I think that the best way to handle recoil is to minimize the amount of recoil you have to deal with in the first place.

I think that there are a lot of people out there who have a chronic case of Magnumitis. I've known guys who go Elk hunting with .300 Ultra Mags and never take a shot past 250 yards. Why, when a 7mm Rem. Mag. is plenty of gun do they subject themselves to the punishment of the Ultra Mag? Maybe it's machismo, or masochism.

I guess what I'm saying is don't use more gun than you need. Don't use a .30-06 when a .243 will do. Don't use a 7mm Mag. when a 7mm-08 is plenty. Don't shoot 150 grains of Pyrodex when 100 grains will do...etc...

But if are shooting a rifle that is well matched to the game and conditions you plan on using it for, and recoil is still a problem, then there are a number of things that you can do to help with recoil.

Get a decent recoil pad is your rifle doesn't already have one. Many factory recoil pads seem to be for decoration only. A good Pachmayr Decelerator or Sims Limbsaver recoil pad can make a lot of difference.

Wear a shooting vest to the range. Shooting vests have padding and other features to take some of the sting out of recoil and help a lot.

Don't spend too much time shooting off a bench or in the prone position.

Don't pick the lightest rifle you can find unless it's necessary. A rifle in the typical big game calibers that weighs less than 7.5lbs complete is going to kick your butt. Magnum(b)'s should weight at least 8-8.5lbs with scope. Only get an ultralight if you're going to be humping it over rough or steep terrain all day.

Practice proper shooting form. Pull the buttstock firmly into the pocket of your shoulder. I see a lot of people who hold the butt too far out onto their arm, and it makes ME flinch when they pull the trigger. Also make sure that the rifle is pulled into your shoulder so that it doesn't have room to pick up speed and momentum before it whacks you. The rifle should push you back, not punch your lights out.

And if all that doesn't help enough, there is always the option of using a muzzle brake. Muzzle brakes can reduce free recoil by as much as 50% or more, but there is a price to be paid for it. Muzzle brakes increase the muzzle blast and noise the shooter (and bystanders) experience quite a bit. You should NEVER fire a brake equipped rifle without hearing protection, PERIOD. Even in the field. One shot from a brake equipped rifle WILL cause permanent hearing if no hearing protection is worn. In fact, at the range it's a good idea to wear BOTH plugs and muffs because the sound pressure can be well over 130dB. But muzzle brakes do work well and are an option for those really nasty kicking beasts that some people tote around.

Mike