300wsm recoil help?

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jr.fish

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Im looking for some opinions so hears my situation.
Last year I bought a sako A7 in 300wsm that I love other then the nasty recoil. I understand its a 30 cal rifle thats light weight and i expected it to kick quite a bit. I put a limbsaver on it rate away and it help significantly!!!!
Im trying to come up with a good load befor hunting season and become more comfortable shooting at farther distances, but still find myself fearing its kick. I see it affecting my shooting abilities after i fire a few round. I need a way to tone down the recoil without sacrificing anything? Is there something i can do to my loads to help or is my only option to get a brake or add weight to my rifle?

Im a thin built person so recoil is a problem for me.
should i look for something smaller like a .260 or .280?
 
I drank the kool-aid on this round too. Light rifle w/Limbsaver. The real "kicker" is how she loves the heavier bullets:(:cool:

I stay off the bench at the range with her, field positions are much more forgiving on my shoulder. I always bring a .22 along with me to actually have fun between magazines of 300wsm, otherwise, I do develop a flinch.
 
Had the same problem with my T3 lite (also in 300wsm) and I too have a light frame. I got tired of the abuse after 6 box of rounds. Sold it to get a heavier Sako 85 same caliber. Fixed my problem. I'll put 3 rounds in 1.5 inch at 200 yard any good day. I could not do that with the T3 as I was apprehending the recoil punch every trigger pull. If a heavier overall rifle weight does not tame the recoil for you, you might want to try a .270 wsm. Pretty decent ballistics and great for deers. If that does not do it, those stubby cartridges (short mag) are not for you.
 
Lead sled or more padding. Go to a smaller calibre if you wish but here is what worked for me.

When developing loads for the 338 the recoil would eventually give me a headache. I just fold up a towel for my shoulder. Once I had a load I just take the practice shooting a bit at a time. I have hundreds of rounds sent down range with a gun that can shake your teeth loose (T3, light weight in 338wm, shooting 250 grand slams).

Upside is once I got a 300 wsm it is a pussy cat in comparison.

When hunting I never notice the recoil.
 
Accustom yourself to heavy recoil progressively

First point: a mild 300 WSM load such as 180gr TSX or 180gr Accubond at 2800fps will kill any large North American game at 200 yards!

Accustom yourself to heavy recoil progressively
  • Start with a 150gr at 2800fps
  • Move up to a 165 at 2800-2900fps
  • Graduate to 180gr at 2800fps
  • If you feel manly now, move up to 200gr at 2800fps

Very important
Use lighter, faster burning powder to avoid massive muzzle blast from full loads (basically, use H4831 not Retumbo!)

Remember than anything over 30-06 is a lot of power!

Alex
 
I have the A7 in 300wsm as well, and you won't notice the recoil when hunting at all, just at the bench! Another option is to have a buddy who is a good shot and doesn't mind recoil to help with the load development and then you use as just a hunting rifle. Also you can buy a shoulder worn recoil reducer pad.
 
I have an A7 in 300WSM with a limbsaver pad. I'm handloading 165 grain bullets and the recoil isn't too bad, but you want to make sure you have good eye relief on the scope and shoulder the rifle properly. I wound up with an eye cut last year with mine, taking a shot from an awkward position atop a tree stand. Must have had my head in a weird position or something, because that was the first time it happened.
 
I hate heavy recoil! My upper limit for comfort to do a lot of shooting is the 7mm-08rem if I want to keep it to 20 or less rounds I get by just fine with the 308win, 270win or 280rem anything above that in a bolt action is just work for me.

I like the ballistics of the big 30cal guns though so I shoot a Browning Short-Trac in 300WSM and I find the felt recoil to be similar to the 308win. I find them very accurate dependable rifles, I am sure others with disagree:D. Unless you are dead set against a semi-auto, I would see if you can find someone to let you try theirs, you will be pleasantly suprised!
 
I suggest moving to a high quality 150gr bullet - TTSX, Partition, A-Frame etc. Then try one/some of the following powders, using starting loads - H4895, Varget and 8208 XBR. The starting loads will put you at +2900 fps or so. The charge and velocity will be very similar to a stong .30-06 load.

It will be enough for all North American game and will be much milder on your shoulder.

Here is an example of recoil in a 7.5lb rifle:

180gr + max charge of RL17 gives 3082 fps and 28.33 lbs of recoil.

150gr + starting charge of H4895 gives 2919 fps and 17.41 lbs of recoil.

The 180gr load has almost 63% more recoil - that is a huge difference.

There are two advantages to doing this - it is very close to hunting season and it is probably easier to do this than find a new rifle and work everything up with it; and if the mild load is ok for you, then you can compare it to other cartridges' recoil to see if they will be ok for you. If it is still too much then you will know what not to buy!
 
Thanks for all the tips!
Am currently working on 165 gr accubonds with h380 somewhere in the 2900-3000 fps range
All last year i just bought win silver tips in 180 gr.
Im guessing my hand loads should be alot better. i haven't shot any of mine yet so maybe ill be pleasantly surprised.

If i slow my lead down will that give me less recoil?
 
I'm using 165gr Hornady Interbonds and 69 grains of 4831SC and the recoil is moderate, accuracy good, and effectiveness on Whitetail deer excellent. I haven't chronographed it yet.
 
You can't get something for nothing. If you want magnum velocites, you have toexpect to get magnum recoil. Lowering your velocity to reduce recoil defeats the reason for having a magnum. To help reduce recoil you either reduce velocity or increase weight to help increase inertia.
 
Lighter bullet, reduce the load, most importantly; add weight to the stock or replace stock with a laminate stock, possibly a mercury recoil reducer(which also adds weight). Lead shot in the stock works well at reducing recoil.
 
Since you already have the rifle you may as well work with what you have. The 130 or 150 barnes are plenty tough for any game that you are going to hunt, and within 300 yards these will fly very flat. Load up some 130 or 150gr ttsx, even with max loads there is a noticeable drop in recoil. Just remember to start with a seating depth well off the lands, that is where most seem to have trouble making them fly well. I have not looked at an A7, but if it has a hollow butt, you can fill it with a tube of MONO caulking. It will add weight, and cuts recoil well.
 
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