Recoil between 25-06 and 270 win?

chaslavk

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I can't stand heavy recoil, so I don't even want to look at 30-06. My experience with recoil cames from shooting Yugo M48 with underloaded Rem and Win. 170 gr bullets. So I want to stay away from anything in 8mm and above class, and 30-06 is actually more powerfull than 8mm mauser.
I liked shooting Lee Enfield 303, but that gun was a bit heavy, SKS was also tolerable. I absolutely loved Win 94 30-30. I would buy it but there is caliber restriction in S. Ont. So I started looking at legal calibers (.277 is limit) 270 win. is natural choice but it is based on 30-06 and 25-06 is smaller caliber but it is also based on 30-06 and to me anything based on on it equtes to untolerable recoil.
Is 270 in terms of recoil about the same as 30-06 and if so is 25-06 any better.

Is it possible that I just can't shoot bolt guns so well, because i loved Win 94 even better than SKS and 7.62x39 is about the same as 30-30, and I liked SKS better than bolt guns, speaking strictly in terms of shooting comfort.

Thanx.
 
Recoil table

Cartridge/Rifle Weight/Recoil energy/Recoil velocity
25-06 Rem (120gr at 3000fps) /8.0/12.5/10.0
.270 Win (150gr at 2900fps)/8.0/17.0/11.7
.30-06 Spfd (180gr at 2700fps)/8.0/20.3/12.8
 
I have shoulder problems, and after 2 operations I have gone to a .25-06. With scope the rifle weighs in at just a shade over 7lbs. The recoil is very light, I get more push out of the old Savage bolt action .30-30 we have. I use 117g sst's in mine, but you could use 100g bullets and lessen recoil even more. The buck I got this year was shot through the shoulder at 175 yards, and I have never seen a Deer drop faster.
 
This may or may not be the issue, but I'll share some of my experience. I have shot a rifle chambered in 223rem and had hated it because it hurt to shoot. Would bruise my cheek. I shot my buddies 300RUM and could shoot it all day long and hit anything I pointed at, no pain or bruises. Obviously there is a big difference in recoil between the two, but the difference that made one a joy to shoot and the other a pain wasn't the recoil, it was the way the rifle fit. In my experience the fit of the gun is generally more important to the shooters comfort ( an accuracy ) than caliber or recoil. If the gun fits right its easy to aim and recoil is less of an issue. It might be that the 3006 you shot in the past didn't fit you very well. The reason you like to 30-30 may be because it feels good to hold and point. Just something to consider before you swear off all larger caliber guns. Either the 25-06rem or 270win will meet your requirements, just make sure the gun you end up buying fits and feels good.
 
A substantial portion of recoil comes from the mass of the gas, which is the same as the mass of the powder. Grain for grain, it actually has more effect than the mass of bullet, because it's average velocity is higher (once the bullet is gone, it really spurts out). So if 8mm/.30-06 velocity seems appropriate to you, as it seems from your post, you'll save a bunch of recoil by going down to a .308-based cartridge.

According to the same recoil table ehntr referred you to, a 7mm-08 produces the same recoil as a .25-06, and with a bullet that is arguably more in the class of .30-06 and 8mm in terms of game taking than the .25-06. Not that the .25-06 would be a bad choice by any means, rather the 7mm-08 seems more in line with what I get the impression you're trying to get.

RG

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the 25-06 has lighter recoil because you are shooting a lighter bullet. if you want to hunt larger game you are restricted to a lighter bullet with the 25-06. if you're that shy about recoil get a gun with a muzzle brake.
 
This may or may not be the issue, but I'll share some of my experience. I have shot a rifle chambered in 223rem and had hated it because it hurt to shoot. Would bruise my cheek. I shot my buddies 300RUM and could shoot it all day long and hit anything I pointed at, no pain or bruises. Obviously there is a big difference in recoil between the two, but the difference that made one a joy to shoot and the other a pain wasn't the recoil, it was the way the rifle fit. In my experience the fit of the gun is generally more important to the shooters comfort ( an accuracy ) than caliber or recoil. If the gun fits right its easy to aim and recoil is less of an issue. It might be that the 3006 you shot in the past didn't fit you very well. The reason you like to 30-30 may be because it feels good to hold and point. Just something to consider before you swear off all larger caliber guns. Either the 25-06rem or 270win will meet your requirements, just make sure the gun you end up buying fits and feels good.

:agree:
 
x2 Gun fit has a lot to do with it. I bought a 12 ga. that a short guy owned and to shoot it and to shoot another almost identical gun was totally different. The caliber restriction is actually .275, .277 is the dia. of a .270 bullet. I shoot a 7x57 mauser (275 Rigby) thats how I know that.
 
Recoil difference is substantial between the .25-06 and .270.

In my opinion the .25-06 is arguably the best deer cartridge in existence. Has a great trajectory, decent bc, light recoil and will it all to 500 yards if you every need to.

The .25-06 is a great round with low recoil. Pick a model that has some type of recoil pad installed, most do.

The cartridge prefers 24-26" barrels but 22" barrels will serve well.

Shoot 100-120 grain bullets. Heres some reading material.

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/ri40partial.pdf
 
My marlin XL7 .270 has almost no felt recoil. Awesome AWESOME recoil pad. In 25.06 it would feel like a nice gentle nudge.
 
1) Fit is king, no gun that fits you poorly will feel good to shoot regardless of caliber. My Yugo M48 Mauser is very nice for me to shoot, while my Enfield No.4 Mk.1 is brutal because of stock fit.

2) Whatever you get, put a Limbsaver or Decelerator recoil pad on it. They make a world of difference.

3) A 7mm-08 will offer much better bullet selection for larger game than the 25-06. There is a 7mm bullet for pretty much any occasion.

4) 6.5x55 is just about the best big game cartridge going for recoil sensitive shooters, it is far more effective on game than the numbers indicate and it has very low recoil.

Mark
 
Either one, the 270 or the 25 06 will hammer deer to moose with authority if you do your part properly. The 270 will give you a little more bullet mass and has a little more jam. The recoil off of a 270 isn't unpleasant either. You will be happy no matter which one you choose.
 
I have shot both calibers and I would say the 25-06 has less recoil than a 270. As for real recoil neither of those calibers kick at all IMHO. But what about getting a Browning BLR in a 270 if you find you don't like bolt rifles. But if you don't like recoil at all and want one of the best all around deer calibers 25-06 is hands down a great caliber. Good luck picking please let us know what you choice.

J
 
This is a great case for the .243 Winchester. All the calibers you mention are based on the .30-06 case. Look at cartridges based on the shorter .308 case with less powder and less recoil.
 
Military stocked rifles often exhibit objectionable felt recoil. If you have a sporting rifle with a well designed stock that fits you with a quality recoil pad installed, you would be surprised how quickly you can become comfortable shooting a powerful rifle. Most folks flinch from excessive muzzle blast, not recoil.

There is nothing at all wrong with the .25/06 or the .270, but you did not say in your post what the rifle would be used for. You do say that you need to be under .277" to be legal, so either choice will serve you well. The .270 when loaded with 150 gr bullets will recoil like a .30/06 with 150 gr bullets. The .25/06 shoots flat, and doesn't have objectionable recoil.
 
If you need to be under .277, go with a 6.5x55 accurate low-recoil, kill most animals in north america. You can get swedish mausers in 6.5x55 at trade-ex(site sponsor) for quite cheap and they are great guns. Or if you're looking to spend a little more, there available in the tikka T3 as well as the sako and cz lines I believe.
 
I am not able to find the calibre restriction on-line but it must be there or you wouldn't be concerned!! I agree with all comments about fit. I am a big guy and have used 30-06 most of my life but wth arthritis in my shoulders I have to pay more attention to fit and felt recoil. The .277 restriction still leaves too many options to say one is better than the other. I have know many hunters that use a small calibre (243) to take moose effectively to 300 yds. With the high quality bullets of today, light recoil and good shot placement this is entirely possible. If you are limited to one rifle only then the 6.5X55, in a rifle that FITS right would be awesome. Most factory ammo is downloaded for the military surplus rifles but a good selection is still out there for new, modern rifles. You stated preference of 25-06 or 270 are also great choices. Again, proper fit is paramount. I had a Parker-Hale in 30-06 that beat me up yet my 700 Rem in 8mm Rem Mag I could shoot all day!! FIT was the answer! Good luck in your selection as we "experts" in our little corner of life muddy the waters!!
 
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