Henry Rifle Forums

just curious --- in thinking back, what was the hardest kicking rifle, pistol, and/or shotgun you have ever fired ?


for me :

shotgun --- Ithica Model 37 Deerslayer .... 6.5 lbs with a 12 ga rifle slug

rifle --- Remington 700 BDL chambered in 300 WBY MAG

pistol --- Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag

It was my father's 300 Weatherby Magnum Mark V Deluxe Wood with a Redfield 3X9 scope. He used it to hunt deer and antelope in Montana. After he passed away in 1988 it became mine. Of course, it was too much rifle for Pennsylvania whitetails. But, I thought that I would shoot it anyway at the range one day. So, of course I had the scope too close to the bridge of my nose and on about the third shot, I put a nice half moon crease on my face with blood included, of course. I sold it a few days later.
Shotgun would be my recoil operated Browning Auto 5 Light Twelve and the handgun my Rossi .357 magnum snubby.

If we couldn't have tamed our 300, we would have parted company decades ago .... upgrading by replacing the OEM recoil pad with a Pachmayr Triple Mag Field Pad, adding a Mercury Recoil Suppressor and having it Mag-na-ported changed its personality .... its actually a pleasure to shoot and we fire it often

Winchester Model 70 .375 H.&H.

A "friend" of mine had an old Steven 311c 12 gauge, sxs, that he had been tinkering with. Cut the barrels to 18.5" and he wanted both barrels to fire with one trigger pull. Why? I don't know, he just wanted to tinker I guess. He was pretty good for an old backyard gun smith. Once he had it where he wanted it, he let me shoot it. I still remember the recoil, and the fire ball.
I owned a Smith & Wesson M386, .357. It wasn't a bad gun, but with Buffalo Bore .357s, it was a hand full, and not pleasant to fire.
Those are the two I remember the most.

Probably my buds Ruger in .338 win. But it's been a while since I shot it.

I bought a No 5 Jungle Carbine when I was 16 years old. A 303 British is similar to a 30.06 in kick so while not the most powerful, in a carbine it does kick, especially when you are a skinny kid.

I have some cases and a few bullets from my late friend's two bore rifle. That's right the round ball projectiles weight was one half pound. It was a single shot break open and weighed over twenty pounds with three mercury recoil reducers in the stock. There is a video on line of the builder firing it. But not me.

The first time I fired a shotgun was a friend's 12-gauge Benelli Tactical semi-auto. I'd say similar to today's M2 model. Anyway, I think his shotgun is about 13 years old, but in excellent condition. I was a really green-green newbie to firearms then, and just handling it that day was a little intimidating.

Also it must have been April 1st (not really, but my friend thought it was). I shot three rounds and couldn't do anymore. It was chambered to handle 3" shells, and he had put 3" magnum slugs in it for my initiation!! I didn't drop it, but it did "bounce around" quite a bit. And the bruises on my shoulder/arm lasted almost a week. He smiled ever so slightly that day...but we still remain good friends.

Man, those 3" magnum slugs out of a 12-gauge sure do wallop. I won't soon forget that "fun" time.

Travlin wrote:I have some cases and a few bullets from my late friend's two bore rifle. That's right the round ball projectiles weight was one half pound. It was a single shot break open and weighed over twenty pounds with three mercury recoil reducers in the stock. There is a video on line of the builder firing it. But not me.

That is amazing. How about a picture?

The rifle was sold to help his widow but if you do a search on Rick Straker's 2 bore rifle you can see the construction process and the final finished rifle. It was built as a left handed piece because he was a southpaw. The gunsmith built it from scratch and did an amazing job. He is a REAL GUNSMITH. This was a big $$$ custom job. I miss my friend almost everyday and it has been over three years since he passed. He was the one that got me into shooting , reloading and bullet casting.

I forgot to add that it was a black powder cartridge rifle. Don't worry, you can always drink beer out of the empty cases.

Travlin wrote:I forgot to add that it was a black powder cartridge rifle. Don't worry, you can always drink beer out of the empty cases.

I am trying to figure out the picture posting problem so you can see the size of the two bore brass. I still have three of the empties. They were turned out of brass and $80 each.

A guy at the range "made" me shoot his .500 Smith & Wesson revolver. Wow. Talk about holding a rocket in your hand.

ditto1958 wrote:A guy at the range "made" me shoot his .500 Smith & Wesson revolver. Wow. Talk about holding a rocket in your hand.

our oldest son just bought a 460 S&W Mag .... its a hoss

Mine was an Ithaca 37 featherlight, 12ga, two barrels, 28" full choke and 26" improved cyclinder. Used it for upland game and a lot of Duck hunting. Very nice shotgun, but it had a solid kick to it. No way could I take the recoil today in my old age. Started using it for trap shooting in the late 70's. Didn't take me long to get a regular Trap & skeet shotgun and put the Ithaca away. My oldest kid has the Ithaca now.

JWC wrote:A "friend" of mine had an old Steven 311c 12 gauge, sxs, that he had been tinkering with.

I've got a similar Shotgun. An old Savage 335 16 Gauge, S X S, with a Plastic Butt Plate . After a half box of shells, my shoulder is done. Although now-a-days I'll only shoot 1 to 4 shells before I put it back away.

Two come to mind.

My Mossburg 500 3" MAG 000 or 00 buck (hard steel buttplate).

My dad's .38 det special with the 1 3/4 barrel. It was like the round was going off in your hand. I couldn't imagine the .357 version.