stagpanther
New member
I whipped up a small quick batch of 235 gr hot cors driven by varget just so I could scoot out the door and test fire my new Mossberg rifle this morning.
This is my first dangerous game medium bore (seems big to me--but I guess "official" big bore is 416 or better) so I didn't know what to expect having never fired one before. One thing I noticed from the on-line vids is that many of the shooters were careful to shoulder properly (definitely important) and avoid bench shooting except maybe with bags or a lead sled. My loads were on the smaller end of bullet weight range (if you want to call a bullet of 235grs small) and around 2650 fps so not as heavy recoiling as a full-power "big 5" 300gr bullet--but still well into the 30+ lb felt recoil range. I did at the last second decide to put on a 3 x 9 nikon buckmaster scope--mostly because I wanted to see if there was any noticeable accuracy info. I was lucky that my first 3 shots were on paper at 100 yds without any preliminary sighting in work--I simply used the factory-set iron sights as a reference in zeroing the scope. Other than adding the scope--the rifle is as it comes from Mossberg.
The 3 shots did not group especially well--maybe 3" at 100--but that was probably a result of not being the right charge to a small extent and me pulling the shot to a big extent. As it turned out my fears of fierce hammering recoil were way out of proportion with what I actually experienced. Judging felt recoil is like judging wine--so many factors go into it you will likely rarely get two people to agree. I am not a tough guy macho shooter and really am just a hobbyist for the most part My impression--so far with these mid-range loads--is that the recoil is delivered in a "measured pulse" as opposed to something like a magnum 12 gauge out of my 870 which after 6 shots or so is going to leave a visible and felt hurt on my shoulder for days. The bare muzzle does want to rise a bit but it's not a "scope eye smacker" like some even lower power rifles I've shot. My feeling after just these first 3 shots is shoulder it right and hang on--and it's very manageable rifle that isn't going to beat you up. On the other hand--there is no mistaking the tremendous power that is being unleashed when the trigger is pulled--it demands respect to make sure you have a good hold or I suspect you could end up regretting it. Most of all--the BANG! is the most significant footprint of this rifle--I don't know if it's an exaggeration or not to say chances are every hunter in the woods within 10 miles is going to hear it when you touch one off--I'd be careful in the snowy mountains not to inadvertently start an avalanche.
Now I'll have to start the real work developing loads and technique--but, so far, I LIKE MUCH!
This is my first dangerous game medium bore (seems big to me--but I guess "official" big bore is 416 or better) so I didn't know what to expect having never fired one before. One thing I noticed from the on-line vids is that many of the shooters were careful to shoulder properly (definitely important) and avoid bench shooting except maybe with bags or a lead sled. My loads were on the smaller end of bullet weight range (if you want to call a bullet of 235grs small) and around 2650 fps so not as heavy recoiling as a full-power "big 5" 300gr bullet--but still well into the 30+ lb felt recoil range. I did at the last second decide to put on a 3 x 9 nikon buckmaster scope--mostly because I wanted to see if there was any noticeable accuracy info. I was lucky that my first 3 shots were on paper at 100 yds without any preliminary sighting in work--I simply used the factory-set iron sights as a reference in zeroing the scope. Other than adding the scope--the rifle is as it comes from Mossberg.
The 3 shots did not group especially well--maybe 3" at 100--but that was probably a result of not being the right charge to a small extent and me pulling the shot to a big extent. As it turned out my fears of fierce hammering recoil were way out of proportion with what I actually experienced. Judging felt recoil is like judging wine--so many factors go into it you will likely rarely get two people to agree. I am not a tough guy macho shooter and really am just a hobbyist for the most part My impression--so far with these mid-range loads--is that the recoil is delivered in a "measured pulse" as opposed to something like a magnum 12 gauge out of my 870 which after 6 shots or so is going to leave a visible and felt hurt on my shoulder for days. The bare muzzle does want to rise a bit but it's not a "scope eye smacker" like some even lower power rifles I've shot. My feeling after just these first 3 shots is shoulder it right and hang on--and it's very manageable rifle that isn't going to beat you up. On the other hand--there is no mistaking the tremendous power that is being unleashed when the trigger is pulled--it demands respect to make sure you have a good hold or I suspect you could end up regretting it. Most of all--the BANG! is the most significant footprint of this rifle--I don't know if it's an exaggeration or not to say chances are every hunter in the woods within 10 miles is going to hear it when you touch one off--I'd be careful in the snowy mountains not to inadvertently start an avalanche.
Now I'll have to start the real work developing loads and technique--but, so far, I LIKE MUCH!