New low recoil loads for bolt action rifles.

[Zachary]

It's kinda funny how, during the past few years, there was a super magnum craze.  It was Ultra Mag this, and Ultra Mag that.  Don't get me wrong - I kinda got sucked into the hype - I bought both a 7mm and .300 Remington Ultra Mag - mostly because the price was just way below wholesale - I just can't pass up a deal like that.  

Anyhow, so this year Remington, and I think Federal, has come out with "low recoil" centerfire ammo.  Apparently, you can now shoot .30-06 ammo at .308 recoil levels, and so forth.  This is the exact opposite of the High Energy and Light Magnum loads, which upped the ante on power - where a .308 had the power of a .30-06, etc.  In these higher power loads, you can't use a semi-auto rifle (like the Browning Bar) but you can use them in bolt-action rifles.

I think that you probably can't use these lower-recoil loads in semi-auto rifles either, but you obviously should be able to use them in your bolt-action rifles.

I'm not sure if there is going to be a real market for these loads.  Sure, I guess the theory is that you can use light loads at the range, or that you can let a youngster shoot lighter recoiling loads, then go up to regular powder loads, and I guess even later go up to light magnum loads, but I'm just not quite sure if I will ever use these loads.

What are ya'lls thoughts?  Do any of you plan on using this low-recoil ammo?

Zachary

[longwinters]

Manufacturers will do most anything to get people buying.  I think you are right on with getting the lighter loads for kids etc...It probably is a good idea . . . reloaders been doing it for years.  Next they will come out with a low carb bullet.  

long

[cfmpilot]

My Dad is 77 yrs old and becoming recoil sensative, so I have been loading reduced recoil loads for his 30-06 using H4895. I saw it on the Hodgdon web site under youth loads. They work great and are accurate.

[Carl l.]

I would not use them for myself at all. Carl L.

[Coyote Hunter]

My Marlin 1895 .45-70 shoots a Cast Performance 460g out the end at 1812fps.  Recoil is 48 foot-pounds with the scope off.

In contrast, EVERTHING I shoot in bolt guns is "low recoil".  :grin:

[savageT]

Zachary,
I can't tell you how glad I am to hear about this latest twist in sales strategy.  I for one do not enjoy getting my shoulder thumped at the range!  Thus my preferences toward the Swedish 6.5x55mm and other mild recoiling calibers.  Maybe I could get closer to my 30-06 after all?  Makes me feel good to see so much interest in the 30-30 and .300Savage rounds also.

Jim

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

A reduced load has its place----a .223 Home Defence load comes to mind first----as long as it would cycle an AR.

For hunting I want maximum potential from my cartridge----Just remember if you sight-in with reduced loads at the range----you'll have to re-sight-in if you go back to full power loads.

[wallynut]

Reduced loads can be good for more then just those that are sensitive to recoil.  Not all rifles get best accuracy with full house loads.  And for those that don't reload, this gives them an option for experimenting for best accuracy.  Personally, I'd rather hunt with someone that can hit thier target with low powered loads, then someone that can't hit the mark with a rifle/load that is more then they can handle.

[Zachary]

One of the articles I read said that the reduced recoil loads also have much lighter bullets.  For example, the .30-06 reduced recoil load apparently only has a 125 grain bullet.  It's one thing to reduce recoil by reducing the powder charge, but you start chaning the ballgame by using signigicantly lighter bullets - shooting a standard .30-06 with 180 grain bullets at elk at 200 yards is one thing, but shooting a reduced recoil load with a 125 bullet, even at 100 yards, at elk, is quite another.

Yes, I understand that you can reduce recoil 2 ways - lower the powder, and lower the weight of the bullet.  There's no rocket science here.  But 125 grain bullet in a .30-06?  I'll never use it on big game.

If recoil is a problem, there's another solution - get a different gun.

Zachary

[Big Tom]

One of the articles I read said that the reduced recoil loads also have much lighter bullets.  For example, the .30-06 reduced recoil load apparently only has a 125 grain bullet.  It's one thing to reduce recoil by reducing the powder charge, but you start chaning the ballgame by using signigicantly lighter bullets - shooting a standard .30-06 with 180 grain bullets at elk at 200 yards is one thing, but shooting a reduced recoil load with a 125 bullet, even at 100 yards, at elk, is quite another.

Yes, I understand that you can reduce recoil 2 ways - lower the powder, and lower the weight of the bullet.  There's no rocket science here.  But 125 grain bullet in a .30-06?  I'll never use it on big game.

If recoil is a problem, there's another solution - get a different gun.




Zachary

Zachary, one of the legendary hunters in my neck of the woods( old Doc Atanasoff ) killed many great Whitetail Buck and at least two Bull Elk I know of, with a 30.06 using 125 gr Partitions. A Nosler 125gr Partition or its equivalent at 3,200 FPS will send any Deer to the butcher shop instantly with very pleasant recoil levels. Why that set up would be much more effective than the best .243 100gr  load. But I never seem to take my own advice and still shoot the heavy stuff too  :roll:

[huntsman]

I went into reloading mostly because I could not get reduced loads for my daughters that are learning to shoot and are recoil sensitive. I've worked up reduced loads in 6.5x55 for them that are much milder than standard factory ammo and yet have plenty of power to kill deer (our quarry) at any range they can effectively shoot right now (200+ yds). Why get all the bang when you don't need it?

I think reduced loads a good thing for those who need to start out mild and work up to more standard loadings when their psyche, body weight, and strength are ready to handle it. This way I can start them with a caliber that will be effective on most game when they grow older, but still have the mild shooting when they are young and just learning. One rifle will take them from beginner to veteran, if you will.

By the way, my daughter LOVES the reduced loads and looks forward to shooting now, when she was very hesitant before. She is also more accurate because she is concentrating more on the target and less on what the gun is going to do.

[Zachary]

Shot placement, of course, is virtually everything, but still....


I read another article somewhere where a very skilled African hunter uses a .243 on ELEPHANT!! :eek:   The author then commented on how the African hunter finds it soo silly that American hunters find the .243 to be too light for game such as whitetails.

No, I'm not surprised that a .30 caliber 125 grain Nosler Partition can  bring down elk, etc.  However, if you make one small mistake, you are going to wound the animal, and an animal as beautiful and magestic as an elk (or any deer for that matter) should not be, in my opinion, taken with "risky" gun/bullet combos.  I think that a 150 grain .30-06 bullet is on the very light side for elk, but just about perfect for whitetails.  For elk, a 165 is better, and the standard 180 grain is ideal (using premium bullets of course.)

A lot has to do with bullet construction and sectional density.  A 125 grain Nosler is constructed well, but it's sectional density is, in my opinion, way to low for elk, and low for deer.

Zachary