Ammo Recoil And You...Where Are You On This Recoil Table?

thegazelle

thegazelle

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Something fun for a Friday afternoon...

Here's a link to a recoil table, presumably from the least amount of recoil to the most, but it is based on cartridge, but there's a close correlation pattern.

Curious what is the worst you have ever shot in terms of sustained recoil - what were you able to take / not take?

Would you say this chart is accurate?

Any thoughts on shooter size (weight/height) and how much of a contributing factor is it?

I put this in the ammo section because I do know the choice of ammo makes a different (ie. birdshot/buckshot size, etc.)

...and I am thinking of getting a 6.5 Creedmoor, and I am told that the recoil is not bad, but I am not a big guy, so "not bad" for a 6' 5" 250 lbs person is "end times judgment day" for me...


https://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
 
I just bought a .300 Wby Accumark LT. Recoil is definitely there but nothing like I thought it would be with 180gr. Hoping to try some 200gr here shortly.

Honestly though, for me anyways, any shotgun with 3 1/2 is much worse.

Im 5'10? 280lbs.
 
Recoil is one of those weird things, where some people can handle it better than others, more so in the mental sense rather than physical. I used to think 30-06 wasn't bad, but about the limit of comfy shooting. Then I started shooting 45-70 and 9.3x62mm and it made normal calibers seem quite moderate. Kind of like how eating a jalapeno pepper is hot, until you eat chili peppers, and then habaneros. Jalapenos or anything less than a habanero will never be the same again, kind of like that. Again, unless you have a physical ailment, I believe recoil tolerance is more a mental thing than anything, at least in the less than elephant gun calibers. I have a 458 Win mag, but I've never had full steam factory through it, just 500's north of 2000 fps. I honestly would not shoot these loads off a bench, and they require some "self talk" before hand. I know it's not going to kill me, but I have to convince myself sometimes!

I'm not a big brawny guy, 5 ft 8" and 180 lbs wearing a jacket. I find a firm but relaxed hold really helps mitigate recoil. Sure, the muzzle might rise a bit more, but better than holding the rifle to death to keep it from moving. It lets the recoil flow through you, like electricity grounding out. I'm not even kidding. I've mentioned it here before, about a video of me shooting the 458, where you can see the recoil impulse roll through my arms/shoulders, and then down my side chubs. That's my thoughts on it

But recoil aside, shoot what you like, and enjoy it. You're not a girly man if you use a 243, and you're not a tough guy dripping with testosterone if you shoot a big caliber.:d
 
Yes indeed, size matters!
At 5'6" and 140lb. it dosen't take much to make me lose focus on the target.

However; .22lr at .2 on the recoil scale, is too little and makes me wish for more recoil.
...............25-20 at 1 on the recoil scale is just great for me, lets me know I am shooting with no tightening up in expectation.
...............30-30 at 7 on the scale is where I stop, anything further is just pain and poor results.
 
So here's my own two cents on my tolerances...please don't laugh, but just sharing the truth - no testosterone proving here...

.22LR is OK for me
.223 / 5.56 is OK for me
.243 is OK for me
.9mm is OK for me from rifle (never tried handgun)
.40S&W is OK for me from rifle (never tried handgun)
20 GA is OK for me but it depends (birdshot 4, 7 1/2 and 8), buckshot 00 is starting to get a little squirrely. This is on a Youth model Rem.
.308 is NOT OK for me
30-06 is NOT OK for me
12 GA is NOT OK for me

I am not entire sure what 6.5 Creedmoor is like. I like the gun, but it doesn't come in anything else.

I have seen YouTube videos of guys shorter than me shoot big calibers, but they are stock muscular types.

I am 5' 6", 150 lbs. Am not a body builder and probably have amateur-level shooting form. Thankfully I use red dots and put them waaaaay forward, so I don't get black eye from scope.
 
I'm okay with recoil up until I get to the 416 Rigby. Then I start having second thoughts lol...

And funny enough, I didn't have a problem with the 50BMG because of the muzzle break on it, but WOW what a blast it had!

Pic for attention, I sure miss that Cadex Tremor!

21192895_328391950960198_7703816460686682335_n.jpg
 

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Jay said:
I'm okay with recoil up until I get to the 416 Rigby. Then I start having second thoughts lol...

And funny enough, I didn't have a problem with the 50BMG because of the muzzle break on it, but WOW what a blast it had!

Pic for attention, I sure miss that Cadex Tremor!

View attachment 483913
Click to expand...

That 416 Rigby is almost at the bottom of that list. Impressive!

Those rounds in the pic look like the size of farmer sausages, maybe even hot dogs. I would have to wrap myself up in bubble wrap to shoot that thing
 
Hardest recoiling gun I've shot thus far is a 300mag. Not fun to shoot a lot from a bench, but not bad in general.

Actually, no, I take that back. Hardest recoiling gun I've shot is a single shot 12ga shooting 3" slugs. 5lb gun shooting 1 1/4oz at 1600fps (at least thats what the box says). A recoil calculator is telling me thats almost 54ft/lbs of energy, which puts it in the same ballpark as the 416 Rigby and 458Win Mag... Although it also says it has a recoil velocity of 26fps, which puts that number ~25% higher than the 416s and 458WM.

Lets just say I don't shoot that combo often, but it'll certainly get your attention (if you don't drop the gun! Lol)
 
I'd say your entire rig's weight (rifle, scope, rings, bases, sling, sling swivels, ammunition) WILL affect felt recoil, as will stock design. I can shoot 50 rounds from a .375 Fl. N.E. 2 1/2" (270 gr. @ 2,000 fps), or the same from a .400/360 N.E. (360 gr. @ 2,000 fps), or 75 rounds from a .30-06 with 220 grain full-throttle loads (~2,400 fps). I will, however, have the beginnings of a bruise the next day. BUT, a full magazine of full-power jacketed rounds (170 gr. @ ~2,200 fps) from a Winchester Model 94 carbine in .30-30 with its chequered steel butt-plate & short L.O.P. will rattle my teeth & I'll start to flinch if I try a 2nd magazine full.

Worst I ever had, which was why I sold it, was a Whitworth .458, which weighed less than 9 #'s fully loaded, that was way, way too light. 3 rounds & I felt like I had gone a few rounds with someone who thought head shots were the way to go. I literally saw stars & got a big headache ever single time I shot it. My custom Ruger #1 in .500 N.E. was, comparatively speaking, almost, but not quite, pleasant compared to that one.

I'd say get a bunch of your friends together when you go to the range, with, hopefully, a bunch of different calibres in a bunch of different actions amongst you. Then try them all out.

Only YOU can figure out what YOU can tolerate, but I'd say instead to go for what you find comfortable. After all, if you're not having fun, then WTF is the point?

My $0.02.
 
jamesharrison said:
I'd say your entire rig's weight (rifle, scope, rings, bases, sling, sling swivels, ammunition) WILL affect felt recoil, as will stock design. I can shoot 50 rounds from a .375 Fl. N.E. 2 1/2" (270 gr. @ 2,000 fps), or the same from a .400/360 N.E. (360 gr. @ 2,000 fps), or 75 rounds from a .30-06 with 220 grain full-throttle loads (~2,400 fps). I will, however, have the beginnings of a bruise the next day. BUT, a full magazine of full-power jacketed rounds (170 gr. @ ~2,200 fps) from a Winchester Model 94 carbine in .30-30 with its chequered steel butt-plate & short L.O.P. will rattle my teeth & I'll start to flinch if I try a 2nd magazine full.

Worst I ever had, which was why I sold it, was a Whitworth .458, which weighed less than 9 #'s fully loaded, that was way, way too light. 3 rounds & I felt like I had gone a few rounds with someone who thought head shots were the way to go. I literally saw stars & got a big headache ever single time I shot it. My custom Ruger #1 in .500 N.E. was, comparatively speaking, almost, but not quite, pleasant compared to that one.

I'd say get a bunch of your friends together when you go to the range, with, hopefully, a bunch of different calibres in a bunch of different actions amongst you. Then try them all out.

Only YOU can figure out what YOU can tolerate, but I'd say instead to go for what you find comfortable. After all, if you're not having fun, then WTF is the point?

My $0.02.
Click to expand...

And that is exactly why I own a 243win. I can shoot that thing all day long without issue.
 
Some people are recoil junkies (I'm not one of them). Shooting a 8.75 Lb scoped rifle with a decent recoil pad installed, 30/06 with 180 grain bullets is at my upper limit for comfortable shooting from a bench. Standing, I can handle more but I don't relish it.
 
Definitely about technique and fit - when my son was about 14 - nearly 6 feet tall, maybe 140 pounds, he would go through a magazine with my Win 70 338 Win Mag shooting at clay pigeons on 100 yard back stop - shooting off hand - some coaching involved. Have had full grown men complain about the "punch" from their 270 Win - therefore most have hit deer like a freight train. Then read about old ivory guys - muzzle loading black powder 4 gauge - 4 ounce round lead balls - knock them to the ground, knock them off a horse - either you went with it or left pieces behind, I imagine. I do not know the numbers or physics, but hardest kicking for me was a single shot 12 gauge with 3" loads - metal butt plate, would split my hand between thumb and forefinger from contact with that break lever - often ended up holding forearm in left hand and butt stock in right hand and the barrel somewhere between or on the ground - and my hand bleeding again...
 
For me it has definitely come down over the years. Or I've just gotten smarter, I don't know which.

Used to be 7mm RM and 300WM, shoot a few boxes of each then a round of trap. I've also had a .338 and .375 before as well when I was trying to be a recoil hero.

Now it's more like .270 and .30-06, on separate outings. My .270 is a Browning BAR and the semi auto and "normal" sporter weight keeps the recoil easily manageable. I'll also bring my Browning Silver for trap, 2-3/4 target loads are just a soft push through that gun. My .280AI was ordered with a long barrel and muzzle break. That .30-06 is a simple 22" featherweight contour M70 Ranger with beechwood stock, with its 4x scope and aluminum bases/rings it weighs like 7 pounds and kicks like a howitzer.

I might go Magnum again, but wouldn't buy one without a brake for range work. And I think my next shotgun will be a nice 20 gauge instead of a camo 3.5" bazooka. I can see the draw of 6.5 CM for new shooters for sure, absolute sweetheart in a sporter-weight rifle (say 8-9 pounds all up).
 
The largest caliber rifle that I shoot regularly is 30-06 the recoil is not an issue for me. I have fired a handful of shots from a 458 win mag not very pleasant but was able to make a decent group. I shoot a lot of handgun rounds .45acp, .357mag/ .38 and .22lr, one thing I have discovered is that I shoot considerably more consistent if I use ear plugs and ear muffs with the larger calibers especially if participating in a match with other shooters on each side about 3ft away
 
Its a toss up for me but my 7mm08 is one rifle I like shooting but only for so long. Just tenderizes my should after a few dozen shots. Same with 3" slugs in my 12 gauge.

Funny story, the first time my wife pulled the trigger on a shotgun was my 20 gauge with a 2.5" slug. She's 5 foot nothing so a wee lass for sure. Got up there all excited to try it. Pulled the trigger and nearly flew off the stool. Said, **** that I'm done!
 
I had, and promptly sold after shooting 3" slugs, a Rossi 20 gauge single shot combo gun. That thing was brutal. As far as centerfire, anything with more recoil then a mosin M38 has me considering if its worth shooting off a bench. Hunting is a different thing, not so much notice of noise and recoil.
T
 
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