Recoil Reduction - Or am I splitting hairs?

[SuperstitionCoues]

I am considering two different calibers for a low - recoil rifle.  .25-06 or 7mm-08.  Between the two, which will provide the lesser felt, percieved recoil?  Or, is the difference between the two in felt, percieved recoil so slim, insignificant that I am splitting hairs?

Your opinions are highly welcome.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've shot both, and I think that the 25-06 felt a tad lighter to me, barely a noticeable difference, but the rifle you fire it in makes more a difference than anything, at least in IMO.  If you are looking at the same rifle in both calibers, I don't think you'll ever tell the difference.  If you are going to make it a deer-varmint gun, get the 25-06.  Better selection of lighter bullet loads than the 7mm-08.  If you are going to use it for deer size game and bigger, I'd go with the 7mm-08 because of the better selection of heavy bullets.  If you are a handloader, I still stand by my recommendation.

[swampthing]

In comparing 117g .257 factory loads vs 140g 7mm factory loads, recoil is within 1 ft.lb. of each other,{basically the same}. Compared- 120g@3000fps/140g@2800fps.
I like the 7mm. Lots of bullets to choose from. 160g partiton @2400fps{reduced load} kicks like a 30-30 penetrates like a sword.

[Val]

I really think the choice should be dependent on the game you will be hunting with this rifle. The 25-06 is limited to 120 grain as the heaviest pellet and the 7mm-08 will go significantly higher in bullet weight. The heavier bullets will probably kick harder than the 25-06 with the 120 grain bullets. If this rifle were to be limited to deer, I would go with the 25-06. If heavier game was in the plan, I would go with the 7mm-08.

The 25-06 is a good flat shooting caliber for deer and smaller game.

[flintlock]

You're splitting hairs... But...that's what the off season is for!!!

I agree with the others but I have another point...(or 2)

1) Most 25-06s come with a 24 inch barrel...this coupled with the long action just make the gun seem too long for me...A 7mm-08 seems to balance better (to me).

2) I feel that the 25-06 comes into its own as a handloaders cartridge...If you handload that's great, if not, most factory loadings in the 115-120 weights  really don't impress me in the velocity department.
So I don't think having a longer (and heavier) rifle is worth it, no real advantage over a 7mm-08...

[The Sodbuster]

While we're on the subject of recoil, I had a question about stock design.  I know some stocks are better at managing perceived recoil, but that's about all I know about it.  What design features moderate recoil?  I've heard Weatherby stocks are good in this regard; so does a Monte Carlo style help?  Would a greater drop at the comb reduce felt recoil more than a straight stock?  Any ideas?

[lilabner]

I'm not a big fan of monte carlo stocks, but the Weatherby monte carlo is angled so the stock recoils away from the cheek rather than into the cheek. Not getting slammed so hard in the cheek probably makes the recoil a bit less noticeable. Go to realguns.com or chuckhawks.com and play with the recoil tables. The variables are rifle weight, powder weight, bullet weight and bullet velocity. Plug them in and you'll get recoil data but felt recoil will be somewhat dependent on stock design and that isn't factored in.

[kyelkhunter3006]

As for stocks, I like the straight classic style best, with little or no drop at the heel.  Rifle with this style are Kimber, the Remington CDL/MTN Rifle, and the best example, New Ultra Light Arms.  With this style stock, if you put a cleaning rod in the barrel from the receiver end, it will barely clear the toe of the stock.  Monte Carlo's can be ok, as long as the the hump is straight or angled away like the Weatherby.  I like the cheek support of the monte carlo, but it seems that most of them slope toward the shooter instead of away, accentuating the felt recoil, because the rifle rises more in recoil, "slapping" your cheek.  Also, with a monte carlo, if your length of pull is longer than average, sometimes the corner of the hump will dig into your cheek, especially if you use a slip on pad or get a thicker pad on the stock to compensate. 

IMHO, it's just as important to have a pad on any stock design, if you have a good recoil pad, like a Decelerator, Kick-eez, or the Sims, it makes dealing with recoil that much easier.

[jasonprox700]

My brother has a .25-06 in a Ruger with a 26" medium weight barrel.  The gun kicks less than my .280, I think mainly because of the heavier barrel.  The gun is a little long with the barrel/long action combo, but I don't really notice. 
I agree with flintlock on this one.  .25-06 is great if you handload and can work up different loads.  They are flat shooting and have good range on them.  But if your buying factory ammo and hunting deer, I would opt for the 7mm-08, although myself, am partial to the .280.  I reload, so if I want to, I can load it down to 08 levels.

[Ahab]

I'm partial to the 7mm08. I hand load and find you can have good results with 120 to 168grns bullets for game small to large. If I want a quarter bore I use the .257 Wby Mag.  

[beemanbeme]

Get a 7-08.  The 25-06 is a tweener.

[SuperstitionCoues]

Get a 7-08.  The 25-06 is a tweener.

What, pray tell, is a "tweener"?

[kyelkhunter3006]

I was wondering the same thing......

[beemanbeme]

You asked, ta da, "tweener".  Ain't big enough to be a real rifle; too big to be a varmint gun. (kinda like a .243)  "tweener" idiomatic usage of "between"   

[Slamfire]

Loadin' a .257 Bob to the same pressure as the .25-06 will produce much the same performance. Since the .25-06 uses a bunch more powder, the rocket effect portion of recoil is greater. For what purpose I don't understand. 7mm=08 is a fine round, duplicatin' the old 7mm Mauser, which is as good as any for most game. It's yore money, shoulder and rifle barrel, shoot a .25-06 if you want.

[kyelkhunter3006]

You asked, ta da, "tweener".  Ain't big enough to be a real rifle; too big to be a varmint gun. (kinda like a .243)  "tweener" idiomatic usage of "between"   

 I was leaning that way, just wanted to make sure that my mind wasn't supposed to be in the gutter.

[Mac11700]

Actual felt recoil...or perceived recoil...Actual felt recoil would be about the same..but..with a 26" barrel as compared to a 22" barrel..the 25-06 doesn't have as much muzzle blast to me as the 7-08 does..Since muzzle blast is part of the equation for the perceived recoil..this needs to be taken into account...I guess if you had a longer barrel on the 7-08 it would be about the same as well...

Mac