is occuring near your face (with all guns) when you pull the trigger.
(6) If you use a muzzlebreak be keenly aware of the damage you can do to others positioned laterally to you, especially in the field! The non-ported replacement for hunting was a great tip!

RANGE/SIGHT IN TECHNIQUE:
(1) If your big bore doesn't have a scope on it when you get it, then go shoot it with iron sights just as a first introduction. Load up with all the "cheaters" and fire standing up (maximum body flex) and don't even use a target just a back drop. When you decide to shoot, squeeze the trigger quick. Take control right up front and just get accustomed to the rock and roll - hitting comes later. If it does have a scope on it do the same thing just sight over the scope and fire with both eyes open. This is a much better introduction than hunching up on a bench rest and concerning yourself with the 10 ring and then learning the recoil involved.
(2) When sighting in bore sight it first and use a large cardboard backdrop to attach your target so you can "get it on paper" quickly and get it sighted in with fewer total shots and less stress.
(3) Keep your thumb away from your nose! If your stock fits you right it won't be a problem, if it's too short for you then a stinger to your nose/upper lip will give you a quick flinch (big bore not required for this one!). If I'm shooting a rifle that is too short for me then I don't wrap my thumb on around the stock grip (three fingers have that covered). I lay my thumb up the backside near the back of the bolt.
(4) At the range take your own forearm rest (18" or so - cardboard box, case, etc.) and sit up high instead of hunching down low. You want to "roll" with it not "defeat" it.
(5) If your group is erratic and you can't tell if you are flinching, then use the "tag team" set up. You have live rounds and dummy rounds (protect the firing pin). Your partner loads your gun (one at a time) while you look away. You don't know if the round is live or a dummy. When you dry fire one if you are flinching, then it will be obvious, also if you are calm and cool, then that also will be obvious.

PRACTICE:
I may take some heat for this one, but here goes. I assume your big bore will be one of the later guns you will add to your "hunting toolbox." We sight all our rifles in a 200 yards and from 0 to 200 yards there isn't a nickels worth of difference between them. Once you have that bad boy sighted in, then in my mind there isn't a much of sense in shooting it a whole lot - put it away.

We shoot 338's and a 375HH for hunting season but we practice through the year with a Remington 788 in .223, prairie dog gun, no recoil, no report to speak of, harmless. Work on technique! 50, 100, 200 yards. Standing, kneeling, sitting, prone, off hand, off trees, off cross-sticks, lots and lots and lots of repetitions, no "injuries", and cheap. Just like a NFL team practicing you want to sharpen up without "injury." Then at the end of the "plinking" session we'll fire one to four rounds through each of our respective big bores and make it a point to STOP on the first good shot, even if it is the first one! In my mind using many of these sessions is superior to two or three slugfests.

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

EKM

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/27/2002 23:39:49

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/27/2002 23:42:41

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/27/2002 23:45:52

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/28/2002 14:49:05