Recoil??

GameStalker30-06

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
72   0   0
Location
Newfoundland
I've had quite a few .30-06 in different actions and do not mind the recoil what so ever.. I can go to the pit/range and fire a couble of boxes and not even feel it...Was thinking about a .300 win mag for my next purchase but first wanted to know if there really is a big difference in recoil than that of a '06...

I mean, in a hunting scenerio, I never feel recoil from the gun being fired..sighting in, yes, a little more...but nothing real noticable...

Opinions please...

Thanks
 
How heavy is your 30-06?
Do you reload?

A good recoil pad and finished rifle of around 9 pounds would keep the rifle quite comfortable to shoot.
 
If yoiu can handle your 06 no problem go staight to the 338. Very little diff. from 300 Mag. recoil, probably not as sharp untill you get to 250s. Big step up in performance on big animals. Same trjectory as your 06.
 
If yoiu can handle your 06 no problem go staight to the 338. Very little diff. from 300 Mag. recoil, probably not as sharp untill you get to 250s. Big step up in performance on big animals. Same trjectory as your 06.


Why stop there? I find the .375 H&H to kick less than the .338. Everyone should have a couple of them.:D
 
The shape and fit of the stock greatly effect how you feel recoil. The gun that I found the most disturbing to shoot was a Mosin Nagant carbine due to its small curved steel butt plate. Powerful .375, .416, .458, and .500's were easy after that.

The .300 is ruder than an '06, and if it was me, I would move up to a medium bore rather than choosing a faster .30 if more power is what I was after. There is less difference in recoil between the .300 and the .338 than there is between the '06 and the .300. If you handload, you can begin at moderate levels and incrimentally increase the power of the load for any cartridge until you become comfortable with it.
 
I agree with all the above. I shot .30-06 for years as my go-to caliber for hunting. Then I bought a .300WM and immediately noticed a more obnoxious increase in jolt and recoil. I thought about it and said to myself, "If I'm gonna subject myself to more discomfort , I might as well get the desired increase in on-game performance." So I sold the .300 and bought a .338WM. Best decision of my life. Recoil actually feels slightly less sharp but let me tell you, the end result on game is quite decisive. I'll never go back to .300
 
Here is a Recoil chart to give you an idea!

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

WOW I never really looked before, I easily handle 53 lbs of recoil energy I'm going to have to get some bigger guns... :p

GS put a Kick-Eez recoil pad onto you rifle you will be absolutely amazed at how it reduces felt recoil they are the absolute best recoil pad on the market.

If someone argues this it just tells me they have never used one... ;)
 
i own a 300 ultra mag . as i have owned 3006 . 300 win mag .300 wsm .you will notice more recoil with the ultra mag .i find it seems to want to jump more . i like mine .
 
The 375 is not bad,mine is about the same as most 338's,I have shot some rude 300's however!

The tupperware Tikka T3 in .300 comes mind in the rude and obnoxious category. Lots of used ones for sale.

Here's a recoil calculator that will let you put rifle weight and charge weight in. http://ww w.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

Powder choices can make a huge difference in recoil, more than the calculators would indicate. Load up maximum loads with H4350 and H1000 and the difference is day and night, much more than the difference in velocity should make. The 4350 loads are practically a pop-gun by comparison.
 
Last edited:
I agree with all the above. I shot .30-06 for years as my go-to caliber for hunting. Then I bought a .300WM and immediately noticed a more obnoxious increase in jolt and recoil. I thought about it and said to myself, "If I'm gonna subject myself to more discomfort , I might as well get the desired increase in on-game performance." So I sold the .300 and bought a .338WM. Best decision of my life. Recoil actually feels slightly less sharp but let me tell you, the end result on game is quite decisive. I'll never go back to .300
Another convert, beauty. While I've shot a ton of game with the various 300s and still own a couple they never get to come out any more. I've gone to the STW for Deer and 338 and up for the bigger stuff. The 300s kill very well and are way more than needed for Deer, but I've always thought I could tell a good bit of difference on big stuff hit with the 338. As far as recoil, my 338 with Mcmillan featherweight stock and 23" barrel weighs 8 1/4 scoped. It has a decellerater pad and is no problem.
 
The reason I asked if you reload is that you can reduce the load a bit and take the sting out out of the 300Win (or 338Win) while you adjust to the new rifle.

If the 300 is a replacement for the 30-06 then it is a good choice. The 300 is a great do all.
If you are keeping the 30-06 because it suites your hunting style then (as the others have said) the 338Win is a better companion and addition to your 30-06.

The theoretical recoil generated by the 338Win might be greater than a 300mag, but the 338 is missing the ugly snap of a fast 180gr at 3100fps. Load the 300 with 200gr bullets at 2950Fps and the recoil is all but indistinguishable.....As is any real difference in killing power (my opinion).
 
I've shot the big 30's a lot, and also the 338 a fair bit. Several head of game on the ground from each. I have never experienced this extra "oomph" the 338 purportedly has.
Anything I have shot with either has been very dead within short order. Recoil with heavier bullets in the 338 is more noticeable, though. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Wow, thanks to all, lots of great and informative comments and opinions.

I currently own a remmy 700 SPS SS DM in '06 and with my scope, I believe it weights around 8 1/4 - 8 1/2 lbs. I do not currently handload, and yes I am still keeping my '06. Since I'm in NL, I only hunt moose, caribou and black bear as our big game. So really, not a large caliber needed anyway. the .30-06 suits me perfectly, and does everything I ask of it. I find it very accurate out to a long range when needed and tons of stopping power. (As with anything, along with proper shot placement). Am just in the market to try something new, and another excuse to buy a new rifle and hopefully in a new caliber..

Can you really notice the difference in killing/stopping power on the animals when they are hit with the largers calibers???Examples???
 
The 300win loaded with a 200gr partition produces startling internal damage and spectacular kills on deer. FWIW deer shot with the 338win usually bounce a few steps then fall over. Moose on the other hand are not impressed by whatever majic dust upsets the deer, and to answer your question there is a big difference between killing power and stopping power. On broadside shots the two cartridges are very similar, but given a nice deep raking shot I would definitely give the nod (stopping power) to the 338.

If I were you I would let the terrain you hunt in dictate your next rifle.
A 300 laser-blazer really is an inefficient choice if you never intend to reach beyond a few hundred yards. Not being a reloader will prevent you from developing the shooting skills required to reliably use the new rifle at those distances....Something to think about...Reloading gear that is! :D
 
Back
Top Bottom