ligonierbill
New member
Had a good range session this morning and got me a lesson. Three rifles: Remington 700 BDL 7mm Rem Mag, Savage 116 338 Win Mag, and Winchester Model 70 (my new toy) 416 Rem Mag. If you saw the thread, I have been working with another BDL in 8mm Rem Mag and comparing it to my 338. I have had the 7 Mag for many years, handed down from Dad. At first I thought it was a handful, but by now just a quick, sharp thump. No problem. The 338 I have owned for 10 years, and until recently it was the hardest kicker I had. A real jaw jolter. That 8 Mag should kick harder, but as I reported, it didn't seem so. Shooting the 338 today confirmed it. I can shoot good groups with it, but it borders on the unpleasant. So, does the 338 really have a "special" nasty recoil? Read on!
Enter my newest, a Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in 416 Rem Mag. Today I tried it out with some Barnes commercial ammo, which ran 2,500 fps with 400 gr solids. Yep, 100 fps faster than expected, but LabRadar doesn't lie. From the bench. Sounds ferocious. Well, it kicks, really rocks you back, but it doesn't feel like you caught a good left from the champ.
So, why is this? Weight? Maybe.The BDL weighs just under 9 lb (the 8 Mag without sights and with a bigger hole in the tube, probably less), the Savage comes in right at 8 lb against 8 1/2 for the M70 (no scope yet). Two other things. First, length of pull. The 7 Mag (haven't measured, but I presume the 8 Mag also) measures 13 1/2". The 416 just under 14", and the 338 just over 14". So, it's a little long for me. Not much, but it adds up. Second, the 700s and the M70 have a higher comb and a cheek piece. With a good cheek weld, the load is spread vs. the Savage where your jaw is against the narrow top of the stock.
What it all adds up to is that, for me at least, the fit of the rifle is the most important factor. Not in how much recoil is coming. That's physics. But it makes all the difference in how pleasant, or unpleasant, the shooting is.
Enter my newest, a Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in 416 Rem Mag. Today I tried it out with some Barnes commercial ammo, which ran 2,500 fps with 400 gr solids. Yep, 100 fps faster than expected, but LabRadar doesn't lie. From the bench. Sounds ferocious. Well, it kicks, really rocks you back, but it doesn't feel like you caught a good left from the champ.
So, why is this? Weight? Maybe.The BDL weighs just under 9 lb (the 8 Mag without sights and with a bigger hole in the tube, probably less), the Savage comes in right at 8 lb against 8 1/2 for the M70 (no scope yet). Two other things. First, length of pull. The 7 Mag (haven't measured, but I presume the 8 Mag also) measures 13 1/2". The 416 just under 14", and the 338 just over 14". So, it's a little long for me. Not much, but it adds up. Second, the 700s and the M70 have a higher comb and a cheek piece. With a good cheek weld, the load is spread vs. the Savage where your jaw is against the narrow top of the stock.
What it all adds up to is that, for me at least, the fit of the rifle is the most important factor. Not in how much recoil is coming. That's physics. But it makes all the difference in how pleasant, or unpleasant, the shooting is.