Is it just me?

[TedH]

I have been shooting my Browning 71 a lot lately looking for the best load with the 250 gr Barnes Original. For some reason, that rifle is just brutal. The muzzle blast and recoil knocks the bejeezus out of me. The 255 Barnes out of my 375 Winchester at 2,000 fps feels like a pussycat next to the 348. Anyone else find this to be the case too?

[RIHMFIRE]

I suggest you do what I did.......
switch to 22's

[Scott Tschirhart]

I find the 71 stock to be among the most comfortable stocks for a hunting rifle. So, no, I haven’t noticed that.

There’s significant recoil to be sure, but no more than a comparable weight .30-06.

[TedH]

I find the 71 stock to be among the most comfortable stocks for a hunting rifle. So, no, I haven’t noticed that.

There’s significant recoil to be sure, but no more than a comparable weight .30-06.

Different bodies do feel recoil differently. I have a Remington 700 in 270 that I have never considered recoil to be anything significant. I have a friend that's 6'2" and 250 lbs. He thinks that rifle kicks like a mule, and would much rather shoot his 300 Ultra Mag.

[barbarossa]

I shoot 30/06 ,270, 45/70 etc no problem but I had a Sako Bavarian carbine in 308 that was unpleasant to shoot after a few rounds.It must of been the stock design because it wasn t a light weight gun despite being a carbine

[COSteve]

I have been shooting my Browning 71 a lot lately looking for the best load with the 250 gr Barnes Original. For some reason, that rifle is just brutal. The muzzle blast and recoil knocks the bejeezus out of me. The 255 Barnes out of my 375 Winchester at 2,000 fps feels like a pussycat next to the 348. Anyone else find this to be the case too?

Unfortunately, it's called 'aging'. You do have an alternative to getting older but most choose not to go down that path. I'm coming up on 77 in early November and I've now got to use a shoulder mounted recoil pad even with my .357 mag leverguns as I've got a touch of arthritis in it.

Aging is only for the strong of spirit!

[GunnyMack]

I had a Remington 700 in '06 that just beat me ruthlessly. However my 338 on a K98 that I built in school, I used trap gun stock dimensions so recoil would be more straight line I can shoot all day off a bench with minimal discomfort. Sure it still kicks.
It's all about stock dimensions. Factory guns are made to fit the average body which really does not fit most well.

Your 71 hurts you where? Comb or butt? Pipe insulation works for both, slit it open and slide over the comb or butt to help mitigate recoil.

[COSteve]

Stock design and weight are definitely big factors in felt recoil. My Springfield M1A with a steel buttstock is a joy to shoot while my Win Model 70 in 30-06 with the same level loads (150grn bullet @ 2,850 fps) is more harsh with it's steel buttstock. My wife says that her M1 Carbine is harsh while the lighter AR 16 carbine is much softer.

[TedH]

Your 71 hurts you where? Comb or butt? Pipe insulation works for both, slit it open and slide over the comb or butt to help mitigate recoil.

It's not that its necessary painful, it just seems like the amount of recoil is disproportionate to the cartridge being fired. I did some recoil calculations of these three rifles of mine and came up with these numbers.

375 Winchester 17.8 ft lbs
348 Winchester 25.3 ft lbs
375 H&H. 34.2 ft lbs

To me it feels like the 348 and the H&H have about the same felt recoil even though they differ greatly on paper.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I had a Steyr Professional in.25-06 that was an absolute pleasure to shoot and extremely accurate. I made shots I should not have been able to make.

I sold it to pay bills and later I bought the same rifle in .30-06. The .30-06 was brutal in recoil.

[GunnyMack]

Ted, I'd say it's how the stock geometry was designed, just how the mule kicks.

[Griff]

From the 1886 in .45-70, to the Marlin 375, the 1903-A3 or Garand in .30-06, none recoil as hard as my Remington 700 in 7mmRemMag. But, if it's not up against my shoulder, any of the above will put a world of hurt on me. Heck even the .38Spl in the Rossi 1892 will thump ya if it ain't against your shoulder.

[marlinman93]

Shot a friend's 71 long ago and also found it pretty harsh for me. Enough so that I didn't fire many shots. Later he began reloading for it and invited me to try his reloads and I loved it then! Very mild and I could have enjoyed shooting up all his ammo!

[big bear]

I have been shooting my Browning 71 a lot lately looking for the best load with the 250 gr Barnes Original. For some reason, that rifle is just brutal. The muzzle blast and recoil knocks the bejeezus out of me. The 255 Barnes out of my 375 Winchester at 2,000 fps feels like a pussycat next to the 348. Anyone else find this to be the case too?

First off I must confess I am a Winchester 71 fanatic. I shoot mine alot. It is the most fun rifle to shoot that I have
I suggest that you try loading lighter (200gr ,220gr) bullets.Also get a PAST shoulder recoil set to use when you are shooting your 71 from the bench.

The Winchester 71 and Savage 99R are the most comfortable hunting rifle stocks ever made.

Cheers!

[Grizz]

My 1895 Marlin 45/70 hammers me, in a way that the 338 WM never did. Don't know why, except perhaps stock geometry. Other 45/70s with shorter and longer barrels don't do that. It's a mystery.

The Marlin 444 is another culprit that bruises. It's about the same stock and barrel length as the 1895. They might be kissing cousins.


grizz