Author Topic: low recoil calibers (Read 1633 times)

younghunter12 · « **on:** May 18, 2006, 05:52:22 PM »

Hi. I'm looking for a caliber that has little recoil. This rifle is gonna be used for deer size game. I'm concidering the .243, .260, 7mm 08, 30-30 or the .308.

bluebayou · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2006, 06:31:26 PM »

I am an average sized adult with a bad shoulder. I find the 7mm-08 to be ideal for me. You can shoot a broad range of bullets and it has low recoil compared to the 308. The 243 would probably have less recoil but the bullet weight stops at what? 100 grains? Handloading, I load a 120 grain youth load that doesn't have enough energy to move the rifle. I also load a 160 grain Sierra GameKing as a "one day I will hunt big game" bullet. As a deer round, I load a 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip. The rifle is a Rem 700 and it shoots all three very well.

Look at the factory ammo weights before you buy the rifle. I like the 260, the Model 7 looks pretty sweet. But, the 260 has VERY limited factory ammo choices.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2006, 02:01:33 AM »

Low Recoil.........How about a semi auto in a .243 with a limbsaver recoil pad and mercury tube in the butt stock?

With the new recoil pads, most rifles can be tamed quite a bit.

It this rifle by any chance going to be used by a woman, young man or child?

If so, then the rifle stock should be shortened as the fit has a lot to do with felt recoil.

A lever action in a 30.30 is a great low recoil deer rifle and the 30.30 has been killing deer for over 100 years. It's a very traditional rifle that a lot of people cut there teeth on as a child, and is still very popular to this day. You could still add the pad and tube if necessary.

DavOh · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2006, 03:38:04 AM »

The .243 has the least recoil out of the calibers you mentioned. .308(while it's my caliber of choice for whitetail) has nearly double the recoil of a .243(depending on load).

Getting a heavy barreled-heavy weighted rifle will help with recoil also and as mentioned the gadgets they have today for recoil do alot.

Remington also has factory ammo(called "Managed Recoil") that's supposed to cut recoil by 50%, but maintain the same Point of Impact at 100 yds as standard loads. Something handloaders have done for years, but now a factory load. Although it's only available in certain calibers. .30-30 and .308 are both available.

I started shooting a .243 when I was 7, killed my first deer with it when I was 9. No recoil pad, just an old heavy gun.

Here's a recoil chart with some basic guidelines on recoil pertaining to calibers.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Here's an article on the Managed Recoil

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rem_managed_recoil.htm

Just a little more jumble of info for ya.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2006, 04:14:44 AM »

Managed loads! DaveOh, pointed this out and its well worth looking into.
You can get a popular cal (06, 270, etc) and with this "new load "
fire away with out worring about recoil as some are sensitive too.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2006, 04:55:42 AM »

My barber had shoulder surgery some years ago and had to switch to a low recoil rifle. He got a gas-operated auto. It has a lot less recoil than the same cartridge fired in a bolt action of comparable weight.

Syncerus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2006, 05:46:02 AM »

If you aren't hung up on **new**, take a look at the .300 Savage. For deer sized game, it's a great choice, with less kick than a .308.

Syncerus

beemanbeme · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2006, 05:55:23 AM »

.260 only slightly behind the 7-08 as the ideal deer rifle. And you still have a full range of bullets if you reload.

skb2706 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2006, 06:08:27 AM »

Started my young son out on a .260 Rem. I prefer the Mtn rifle over the Model 7 as it has less felt recoil to me. As was said there is limited factory ammo available.........I am not concerned with that. Great range of bullets and mine was easy to find accurate hunting loads for.

jerkface11 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2006, 07:29:26 AM »

Out of the list you provided i'd go with the .30-30. Low recoil plenty of power easily available ammunition the rifles are even easy to find.

james · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2006, 08:21:02 AM »

I have or had all the calibers you listed. I like the .260 but prefer a 6.5 x 55 since I reload and it is the same caliber.
james

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2006, 11:16:31 AM »

How bout a 7.62x39 Plenty of power for deer sized game , no recoil and it's unbelievably cheap to shoot = more practice

There are a few nice sporting guns chambered for this round.

jro45 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2006, 11:43:32 AM »

I beleave the 270 Win fits right in with not much recoil.

g8r · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2006, 12:14:02 PM »

You can throw a .257 Roberts into the mix as well. I have a Ruger Ultralight and it has what seems to be almost no recoil. :wink:

Slamfire · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2006, 04:29:00 PM »

I think .250 Savage might have recoil lower than a .243, it shoots the same weight bullet at a lower velocity. Those are the two items that make up the bulk of recoil, the others being jet effect of the gases exiting the barrel, and weight of the powder consumed. :wink: How you feel it, depends on your anatomy and the stock design.

257 roberts · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2006, 04:38:36 PM »

257 Roberts, low recoil and a smokin deer round

grousehunter · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2006, 04:45:52 PM »

under the circumstances, We do'nt know if you are from N or S or E orW, so you could advance to ELK or Antalope or even Desert Mulies! Try thinking of something fairly comfortable now, but for the future also! The 06, or 270 is probably your best choice for longjevity! and unless your parents have money to burn! they are not going to want to but you a new rifle every 2 yrs!

glshop20 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2006, 01:29:45 PM »

You might want to consider looking at a 6.5x55 Swede chambered rifle. Recoil is low, bullets go up to at least 142grs. and accuracy is outstanding from a decent rifle. They use it for big game up to Moose in Scandanavian countries so it would be adequate for most North American big game. Even if you pick up a sporterized mauser (Husqvarna or other) with a decent bore it should be a shooter.

Old Griz · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2006, 09:25:06 AM »

Quote from: younghunter12

Hi. I'm looking for a caliber that has little recoil. This rifle is gonna be used for deer size game. I'm concidering the .243, .260, 7mm 08, 30-30 or the .308.

:cb2: I don't think anything has taken more deer than the .30-30. It's a pussycat to shoot, and the 150-170 gr. selection of bullets is kinda nice, too.

The 7mm-08 is a better choice (IMHO) than the .380 because it has a lot less recoil at the same basic performance.

The .260 is fantastic. Don't know why this one never caught on. Maybe if they had called it the .260 SuperBoneCrushingMagnumOverkillDestroyer, folks would have bought it. Oh well.

I'd go with the .30-30. Ammo is cheap and everywhere. :grin:

younghunter12 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2006, 01:19:04 PM »

does the 30-30 have the range of a .243? I'm not to concerned about range to much. My shots will most likely be at the 75-200 yard range at deer. Thanks. Alec

Harold50 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2006, 02:26:54 PM »

Get the .243.

I have had both.

I'm assuming that the .243 will be a bolt gun and the .30-30 will be a lever gun?
The .243 in likely to be accurate enough so that with light bullets it will shoot varmints at some 300+ yards.
The 30-30 is mostly a deer rifle (several will disagree).
The .243 is likely to more accurate IF, IF, IF, the stock fits you.
The .30-30 will be like walking the OLD WEST in your mind. It points well with practice.
The .243 will kill deer half-again farther than the .30-30, and that is as far as any responsible hunter ought to shoot at deer.

You must practice with either choice.

If I could only have one I would buy the .243. They'll kill deer and varmints both. The .30-30 is a one trick pony ( but what a trick!). Get the .243 and a good .22 then a good 20 gauge shotgun...then buy the .30-30 to sort of round everything out.

Welcome aboard,
Harold

DavOh · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2006, 03:10:01 PM »

Quote from: younghunter12

does the 30-30 have the range of a .243? I'm not to concerned about range to much. My shots will most likely be at the 75-200 yard range at deer. Thanks. Alec

With practice, good optics and a steady hand(solid rest) the .30-30 can be a 200yd performer. But it takes someone with the patients to take the time to practice and get to know the rifle. Supposedly Hornady's "LEVEREVOLUTION" Ammo is a solid 200 yd performer. Check out the leveraction and marlin firearms forums here on GBO and you'll folks with experience with the new ammo.

I've watched my dad and my mom both drop deer out to 200 yds with my mom's old Marlin "thutty thutty" with the Remington Corlokt 150grn round noses. But like I say it takes practice....

Old Griz · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:47:36 PM »

:cb2: But that .243 has such an itty-bitty bullet! OK, compromise -- either the .260, or the 7mm-08. :eek:

poncaguy · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2006, 09:58:15 AM »

I have 243, 260, and 7mm-08.......have a bad shoulder and none of them bother me. I have Handi rifles in 308 and 45-70 that I put the Choate varmit stock on. I canshoot them from bench rest with no pain at all. I put the Simms recoil on my Stoeger 2000 12 , and can shoot 3" turkey loads without too much discomfort.

longwalker · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2006, 05:36:58 PM »

I can only tell you what I did and how it worked out for me.

First gun was a 12 gauge pump. I hunted everything with it, including deer. Next purchase was a winchester 30-30, it served me very well untill I was 43 years old. Then I had some more income and spent some more of what I earned.

My son has killed 4 deer using the 30-30, for all intents and purposes it's his gun. The 30-30 won't allow you to make long shots unless you know where the bullet will go and where the rifle will send it. In other words you will need to hunt not just find a nice place out of the sun and wind hopping to see one. Any of the suggestions already made are good ones just think about what you want to do and how you want to do it.

Getting close is the real deal. In my opinion the doe you hunt up on foot is a much better experience than a big buck shot at 300 yards from a blind.

longwalker

azmike · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2006, 03:51:23 AM »

I see you are in AZ, like me. Of the choices you mentioned, I would go with (in fact I am going with) the 7mm-08. Ruled out the .243 as not versatile enough for my needs (not a varmint hunter), ruled out the 30-30 as too short range and redundant for me (have a .35 Rem), ruled out the 308 as too much recoil in a lightweight rifle (my rifle will do double duty as a youth trainer). That left the .260 and little 7. I am a big fan of both, but the 7mm-08 is just more versatile as far as available loads go, and also for reloading components. Plenty of power for any deer in the U.S., plus you can load it up or down. Also, I figured that in a pinch, with the right heavy load, and very judicious shot placement, at a reasonable range, IF I ever draw an elk tag here, I could use it (although I would probably get a .338 to celebrate getting a tag :grin: ).

Good luck in your decision.

ScoutMan · « **Reply #26 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:32:33 AM »

Alec,

Lets talk about recoil. I get a laugh when I say that recoil is like sex, its 85% mental.

What does that mean?. It means if you are convinced that a rifle will hurt you, then it will. On the other hand, if you take some pre shooting counciling, you will find out that recoil is not so bad. Most people have enough self control to overcome the bad effects of recoil.

Here are some procedures:
1-Have someone grasp the barrel of your rifle, and thrust it back into your shoulder while you are aiming, to simulate recoil.
2-Be kind to yourself and wear good hearing and eye protection when shooting at the bench. Also pamper yourself with a towel or other cushion, on your shoulder.
3-When zeroing or at the bench do not shoot more than 3 shots without taking a break.
4-Develop the "open suprise break" for trigger control and you will never flinch.
5-Learn to "call your shot" so that you will know where your sights were when the trigger "broke"
6-When in the field and shooting at a deer, you will be so excited and concentrating on your shot that you won't even remember the rifle going off,much less the recoil Remember, that in the field, the rifle is "carried much" and "shot little"

Get a 308 and don't look back. It might be the only rifle you will ever own.

SM

Ahab · « **Reply #27 on:** May 25, 2006, 10:05:05 AM »

No doubt the 30-30 has done in more deer than any other rifle, it also has wounded more deer than any other rifle. I too vote for the 7mm-08.

Gregory · « **Reply #28 on:** May 25, 2006, 12:28:45 PM »

Quote from: Ahab

No doubt the 30-30 has done in more deer than any other rifle, it also has wounded more deer than any other rifle. I too vote for the 7mm-08.

I've heard this statement about the 30/30 being a "wounder" for many years.
What data do you have to supoport this statement? I'm sure any deer living will succumb to a well placed shot from a 30/30 as well as any other cartridge. The only reason a 30/30 may have wounded more deer than any other rifle is more poor shots are made with a 30/30 due to the number of once a year, don't bother to sight in my rifle, types who use one.

Deer are not hard to kill, I've done it with a puny 357 Mag. with a well placed shot at a reasonable range.
And nothing against a 7mm-08, I don't even own a 30/30, but my son does. A bad shot made with a 30/30 has the same results as a bad shot made with a 7mm-08 or a 338 Mag for that matter.

DavOh · « **Reply #29 on:** May 25, 2006, 04:34:09 PM »

Quote from: Ahab

No doubt the 30-30 has done in more deer than any other rifle, it also has wounded more deer than any other rifle. I too vote for the 7mm-08.

Of course the 30-30 has wounded more deer than any other rifle. It's been around for how many years? Since the 1890s if I'm not mistaken. It's been around longer, been used more and killed more than any other rifle in Deer hunting history. Sure there are the "rare couldnt hit the broad side of a barn if I swung it like a bat" lemon guns, but the odds are statistically no greater of that with a .30-30 than any other caliber or make.

Make no mistake about it folks, the one and only cause for wounding animals is poor shot placement which comes from people not taking the time to practice untill they can consistantly(9 out of 10 shots) place a cold bore round into the vital area of their chosen quarry at the maximum distance at which they have the oppurtunity to shoot.

just my $0.02, but anyone besides me raised that way? If you can't shoot straight, then take up golf or badmitten. It's not that hard(I'm not talking about getting cloverleaf holes at 200 yds here), but it does take some semblance of an effort. :wink: