African Big bore sight in

[jjhack]

What is the biggest rifle you shoot on a regular basis and how do you handle the "zero" process without killing your body?

My friends and I usually get together and take turns until it's close then the owner of the gun goes last and with only  a few shots dials it in the last little bit. I have put almost 100 rounds through a 458 Lott the last 3 days and I can now feel the effort. My rifle is comfortable considering it has 6000 FPE and only weighs 9 pounds.

There is nothing like pulling the trigger with 3 tons of energy!

 

[Mr Mike]

Jim, are you going to let any brave souls shoot that thing when we all arrive for the hunt next month? :rofl

-Mr Mike

 

[jjhack]

I have to bring as much ammo as I can as I will be leaving it behind. I will then eventually have a stock pile of my ammo on the ranch. With that I need to weigh my bags and be sure they are under the 70 pound limit. I will pack as much ammo as possible so we should be able to shoot it a lot!. The rifle with 450 grain bullets does not recoil to bad at 2200 fps, at 2250 it gets your attention. The 500 grain bullets at 2100 are easy, at 2200 they perk up a lot, at 2300 it is very stiff!

To be honest, I would not let anyone shoot this rifle with a 2300 fps load and a 500 grainbullet for the first shot. I think it's dangerous to the inexperienced rifleman. I'm dead serious. Those big bore heavy bullets at 2300fps will smack up in the cheek and shoulder so hard it can hurt you. Not to mention creeping up on the stock and getting hit in the nose with your hand.

http://www.photogra.com/index.cfm?p=showph...p;pg=NO&d=1

It's not bad once you get a feel for it and gradually increase your recoil threshhold.
However shooting it the first time will blow you away! I saw a fellow years ago shoot a 460 weathery and chip two molars when the gun slapped him in the cheek. He spit out small white dust from his pieces from his mouth! I have almost 200 rounds through the rifle this week. I have also been shooting with earplugs, and head phones and my Mouth guard that I use for hockey. None of that is needed when hunting but for the continious pounding while working up loads it's a comfort to have with me. I have to order bullets again and I saw in the midway catalog a recoil sheild made by "Past" I am considering that as another tool to help reduce the pounding of load developement.

I will attempt to attatch a photo here of my last two shots at 75 yards from yesterday. the two that are taped off in the photo were at 30 yards free hand, actually all my shooting is freehand.





(Edited by jjhack at 7:08 am on April 3, 2002)

 

[Mr Mike]

Now you've got me scared!!!  The largest rifle I've ever fired before was a .458 Win Mag...  it's sounding like a ######-cat compared to your beast!! :surprised-purple:

45 days and counting!! :bounce-green:

-Mr Mike

 

[jjhack]

It's no real difference then a 458 Win Mag depending upon the weight of the gun and the loads used. It's nice rifle to use for my work but it's not a plinker!