I’m not that recoil sensitive, but my Ruger #3 can kick more than fun (45-70), no prob with most to 375. That said a 300 Norma mag featherweight with a skeleton butt pad was a witch. I also had 460 that was too much. The gun seems to matter as much as the cartridge.
Ammo Recoil And You...Where Are You On This Recoil Table?
- Thread starter thegazelle
- Start date
I can tolerate average 12 ga very well from standing (less comfortable if on a bench). I found my point of discomfort when trying 12 ga 3" turkey loads (1.75 oz at >1200 fps) in my 7 lbs over-under; OUCH! The gun has a minimal recoil pad and after shooting 10 rounds, my shoulder (long bicep tendon) hurt for 1 week... Will never shoot that again except for actual hunting.
When shooting 308 from bench, I found that simply changing to a chassis made a HUGE difference in felt recoil despite having little change to the weight. I attribute this mostly to the ergonomics, more comfortable and adjusted chin rest, etc. Some of these cheap polymer stocks just ram you in the face with their pointy cheek piece. So overall, if shooting anything more "potent", having a good rifle fit seems a must.
When shooting 308 from bench, I found that simply changing to a chassis made a HUGE difference in felt recoil despite having little change to the weight. I attribute this mostly to the ergonomics, more comfortable and adjusted chin rest, etc. Some of these cheap polymer stocks just ram you in the face with their pointy cheek piece. So overall, if shooting anything more "potent", having a good rifle fit seems a must.
SomebodyTookMyName
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Saskatchewan
At 5'11 and 175lb, I'd say I'm fairly average in build and comfortable up to the 70 ft/lb mark according to the chart, however I must say that poor stock design and high volume of shots seems to take more of a toll than the sheer ft/lbs of recoil energy.
When I was practicing with .470 Nitro Express (a roughly 11lb Merkel double rifle) for a bear hunt, I'd fire at most 4-5 rounds per day, and even that became taxing at the end of a week or two. 200 rounds through the my old .308 semi auto with a steel buttplate offered about the same level of discomfort the next day.
As far as immediate ouch-that-hurt-factor though, an 18-pellet load of 00 Buckshot through my 7-ish pound 3.5" 12ga still seems to have hurt more, but I'd have to shoot them side by side to really compare it... and I have no plans to do so anytime soon.
I'll second the previous point made about the big .50's- the recoil isn't bad at all, but the muzzle blast is downright ignorant.
When I was practicing with .470 Nitro Express (a roughly 11lb Merkel double rifle) for a bear hunt, I'd fire at most 4-5 rounds per day, and even that became taxing at the end of a week or two. 200 rounds through the my old .308 semi auto with a steel buttplate offered about the same level of discomfort the next day.
As far as immediate ouch-that-hurt-factor though, an 18-pellet load of 00 Buckshot through my 7-ish pound 3.5" 12ga still seems to have hurt more, but I'd have to shoot them side by side to really compare it... and I have no plans to do so anytime soon.
I'll second the previous point made about the big .50's- the recoil isn't bad at all, but the muzzle blast is downright ignorant.
SomebodyTookMyName
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Saskatchewan
I should also follow this up with saying that these days, most of my hunting is done with a .243 Win or 6.5X55. Just because one can tolerate the recoil doesn't mean you should, especially with good bullets shot placement.
I have one recoil-proof hunting buddy who shoots .375 H&H for everything, but he also puts most of his shots into nonvital zones, including the ground or air near the target... significantly less effective than 140gr in the right spot, but I suppose that's a topic for the next "do you need a magnum?" thread
When I started out shooting I used to view .308 and 30-06 as "big, heavy recoiling rounds".
Then I moved up to my 45-70 which everyone online seemed to tout as a T-REX cartridge. I started off with the old 405 grain original trapdoor loading which to my surprise were very light recoiling but that makes sense as they were only traveling at 1350 FPS. I could plink with these all day. I stepped up to the 325grain Hornady Leverevolutions which have notably more recoil but nothing off-putting.
After getting comfortable with the 45-70 I wanted to up my game and started looking into dangerous game cartridges. I started off with my 375H&H which throws a 300 grain projectile at about 2,500 fps producing around 40 ft-lbs of recoil, or twice that of a 30.06.
375 is now one of my favourite cartridges and can be shot all day long out of my CZ at 9.3 lbs. I've recently upgraded again to a 458 WinMag (500 grain at 2,150 fps). This load produces about 62 ft-lbs of recoil energy or 3x that of a 30.06. I'm a big guy but this is starting to approach my recoil limit.
I know it only goes up from here in the dangerous game world. The 460 Weatherby was producing 100+ ft-lbs of felt recoil, the 577 and 600 Nitro Express loads are even more than that.
Then I moved up to my 45-70 which everyone online seemed to tout as a T-REX cartridge. I started off with the old 405 grain original trapdoor loading which to my surprise were very light recoiling but that makes sense as they were only traveling at 1350 FPS. I could plink with these all day. I stepped up to the 325grain Hornady Leverevolutions which have notably more recoil but nothing off-putting.
After getting comfortable with the 45-70 I wanted to up my game and started looking into dangerous game cartridges. I started off with my 375H&H which throws a 300 grain projectile at about 2,500 fps producing around 40 ft-lbs of recoil, or twice that of a 30.06.
375 is now one of my favourite cartridges and can be shot all day long out of my CZ at 9.3 lbs. I've recently upgraded again to a 458 WinMag (500 grain at 2,150 fps). This load produces about 62 ft-lbs of recoil energy or 3x that of a 30.06. I'm a big guy but this is starting to approach my recoil limit.
I know it only goes up from here in the dangerous game world. The 460 Weatherby was producing 100+ ft-lbs of felt recoil, the 577 and 600 Nitro Express loads are even more than that.
I am surprised (and pleased) to see my old thread resurrected.
A lot has changed since my original post. I have picked up a few 308 rifles and 308 has easily become my favourite all around cartridge. I know guys like Ron Spomer hates it, but it's a great overall utility cartridge that won't break the bank. I think just getting used to shooting certain calibers lends to accustomization. I now pretty much have more varied 308 ammo than any other caliber and I enjoy taking it to the club regularly. I have also shot a 30.06 a few more times and while that is probably my limit for what I can take, much of it has to do with how it is shouldered. Sitting on a bench with beanbags with a 308 and 3006 is not as comfortable as standing up with it firmly shouldered and cheek rested. I have since bought some 300 Win mag just to try one day and down the line will be looking at a corresponding firearm chambered in that for hunting.
Shooting 308 is no problemo for me nowadays even with just a tshirt on.
I have also picked up a couple of 12ga shotguns, some semi, some pump. Strangely with some regular use I am used to the 12ga kick and at my club I can only shoot slugs.
What's odd is that I brought out my old Remington 870 20 ga youth model and ran some Federal slugs through there and it hurt my shoulder (no doubt much to do with the buttpad - if you can call it that) on the stock 870 having the consistency of a hockey puck.
A lot has changed since my original post. I have picked up a few 308 rifles and 308 has easily become my favourite all around cartridge. I know guys like Ron Spomer hates it, but it's a great overall utility cartridge that won't break the bank. I think just getting used to shooting certain calibers lends to accustomization. I now pretty much have more varied 308 ammo than any other caliber and I enjoy taking it to the club regularly. I have also shot a 30.06 a few more times and while that is probably my limit for what I can take, much of it has to do with how it is shouldered. Sitting on a bench with beanbags with a 308 and 3006 is not as comfortable as standing up with it firmly shouldered and cheek rested. I have since bought some 300 Win mag just to try one day and down the line will be looking at a corresponding firearm chambered in that for hunting.
Shooting 308 is no problemo for me nowadays even with just a tshirt on.
I have also picked up a couple of 12ga shotguns, some semi, some pump. Strangely with some regular use I am used to the 12ga kick and at my club I can only shoot slugs.
What's odd is that I brought out my old Remington 870 20 ga youth model and ran some Federal slugs through there and it hurt my shoulder (no doubt much to do with the buttpad - if you can call it that) on the stock 870 having the consistency of a hockey puck.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Personally I want to enjoy shooting. Not get beat up all the time. I wear a shoulder pad.
Most range benches are not set up that you can sit up right, so that the buttstock is flat against your shoulder Most the times you gotta hunch over which causes it to jump and slip up into your collar bone.
Most range benches are not set up that you can sit up right, so that the buttstock is flat against your shoulder Most the times you gotta hunch over which causes it to jump and slip up into your collar bone.
I can shoot my Husqvarna 6.5x55 and full stock Lee Enfield in .303B fairly comfortably for a decent range session, but had to give up on the .30-06 shooting 165gr pills it was just too much.
The Husqvarna is my preferred hunting rifle, as was said above I'd rather use it and put the bullet where it needs to be.
The Husqvarna is my preferred hunting rifle, as was said above I'd rather use it and put the bullet where it needs to be.
Rifle weight, stock design and proper length of pull help mitigate recoil substantially.
The perceived recoil on a poor fitted, lightweight polymer rifle in 30.06 likely kicks far worse than a properly fitted, 11.5lb double rifle chambered in 500 Nitro Express.
The perceived recoil on a poor fitted, lightweight polymer rifle in 30.06 likely kicks far worse than a properly fitted, 11.5lb double rifle chambered in 500 Nitro Express.
This is a good point. My 308 bolt that I normally shoot I shoot standing. A couple of weeks ago I bought a complement of old Hirtenberger 7.62x51 (1975) and took it out to the 100 yard. What's interesting is that instead of standing, I decided to sit on a stool with the support bags/dumbells or whatever those are. Every shot I took from that same rifle irritated my shoulder. I and my range buddies naturally assumed it was just the surplus 7.62x51 that I was using that maybe it ran hotter. Well, I took the rifle to another distance and went back to my standing position. A much, much better experience.
I reflected on what you just mentioned and I think you are spot on (in my case)...I remember having to hunch forward quite a bit on my bench on that stool and I remember I was having a dickens of a time trying to get a good cheek weld and it wasn't the most comfortable.
Turns out it wasn't the ammo since when I was back to standing, my shoulder wasn't sore with every shot.
I last shot my buddy's T3x Lite in 30.06 sitting on the bench too and it wasn't pleasant, even in the middle of winter with layers of clothes and a bit thick hunting jacket on. He took a video of me and I was being tossed to and fro by the recoil - I try not to re-watch that video often...haha. BUT I was sitting on a stool on the bench instead of standing. I may try again again but standing up.
I'm changing my earlier comment, I have a T3X Lite in 7mm Rem Mag that I've been shooting off the bench without issue (Limbsaver-equipped). 20 rounds last weekend and plenty of tolerance to send another 40 .243 Win and 15 .257 Wby before I called it a day on my load testing.
I also have a newer Mark V Hunter in .300 Wby Mag that is wearing a brake. So that's it, an <8.5 pound .300 Wby Mag is "too much" to shoot comfortably anymore. An <8.5 pound 7mm Rem Mag is just fine.
I also have a newer Mark V Hunter in .300 Wby Mag that is wearing a brake. So that's it, an <8.5 pound .300 Wby Mag is "too much" to shoot comfortably anymore. An <8.5 pound 7mm Rem Mag is just fine.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
.308 .30-06 7mmRm are ok for me but my 338 is a big ouchie
Northern Amateur
CGN frequent flyer
375H&H and 458wm were my upper end. Not pleasant and sold both. 45-70 has been my go to for some time but even that is getting a bit much as I get older.
Moving more towards the smaller cartridges now (223, 22-250, 243). I do have a BAR in 308 that's comfy to shoot.
5'11", 230lbs and approaching 60yrs.
Moving more towards the smaller cartridges now (223, 22-250, 243). I do have a BAR in 308 that's comfy to shoot.
5'11", 230lbs and approaching 60yrs.
- Location
- Edmonton area, Alberta
I'm not a recoil loving masochist but I can lay behind some heavy calibres for a few five round groups before I decide to pack it in. My least favorite recoil is when there is a lot of shotgun at a three gun match. I find that I #### up my cheek weld at least once and it slaps me. I always get lax shooting target load then there will be a slug or two at the end of a stage and it reminds me.
My thoughts, an amusing distraction but of little practical value. Nastiest kicker I ever had was a .338 WinMag.
I had a .375 H&H that was nicer to shoot than my .30-06.
My replica Trapdoor carbine with 300gr factory was almost terrifying to pull the trigger on. I switched to cast 405 gr using BP and it's fun.
My .30-30 Mod 94 was a kicker compared to a .308 BLR. And another to compare to a BLR;.....how many folks on here remember suffering FN cheek?
3X .300 WinMags; first was a sweetie, second was a mule and third (same model as first) was a disappointment but a lot better than the second.
And we could all go on and on.....
To many variables change for a person to look at the table and say I can't (or can) handle that. It's a relative comparison.
I had a .375 H&H that was nicer to shoot than my .30-06.
My replica Trapdoor carbine with 300gr factory was almost terrifying to pull the trigger on. I switched to cast 405 gr using BP and it's fun.
My .30-30 Mod 94 was a kicker compared to a .308 BLR. And another to compare to a BLR;.....how many folks on here remember suffering FN cheek?
3X .300 WinMags; first was a sweetie, second was a mule and third (same model as first) was a disappointment but a lot better than the second.
And we could all go on and on.....
To many variables change for a person to look at the table and say I can't (or can) handle that. It's a relative comparison.
