Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
01-01-2007, 08:05 AM
#101
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
ORIGINAL: savage221
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots
(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses).
I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots
(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses). I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
A .30/'06 kicks about the same as the 7 Mag., and BOTH kick a LOTless than that 10-Ga. shotgun you mentioned! Rifle recoil may be sharper and faster, but it is alot less in foot-pounds than a 10 Ga. shotgun!
If you think the 7 Mag, kicks, try a .416 Rigby or even a hot-loaded .45/70 some day!
01-01-2007, 10:37 AM
#102
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 218
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
ORIGINAL: savage221
I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger.
I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger.
First off being "scoped" is a serious matter that could result in permanent injury, and it is nothing to be taken lightly. You have been given some very good advice on this thread concerning eye relief. Three inches minimum is a good rule of thumb.
Second is this business of flinching. I had the same problem after being "scoped" once. I solved it by concentrated practice with dry firing a snap cap (wich is simply a dummy type cartridge) that allowsyou to dryfire your rifle without causing the gun damage. Practice with the snap cap on distant targets followed by live fire practice at the range cured my problem.
There is no reason on earth you could not overcome this problem and learn proficency with a suitable rifle of your choice.
The dry fire practice will also help youestablish arepeatable cheek weld with the proper eye relief from the scope.
early
01-01-2007, 05:11 PM
#103
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 43
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
ORIGINAL: savage221
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses).
I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots
(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses). I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
02-23-2007, 12:14 PM
#104
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Saratoga
Posts: 39
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
Update on this issue:
My 7mm mag Ruger M77 will in the hands of a new owner tomorrow and I’ll be using my new 30.06 BAR come the Fall after as much range time as I can fit into my schedule this Spring and Summer. Thanks again to all of folks that posted constructive advice, your tops in my book. Shoot Straight!
My 7mm mag Ruger M77 will in the hands of a new owner tomorrow and I’ll be using my new 30.06 BAR come the Fall after as much range time as I can fit into my schedule this Spring and Summer. Thanks again to all of folks that posted constructive advice, your tops in my book. Shoot Straight!
02-24-2007, 10:37 AM
#106
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
ORIGINAL: savage221
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses).
I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
Ok, now that the regular season is over here in New York State I have a question for more experienced rifle shooters than myself. Last year I bought a Ruger M77 mark II bolt action in 7mm magnum. It kicks like a government mule (worse than my 10ga BPS) and I’ve been hit in the forehead so many times by the scope that I’m flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger. The flinching cost me two doe this season that were both gimmy shots
(70 yards standing still in open cut fields, I just thank god that they were clean misses). I like the gun a lot; it shoots flat, its light and comes up nice but I can’t keep it if I can’t get over the recoil issue. So, the question is what do I do? Do I toss it and get something chambered in a smaller caliber say 30-06? Do I invest in a better recoil pad? Will moving the scope forward help at all? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Please just don’t get too technical; I do a lot of bird hunting (upland and waterfowl) and know more about shotguns than rifles. Thanks in advance.
1. "It kicks like a gov't mule (worse than your 10 ga BPS)"
2. "I've been hit in the forehead so many times"
3. "I'm flinching like crazy whenever I pull the trigger"
4. "The flinching cost me two doe this season"
and ...................................
5. "I like the gun alot"??????!!!!!!!
Now the most basic of marksmanship. Apples-for-apples, you will shoot the gun you are most comfortable with the best. You are scared of this "beast" - get rid of it. Shouldn't be a problem finding someone willing to trade even up for a thurty aught six as there is no shortage of guys wanting to move to 7mm simply because of the novelty and "bigger is better" mentality. Let someone else scar their forehead up.
And you won't find a deer that will complain you didn't kill it good enough because you only shot it with a .30-06 and not a 7mm.
02-24-2007, 12:10 PM
#107
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 1,785
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
I haven't read all the responses to this post, and in 11 pages, I am sure that everything has probably been suggested more than once. My only words of "wisdom" are that, from someone that has gotten over "magnumitis", there are too many good light recoiling calibers on the market to get your butt kicked (or forehead busted in your case) by a hard kicking magnum. Deer are not that hard to kill especially at 100 yards and under (if you do your part). I killed 4 of my 6 deer this year with my Marlin 336 30-30. It is an excellent light recoiling round that is often over looked due to the newer "whiz bang" calibers on the market. Other excellent choices are 243, 260, and 7mm08. Good luck with your decision.
02-24-2007, 01:04 PM
#108
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 518
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
I just bought a 7mm Rem Mag last year myself. Having said that, my first box of rounds I've ever tried with that caliber were 140 grain Winchester Accubonds and the kick was so bad that I regretted ever getting it. Then I bought a box of 150 grain Federal Powershok soft points and I hardly felt any kick at all. As a result, my accuracy improved significantly as well. Go figure. I believe it has more to do with type of powder charge then anything else.
02-25-2007, 08:53 PM
#109
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 96
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
I also have a 7 Mag in Browning A-Bolt. I do not really feel this rifle recoils much. Perhaps the Ruger does more? I realized it does not recoil too much since shooting a 300 Win Mag with the factory pad. The Browning also has the BOSS brake but I rarely use it as it is LOUD and throws burnt powder everywhere.
I also handload so the cost of ammo is not really applicable, except the extra powder for 7 Mag and 300 Win Mag loads.
Also feel that the hardest recoiling are the lighter bullets, requiring more powder (velocity). I loaded these 120 grainers (Sierra), and they thumped pretty good. Good on coyotes though!
If you move up in bullet weight (160,175) then the recoil is not as bad as there is usually less of a powder load. Besides, this is where the 7 Mag is at its best (160 gr.)
I would not go with the 30-06 if you like the 7. Just find a rifle that does not put as much felt recoil on you. I don't think that the "aught six" will be much less in recoil anyway.
I also handload so the cost of ammo is not really applicable, except the extra powder for 7 Mag and 300 Win Mag loads.
Also feel that the hardest recoiling are the lighter bullets, requiring more powder (velocity). I loaded these 120 grainers (Sierra), and they thumped pretty good. Good on coyotes though!
If you move up in bullet weight (160,175) then the recoil is not as bad as there is usually less of a powder load. Besides, this is where the 7 Mag is at its best (160 gr.)
I would not go with the 30-06 if you like the 7. Just find a rifle that does not put as much felt recoil on you. I don't think that the "aught six" will be much less in recoil anyway.
02-26-2007, 05:40 AM
#110
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
RE: Recoil cost me this year; please HELP
I tried to read all of this thread, and to the best of my knowledge nobody has already said what I was thinking the whole time. The original poster said he shoots a lot with his shotguns, but not much with a rifle. I know that I tend to put my head lower and further forward on the stock when lining up the bead on a shotgun. If I tried to do that with a rifle, I'm sure I'd get hit in the forehead too. Any chance that might be the problem? I know you already said you had a trade in the works for another rifle. If it gives you the same problem, you might want to have someone watch where your head is on the stock. Could be a simple fix. Anyway, good luck and I hope you get it figured out!