high velocity low recoil caliber?

That's true ........ anyone should be able to shoot a 30/06 (of reasonable weight) with 180gr bullets.
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And a good 165gr bullet will reduce recoil slightly more,kill animals just as dead,and get you closer to a high velocity round..:D
The most important thing is to be comfortable enough with your gun and load,to be able to place your bullets properly.
 
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Hey Friendly....despite all the machismo floating around here......shoot what you're comfortable shooting and don't get caught up in the manly BS. Being recoil sensitive is nothing to be ashamed of and as you hunt and shoot more you may well find you can handle more recoil.....Don't worry, a lot of shooters buy magnums to overcome other shortcomings. Shoot what you're comfortable with and forget the manly choir! Better to start with a lower recoil rifle for your first one.

I've seen a lot of manly men so afraid of their manly guns that they couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.
 
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sheephunter said:
Hey Friendly....despite all the machismo floating around here......shoot what you're comfortable shooting and don't get caught up in the manly BS. Being recoil sensitive is nothing to be ashamed of and as you hunt and shoot more you may well find you can handle more recoil.....
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Other then a couple of mentions (not recommendations) of the 338WM, no one was being machismo and most of the calibers suggested were small and easy to shoot.

You're right, there is nothing to be ashamed about for being recoil sensitive, but with a bit of practice and proper coaching why shouldn't a shooter be able to handle a 30/06? The problem with "recoil management" is that it most of it happens in the shooter's head and if he isn't polluted with preconceived ideas about recoil, he shouldn't have a problem. I've personally seen two young teenagers shoot a 375H&H with no problems at all and that was the first time out shooting a CF rifle. I started them on a 22/250 and moved right to the 375.



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You're right, there is nothing to be ashamed about for being recoil sensitive, but with a bit of practice and proper coaching why shouldn't a shooter be able to handle a 30/06?
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Most people are able to shoot a 30-06,but some ladies or youngsters are quite small,and find the 30-06 too much recoil wise, in light to average weight rifles.If they get a heavy rifle to reduce the recoil,they find the weight more than they want to carry.Then you have the people that have shoulder,or back injuries,that can only handle limited recoil.Everyone has their own comfort level for recoil,despite what some people might think they should be able to handle.
 
my suggestions would be .260 .280 30/06 .308 .270

the.308 is very nice if you are gonna be a one gun guy for a while because it is so versatile, even in factory offerings.

Don't let velocity fool you, it is not the end all be all and only factor.

While my best suggestion to you if you are bit recoil sensitive is to pick up a Marlin 336 30/30 for soemwhere between 350 and 450 and put on a a suitable 3-9. You have a great rifle for the calibre, as opposed to spending 350-450 on a lower end bolt action.

I have shot elk, deer, moose, bear, buffalo's (farm), caribou, coyote, jackrabbits,..
all with my 30 30 without issue. It is a great starting point IMHO
but there goes your velocity.

also, about recoil sensitive. It is better to get a gun you can handle and enjoy,rather than one that gives you hesitations when your finger is on the trigger. i've been there with some crappy O/U shotguns, a Stoeger 2000, and a few more, including my first 416, and my first 45/70.

Get good with one rifle first, then let your addiction consume you
 
You ask a lot of questions about recoil, it sounds to me like you haven't shot a whole lot.

If you are recoil sensitive, I have found the best calibres that combine a reasonably amount of power and light recoil are the 308 winchester and the 7-08/

The most important thing is to shoot whatever you buy alot and learn it's trajectory.
 
.308

The .308 is often used by snipers and is popular in moose country with a mild kick. I spent a day at the range with one of my 300 win mags and after a couple of boxs it was tiresome. War must be noisy lol.
 
A stock that fits well can go a long way to help mitigate recoil.

Beside the swede... look at the .257 wby magnum !!

When all else fails, you can't go wrong with the .270win
 
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I too, vote the 308 Winchester as THE supreme "medium sized gun" caliber. It's the cheapest big game suitable cartridge to reload for (burns less powder, and 30 cal bullets have some very cheap options compared to anything else but 22 cal), the cheapest to buy ammo for, it's "enough gun" for anything on this continent out to at least three times the range a newbie has any business flinging lead at a critter, it doesn't kick very hard, any store that sells ammo will have a box of 308 somewhere (take that, 7mmWSM fans!), etc, etc, etc.

There are all sorts of calibers which are wonderful, and very suitable to what you want (7-08, 30-06, 270, 280, 6.5x5, 260, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.), and none of them are in the least ways poor choices. But, a 308 is a very very good choice, and for the reasons stated - I think it's the best.
 
It's the cheapest big game suitable cartridge to reload for (burns less powder, and 30 cal bullets have some very cheap options compared to anything else but 22 cal),
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On average the 308win actually burns as much or more powder than the 7mm-08.As well most of the common hunting bullets made by Nosler,Sierra,Hornady,Barnes etc,are more expensive in .308" than in .284".
 
thanks everyone. I'm not sure if I'm recoil sensitive or not. I've not shot enough to even condition my shoulder...but the other day a 180g .308 blew my back out. I'd been firing a a few 150g earlier with no problems. at the same time, about a week before that, I was given opportunity to shoot someone's brand new 338 Federal without problems, aside from noting it kicked like a mule, compared to the .308. my problem lies in the fact I'm loose jointed, I believe. I could see a chiropractor every day and not stay in alignment for very long...and it's not just my back/neck that are loose. while I'm not double jointed, I pop, crack and ping all day long. shoulders, knees, fingers, toes, elbows...

why are the '7x57 or 6.5x57' more handloadable then the .270 or .308, as commented by SuperCub? I plan on reloading...cheaper to shoot that way when you've not got a lot of money.

I've about $1000 to buy two rifles. a .22 to start practicing on with and then something a bit more hefty to get fluent with for beginner hunting. it would be nice to be able to include a shotgun in that budget for the fall goose season, but I'm not sure how realistic that is.
 
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