Why does magnum movement matter for rifle accuracy?

[mustelid_master]

I've been thinking about this a lot and am hoping someone can answer it.

Magnum rifles are less accurate, partially because we shoot them less accurately, and partially because large magnum rifles move more during the shot. I would think that most rifle movement is caused by recoil, the vast majority of which happens after the bullet leaves the barrel. If the bullet has left the barrel, who cares how much rifle moves from an accuracy perspective, not a shot-spotting perspective. The movement caused by the change of center of mass from the firing pin coming forward would be similar or equivalent to that of a small centerfire rifle I imagine.

Where am I going wrong?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

In assuming that the majority of the recoil occurs after the bullet exits the muzzle.

Also, the firing pin moving forward does essentially nothing in changing the rifle’s center of gravity.

 

[Aussie Dan]

I always thought it was a combination of projectile dwell time in the barrel and the shooter anticipating the shot and flinching.

 

[Deere_Man]

Flinching, subconsciously anticipating the recoil affects the POI.

 

[K9kodi]

Recoil happens the moment the slug is separated from case I believe. It’s fractions of time between then and the exit of the barrel, less for shorter barrels and more for longer ones. I don’t believe i shoot my magnums less accurately then my non magnums, I am limited in some things however.
I don’t have the necessary freedom to shoot rapidly, I have to make sure I have the respected purchase on the rifle, intend to follow through w the shooting fundamentals a bit more. But i would not say im less accurate

 

[RME]

I would think that most rifle movement is caused by recoil, the vast majority of which happens after the bullet leaves the barrel.

I get what you're saying but the "vast majority" of movement isn't ALL of the movement and it's that movement that happens while the bullet is still in the barrel that's degrading accuracy.

To put it in perspective, with a 24" barrrel, the muzzle only has to move 0.007" to make a 1" change in impact at 100 yards. So that little extra torque as the bullet engages the rifling, that little anticipation of recoil, all those little things add up to make it increasingly difficult to hold the same level of accuracy as the amount of recoil goes up.

 

[Castle Rock]

Some people shoot them very well, others don’t.
From what I have seen little blokes that roll with the punches do better than big ones that fight it