Seriously 14 guys with thumbs down? I have been shooting and hunting for more than 25 years, reloading for 10. This guy has not only given you awesome advice but even given you time lines to jump to if you suffer from ADD. Thanks bgallaher77, great job !!!
Just wanted to thank you for this. Bought a 6.5 Creemor yesterday and the 10 year old loved it. The recoil made my 8 year old want to cry. I have been researching all day what to do for him since he wants to hunt this fall. You really helped me with this resource. Thank you.
Thanks, glad you liked the videos. It is good to hear peoples thoughts on these videos. I have only hunted in the Northwest USA. I haven't needed to shoot some of the big guns so it is good to hear about those. I think part of the recoil issue is sport related. Do you want to "shoot" or do you want to "hunt." If you "hunt" then you won't be bothered by a 300 Win mag at the bench, because after you sight it in you always shoot it while hunting, which won't hurt b/c of the adrenaline.
I've been using the 6.5X55 Swede for years. Easy to shoot, fast and accurate even from a carbine length barrel. Effective. 308 is my backup. Sometimes 762X39 for short range.
When selecting the rifle, just like choosing between calibers, choose the version of the rifle that you want to live with, bearing in mind that heavier can make a huge difference. Additionally, the weight of a scope factors in. My U S optics scope is 2.5 pounds, on a Remington 700 5 R milspec rifle, .308, recoil is mitigated by 50% of what it could be had I gone .308 in a lighter rifle, lighter scope. It's the total weight of the rifle scope combo that marks how much recoil is being shoved back at you. Great video btw, clear, concise.
By the way, Excellent video! And right on concerning recoil tolerance in relationship to a persons size. My wife can shoot my 30-06 and it doesn't bother her, but I know of big full grown men that want nothing to do with a 30-06. In general, a 30-06 is the cut-off point for most people. And everyone shoots better with a rifle that recoils less. I read a test report in a book by Dave Petzal of F&S, where they took a group of people ranging from newbie to expert, and regardless of shooting experience level, everyone of them shot more accurately with the lighter recoiling rifles.
I'm a bit perplexed that the venerable 30-30 wasn't on this list. It's a fine cartridge that's stood the test of time. Using a 150-170 grain bullet and yielding recoil of about 11 foot-pounds. Yes, it's only good out to about 200 yards I suppose, but I have to ask myself how often do I see a deer that far out when hunting. In my 50 years of hunting experience, it amounts to one time. One.
Matersoup The conventional wisdom is that the 30-30 has killed more deer than any other round out there. What I remember was shooting an old Winchester 94 with a steel butt plate and getting kicked pretty hard. Very light gun, so really it was more the gun than the round. And I was a kid.
bgallaher77 I'm with you on the steel butt plate. My 30-30 is a Marlin 336 and it has a hard rubber butt pad. I don't seem to find the recoil bothersome.
Very informative, thanks for sharing. Really glad you mentioned 25-06. This round has mild recoil and is quite effective. Here's something interesting, a high ballistics coefficient can allow a smaller, lighter bullet to perform much like a larger bullet. As an example, the Nosler 100 gr ballistics tip has comparable performance to several 117 grain hunting bullets out of the same rifle. Bottom line, Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Although there is a lack of info regarding rifle weights, the relative difference in cartridges is intact, and this video shows that excellently. Well done.
Thanks. Glad you liked the video. Nothing wrong with the 30-30. I have read reloading manuals that talk about older stuff (300 Savage, 257 Roberts, 7x57 Mauser) and read Jack O'Conner's books from the '60s, which discusses the same cartridges. All of those worked like a charm when matched with an appropriate bullet and a good shot. The magnum craze has overshadowed them somewhat and folks have forgotten. Consider trying the 270, you won't be disappointed.
Yes up here in Canada started off with the old 303 worked my way through the magnums but in my wise years finally picked up a 243 basically it put a dozen guns out of work .
It's too bad your video's are gone you made the best relaoding video's -- Period ........ I learned so much from you and still learning and I'm 67 yrs. old .. I loved ur striped lower builds and Swiss loading .. Wish ya could send me everything some way :-( hope ur well - MegaBait .........
Yes I agree YTRulesFromNM - if the .243, 7mm-08, and the .260 are mentioned as great under 200 yard deer cartridges (which they are), then we must pay homage to the greatest under 150 cartridge to ever drop more deer than all other cartridges probably combined - the 30/30. And I would suspect it is right at 10 foot pounds of recoil so pretty mild. If you're in the brush, its the best gun with a low barrel length on the Marlin on Winchester. This is a great and thorough video - just wanted to add not to forget the 30/30 given this topic.
I run 185 gr bullets in my 340 weatherby magnum. I also installed a mercury recoil reducer. For a 338 mag cal the thing recoil like a 300. Was well worth the tuning.
While I can handle .458 caliber recoil I love my sissy kickers, here is my take. 243 Win/6mm Rem, very low recoil cartridge suitable for everything up to mule deer, but not my first choice for a new hunter since the very small caliber because of it's limiting factors; the very small caliber bullets leave very little margin of error, light 243 cal bullets have a reputation for marginal penetration unless you are using premium Partition/TSX/Accubond....etc, the vast majority of 243 cal bullets lack the high BC to pack deer killing power past 300 yards, if you can deal with these limits there is no reason not to use a 243. 25-06 cannot comment on this one yet since I do not own nor hunted with one but it has a loyal following among deer hunters. 260Rem/6.5x55/6.5 Creedmoore The mid ranged 6.5mms are superb, only slightly stiffer kicking then a 243 yet avoid all of the shortcomings of the 6mm (243 cal) bore. Heavier 120-140gr bullets have no issue with penetration whatsoever, the 6.5mm is famous for its highly efficient (high BC) bullets that extend your effective range (1000 ft/lbs of energy) out to 500-800 yards depending on what bullet you are using, and while a 6.5mm bore is not exactly a big bore gun it is considerably wider wounding then a 6mm partially because of the increased down range energy. If someone can handle the slight increase in recoil over a 243 I highly recommend one of the mid ranged 6.5mms. Maybe it is just dumb luck but 6.5mm rifles have always given me the best accuracy. 270 Winchester, while some do not consider this a "low recoil" cartridge I have always found the 270 to be enjoyable to shoot, the 270 is quite possibly the best real world deer hunting cartridge for those who do not handload, not as efficient as the 6.5mms but it starts out with enough speed to keep the "hydrostatic shock" effect past the 200 yard mark. As long as your game has antlers instead of large claws you cannot go wrong with a 270 so long as you can handle the upper end of "low recoil" 7mm-08 The little 7s are so much fun, better ballistics then either it's 243 or 308 cousins. The 7mm-08 simply blows the 243 out of the water in every measurable category (in hunting anyway) but it is very close in performance to the mid ranged 6.5mm calibers, in genral the 6.5mms have better long ranged ballistics since it is not logical to attempt to use the 175-180gr ultra low drag 7mm bullets in the small 08 case, the advantage the 7mm-08 holds is in it's larger caliber, simply put larger caliber bullets tend to make larger caliber wounds and those larger wounds kill faster, I could carry on about the finer points of terminal ballistics for several pages but most people would loose interest, suffice it to say that being even larger caliber then the 270 (aka 6.8mm) the 7mm-08 is very effective on medium game especially with fast expanding bullets like the Sierra Game King and Hornady interlock. 308 Win, this is the largest caliber that I consider fun to shoot for long periods of time, being 30 caliber and packing nearly 2700 ft/lbs of energy performance on medium game is fantastic as long as you are using a suitable bullet, the 308 Win is the jack of all trades in the ballistics world, it simply has no weakness. Sure the 243 shoots a little flatter, the 6.5mms are more efficient, and the 7mm-08 is more logical as a low recoil hunting cartridge but the 308 does everything reasonably well and you can pick up ammo at any Wal-Mart, well until the next ammo scare anyway, when that happens 22LR, 223, and 308 are the first thing to go. Conclusion. The "best" for me depends on where I am hunting, but in general my 6.5x55 is my favorite, very light kick, very quick kills, superb class leading external ballistics and reasonable meat damage at any range, though you would be hard pressed to notice any difference between it and it's short action brethren (260 and Creedmoore), but there are times I opt for a 30 caliber, when hunting in dense undergrowth I opt for a 7mm or 30 caliber not for "brush busting" because that is a myth, but larger calibers tend to make larger more free bleeding exit wounds so if I have to track I will likely have a clear (short) blood trail. When hunting a long narrow shooting lane my very flat shooting 270 gets the nod because if that deer does not stop for me I won't have much time to adjust my point of aim to compensate for bullet drop. Hope this helps everyone understand the different "low recoil" cartridges.
Great video. As others have noted the 30-30 is in my view a great (in my view the best) low recoil round that if you are like most deer hunters will be shooting 150 yards and in. At that range, it is just as good as any of the standard larger bore riffles (i.e., 30-06, .308) at that distance. It does not carry beyond 150 with consistent killing power. But at 150 and in, no riffle has killed more deer than the 30-30, and its a low recoil round. And if you can shoot consistent at 175 + yards to hit a deer you probably don't need to watch this video because you'll have spent a lot of time at the firing range!
I would recommend to a new shooter; get experience! if you are recoil sensitive, by all means, use light-recoiling rifle/cartridge selection. I suggest taking a full-size .22 rim-fire rifle , to shoot during cool-down periods. I want long duration barrel life, so I always allow cooling after 3 shots. Using a .22 retrains you, properly, eliminating flinching. YOUR RIFLE MUST FIT YOU! length of pull is critical. learn what it is, and make sure it is correct for you. TIPS; recoil MANAGEMENT. our military shooters manage with 50 cal and 338 lapua. Get some perspective. Once you try a REAL hard-recoiling rifle, 30-06 seems pretty tame. try putting a leather work glove behind the buttstock, between your shirt and t-shirt, turns a 30-06 into a pleasure-to-shoot.
I can believe it. Single shot shotguns weigh almost nothing, so all the recoil goes straight into your shoulder. I don't like lugging around a heavy gun, but some weight does make them kinda nice to shoot.
John Halstead My cousin owned a single shot break action 12ga. I fired a 3" magnum turkey load in it... A literal teeth rattler! My first shotgun was also a single shot break action 20ga. I agree, it would buck and beller quite smartly. Both the 12 and 20 were either the H&R or NEF brands. Can't imagine anyone in their right mind wanting one of them in 10ga! Lol!
Well done. It is truly amazing how much difference bullet weight has on perceived recoil. I have a Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06 and when I shoot 165 partitions using 57 grain of IMR 4350 the perceived recoil is noticeable versus shooting 180 grain partitions using 55 grains of IMR 4350. This is NOT to say the recoil is not manageable and I don't get good accuracy with the 180 grains.
The basic hunting rifle recipe is: bolt action rifle (entry level models being Ruger-American, Savage-Axis, etc), and a Leupold VX-1 scope in 3-9x40 (or 2-7x33). If you want to shoot a lot, then get either a 22LR or a 223 Rem. To shoot deer you need to get a 243 or bigger. 243 has light recoil, isn't to expensive, and will kill deer. 260 or 7mm-08 are good, but ammo is more expensive. 308/270/30-06 all kill everything but recoil more. Any of these work to at least 300 yards. thoughts?
Agree on Muzzle breaks as far as not liking to shoot next to them at range. They are part of the reason I double up on hearing protection, plugs and phones for me! With modern electronic systems there is no real reason to not have hearing protection even when hunting. Passive systems like the DOD use are also better than nothing. As I do not hunt, it does not matter much but the modern plugs like 3m Military or SureFire would be good for in the field use from what I have seen.
Bidimus1 Hahaha. Hearing protection while hunting huh? I kinda like using my "ears" to listen for movement of animals. Couch hunter aren't you? C'mon mannn.....
I know it's almost 7 years old, but what a great video! I was skeptical of the cartridges you chose, at first, but then was very pleasantly surprised that you mentioned both factory managed recoil loads and the H4895 "Youth" loads. I've been loading reduced charges under light-for-caliber bullets in 243, 308 and 30-'06 for about a decade. My wife and daughters have killed big northern whitetails with those loads and my son really enjoys shooting the powder puff 308 loads out of his rifle. About the only thing I would have liked to have seen is more discussion about the other cartridges that fall under 14 ft/lbs of recoil with full-power factory ammo. You mentioned a few of them, like the 300 Savage and 257 Roberts, but didn't really go into why they make a lot of sense for folks who don't reload.
I agree 100% with your comment regarding stock design making a difference in felt recoil. Rifle weight plays a huge part too. I own a Remington 700 BDL LSS in 30-06. It has a laminated stock with a 24" barrel. But it also came factory with a plastic butt plate. It's a shoulder thumper and on past occasions with the formerly manufactured Hornady Light Magnum ammo an eye glass smacker. After about 20-30 rds it will black an' blue the shoulder while wearing a t-shirt. If I slide on a Limbsaver it turns into a real pussycat and can be shot 60 times with ease while wearing a t-shirt. Reason I mentioned the above... I formerly owned a Browning A-Bolt in 7mm Rem Mag and a Weatherby in 257 Mag... They were a pure joy to shoot in comparison due to stock design and effective recoil pads.. I also formerly owned a Ruger 77 I believe it was, in 300 Win Mag with the plastic butt plate... kicked like a cantankerous mule! After about 6-9 shots, the fun ceased. Personally speaking from experience, I think Weatherby's stock design is one of the best. With that of the old Browning A-bolt following suit.
One last thing that will reduce recoil is to install a "silencer" or noise suppressor instead of a muzzle brake. It reduces noise so your buddy might get to shoot in the same valley, it doesn't hurt the ears and the recoil is reduced so no flinch. It is becoming a form of etiquette.
true "Silencers" are illegal for civilians , you can use a suppressor however which only limits the noise but does not completely silence it to the point where all you can hear is the gun's action, and they do reduce accuracy and range
Ya, If say for the average male beginning out. 270 is probably the best round out there. 243 for teen. My brother bought a 300wm as his first rifle. Shot it once, then bought an ungodly huge muzzle brake for it before he'd shoot it again. The concussion from that brake is flipping horrible if your sitting beside him at the bench. I'm a touch more pragmatic and went with a Tikka 270. Works great and is crazy accurate. My first group after a quick break in and sighting it in was 0.6". And I knew how to shoot, but was just getting into hunting and guns again after a while. So average shooter. And that was with cheap hornandy whitetail 130g ammo. Love that rifle. Have since moved on to a 270wsm. And that thing is perfect for hunting giant Mulies, Elk Moose, Bear etc. Crazy accurate too. But I hunt the prairies in Southern AB. So you need that extra range out there. 500yard shots can be a must at times. And it drops them. I use my 270 as a yote gun now. Don't hunt for pelts. Just to get rid of the mangy bastards. They are everywhere up here, and My uncle ranches out there, plus a lot of ppl I know. So it works great. I just wait for a sale on ammo, and buy 10 boxes for 23$.
What an awesome video with very cool and useful information! I started with a .270 and it has a little bit of a kick but nothing that's painful by any means. It's an amazing round and so much fun to shoot. Keep up the good work!
Great information that you have given us. Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge. I will be going with the 270 as it looks like a round that I can handle
One thing to remember is a lot of the recoil is from gas shooting out of the barrel at high speed, which is why the 270 can have more recoil than the 8mm-08. It has a bigger case, so more powder. I love my 6x45, .223 necked up to .243. Bullet speed at the barrel is about the same for a given bullet as .243 at 100 yd. Or you can get the same speed as a .223 with about 25% more bullet weight, which bucks the wind better for long ranges and adds a little energy. Only has 2/3 as much powder, so the recoil is almost not noticed. It is also cheaper to load and easy to find brass, new or used. It has all the power you need for deer and antelope. You can use it in an AR if you want, though I like bolt action. To me, it is a perfect deer antelope rifle. And since there is minimal recoil, I carry a very light rifle, which is great after a long day chasing antelope. I also load it down with a heavy bullet and pistol powder for a rabbit/squirrel round. Find me a better round for squirrel to deer if you can.
Thanks for the video. Great ideas! Today I shot the 30/06 for the first time and little did I know I took 180 grain federal rounds. I could only shoot 20 round before I had call out to momma :)
One thing not mentioned is weight and type of stock on the rifle. A heavy wooden stock will recoil much less than a light polymer stock. Many rifles are available in several stock types. Great video, very informative.
Stock design is a huge factor. I was shooting an M1917 .30-06 one day, back to back with a lighter modern .30-06. Same ammo. The Mark X Mauser sporter w/ B&C stock was far more comfortable to shoot. A good recoil pad is also a big help. My first rifle was a Win 670 .243. Not a cannon at all but its hard butt plate against bony kid shoulders was not a good match. The Ruger American is good at recoil mitigation although it could use a bit more cheek-piece for better shooting. Shoots nice for such a light rifle though.
My favorite rifles in the safe are my 257 Roberts and 7x57 Featherweights. I've got some really abusive magnums also but I enjoy my 22's for relaxation time at the range. Great video of recoil management!
@@bgallaher77 It is what it is, at least for North America. The 257 Roberts is a fairly rare bird nowadays. The 7x57, however, has been a top tier round in Europe, Africa, and South America since it came out over 125 years ago. I've seen a number of calibers get plenty of hype and press only to fade within a decade or so. The WSM and WSSM calibers were all set to conquer the world 15-20 years back with every gun writer announcing their certain domination of the hunting world. Most amazingly, the 270 and 30-06 managed to survive their all but certain impending demise. Nowadays, the 6.5Cr has been announced as the new perfect round. Good luck with that! 10-15 years from now the gun companies will come out with a "better, even more perfect round than the 6.5Cr". And then, today's 6.5Cr's will gather dust next to the WSM and WSSM rifles... Meanwhile, the 270Win and 30-06 will still be sold by every manufacturer in every model. My strategy is to only use calibers that are 50-75+ years old. The youngest caliber I've got is a 300Win, I think it'll make the cut. LOL! Take care!
great video the only thing I could say for me personally because I'm in ireland picking the rite gun calibre and recoil pads is all thats legal we can't reload bullet or modify our guns in any way. It wasn't in your video but we are allowed suppressors here because of noise polluting but they do work on recoil reduction in my opinion being disabled I'm recoil sensitive and I can't shoot without one. if you could do a video on suppressors reducing recoil it would be great to see thanks 👍
bgallaher77, just a minor correction... It's muzzle "brake", not muzzle "break". A brake stops or slows a motion. When something breaks, it implies damage. I don't mean to be critical or a smartass, but spelling on some sites is getting to be completely unreadable. Thanks for an otherwise informative video on recoil!
Good information, especially for junior hunters. I was thinking the .270 might be a little much for my daughter until I tried the reduced recoil ammo from Hornady. She handled it with no problem, and with 120 grain bullet I think she is capable of making a good shot on a deer if it is standing. I do think she will be getting a 7mm-08 in a youth model next year for her birthday. I just like the 7mm better than the .243 for deer hunting.
A drawback to reduced loads is that they often have poor accuracy. They also exhibit something called "powder position sensitivity", which means the bullet will hit different places depending on how the powder is lying in the chamber at the time the rifle is fired. Fortunately, if you are keeping your shots under 200 yards (always a good idea in any case) you can often put up with *some* reduced accuracy on a deer-sized target.
For that matter a supressor also does a great job. A good part of the recoil are caused by the gases which exit the barrel around the bullet and those are baffled by the supressor. Plus you don't get muzzle blast from a muzzle break and you also get less blast than without a break and less noise.
That's great if you can afford a thousand dollars for a brake (no, not "break")! But since the recoil sensation is made worse by muzzle blast, a brake definitely will help. Finally it adds some weight to the gun which also helps.
if you are getting older, like me--it's the eyes you really need to worry about with higher recoil rifles--trust me a detached retina might be reparable if you get it repaired quickly and go thru the extremely tough rehab--or you may end up with 20-200 like me in the affected eye and just watch videos about shooting and hunting!
good info for comfortable shooting very accurate information to execute reduced load. do understand when you are seeking reduced load the tested accuracy load and its performance will yield also. old timer will dispute once a magnum load slow below is intended speed it had it integrity and performance as a magnum. Likewise the 7mm-08, 25-06, 308 I feel the tight groups will speed and waver in tough windy hunting condition
There are 120 grain bullet factor loads for a 30-06. Also load data is available for hand loading 120 billets in 30-06, They have very low recoil and stop deer in their tracks.
I always liked the .257 weatherby mag great round for just about everything up to elk. Very low recoil (13.5 by the books) without sacrificing energy. Very fast, flat, accurate, and does an amazing job on game. Another round I love that like the .257 is all to often over looked is the 6.5x55 Swedish same thing fast, flat, accurate and does a great job on game.
Those recoil numbers seem like they would be for a fairly heavy rifle, 8+ lbs. A quick look at an online recoil calculator put a 130 gr bullet at 3100 fps in a 9 lb rifle at ~15 ft-lbs. Who carries around a rifle that heavy anymore? Recoil increases almost exponentially as you shed pounds off the rifle, even after only half a pound or so. Those .270 numbers make it seem like a softie but if you shot those loads in say a 6.5 lb rifle the recoil numbers would easily be over 20 ft-lbs.
Had a 458 Winchester Magnum Ruger #1 added 12 ounces of lead to cavity of rifle butt. Reduced recoil and balanced rifle. Rifle was heavier but much nicer to shoot and not much worse to carry.
I just got a Browning BBR 1978-1984 in 270win but im goen to swap in a 30-06 bbl just for the reason to use a 30cal bullet for reloading.Here in the south I think everybody has or had a 30-30 its just the right power to take deer to moose
A few great flat shooting rounds in my opinion: 260 Rem, 243 Win, 6mm Rem, 257 Rob, 25.06 Rem, 7mm-08 (140 gr) and .270 Win (130 gr). All flat fast, capable of 300 ft/sec and comfortable to shoot. :)
Great video. Thanks for the intell. I was on the fence about two different calibers. Your info. helped me make a final decision. Hope all is well with you and yours. MLH
thats awesome info i didnt know when i bought my rifle in 270. i did get used to a 270s recoil and have lighter loads from hornady for when i want to hunt smaller game
Im thinking of getting a .270 win for my first rifle. I have shot .22lr and the recoils is like nothing to me I know its a bit 9f a jump but shouldnt be an issue figure having the .270 I can have a rifle thats does it all. Range and any kind of hunting I ever plan on doing. Nice video
I shoot a 270 and don't plan on changing. You have to get used to shooting centerfire rifles, but you will get used to it. Wear a couple of layers of clothing, not just a t-shirt.
Great review!!!! MOST IMPORTANT RULE PERIOD....NO MATTER WHAT CALIBER YOU USE ,..... SHOT PLACEMENT.ANYONE who thinks a person can substitute accuracy with more gun is just plain WRONG!!!!!
Perhaps I should have states, In terms of recoil they are the same. Yes, as you stated they are two distinct, and not interchangeable cartridges. I know many reloaders prefer the 6mm because of the longer neck compared to the 243.
A decent recoil pad makes a BIG difference. Here's an example, albeit one involving shotguns: my perception of recoil from slugs through my Maverick 88 12-gauge is less than from shooting low-brass birdshot through a very old Stevens double barrel 12, even though the slug recoil expressed in feet per second is substantially greater than from a 300 Win Mag rifle while the birdshot recoil is more comparable to a 270 or maybe 30-06. What makes the difference is that the Maverick, despite being a cheap shotgun, has a thick, soft recoil pad, while the thinner pad on the Stevens has hardened to the point where it's basically useless.
where i live .243 and up is legal for big game moose and bears you dont need a huge gun to kill big game just do alot of target shooting and hit them good
As you mentioned - the 260 is missing in the presentation and is a bit more then a 243 and a tad less then a 7mm08. The 260 typically shoots a 120 - 140 grain projectile.
My opinion, regular foam earplugs (usually have a noise reduction rating of 30 dB) should work. I personally wouldn't shoot a rifle with a muzzle break without ear muffs/plugs b/c they are so loud. You can always double up plugs/muffs if you want.
I switched to a 300 win mag 6 years ago for deer hunting. I have lost zero deer. In fact, every single one dropped in their tracks except one. The one exception was a doe of all things and she went 30 yards. That’s the advantage of a 300 win mag. I have a heavier savage rifle with a limbsaver and the recoil isn’t bad at all.
332 measured yards with a 270 Win. on a Mulie. But I did hit him in the head. 45 yards with a 41Rem. Magnum in a 10 in. Thompson Contender. Another head shot. 243 Win. at 210 with a Ruger # 1 in 243 Win. Head shot. My deer don't run away, either.
Some great advise . I agree with you 100% on the louding manuall . If you have one of theas and go to your locale range and cornograph your hunting load you can get a true tragetory for that load and rifle they are allso full of usefull info even if you dont hand load such as how the wind and angel will afect your load and history of cartriges.I may not agree with all you said but keep up the good work one of the better vids iv seen
Wow, I'm surprised the .270 Winchester ranked that high on this list. The first rifle I ever bought is a Ruger American bolt-action chambered for that round. It's a fairly light 6.25 pound rifle with a synthetic stock, yet I've shot it round after round at stationary targets with 150 grain loads and my shoulder wasn't bothering me at all. I'll admit that it's got a nice recoil pad on it though. Seeing as how you mentioned the 8mm Mauser, I would also consider the 7.62x54R as a similar low-recoil round capable of deer hunting and target shooting. In my experience, the 9 pound Mosin Nagant M91/30 is surprisingly comfortable to shoot with both light 149 grain military surplus and 182 grain new-production loads. The .30-30 Winchester is a low-recoil option to consider as well.
bgallaher77 Yeah I've heard the .30-30 can be a punishing round with hot loads and a light rifle. I've only shot it through a fairly heavy single shot with a nice recoil pad so my shoulder wasn't complaining at all. Not sure if I missed it, but I don't recall you mentioning how the type of action can also have an effect on recoil. For example, I've heard a semi-auto 12 gauge shotgun doesn't knock you around nearly as much as a pump-action, and an M1 Garand has very mild recoil compared to a .30-06 bolt-action. I haven't tested this myself, so I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.
Great discussion! I'm curious about long distance shooting but due to a medical condition which eventually resulted in a rebuilt shoulder staying low recoil has been a topic of great interest to me. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with the 300BLK, it's about my only way I can get into 30 cal. I had already been thinking .243 but you may have sealed the deal. There are a couple of oddballs I've been looking at but can't figure out how to try them without actually buying them (.25SRC, .25-06, 6mm CM) so I may just go with a known commodity like .243. Thanks!
I am in the same boat, and searching for my paddle. I had shoulder surgery on my right shoulder. I am not inclined to go through that again. I am loathe to shoot my 12 gauge from the shoulder. I have been advised against it. I can shoot an AR in .223 all day long, but want something larger. I am leaning towards a .308 with lighter loads, especially if I build an AR in .308, but I would prefer a bolt gun with a 10 round capacity magazine (California regs). I am leaning towards a Mossberg MVP in .308, though a Savage scout rifle might negate the possibility of confusing a .223 magazine for the .308 magazine in the dark.
hey man, I loved this video. It was very informative, and I plan on using your information/ charts for educating some co workers, at our gun shop, that dont know much about hunting calibers, etc. how did you come up with the chart that you presented? I think its a great place to start, and I also plan on doing more research and using some recoil calculators online. please advise! i will be watching this many more times.
my dad has saved them up for like 20 years and we also reload 150-180 grain loads to about 3150 fps. My dad takes me shooting every saturday and we shoot a whole shit load of rounds
Thanks, I'm glad you liked the video. I made the chart myself. I have a video on my site "Calculating Recoil for a Rifle" published 12/31/2011 that details the recoil calculation. I bought a 300 win mag as my first hunting rifle, only the learn that I liked shooting more than hunting. As you know, shooting with a 300 isn't very fun. From there I moved to a 243 and then a 270 for hunting. Good shooting.
the 7mm-08 ( or 7mm mauser) is one caliber that might do it all for most hunters--especially deer hunters. for really long range, perhaps out west, the 270 win gets the tap. everything else should be a choice made by a very experienced hunter for very large game or varmints.
I would just like to say that muzzle breaks are fine for hunting. They work wonders for your shoulder. With you saying they make the gun loud as shit is true, but you should only need 1 shot. It may give you the little more incentive needed to get the perfect shot.
