Shooting a .500 Nitro Express Double Rifle

[tanks]

A lot of people are afraid of the recoil of big bores, heck some are afraid of a .30-06

The most important thing as technique is to "let recoil happen" and just roll with the recoil as demonstrated here. Of course, one still has to lean into the shot.



In regards to the rifle itself, it is a Heym 88B Double Rifle in .500 NE with a 1MOA Trijicon sight on it. It shoots a 570 grain bullet at 2,150 fps. Here is a pic without the Trijicon.

[MyOdessa]

My arthritis acted up just by watching this video.

On more serious note, great gun, I would love to shoot it one day. Thank you for sharing your experience with it and your 31 day safari adventure. Awesome photos.

[Mesa Defense]

A splendid firearm, to be sure.
Surprisingly, the recoil looks very manageable. Appears easier than my .460 WBY in a bolt rifle. Cheers Tanks.

[Imageview]

Nice rifle. Next a video of shooting it from the bench?

[TKM]

The famous video of men in dresses shooting .577 should pop up now.

[splithoof]

I’ve shot a .416 Rigby, .470NE, but not a .500; the .470 was a Merkle, and it kicked, but wasn’t really too bad. Tanks, is there much of a difference between those, assuming that the rifles are of similar weight, balance, stock configuration, etc?

[pacrat]

Nice rifle. Next a video of shooting it from the bench prone position?

Just Kidding Tanks.

And you are of course absolutely correct sir. Technique is paramount to "letting recoil happen".

Stock Crawling a big boomer is guaranteed to HURT off a bench.

Sit up, and roll with the flow. As I mentioned in your safari thread. Those Heyms are beautiful.

[sigstroker]

A splendid firearm, to be sure.
Surprisingly, the recoil looks very manageable. Appears easier than my .460 WBY in a bolt rifle. Cheers Tanks.

Energy in a .500 Nitro is "only" about 5900 ft lb and the Weatherby about 7500 ft lb. My friend has a Ruger #1 rechambered to .460 Weatherby. It feels like about an 8.5 pound rifle. Shooting it felt like someone had punched me in the cheek. I saw stars for a moment. I also gave it back without asking for another.

[Mute]

Meh. I've shot .460 Weatherby Mags without any kind of brake or limbsaver. I was fine after they re-attached my retinas.

[M1NM]

Energy in a .500 Nitro is "only" about 5900 ft lb and the Weatherby about 7500 ft lb. My friend has a Ruger #1 rechambered to .460 Weatherby. It feels like about an 8.5 pound rifle. Shooting it felt like someone had punched me in the cheek. I saw stars for a moment. I also gave it back without asking for another.

I like belted magnums but my 458 WinMag at about 5,600 ftlb in my No1 Ruger is all I need. The 460 WeaMag was on the bucket list but I don't think a detached retina would be very fun.

[tanks]

Obviously, the recoil energy is greater on the .500, but all are manageable with proper technique and practice. I have used a .416 as the light caliber plains game rifle in the past.

[sigstroker]

Is that really necessary on a critter that size? How much do they weigh? People shoot thousand pound elk with less.

[tanks]

Not necessary, but I like big bores.

[Fjold]

Not necessary, but I like big bores.

I couldn't agree more Andy! With the right bullets the big bores can handle anything and are a lot of fun. I've never needed anything less dead and I shot a 25 Lbs. Steenbok with a 300 grain bullet from my 375 H&H.

I've shot a .500 and I think that my 7.5 Lbs. Mauser in 458 Win Mag was worse

[tanks]

Nice rifle. Next a video of shooting it from the bench?

Done shooting from the bench.

I shot a total of 8 rounds sighting in the 1MOA Trijicon. 4 groups of left/right barrels at 55 yards adjusting after each group.

I was wearing a 1" PAST Recoil Pad ( https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002531259?pid=699899 ) and still felt it from the bench.