friendliest heavy caliber for the recoil sensitive?

tytalus brings up a good point that hasn't been mentioned. If you aren't stuck on having a bolt action gun, a semi could be a very good idea for you. The way that a semi diverts gases to load the next round works to significantly reduce recoil. Trying a semi such as a Remington 740/7400 or a BAR in 308 or 7-08 would be my choice
 
I'm jumping in here without reading all the posts... what about a BAR with a recoil pad and you could have it threaded for a brake? Semi action would eat up some of the recoil as well.
 
I'd pick a cartridge in the 6.5x55 to .308 win range. Make the rifle as heavy as you can comfortably carry, possibly by adding mercury recoil reducers which reduce recoil impulse more than just a dead weight will. Add a good recoil pad, limbsavers are ugly but work, pachmayer decelerators are good too. Make sure your stock fits you well. Consider a semi auto as it will further reduce recoil.

While I don't generally like muzzle breaks, in you situation I'd use one. Despite the profanities by some people here against those who use them you have a medical condition and are clearly determined to find a way to continue your sport instead of throwing in the towel, which is great. Just get a couple sets of electronic earmuffs, for you and those with you, that way you can protect your hearing from the effects of the muzzle break yet still have good (or even amplified) hearing to hear game (or each other).

If you combine all of these approaches you can have a great hunting rifle with essentially zero recoil. And if some idiot at the range berates you for having a muzzle break tell him you have a medical condition and chuck him your spare set of earmuffs.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Brakes are for ar##holes. Bottom line. End of discussion.

Get a 270 in a heavier hunting rifle (say a Ruger or M70) topped with a decent scope, say a 3-9x Burris or something like that. It's so refreshing to be trying to find a heavier rifle not a lightweight combo. Get a rifle with decent heft to it and it will soak up the recoil much better which will allow you to use a bigger caliber. Shoot 140gr premium bullets and you're set.

Don't get a braked rifle. You'll be better served with a well thought out hunting rifle package. And forget about shooting anything bigger than a 30-06. It'll just hurt you and be no fun. Recoil isn't for everyone.
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That is my answer as well. A 270 is not hard to handle at all, and really a pussycat in a heavier rifle. That, or a 7X57 will kill the biggest moose that walks.

It is my distinct impression that I have made more one-shot kills on big game with the 270 Win than any other cartridge; moose, bear, caribou, sheep, and deer. The second largest moose I ever killed was with a 130 gr bullet at such long distance that I am embarrassed to admit it these days.

Ted
 
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If you already own a .308 or a .30/06, handloading will allow you to build loads that are within your recoil tolerance. The purchase of reloading equipment can be much cheaper than the cost of a new or even a used quality rifle; but the sky is the limit and it isn't hard to spend a fortune on this stuff should you want to. The .30/06 load I choose when teaching a novice shooter, drives a 125 to 130 gr bullet to 2600 fps, and both recoil and blast are quite mild, much milder than factory loads of similar bullet weight, in either the .30/06 or .270. When you stick a Barnes 130gr TSX/TTSX into the mix, recoil remains light, but the combination will be effective on a broadside moose. The 130 gr TSX has a similar length to a 150 gr lead core bullet. The original .30/06 load that Stewart Edward White used extensively in Africa, on antelope that approached a ton in weight, was the military 150 gr FMJ, at 2700 fps. Your 130gr TSX load is better, being dimensionally similar, but due to the expandable nose, straight line penetration is ensured. The expandable length of the bullet, that is the depth of the hollow point, is the same within caliber, be it a 130 or a 180 gr, as the weight of these bullets is determined by the shank length, rather than the length of the nose section. It will fully expand over normal hunting ranges, and the TSX's reputation for deep penetration will ensure the job gets done, without fear of recoil, even in a relatively light rifle.
 
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Dogleg said:
I think that you're on the right track with the 7/08. I got one in a T3 Lite for my daughter when she was 12, and with a Limbsaver pad the recoil is a joke.

I wouldn't hesitate to take moose at the ranges you mention; not because I've done it with a 7/08 but because I've done it with a .270 and 130 grain bullets and there is no big difference between the two. Moose are easy to kill.
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Listen to the advice above. You will be happy you did. My 11yr old girl and 9 yr old son have absolutely no problem with a 7-08. If you are really recoil sensitive shoot 120gr TTSX and put the bullet in the boiler room. Dead moose. End of story. They ain't hard to kill. Just don't shoot it in the arsehole and expect it to lay down for you:)
 
My vote is for 6.5X55. Just a nice flat shooting round and very shoulder friendly. Moose are no problem for that gun calibre as it has great penetration.
 
I think you will have to go 243 or a muzzle brake to lower recoil substantially. Maybe a25cal though ive never used one. The 6.5 swede which i have still kicks with a 140 gr bullet and bigger powder cap. Than 708 it only makes sense ive heard about the magicaly light swede mine is not. Maybe with the weak factory loads they make for it. I have a braked 300 the brake is very effective whatever you say about brakes
 
I have a 6.5x55 SM and a 6.5x284 Norma where both are light recoiled and have inheritance accuracy. I never hunted with these cartridges, let alone killed a big game animal, however; many moose have fallen from what I heard. A 140 grain Nosler Partition would be a superb choice.
 
I'm not an experienced shooter by any means, however I picked up 2 Swedish Mausers chambered in 6.5x55 from Trade Ex and one from Jean at P & S militaria. My favourite is the straight bolt M96 with 29" barrel that shoots like a lazer beam with no real felt recoil. That is with a steel butt plate also. I also own a bent bolt Swedish short rifle, M38 with approx 24" barrel from Jean at P & S Militaria. Both can be delivered to your door with taxes in for $375 or less. You can load up to 160 gr projectile in the rifle as this was it's original load in 1896. Commercial ammo, Remi Core lokt and other offerings are available. You can easily find reloading components as well. If you are a decent shot you should be able to get 2"inch groups with Iron Sights at 100 yrds all day long. This round has a flat trajectory at to 300 yrds. FWIW, a .243 Winchester has much more felt recoil than this rifle. A well placed shot will take down a moose no problem.
 
I think there are also reduced recoil factory loads for 7-08 that Remington produces.

Like others have stated, any chambering with reduced loads would likely work well, heck, folks have been shooting reduced chamberings for years!! (ahem ,30-30). :)
 
led sled /swivel shooting platform , sit whatever rifle you currently own in either and blast away all day.yes it will be awkward & you will have to change your hunting style but if a .308 is causing you discomfort & dislocations ( dam ) then any centerfire rifle will cause you discomfort. I agree "felt" recoil on a 6.5x55 is light but its still not a .22 .
ps with a 6.5 swede and a swivel varmit seat you will attain unparalleled accuracy
 
I wish to thank everyone for your comments. I also wish to commend you all for none of you saying, 'toughen the #### up'. LOL.

I'm beginning to think that's what I have to do...toughen up. I don't flinch, so that's good. :)
 
My 5' 4'' wife (122 pounds last medical checkup) and 58 years young (don't tell anybody;)) shoots a Remington model 7 (one of the old ones with the 18" barrel) bolt action in 308 Winchester with a reduced LOP custom stock that weighs 6 pound with its ultra-light Leupold 2-7x32mm scope. It has a really nice Pachmayr recoil pad on it.
"The 7" has been her exclusive property for years.
We'll go out to the range and she'll fire off 2 boxes of cheap factory green box ammo for practice without breaking a sweat.
I reload the cases with 165 grain Nosler Accubond bullets and an undisclosed charge of "Varget" powder.
The factory green box ammo and my hand loads print to the same POI which makes life simpler.
I told her I would load reduced loads if she found the kick too much to which she replied, "Don't you dare. What kick?"
 
Physical size and recoil have very little relationship. It's all about rifle fit at that point. I know several slight women that easily handle a 375 H&H but they have rifles that fit them. In the case of a physical injury like that of the OP, then pounds of recoil matters, regardless of how well it fits.
 
Tytalus said:
Make sure you go through this list too to take a look at all your options to manage recoil:

http://www.quora.com/Guns-and-Firearms/What-are-all-of-the-ways-you-can-reduce-recoil-on-a-rifle

There are a number of ways this can be achieved:

1.) Use a muzzle brake, though this can increase the noise of firing the gun.

2.) 3rd party recoil pads on the rifle

3.) Recoil absorbing pads you can wear over your shoulder

4.) Recoil absorbing shirts (they have a pad where the gun fits, can be slightly more comfortable than #3

5.) Change the stock of your gun to have a wide base, so the "felt recoil" is spread out over a larger area

6.) Increase the weight of your gun. Heavy scope, ammo belts over the stock, rebarrel with a heavier barrel etc.

7.) Action choice: semi-automatics can be easier on recoil
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This is excellent advice. I personally just don't like muzzle brakes. I hunted with .30-06, 7mm mag, and 300 mag for a long time. I acquired a nice Win. Model 100 in .308 and it had no more recoil than a .22. If you combine this with some of the above advice, you'd have exactly what you're looking for.
 
sheephunter said:
Physical size and recoil have very little relationship. It's all about rifle fit at that point. I know several slight women that easily handle a 375 H&H but they have rifles that fit them. In the case of a physical injury like that of the OP, then pounds of recoil matters, regardless of how well it fits.
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Agreed, I actually think slight people have an easier time with heavy recoil. My 110lb wife shoots my .375 H&H quite well and deems the recoil "less than you'd expect", she moves quite a lot with the rifle in recoil.
 
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