Lighter Recoil...

Guy Miner

Guy Miner

Master Loader
Apr 6, 2006
17,804
6,122
Although I've still got some heavy kickers, like the 45-70 Marlin and the 375 H&H Ruger Number One... I have to admit a preference for rifles that don't kick all that hard. This isn't new for me, but as I've aged, I'm gaining even more appreciation for lighter-recoiling rifles.

Am growing as fond of the 6.5 Creed as I've been for years for the 25-06 & 6mm Remington.

25 years or so ago I sold my 300 magnum and replaced it with a 7mm Remington Magnum - which to me kicked less in the same basic rifle.

The 30-30 is easier to shoot well than the 45-70 for sure.

Handloaders can often "down-load" a cartridge for less recoil.

Perhaps if I was a more dedicated elk hunter I'd favor the bigger, rougher cartridges more. Mostly though I hunt deer, and have never noticed a bigger thumper killing faster than a light recoiling rifle. The 25-06 really confirmed that for me and I find I like it more and more. I'm a bit perplexed about why it's not more popular anymore, but it's okay, I'll just keep loading for mine.

Regards, GuyP1011181-1.JPG
 
You know I think this is something I would benefit from learning sooner rather than later. I was reading an article a while back where a guy made several good points about choosing the lightest recoiling cartridge that could efficiently handle the given task. I weigh a bit less than 120 lbs. so I have a feeling I would tend to be happier dealing with as little recoil as necessary.
 
Guy,
I agree with you 100% on the lighter recoil. I love the 25-06, we have 3 of them in the house. It was the 2nd Big Game rifle I bought after a 30-30, and first brand new one. Its a Tikka 695 Continental, heavy 26" barrel beautiful wood stock, I refered to it as "My Baby" for many many years back in the 90's thru high school and college. It was eventually replaced by a Ruger M77 Mark II in 260 Remington, because I needed something bigger and lighter, several years away working we moved back to Montana, deciding to hand down (and cut down) the 260 to the daughter I got a Sako 85 Black Synthetic in 30-06(bigger & lighter again). Fast forward to this season and antelope hunting with my 264wm caught myself thinking I should just get a light weight 243, I bet it would work for 90% of my hunting...
As I have been typing this I am thinking that the old Tikka in the back of the safe would probably look great with one of those fancy new carbon barrels on it (and easier to explain to the wife than a new 243):)
 
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Guy the 25-06 seems like it's been talked about more on different sites so maybe it's having a resurgence. In addition to the 6mm Remington, the 25-06 is just too darned good of a cartridge for it to die on the vine. The 257 Roberts is another one to add to that list. Great little cartridge that is gentle and just kills things.
 
I always liked the heavy hitters when I was young. Recoil never bothered me until I injured my shoulder. Nowadays I like smaller calibers . Still have my big boomers in the cabinet. They are still Enjoyable on a properly setup bench. Just got a Ruger #1 in 6mm Remington the other day. Need to get some range time soon.
 
Guy,
I enjoy your videos on YouTube. I keep talking myself out of getting a 25-06. My safe currently has a 270 win, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, along with a 243 win and 338 win barrels for on the 2 Savage rifles I have. I also considered just ordering a 257 Weatherby barrel for my Savage 116. So many choices for such a short deer season.
 
Agree!, the 25.06 is no doubt my favorite caliber and I've been shooting one for around 35yrs with excellent results. The only game i hunt here in NC is deer, coyotes and an occasional hog and the 25.06 has always been pure poison on each. It's a mild recoiling, flat shooting and accurate caliber that hits the target hard. It's still pretty popular around my area because we have lots of open crop fields, cutovers and power line right aways. The 25.06 is up for the task and just what the doctor ordered for our type hunting situations here in southeastern NC.
 
25-06 is one of the flattest shooters for the ranges you don't have to start turning knobs on the scope. When I looked at Hornady's Ammo ballistics chart there are only a few that match it out to 4-500 yards.

It's still a favorite at the dynamite shoot my cousin's fire department puts on. No range finders allowed. Targets hang off the ground so you can't see misses easily and readjust.
 
I’ve long been a fan of all .257 caliber cartridges. My first was a .25-06! With that Remington 700, I have taken several truck loads of coyotes, 8-10 deer and one elk. It is a very underrated cartridge to be sure.

I used my Dad’s ancient Savage 99RS in .250-3000 for lots of plinking, badgers and coyotes but have never used it to take any big game. Hmm.

I’ve since acquired rifles in .25-20, .25-35, and had a .257 Weatherby Magnum for a while too. I also now have a .270 Winchester.

After shooting a borrowed .257 Roberts this fall, I have decided to get my .25-06 rebarreled. Maybe I’m a sellout but the acquisition of the .270 made me question the necessity for the .25-06.

The Roberts seems a better match for the 75-100 grain bullets I use for chucks and coyotes and plenty good enough for the 110-120 grainers I prefer for hunting big game. Someday my little girl will have a custom rifle in .257 Roberts to go hunting with!
 
Guy Miner said:
Mostly though I hunt deer, and have never noticed a bigger thumper killing faster than a light recoiling rifle.
Click to expand...
You need a bigger thumper😁
For this year’s deer season I backed down the recoil a bunch. Yes 375 Wby I used this year sound hard hitting but reality its not thanks to the Beast Brake on the end of the barrel. I like big bores for the fact they flatten deer on the spot.
 
Nothing wrong with modest recoil. After shooting the wife's 243, I have to confess I was thinking about purloining it for my own purposes. It's light, light recoiling, accurate, and perfectly good on anything I'd hunt with it locally (and even a few things I'd go on the road for). Don't get me wrong, I still love things that start with the number 3 and the number 4, both handguns and long guns, but those 2s aren't so bad, either.
 
Guy -

Per OP, nobody likes recoil, it just bothers some less than others.

When shooting at game, I don’t notice any difference between a .338 Lapua Magnum and my .22-250. Off the bench at the range is a different matter.

Long ago I decided a .357 Magnum in the vitals was better than a bad shot with a .44 Magnum. I prefer my .30-06 or .308 to any .300 Magnum, and my .270 to any 7mm Magnum. Anything bigger than a .30-06 in caliber or case capacity is probably going to have to have a muzzle brake for me to want to bring it home.
 
Like many of you I tried the bigger magnums when I was younger and they worked fine. The biggest was the 375 Ruger that was very accurate. It shot my best group ever with it even to this day. I did eventually move it along since my 35 Whelen was 2 lbs lighter and killed just as well.

I was considering getting a 300 Weatherby or 300 PRC when the 6.8 Western was announced and since I liked the 270 cal rounds I went with it instead. It basically does what the bigger 300's will do with a lot less lick. At longer ranges it outperforms the loads I used to run in my old 308 Norma Mag. Of course you can use the fancy bullets in the 300's too just pointing out that it does everything I want it to do.

Love the 260 Rem and 6.5x55 too especially for deer. Could definitely see some more light kicking guns in the future.
 
3 Meter Para Bellum said:
You know I think this is something I would benefit from learning sooner rather than later. I was reading an article a while back where a guy made several good points about choosing the lightest recoiling cartridge that could efficiently handle the given task. I weigh a bit less than 120 lbs. so I have a feeling I would tend to be happier dealing with as little recoil as necessary.
Click to expand...
so, i might see you in a saddling paddock at a race track being jockey weight :unsure:
 
i don't mind recoil as i've shot a '61 mod70 in 264wm since i was 11. my dad thought it had to much recoil so he bought a 270win? that 270 kicks harder than that 264 for me. 308win scared me for some reason and never shot 1 until i was 50 just to find out it doesn't kick much. i won a 45-70 in a 4h raffle and thought, "how much is this thing going to kick"? well not much at all. in '14 i bought a 300wm as it's basically the same case as the 264.........well not much recoil in that either. so, i upped caliber and went 338lm............doesn't kick much either. i'm 59 and working my way to 375chey-tac/375enabelr, (might throw in a 408ct) 416barrett and 50bmg (or 50dtc?). if i get tired of the recoil i have 6 kids that'll shoot them. given that the majority of my rifles are ar's and can tune out recoil, any cartridge that fits in those are very easily managed. i have a 243win ar that weighs 15.5# and kicks/recoils more than any other rifle i have regardless of it weighing 5-8# more than larger magnums. with midwayusa having a good sale on actions right now, i'm close to buying several for 416rigby bolt faced cartridges and 404jeffrey's also. i have a goal to build a 458noveske (wsm) for an ar. purely going off ql here's the inputs,
20" barrel
swift 350a-frame
cartridge length 2.780-2.785 (iirc) will yield a muzzle energy of 5,091
16" @ 4,641
18" @ 4,881
22" @ 5,277
24" @ 5,443

not believing ql 100% on this, but shouldn't be any more than 50-75# of muzzle energy difference?
 
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