Which Caliber for Deer, perhaps Hogs, Elk: .270 or 6.5x55 ?

[Sigma]

Hello All,

I've been reviewing many posts over the last weeks and I'm pretty impressed with this forum. I would appreciate any feedback and advice on caliber selection.

I'm looking at purchasing a Tikka T3 but I'm uncertain as to the caliber. I've narrowed my selection down to the .270 or the 6.5x55. I like the idea of the accuracy potential, low recoil, high sectional density and penetration of the 6.5x55 but wonder whether I would be better served with a .270. I think most of my shots will be well within 200 yards or so, but like the idea of having a rifle that might take a future Elk over a longer range. It's said that the Swedes regularly take Moose with that caliber, but that may be partially due to the high percentage of rebuilt Swedish Mausers over there.

My last trip to a local shop in California exhibited better availability of the 6.5x55 than previously thought - although the selection of bullets is far better with the .270. There was also some surplus to be had at around $12.50 a box, perhaps for the range. I'm currently not a reloader, so that's a concern.

My other concern is RECOIL and muzzleblast - I think the 6.5x55 is the winner there. Although I'm not a small guy (190lbs) I do like the idea of a effective flat shooting cartridge that is pleasant to shoot. Anyone have experience with felt recoil differences? I know that the .270 has approximately 7 ft. lbs or so more. The T3 weighs in at 6 5/8 lbs. without scope.

What would you go with and why? Appreciate any feedback.

Peter

[longwinters]

How about something kind of inbetween like the 7m-08?

long

[Snowshoe]

I used to make my living cutting meat, and that is the reason I dislike the .270. The .270 is very popular, so I saw a lot of deer shot with it, and the meat damage was often horrible. It may have been more the hunters falt  than the calibre, but it left me with the dislike of the .270. So I say go with the very accurate 6.5x55.

[gunnut69]

As much as I love the Swede (I have 5 just now, 1 a M70 clasic featherweight)it is sorely underloaded round in this country..  I guess the lawyers are to blame.  Foreign loaded ammo is spectacular(not underloaded at all) but hard to find.  ASince you don't reload I'd go with the 270.  Not to say the Swede won't kill, it just isn't in the same league when not handloaded.  Still a M96 loaded with factory ammo and 140-160 grain bullets will kill with boring regularity.  The heavy bullets(156-160) will penetrate like crazy.  The 6.5 with heavy bullets penetrates quite well with moderate velocities and good bullets.  That and the mild recoil is the reason Bell liked it so much for elephants..  With a good solid it's long for caliber bullet penetrates in a straight line where some of the 'elephant' guns shorter bullets have veared off course..  The penetration, mild velocity and light recoil are also reasons the Swedes use it with such telling effect on moose.  Still as loaded here the 270 is very hard to beat, especially as a whitetail round with the occasional elk thrown in..

[Sigma]

Long,

Thanks for your reply. I knew that was going to happen... just as I thought I narrowed it down here comes the 7mm08... But, you are right, the 7mm08 does look like a fine cartridge and could suit my needs now and in the future very well.

At first I was thinking of the .308 but lost interest in .30 caliber bullets due to ballistic reasons. Maybe the necked down .308 really is the way to go. What about accuracy potential of the 7mm08? Same as 6.5x55?

Looks like recoil is just a few ft. lbs more than the 6.5x55.... Do you think its performance and penetration on game, say hogs, is on par with the Swede? And what about larger game, say Elk?

Any other reasons that make the 7mm08 the preferred choice over the 6.5x55 SE or .270? It does look like a good compromise.

Thanks

[Sigma]

gunnut69,

I read your post with interest. What do you think of the 7mm08 as suggested by longwinters?

Is it fair to say that the 7mm08 is to the .270 what the .308 is to the 30.06?

That is, people claim that the .308 will do almost everything the 30.06 will do. Does that hold true for the 7mm08 vs the .270?

Thanks.

[Sigma]

After searching on this topic, I've found similar threads on the 7mm08 vs. the 6.5x55 Swede. Didn't mean to start an age-old debate again....

[longwinters]

Sigma, like you said, the topic has been somewhat common on this forum.  From what I can see, if you compare the same weight bullets between the 270 and the 7m-08, the 270 will be about 100fps faster.  The Swede is a little slower than the 7m-08, and also has a much more limited bullet selection.  I originally went with the 7m-08 because I had bought one for one of my sons (Rem700LSS Mountain rifle) and really liked the cartridge.  Very good accuracy, easy to find a load it liked, relatively low recoil and muzzle blast.  And not everybody in the country was shooting it.  That kind of appeals to me.  All my other rifles (243, 308 and 7mm) are all very common calibers.  But when I got interested in the  7m-08 it was just starting to get noticed (at least in the area I live in).  If you are interested in the Swede you better be a reloader to get all that it can give you.  And yes, I would take it over the 270 for all the same reasons I like the 7m-08.  Nothing wrong with the 270, I just am getting hankering these days for being more of an individual in my caliber choices.  When you tell someone you are using a 7m-08 or the Swede they do a double take and want to hear more about these relatively unusual calibers. :-) and finally yes, either of these calibers will take down any animal that the 270 will, and will do it just as well, imo.

long

[Sigma]

Thanks long,

Appreciate the feedback. The engineers in Oberndorf weren't that dumb over a century ago were they? It's said they designed the 6.5x55 before it was adopted by the Swedes.

Compared to the 7mm08, the 140 g Swede, (taken from Winchester's 2003 Product Guide) starts out at a mere 2550 but still has 2002 at 300 yards. The 140 g 7mm08 starts out at 2800 and has 2027 left at 300 yards. And they have about the same energy left at 300: about 1250 ft. lbs. Of the two, I would assume the 6.5x55 would still penetrate better. At 400, the 6.5x55 actually passes the 7mm08 in retained energy levels! :grin:

So, it seems to me the 6.5x55 is the superior cartridge. I wish american ammo makers would offer a better variety, but since they don't, I might have to think about reloading. The superior ballistics of this round are hard to ignore, and I wonder why the cartridge doesn't have a better following in the US. Maybe that's due to our history and experience with the 30.06 case and rifles chambered for it over here.

[357mag]

Since your not a reloader I would opt for the 270 just because ammo is cheaper and easier to find. If your at camp and realize you forgot ammo it's pretty easy to find 270 in a small store or another hunter with a few extra rounds to spare. But instead of the 270 I would suggest the 30-06. There is another post on here comparing the 25-06 to the 270 but some very good points are made about the 30-06 and that it's trajectory isn't that distinguishable from the 270 until about 500yds or more and even then it's only about 2 or 3 inches. Plus for elk the heavier bullets available for the 06 might be a little more appealing.

Not trying to make the Swede sound bad here, but unless you also plan to start reloading your not going to get the performance from it that it is capable of. And like I said earlier it is going to be tougher to find ammo for the 6.5 and the selction is going to be very limited.

[RaySendero]

Sigma,

Have two suggestions:

1) Get the 6.5x55 Swede and get a second rifle for long range elk.

or

2) 30/06 would probably be better if you had to make one rifle do triple duty - i.e. deer, hogs and LR elk.

I think you would be happier with two rifles to cover that game - I would!

[razmuz]

Let me cut through all the cheese and tell you what you need to know. I have both calibers and if your only going to have just one rifle the 270 is a much better choice.  I like the 6.5X55 better because it satisfies the gun nut in me, it's got a romantic history and it's a riflemans caliber.  Either will kill anything that stalks N. America.  With the new super bullets the 270 is phenomenal.  The 6.5X55 will get the job done, but it's not in the same league with the 270.  I will tell you this, in November you will find me at the deer camp with my 6.5X55 with the assurance that if I ever get invited to hunt in far away places my trusty, a little rusty and wise 270 waits patiently in my safe.  GOOD LUCK.

[huntsman]

I own both and you can't go wrong with either one, really. You get a step up in velocity and downrange energy with the 270, plus dead-on aiming goes out a might further. But either will do the job on anything you mentioned.

I was not a handloader until I got my Swedes, and probably still wouldn't be except for my daughters who are learning to shoot and hunt. I wanted to fix them up with some mild handloads. I set myself up with everything I need to reload for about $250 and I don't regret it. I would recommend handloading if you go for the Swede simply because this is one of the most versatile calibers out there, but the factory ammo is all 140 gr (fine ammo but the Swede can do so many other things, too). The 6.5 has a healthy range of bullet weights (85gr to 160 gr) for the handloader to use.

If you love going to the range just to shoot, get the Swede. I have never had so much fun just SHOOTING a deer rifle in my life. It can take any game you are talking about so long as you use the correct bullets and know your capabilities with your rifle.

If you don't want to handload and don't go to the range except to sight in your rifle, go with the 270. It's a flat-out great cartridge and the factory ammo has more to offer than factory loads for the Swede.

Whatever you choose, have a great time with it!

[leverfan]

Peter-

If you haven't already decided, I'd like to put in a vote for the 6.5x55.  I know that you don't reload yet, but you can get full power out of the round with loads like the Hornady Light Magnum.  If none of your local stores carry Hornady, Lapua, or any of the other brands that take the Swede a little farther than other factory loads, you can order them up from Midsouth Shooters Supply, Cabela's, Midway, and others.  I would trust the Hornady LM 129 grain spire point.  I've shot a lot of these through a 260 Remington, and they will do what you want them to do, as long as you put them where they need to go.  Even the down-loaded factory fodder will handle 99% of the shots a hunter would be apt to take, even on elk (I'd lean towards the 140 grain bullets for them).  If you do start handloading, you could make life easy on your shoulder by shooting 100 grain Nosler Partitions when you're just after deer.  I haven't used them on game yet, but they kill a stack of wet newspaper as well as any other bullet.  I would stay away from the 140 grain Nosler for reloading, as I've found that 260/6.5x55 class rounds can't push that bullet fast enough for it to open at longer ranges.  After velocity falls off, it tumbles when it hits, spitting out the rear core and failing to go deep enough.  (If any tech minded folks are reading this, the test rifle's twist was one turn in 7.625 inches, and if that doesn't keep them stable, nothing will.  Tumbling occured when impact velocity dropped below about 2100 fps, so I think the Nosler 140 belongs in cases like the 6.5 mag, 264 Winchester, or the 6.5-06.  Nosler 125 grain partitions perform well at all realistic ranges, contrary to what some gun writers would have you believe.)

I've rambled long enough, but I had to put in a good word for a caliber that I like.

[Buckeye]

I like the 6.5X55 with 160 gr. bullets,if you chose the 270 use 150gr. bullets.Both are fine calibers.

Buckeye

[Sigma]

Just wanted to say that I appreciate all your replies. This is really an outstanding forum with knowledgeable members. Looks like there are quite a few Swede enthusiasts out there - but some of you favor the 270 for its versatility. It's hard to disagree with you.

Leverfan, thanks, you cited tumbling at velocities below 2100 using Nosler Partition 140's - that's interesting. I was curious at what distance that occurred, what was your barrel length and estimated muzzle velocity?

Anyone: If I intend to go with the Swede (and that might happen) what is the best starter kit for reloading?

Regards,
Peter

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Back to the original question-----get the .270 and don't look back---the Swede for all intents and purposes is a dead --obsolete cartridge.

If you want 6.5 performance----look to the .260 Rem----its based on the .308 case----so components will be more than easy to come by.

[Sigma]

Omaha, (and others)

Somewhat puzzled by your reply that the 6.5x55 is dead - go to the 260. I know that the 270 will probably be around forever, but the 260 was just introduced in 97. Some people think it might not be around too long.

In an article by Craig Boddington, "Cartridges we can Live Without" he says the following:

"Now comes a tough call. Although it's too early to tell, the little .260 Remington seems to have taken off like gangbusters. It will be interesting to see if it can survive the 6.5 stigma!"

I think the success of the 260 in the US is rooted in the fact that it is, as you remarked, based on the 308 case. It was created here, it is a non-metric caliber, and supported by the major manufacturers. It's American, and a good cartridge that effectivly duplicates the ballistics of the Swede. But to me, it's too early to tell what its longevity will be, 5 years, 10 years? Hard to say.

In addition, two very good guns IMHO, the Sako 75 Hunter and the Tikka (my choice) aren't chambered for the 260.... So there we go again. For the Sako or Tikka, we're back to the beginning question: The Swede or a 270?

Maybe I should just get the 270 and stop thinking about the egg-laying-wool-milk-pig gun.  :? If there is such a thing, the 270 comes very close...

Peter

[coltfan]

For a reloading kit there are several ways to go. They all depend on how much you want to spend. RCBS makes fine equipment that will work from just a beginner to the advanced reloader, but is a little more expensive. Lee makes a starter kit the goes for under $100. I would suggest the RCBS Rock Chucker kit or the Partner Press kit. But I am also a die hard RCBS fan. You can not beat their customer service and most of the time you won't even need it.

[Mauser]

Given your parameters which I interpret as a need for a semi-long to long range cartridge primarily for deer sized animals but, if necessary, enough for elk or moose: the 270 would have a pretty clear advantage over the 6.5x55.  270 recoil/muzzle blast can be gotten used to by most people IMHO.  The trick is to find a proper fitting and well designed stock.

For a real "all around" rifle the 30/06 is impossible to beat.  Many may disagree with me but I think that nearly any one who can get used to the recoil of a 270 or even a 6.5x55 can, with some more practice, get used to an '06.   While I've never shot one, I bet that in a lighter rifle the 6.5 with heavy loads will give a good account of itself on the shoulder.

I love the 270 but have to concede the '06 as a better one rifle rifle.

[Buckeye]

Dead cartridge  The Swede 6.5X55 ,What a odd statement ,I sold my 270 when I sporterized one of my Swedes,If your gonna get a Swede ,sporterize a Swedish Mauser ,The twist rate can stablize the 160gr.ers better,I like the old cartridges much better,only have 2 Guns that shoot modern cartridges and thats a Savage 110 in a 7mm Mag.( The death blow to a 270win.)(at least in my gun safe)and a 94 win. in a.356win. these are great cartridges and the only modern I have any use for.
As for the 260 it can't handle 160gr.ers and thats the beauty of the 6.5X55 those 160gr.ers will penatrate into next week !!!!

Buckeye

[leverfan]

Here's a few facts about the 260 and 6.5x55, based on my own testing and reloading experience:

1.  Components for the 6.5x55 are EASIER to get than components for the 260.  In this case, I mean dies, gauges, etc.  For instance, Lee offers 6.5x55 case length gauges as factory standard, the 260 must be custom ordered.  There is a far greater variety of dies on the market, from more die makers, for the 6.5x55.  Full power factory fodder is easier to get for the 260, but in my experience, there's more Swede on the shelves overall.

2.  The 260 handles 160 grain bullets just fine, even in 9" twist barrels.  They have that same outstanding ability to penetrate, even all the way through my chronograph, hitting every major component on the way (I said naughty words when that happened).  If you don't want to take my word for the 260's ability to handle 160 grain bullets, by all means get a copy of Ken Water's "Pet Loads".

3.  Peter-  The 140 grain Nosler Partition, at least the lots that I tried just a year ago, do not expand reliably or evenly when impact velocities drop below about 2100 fps.  This uneven and incomplete expansion is what causes the bullet to tumble, and the partially expanded tip acts like a parachute on the front end of the bullet as it penetrates backwards.  The rear core separates and goes about 4" deeper than the front core and jacket, turning into a little mini-missile that even shows some modest expansion.  Muzzle velocity was averaging 2738 fps in my test loads, so I was running into problems with shots of 300 yards or longer, as well as reduced loads.  (I tested 9 different .264" bullets from Hornady, Speer, Nosler, Remington, Sierra, etc., as well as 5 different factory loads in a T/C Encore 260 Remington with a 24" barrel.  All loads were chronographed, and bullets were tested at different ranges and impact velocities by firing them into saturated newspapers from which all ads and slick/glossy pages had been removed.  This allowed for a consistent, repeatable test.)  The Nosler 140 grainers worked fine up where most hunting is done, but I see no reason to go hunting without a safety margin.  What if the next lot doesn't expand well at 200 yards, or doesn't expand well in our puny blacktail deer?  That's why I test bullets before I hunt with them.

4.  If you do your part when it comes to shooting and hunting, most critters will have a hard time telling they were hit with a .264" (well, actually most of them are about .263") rather than a .277" bullet.  With .264" bullets easily available as components from 80-162 grains, as well as bullet moulds and ready-cast lead bullets, it's a versatile bore size for any reloader.  

5.  The 260 Remington will survive, at least as a competition cartridge, since it's been around in wildcat form since the 1950's.  In a perfect world, it would take a good size bite out of the .243" and .257" market, since a better range of bullets are available.  I haven't noticed this happening, but my kids will be starting with either the 260 Remington or the 6.5x55, not the .243 Winchester, 6mm Rem., 257 Roberts, 25-06, or any of those other traditional "first hunting gun" calibers.  There's too many elk in this neck of the woods to set my kids up with guns that, IMHO, don't quite meet my criteria for a big game rig.

[Sigma]

Seems to me the Swede is far from being dead. What's dead is whatever is within 400 yards of the Swede.  :wink:

When you add low recoil, excellent ballistics, and penetration "into next week", it's hard to ask for more. At least for the applications I'm currently looking at: deer, maybe hogs and the occasional elk.

Leverfan, thanks for your extensive reply. I figured the 6.5x55 would be more available than the 260. Have you ever tested or hunted with Lapua Scenar bullets? Some people swear by them. If combined with the proper load, I think they might resist tumbling more so than some of the others.

So far it sounds as though there are very good reasons to go with the 6.5x55 for most applications. Although the round is likely at the bottom spectrum of an acceptable Elk round, I could imagine that with some range practice and good shot placement, the "little" 6.5x55 would do its part.

Regards,
Peter

[Sigma]

Just as a follow-up, I thought you might find this interesting: Here's a knowledgeable German fellow by the name of Lutz Moeller with his own website, which among many other things, examines penetration of the 6.5 bullet.

Paste this link into your browser: http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/6,5mm_Patronen.htm

The 6.5 was shot from a swedish mauser, penetrated all five wetted books and still hit a concrete wall....

In comparison, the 7mm Rhino projectile shown at the right, penetrated only four books and lodged in its place.

The bands on the Lapua Scenar allow rapid acceleration at very low friction, lower pressures and offer higher velocities and flatter shots at longer distances. Does the 6.5 penetrate? If I were a shooting against the Swedes back in WWI, I'd be worried about the thickness of my helmet....

Peter

[Buckeye]

I meant the 260 cant handle 160gr.ers as wall as the the longer cased 6.5X55,the 160gr.ers take up alot of space in that short 260 case.

Buckeye

[Coyote Hunter]

Sigma -

Since you are not a reloader, I would suggest the .270, 7mm-08 or .308 for your stated needs.  If you place your shots well, the specific cartridge becomes relatively unimportant, but as a non-reloader, ammo costs, availability and variety should all be considered.

When if comes to ammo costs, bear in mind there is a LOT of inexpensive .308 available.  Cheap ammo = more shooting for the same $$$.

The .308 is still relatively mild in the recoil department.  Compared to the 6.5x55 and 7mm-08, the .308 is a superior choice for hogs and elk in my opinion.  [full disclosure]  I have hunted elk for over 20 years with a 7mm Mag and more recently with a .45-70.  Dispatched 5 pigs with a 16 gauge slug to the head but have never "hunted" them. [/full disclosure]

Even if you think you might get into reloading, consider the relative costs, availability and variety of components in the calibers you are most interested in.  If it was me, I would be looking for inexpensive practice/varminting loads and premium bullets for my hunting loads.  (By premium, I mean bonded core.  I am giving Barne's "TSX" a try in my .257 Roberts , but my first and only experience with a normal "X" bullet was far less than satisfactory.)

If recoil is a concern, an inexpensive slip-on recoil pad will do wonders.

Have fun deciding!

[Zachary]

gunnut69,

Is it fair to say that the 7mm08 is to the .270 what the .308 is to the 30.06?

Thanks.

No, not really.

A more accurate statement would be that the 7-08 is to the .280 as what the .308 is to the .30-06.

The 7-08 is .284" diameter.  The .270 is .277" diameter.  Now, if someone made a short action .277-08, then it would be a more accurate statement.

Zachary

[Fla Brian]

Sigma,

Given a choice between the two cartridges you mentioned, I would go with the 6.5 Swede. The .260 would be a fine choice if you never needed to use the heavier bullets, but you mentioned elk. The difference is that the .260 is built on short actions, while the Swede uses long actions. This allows longer bullets to be used.

I strongly suggest that you look into handloading, and not just because I'm recommending the Swede. In fact, I did a little price quoting to a friend of mine as to how little it can cost to get into handloadfing.

Let me give you an idea of how little it can cost to get started. (All prices are from Graf & Sons - http://www.grafs.com ) They're great to deal with and do not charge shipping fees, just a $3.75 handling and insurance charge per order.
 
Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit ($69.99 - $79.99 with the reloading manual, and well worth it) contains most of what you'll need with regard to tools. It comes with the press and:
 
Lee Auto Prime.
Lee Auto Prime Shellholder Set of 11.
Lee Cutter and Lock Stud. for case trimming
Lee Perfect Powder Measure.
Lee Chamfer Tool.
Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
Lee Safety Powder Scale.
Lee Powder funnel.
2 oz Tube Lee Resizing Case Lube.
 
All you'd need to add in tools are dies (Lee for 6.5X55 are $19.99 for the standard set and $28.59 for the deluxe set which includes both a full length sizing die and a neck sizing die) and a case length gauge for case trimming ($4.39). The excellent Hornady Spire Point 140s run $14.99 per hundred. Cases with the Graf headstamp (made by Hornady) are $19.99 per 100 and cheaper in larger quantities.
 
If you want to add a good option, you can get a tumbler for cleaning your brass which can cost over $100.00.
 
Buy primers and powder locally to avoid paying the UPS HazMat fee.

With handloading, you can load ammunition tailored to your particular rifle. You can also load milder cartridges for practice and/or small game. You can also load bullet weights that are not available in factory ammunition.

As you gain more experience, you can add to your equipment, or upgrade, as you wish.

Happy hunting.  

[Sigma]

Zachary, thanks for the insight on the 7mm08. I wasn't aware the caliber was actually .284".

Brian, Thanks for the detailed info on Lee reloading equipment. It seems that reloading is in my destiny if I decide for the Swede, and I it's very likely I will. I've checked, no local shops have the Tikka in 6.5x55, just .270, so I may have to order.

Coyote Hunter, IMO I would rate the Swede above the 7mm08 and the 308 in the ballistics department. It also seems to be a better penetrator than those two. I tend to disagree with your statement "If you place your shots well, the specific cartridge becomes relatively unimportant," . e.g. Shooting at hogs is a far different thing than shooting at deer. Although caliber usually can't make up for poor shot placement, there seems to be an obvious difference between the penetration capabilities of let's say, the 308 vs. the 6.5x55, unless the 308 is loaded hot with bullets of high sectional density.
On ammo availability: The argument of "forgetting ammo" and discovering that when out in the field is IMO a weak justification to go to a more popular caliber such as the 270. Sure, ammo availability is better with the 270, but wouldn't you want to be prepared and have more than enough ammo with you? How many shots would a person fire during a hunt? Probably very few, unless you like chasing game around the countryside.

Lastly, yes, I'm sure you "can get used to" the 270 or 30.06 recoil. Reviewing some other posts, it seems that many have conceded to shoot the Swede or another milder recoiling caliber the most, despite having a 270 or 30.06 in the safe. To me, that's not a surprise. There is a reason that Remington produces the "Managed Recoil" line of cartridges for the 270, 30.06 and 7mm mag. I'm sure their target market is not just youth and women. I think most guys dislike the recoil of their 30.06's and 270's more than they will admit. That's why they stay in the safe...

The result is that a rifle with higher recoil is fired less at the range during practice and the shooter has less confidence in it come hunting season.

Regards

[Fla Brian]

Sigma,

De nada, mi amigo.

I had already done the research for another net buddy.

I have found handloading to be a relaxing, enjoyable hobby all on its own, and I highly recommend it to all riflemen. The best way to gain skill with the rifle id to engage in considerable practice. With factory ammunition, that can be rather expensive. Handloading will allow one to shoot a lot more at the same cost level.

I find the easy-availability-of-ammo argument weak too. Following that logic to its end, one ought to limit one's cartridge choices to only those that are available in little, out-of-the-way country stores. PSHAW!

On the recoil front, I never had to "get used to" the recoil of hard hitting cartridges. The very first time I sighted in my first .30-06, I had installed a scope that was too short. Every time I tripped one off, the hard plastic buttplate slipped off my shoulder and slammed into the fleshy part of my upper arm. I went through a couple of boxes that day and developed one world class bruise. Through it all, I never flinched and found that I actually enjoy shooting hard recoiling long guns. It must be a short circuit in my sensory apparatus.

I'm about to take up the sport of centerfire silhouette shooting with that old Remington .30-06, now in a lightweight glass stock sans recoil pad.

I do agree with you that most shooters are a whole lot more recoil sensitive than that and ought to take that in consideration when selecting cartridges.