what is the best caliber for a lower recoil, easy to get ammo for,deer rifle.
- Thread starter hardek
- Start date
This says it all.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
If ammo availability is an issue then some of the above mentioned chamberings may not be the best choice.
If you do get into loading then a totally different story.
.308, .243 , .270 if you are looking for common like you mention. .308 being most versatile.
The others are hit and miss for ammo availability however if I had my choice I would go with 7-08.It covers a broad range of uses and with minimal recoil and like stated it is what the cool kids use.
If you do get into loading then a totally different story.
.308, .243 , .270 if you are looking for common like you mention. .308 being most versatile.
The others are hit and miss for ammo availability however if I had my choice I would go with 7-08.It covers a broad range of uses and with minimal recoil and like stated it is what the cool kids use.
You have a 30-06 and a 6.5x55... you want a lighter recoil, bolt action. --- .243 Winchester is the answer. A .308 is basically no different than your 30-06. Same with a .270. 7x57 or 7mm08 is close to your 6.5.
.243 Winchester is the answer.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
More importantly than which cartridge to choose, as there is no best, what rifles do you like? While felt recoil is subjective, the first step in recoil management is in ensuring the rifle fits the shooter, the second step considers the elements of stock design, which includes drop at the comb, recoil pad quality and surface area, and in some cases the shape of the pistol grip, while the third step is a good shooting technique. Consider as well, that the handloader has the final say in recoil. Any cartridge can be loaded to a level which is pleasant to shoot. I can make up a cast bullet load for the .458 Winchester/Lott that you could shoot all day long . . . provided you paid for the ammo. My grandson at age 13 made 5 hits for 5 rounds on steel plates at 100 yards when shooting from a standing supported position with suitable loads in my .375 Ultra. Had those plates been half the size, he'd have still made 5 hits.
A rifle that's a dream to carry all day long will, by definition, kick harder than a heavier rifle that's chambered for the same cartridge. The hunter who's on his feet all day, wants a handy rifle that doesn't unduly fatigue him. The weight and length of the rifle is less important to the hunter who waits in a blind or on a stand. A lighter bullet generally produces less recoil than a heavier bullet in the same cartridge, but if that difference matters to you, you've got too much gun. If the rifle wears a scope, ensure you have sufficient eye relief to prevent being hit. Once you get all that figured out, the recoil generated by moderate cartridges shouldn't matter.
If you're a still hunter, consider a 6.5 pound carbine length rifle, with a good quality stock having a LOP of 13"-13.5", finished with a Decelerator or a Kick-Eze recoil pad, with a comb that allows you to achieve a solid repeatable cheek weld, and a full sight picture without having to go on a quest to find it. Mount a low power scope that provides 4"-5" of eye relief, as close to the bore as is practical subject to the scope's objective bell diameter and the rifle's comb height. The importance of which cartridge fits in the chamber is way down the list of considerations because there is so much overlap of terminal performance amongst them, so worry about the rifle first.
A rifle that's a dream to carry all day long will, by definition, kick harder than a heavier rifle that's chambered for the same cartridge. The hunter who's on his feet all day, wants a handy rifle that doesn't unduly fatigue him. The weight and length of the rifle is less important to the hunter who waits in a blind or on a stand. A lighter bullet generally produces less recoil than a heavier bullet in the same cartridge, but if that difference matters to you, you've got too much gun. If the rifle wears a scope, ensure you have sufficient eye relief to prevent being hit. Once you get all that figured out, the recoil generated by moderate cartridges shouldn't matter.
If you're a still hunter, consider a 6.5 pound carbine length rifle, with a good quality stock having a LOP of 13"-13.5", finished with a Decelerator or a Kick-Eze recoil pad, with a comb that allows you to achieve a solid repeatable cheek weld, and a full sight picture without having to go on a quest to find it. Mount a low power scope that provides 4"-5" of eye relief, as close to the bore as is practical subject to the scope's objective bell diameter and the rifle's comb height. The importance of which cartridge fits in the chamber is way down the list of considerations because there is so much overlap of terminal performance amongst them, so worry about the rifle first.
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I found the 243 to have sharper recoil than the push of the 308. 243 was a win featherlight and the 308 is a steyr scout. Both rifles are virtually the same weight with scope.
Others who have tried both rifles say the same thing.
Now ammo availability, some form of 308 is always available however it is quite often the shelves are empty in the can tire and wallmart for 243 and I have not seen 7mm08 in stock forever either.
Weird rifles you have... a light 308 with 165 grain bullets will loosen fillings... not pleasant to shoot. A light 243 will jump but the actual recoil is way less. I used to shoot a 10 pound 308 in hunter class with 168 grain bullets... and recoil was a factor in the accuracy achieved. 10 pound 243's - you can shoot all day with much greater ease.
Besides - he already has a 30-06 and wants something lighter...
if you already have 6.5x55 its wicked on deer ammo can be a bit of a pain by fare my all time favorite i put one together one from 80 year old part and a timmys trigger and scope had to use a pie wrench to literally thread a new barrel on it was able to shoot a pieces of rebar at 100 yards we had to put pop cans on top of rebar just to find it wound up with a bunch of L shaped rebar lol i broke the extractor on it so I need to fix that soon way to sweet not to use it
Probably a .270. Low recoil? Check. Easy ammo availability? Doesn't get much easier. Deer rifle? Can't argue that a .270 isn't a deer (sized) cartridge. Usually the discussion is how suitable it is for bigger things.
I'll add one more that hasn't been mentioned.... 7.62x39.
Even the Canadian Tire's has it here in soft point now for $20/20 rounds. Smallest cartridge I would use for deer though.
Plus with the internet you could actually buy a lifetime supply of whatever tickles your taint and never have to worry about the local shops stock on hand.
Even the Canadian Tire's has it here in soft point now for $20/20 rounds. Smallest cartridge I would use for deer though.
Plus with the internet you could actually buy a lifetime supply of whatever tickles your taint and never have to worry about the local shops stock on hand.
wayupnorth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Alberta
hehe, Hitzy said tickles your taint!
i started years ago with the 243 and i must admit i really like it (Remington 600)
light shooting gun but it is sharp.
i now use the 308 scout and the 300 WSM for the big game but i still have 2x243 that i use when im just going out for deer.
and i picked up a cheap 243 Savage with the scope for my daughters in anticipation of them starting to come hunting here in the next couple years.
i started years ago with the 243 and i must admit i really like it (Remington 600)
light shooting gun but it is sharp.
i now use the 308 scout and the 300 WSM for the big game but i still have 2x243 that i use when im just going out for deer.
and i picked up a cheap 243 Savage with the scope for my daughters in anticipation of them starting to come hunting here in the next couple years.
