"Real Feel" of recoil of .375 H&H mag

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Unlicensed Dremel

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"Real Feel" meaning the recoil equivalent of the temp+wind rating.

So I bought this CZ 550 in .375 HH mag pretty recently but haven't shot it yet. It's a heavy rifle, around 9+ lbs before scope. Never shot a .375 HH in fact.

I can read the charts on ft-lbs of recoil energy and so forth, but I've heard it said that since it's more push than sharp kick, it's actually more tolerable than the bare numbers would lead you to believe. So that's why I pose the Real Feel question.

So what say you, for those of you who have shot them - how does it actually feel in a medium-heavy-ish rifle like this one? Brutal or somewhere south of brutal? I'm not overly sensitive - I'd say normal sensitivity. But I've had problems dislocating this shoulder playing sports in the past several times.

I may be able to shoot it this weekend, so will have my personal input soon enough, but wanted to start a discussion to see what others think. Obviously it depends highly upon the load, but what about rather mild standard factory 270 gr fodder? Worse than .338 win mag? Worse than .338 lapua? About the same? Not as bad?

I bought this for a vague someday-Africa plan, but I suppose it may see use in Canada/Alaska at some point, since I have it now.

Thanks.
 
Should be slightly more than a 338 Win Mag, but so much depends on the size of the butt and the quality of the recoil pad. It's not the push that bothers, but the "jab" of the buttstock on shoulder and cheek. If the comb is broad and the butt is large, it distributes the weight of the recoil over a larger area, lessening the jab. And a really good recoil pad makes a world of difference. Those hard, solid red rubber pads like on Ruger No. 1s are punishing, but the newer soft gel pads really work well.
 
"Real Feel" meaning the recoil equivalent of the temp+wind rating.

So I bought this CZ 550 in .375 HH mag pretty recently but haven't shot it yet. It's a heavy rifle, around 9+ lbs before scope. Never shot a .375 HH in fact.

I can read the charts on ft-lbs of recoil energy and so forth, but I've heard it said that since it's more push than sharp kick, it's actually more tolerable than the bare numbers would lead you to believe. So that's why I pose the Real Feel question.

So what say you, for those of you who have shot them - how does it actually feel in a medium-heavy-ish rifle like this one? Brutal or somewhere south of brutal? I'm not overly sensitive - I'd say normal sensitivity. But I've had problems dislocating this shoulder playing sports in the past several times.

I may be able to shoot it this weekend, so will have my personal input soon enough, but wanted to start a discussion to see what others think. Obviously it depends highly upon the load, but what about rather mild standard factory 270 gr fodder? Worse than .338 win mag? Worse than .338 lapua? About the same? Not as bad?

I bought this for a vague someday-Africa plan, but I suppose it may see use in Canada/Alaska at some point, since I have it now.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Ok... Here's my question.. Exactly what model 550 do you have?? The 550 American Safari Magnum or the Safari Magnum?? The difference between the two is the shape and contour of the buttstock... The reason I ask is that there is a difference in how the recoil feels between the two.. I have the American...

This one??

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-550-american-safari-magnum-375-hh-5-rd-fixed-mag/

or

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-550-safari-magnum-375-hh-mag-5-rd-fixed-mag/
 
..and I bought my .458 just in case, you know, an elephant escapes from the zoo.


Just shoot the thing. You can always reload for it.
 
I have not shot the CZ.

I have shot a 338 in Rugger as well as a 375 in an un-remembered action make (call is late 70s).

My take from both of them is that they are not nearly as brutal as a 7mm Rem Mag (shot in same Rugger setup).

On par with 30-06, more force but it seems to build slower over time.

The guy who let me shoot his 375 told me it would not be as bad as I thought it would be and he was right (also bench rested, standing its going to be less).

Not something I would want to wang 20 rounds a bench session out of without a pad (added on, slip on, shoulder or whatever). If it was sighted in and I was making sure I have no issue with it 10 rounds.
 
Those big bores push hard and long compared to medium and smaller ones. I've shot a 9-pound .375 H&H a time or two and it's a piece of tasty cake compared to an 11 pound .470 Nitro Express double rifle. After straightening myself up from a bit over backwards wondering if my right arm was still socketed and trying not to drop that $9,000 rifle, the Rigby's owner asked me if I wanted to shoot the right barrel. Right away, I gave the rifle right back to him.
 
Oh, mine is the AMERICAN safari magnum, which although, while not as pretty to my eye, may in fact help with felt recoil (??).

it's a piece of tasty cake compared to an 11 pound .470 Nitro Express double rifle. After straightening myself up from a bit over backwards wondering if my right arm was still socketed and trying not to drop that $9,000 rifle, the Rigby's owner asked me if I wanted to shoot the right barrel. Right away, I gave the rifle right back to him.
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha ... nice.
 
Recoil can be figured out from the velocity of the bullet, the weight of the bullet and the weight of the rifle. Recoil is mathematical.

KICK is what you feel!

What you feel is often different from what another person feels. That’s because of many factors.
Stock fit is more important with the hard recoiling rifles than it is with lesser rifles.
The most important thing that you can address with a powerful rifle is stock fit. The stock is what kicks you or pushes you.

I have a 375 H&H on a Mauser 98 action that is on it’s 2nd barrel. I don’t think it kicks hard at all. It weights 9 pounds and 7 oz loaded. I have fired 340 Weatherby Mags on the standard Mark 5 stocks and they don’t fit me well at all. They hurt, but my 375 doesn’t.

I have made a lot of 375s for customers over the last 40 years or so. Some that were too long for me or had too much drop kicked me but the one I have for myself doesn’t at all. If 2 rifles weight the same amount, but one fits me and one doesn’t I can assure you the one that doesn’t is not going to be fun for me to zero in.

So ignore all the advice from anyone and go fire the rifle from a standing and a kneeling position. If you like it you are golden. If it hurts you get the stock modified so it won’t

No one can tell you what you will feel. Only you can do that.
 
Recoil is largely subjective. Are you bothered by other rifles? I find the fully loaded 375 (I have an older BRNO 602) more than enough to handle. But then, the 460 makes it same tame by comparison. I can't really stand to shoot that thing. Don't know why I have it. I picked up a 458 Ruger #1 from a buddy in trade and he assures me it kicks harder with full loads than does my 460 (he has shot both).

No way to predict how a rifle will feel until you shoot it. And then, it's too late. :D
 
I had a Mark X Whitworth rifle in 375 H&H, fairly lightweight at about 8 lbs. Recoil was very tolerable, I used to shoot it in a t-shirt. Recoil with lower-pressure cartridges is more of a shove than a snap. Remember, work=energy/time, so a longer recoil moment can accomplish the same work without punishing you. And stock fit is important. People have compared it to shooting a 12 gauge shotgun, sort of, only not so hard of a shove. But don't be intimidated by it, it's not bad. I think a 300 Win Mag is worse, even though the numbers would tell you otherwise.
 
One thing about heavy recoiling rifles that doesn't seem to be mentioned much, is the toll they can take on the eyes.
Damage to the retinas, can be accumulating to the point of threatening eyesight in some people.
 
With any centerfire rifle, the more the butt plate center is below the bore axis, the more recoil for a given load will be felt by the shooter. The muzzle will rise more taking the stock's cheek piece with it and that moves the shooter's head along with it.

No formula today I know of calculates barrel/cheekpiece rise velocity and amount for a given set of dimensions and rifle stuff.
 
As others have said, one man's beast is another man's pussycat. Best advice I can give to anyone who doesn't know how he/she will react to the recoil of a new rifle is to stay the hell away from a benchrest and shoot offhand (at least till you have a good idea of how much it's going to batter you). And stances designed for accuracy (particularly the prototypical arched back stance) typically are lousy at recoil absorption. With a heavy recoiling rifle, I recomment a very slightly crouched stance, making sure there is some flexion in both knees - this will help transfer the recoil energy down into the big muscles of your thighs and backside. Lean "in" to the shot and let the long muscles of your body act as a spring.
 
I like my CZ 550 375 H&H better than my buddies 300 H&H Winchester model 70 (which i think is lighter than my Safari). The "super 30" kicked like a mule.

The 375 seems to shove you around instead. I much prefered it to being beaten by the high velocity "Ultra Super Duper Maxi Mags".
 
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I used to shoot a 375 ouch and ouch in a mark x also. it was the all American model. I would push you around and you had to concentrate but due to the good trigger it was doable. I felt a 300 mag or a 35 whelen in a light gun hurt/slapped my face wereas the 375 did not. fwiw, bobn
 
ther

I got a Rem 700 XCR II in .375 H&H 1-1/2 years ago. I had it glass-bedded and free-floated in a Bell&Carlson Medalist stock in the Weatherby style (for the high cheekpiece). I put Leupy QR bases on it and alternate between a Leupy VX3 1.5-6x24 and a Leupy 3-9x40 and the factory express sights. I feel that it recoils like an O/U 12 ga. firing slugs...in other words, very manageable, not too uncomfortable and not a gun I'd care to shoot more than 40 rounds.

BTW, the .375 H&H, with 250-270 gr bullets and RL15 or IMR 4064 is wonderfully accurate...<1 MOA at 100 yards. This spring, I'll be trying 300 gr Nosler AccuBond bullets...I'm expecting great results. I will likely take this rifle with the 3-9x40 scope with me if I draw the late season Antlerless elk tag. I just trust it.

FH
 
Legal for DG everywhere if that's your interest.But still excellent for all plains game. Very accurate !! See that the stock fits. Make sure it has two crossbolt and full glass bedding to strengthen the stock .I think CZ has learned that.
though higher recoil energy than 338 mag the 375 has lower recoil velocity [pushes instead of hard recoil].If you reload you can drop the velocity till you get used to it.
You will love it !!!:)
 
I think my Ithaca 37 Deerslayer (one of the ones with the screwed in, rifled barrels) has more felt recoil than my .375 H&H, especially with 1oz slugs, as opposed to saboted ammo.

I have an Interarms .375 in a Bell & Carlson stock where the top corner of the butt is higher than the bore, and a good recoil pad. The gun recoils straight back. That helps in how it feels.
 
In all fairness I've not actually shot a 375, but have fired some 416's, 458's, 338's, 8mm's and various 30 cal magnums. The lightweight 3.5" 12 ga shotguns beat them all.

I won't rehash what has been said about differences in stock shape and recoil velocity making a difference. It does in "felt" recoil. But I still believe the best way to measure recoil is with math. So much of it is more between the ears than anywhere else, the numbers don't lie.

I see this over and over again. Some folks have it in their head than a certain caliber is going to hurt, and another won't. If you really believe that, then that is how you will perceive it. To some guys anything with "magnum" on the head stamp is a hard kicker and they are automatically convinced it will hurt. There are lots of standard cartridges that will kick harder than many magnum loads.

When you run the numbers the gun they are comfortable with often has considerably more recoil. Stock shape and recoil velocity can make a small difference in felt recoil. I can see a rifle with 25 ft lbs of recoil feeling more comfortable than one with 20-23 ft lbs. Stock shape and recoil velocity could help. As could a gas operated semi-auto or high-tech recoil pad. There is no way a rifle with 30 ft lbs of recoil feels more comfortable than one with 20 ft lbs. That is between the shooters ears, and some guys are convinced it is real.

If you simply run the numbers through a recoil calculation program it is still the best way to compare. I use this version.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp
 
I disagree on the math approach. It may predict something and it may not. If its done right it has some merit, but if your datum is skewed (wrong) then what you are experiencing and what it measures are different.


That said, I will stand by my perceptions.

I shot the same model 7mm Rem magnum and 338. The 7mm is a lot worse.

Recoil pads help a lot and I would use those. I found the 375 tolerable though it was not a Rugger model.

I would not want to shoot any of them a lot even with pads but given my choice the 375 is preferred over others.
 
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