So I have been shooting practically my whole life. I consider myself a pretty fair shot. Last year I decided I wanna shoot farther. I'm hunting elk and I had been shooting 500 yards. Now I wanna shoot out to 1000 yards. Sounds simple right...??? Well I've got a huge education. Lol. So last year I started shooting with a good buddy who has been shooting long range for a while and he gets me hitting at 1000 pretty consistent. I was shooting a 300 RUM with 180 grain barnes bullets. After doing some research I see I'm shooting 775 ft lbs at 1000. I wanna be at least 1000 ft lbs. So I buy some 190 grain barnes LR bullets that's supposed to get me over the 1000 ft lbs. Problem is I haven't got a muzzle brake, so 180 grains have little recoil but 190's kick like a mule! I decided to buy a new rifle with a brake. I ordered a Weatherby 338-378. Sweet rifle! Now the problem is I am flinching BAD! The gun doesn't kick that bad, I think it's the brake messing with me. I never owned a gun with a brake before and it's different. With the price and availability of ammo I'm not sure what to do to quit wasting it. I can't even see what powder charge shoots best cause I can't shoot a group. Definitely not the gun it's just I'm a head case behind it. I'm not afraid of it, I'm just not sure why I'm doing it. Anyone have any ideas or pointers to help me out? Anything is much appreciated.
New rifle...... Flinching
- Thread starter Gundog74
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
An effective muzzle brake remains the best device in the reduction of felt recoil and reduction of muzzle rise.
It might take time getting used to.
It might take time getting used to.
Last edited:
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
Buy a smaller caliber rifle. You don't need a .338-.378 Wby to shoot to 1000. That is crazy. I shoot my 6CM to 1500 all the time.
If you need a 1000 yard elk rifle, there are so many better options.
If you need a 1000 yard elk rifle, there are so many better options.
I would work on some dry firing even in-between shots. Just work the fundamentals.
Hand Skills
Well-Known Member
Blast from a big brake messes with me, for sure.
Lots of guys on love their brakes, which is fine, but I don't know many who can look through a report and not blink.
Lots of dry fire practice is the only remedy I know....
Lots of guys on love their brakes, which is fine, but I don't know many who can look through a report and not blink.
Lots of dry fire practice is the only remedy I know....
Brakes can be LOUD! So LOUD they can make you finch in anticipation of the BOOM. Some brakes send the pressure and sound more back to the shooter than others. With some brakes you can feel the concussion and it can be annoying and cause a flinch. I would double up on ear protection. Use plugs in the ears and good muffs on top of that. Try not to shoot from under a roof at a range. NEVER fire a braked rifle without hearing protection in. Shooters have gone deaf from one shot from a braked rifle without hearing protection...
xsn10s
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2016
- Messages
- 7,627
For some it's not only the felt recoil that can cause flinch, the muzzle blast can affect some people. Try using some wrap around glasses and wear ear plugs and muffs. Definitely dry fire and get comfortable behind the rifle. And for now shoot something that doesn't cause you to flinch.
AZ-SHOOTER
Well-Known Member
Dry fire and get another smaller caliber rifle to practice with I run a 223 AI out to 1000 almost every time I got shoot long range it's cheap fun practice .
Might try a different brake as well. People say brakes are too loud but I dont get that. I shoot quite a bit but never ever without hearing protection so I dont worry about how loud brakes are. I hunt with ear plugs on my neck and put them in before I shoot out of 13 years hunting with a brake I've got ear plugs in everytime.
I'm a wimp when it comes to recoil and run a brake on anything bigger than a 243. I like to watch impact as much as possible.
Might try a different brake as well. People say brakes are too loud but I dont get that. I shoot quite a bit but never ever without hearing protection so I dont worry about how loud brakes are. I hunt with ear plugs on my neck and put them in before I shoot out of 13 years hunting with a brake I've got ear plugs in everytime.
I'm a wimp when it comes to recoil and run a brake on anything bigger than a 243. I like to watch impact as much as possible.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
Doesn't matter how much energy a bullet has at 1000 yards if you can't hit what you are aiming at. I would take a well placed 175 Berger from a .280AI at 1000 over a poorly placed 300gr from a .338-378 Wby any day.
Critter Picker
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine and myself would load each others guns. We would have dummy and live rounds. If you flinched when you shot a dummy round it was pretty obvious.
We also watched each other shoot their gun. We got to the point that even when varmint hunting dummies were fair game. You never knew when you pulled the trigger when you would get a click.
I remember one time he shot at a jackrabbit, and click, he got this strange smile and said " oh well, I would have missed any way " because I saw the muzzle twitch when it went click.
We also watched each other shoot their gun. We got to the point that even when varmint hunting dummies were fair game. You never knew when you pulled the trigger when you would get a click.
I remember one time he shot at a jackrabbit, and click, he got this strange smile and said " oh well, I would have missed any way " because I saw the muzzle twitch when it went click.
Ball and dummy is another great drill.
