In this category, you have a pick depending on what your use is: 308, 260 Rem, 6.5x55 SE, and 7mm-08. From small to medium-sized game you cannot beat these cartirdge favorites. For Elk or Moose, I'd lean havily toward 308 and the 6.5x55. For target shooting, the 260 has a real following in the long-range circuit. Choose wisely and good luck!
Best balance of recoil and terminal performance in a cartridge.
- Thread starter Bartledan
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- Steel Town and The Peg
True to an extent. However, I have no problem finding commercial 7x57 and I usually stock up on it. Of course, if you reload, there is far more versatility with 7x57. In a dedicated hunting rifle, you don't need 500 rounds on tap anyway. 7mm-08 is a proven winner no doubt.
I'm not saying you don't have a really good point, but I think it's possible to consider this independently of the intended game.
The terminal ballistics can be directly compared no matter what the projectile is impacting (kinda sorta). Could be gel, could be a moose shoulder, could be a prairie dog. The question posed isn't one of sufficiency, but of magnitude. 22lr isn't sufficient for grizzly bear, but the impact of a 22 round against a grizzly's butt has a magnitude... a very small magnitude, a magnitude likely to get you et by a bear, but a magnitude nonetheless.
So what cartridge has the highest ratio of magnitude vs. recoil?
A 7/08 or 270 bring a lot to the party for their negligable recoil. A 257 Weatherby brings a lot of something else. So does a 375 H&H. A 7 stw brings a lot for the recoil compared to a 300 Weatherby.
Your best deal depends rather heavily on what you are trying to do, and what you consider to be recoil.
Your best deal depends rather heavily on what you are trying to do, and what you consider to be recoil.
My experience with the 270 is well known here, and once again I post that it is my distinct impression that over the years, while guiding and hunting, I have seen more one shot kills with the 270 Winchester than any other cartridge.
My guess is that no small part of that is because 270s in general are bit easier to shoot because of lesser recoil.
Having said that, the 7X57 is also one of my favourites. I could spend the rest of my days hunting everything on this continent with either one...and a 9.3X62.
Ted
7x57
I own three very nearly identical rifles (Husqvarna 4100's) in .270, .308, 7x57. The .270 has a fairly sharp kick (not to mention considerable muzzleblast), while the .308 is noticeably less, and the 7x57 seems less than the .308. Bullet weights are 130, 150, and 130-145 respectively. And all have been tried with several different loads. I use and enjoy all 3 by the way. I acknowledge that there are many rounds falling into this velocity-bulletweight-recoil range, these are just 3 of the ones I own, and the 7x57 and .270 are two of my favorites. (I own a 7mm-08 as well) Just my 2 cents.
I own three very nearly identical rifles (Husqvarna 4100's) in .270, .308, 7x57. The .270 has a fairly sharp kick (not to mention considerable muzzleblast), while the .308 is noticeably less, and the 7x57 seems less than the .308. Bullet weights are 130, 150, and 130-145 respectively. And all have been tried with several different loads. I use and enjoy all 3 by the way. I acknowledge that there are many rounds falling into this velocity-bulletweight-recoil range, these are just 3 of the ones I own, and the 7x57 and .270 are two of my favorites. (I own a 7mm-08 as well) Just my 2 cents.
Put that way, I'm the world's least talented and/or lucky hunter, so let's go 50 BMG. I only ever hear a shot from the next ridge, so the recoil is pretty tolerable!
I always get a kick, pardon the pun, out of these people who say they are not bothered by recoil.
When the rifle man's rodeo was going in our town, five timed shots, usually from prone position, at five animal targets, with small numbered scoring rings, some moving, some pop up, to 300 yards, with any rifle with calibre legal for Alberta hunting, I was using a 243. The most experienced rifle shooter and excellent shot who won more trophies than anyone else, told me a 243 had too much recoil for that kind of shooting!
He said I should get one of those short 6mm type, like he and his entire shooting family were using, because of less recoil.
Also, after the 308 cartridge became civilian and had the Winchester name attached to it, bench rest shooters took to it like flies after honey, for various types of bench rest shooting. Of course, people, including gun writers, claimed it was because the 308 was more accurate. A major bench rest contender put them straight. He said the 308 Winchester was no more accurate than was a 30-06, but the 308 had less recoil!
And of course bench rest shooters always load their rifles full tilt, heavier than loaded for sporting use, so recoil was a major factor.
When the rifle man's rodeo was going in our town, five timed shots, usually from prone position, at five animal targets, with small numbered scoring rings, some moving, some pop up, to 300 yards, with any rifle with calibre legal for Alberta hunting, I was using a 243. The most experienced rifle shooter and excellent shot who won more trophies than anyone else, told me a 243 had too much recoil for that kind of shooting!
He said I should get one of those short 6mm type, like he and his entire shooting family were using, because of less recoil.
Also, after the 308 cartridge became civilian and had the Winchester name attached to it, bench rest shooters took to it like flies after honey, for various types of bench rest shooting. Of course, people, including gun writers, claimed it was because the 308 was more accurate. A major bench rest contender put them straight. He said the 308 Winchester was no more accurate than was a 30-06, but the 308 had less recoil!
And of course bench rest shooters always load their rifles full tilt, heavier than loaded for sporting use, so recoil was a major factor.
Or the rest of the modest case capacity 6.5s. I was looking at a recoil chart and my 260 shooting 120 ttsx at 2900 is about 2/3 of a 150gr 308 but actually surpasses it in trajectory way out there. But in reality let's just say that you wont find many 1/4 mile moose size capable cartridges as these 6.5s with as little recoil. Of course those just below in calibre and those just above are a good bet too.
Yep. It's only a sample of one, but I watched my buddy and his wife stalk a big moose up here many years ago, him with his 358 Win carbine, and her with her sporterized model 94 6.5X55. She decked that moose with a single 140gr Partition through the lungs. Bert never even lifted his rifle.
Of course, moose are not hard to kill. If they had the stamina and will-to-live of a whitetail deer, we would all be hunting them with much bigger cartridges.
Ted
Of course, moose are not hard to kill. If they had the stamina and will-to-live of a whitetail deer, we would all be hunting them with much bigger cartridges.
Ted
Way back when, I was told the 30/06 had about the maximum recoil (about 20-23 ft/lbs) the average person can tolerate without developing a flinch. I must admit, after shooting 20 rounds of 30/06, bench rest, in a 8.5 Lb rifle, I've had enough. After a shoulder injury, I stepped down to a .243 Win but have since moved up to a .308 Win. Bench rest, competition target shooting and shooting at game in the field are not the same things.
I enjoyed shooting a friend somewhat lightweight .338 Win magnum but standing up and only for a few rounds. Funny that shooting factory 45/70 rounds from a handgun seems much less of an issue (for me) when it comes to recoil.
