Light recoiling deer/black bear caliber for 150yards

[delboybc]

Hi All

Just wanted some input on what people would suggest for a light recoiling calibre that would work for mule deer and black bear out to 150 yards.

I have found that I really dislike recoil and find it affects my shooting accuracy. I have been using a 30-06 and downloading it to below 308 levels, this still gives me a velocity of over 2000fps at 200yards, and works really well for me.

I will be possibly getting into a situation where won’t be able to reload anymore, so looking at what caliber that is easy to find in the stores and would work for deer and black bear and not affect my shooting. Also I don’t really like lever actions.


Been shooting for many years so not looking for advice on how to handle large calibers, tried many different things but just something my body does not like.

 

[chuck nelson]

243.

 

[Firas]

I have been weighing which cartridge to choose for similar purposes myself recently and have almost decided on 7mm-08. 140gr at 2800fps with recoil ~2ft-lbs lighter than 270 and 308. I haven't shot one yet myself, but this is certainly my #1 pick right now.

 

[Slamfire]

The 7.62x39 kills deer quite dead. Could work on Black Bear (depends on the size of the Bear, individual results may vary ) -

Ruger No.1-A 7.62x39 with Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 2-7x28mm scope

 

[freezer filler]

358 Win, 338 Federal, 308

 

[Northern Amateur]

243.

ditto

 

[sherlockbonez]

243, 7-08.

 

[yomomma]

Alrighty.....I'll be that guy.

30-30 for the win!

 

[skokie]

.30-30, 6.5x55, 7x57, .32 special, .223, .22-250, .25-45 sharps etc etc. All good for deer and bear with quality modern bullets and good shot placement.

 

[Dogleg]

7/08

 

[Bloberglawp]

30-06, 7mm mag, a 12 ga. will do.

 

[BigUglyMan]

7x57 or 7mm-08.

 

[ERICK TUIN]

I have a 270 ruger on EE that will get it done.

 

[GreenBob]

308 with a good muzzle break and a limbsaver recoil pad!

 

[Ranger Dave]

30-30

 

[Slamfire]

Hi All

Just wanted some input on what people would suggest for a light recoiling calibre that would work for mule deer and black bear out to 150 yards.

...Also I don’t really like lever actions....

A bolt action .30-30 if you could find one, otherwise a 7.62x39 can be handloaded to about .30-30 ballistics.

 

[Ganderite]

260Rem

 

[8x68]

7.62x39 (150gr's for black bear), 7x57, 6.5x55, 30/30 (bolt action), 35 Rem, pump, or bolt

 

[b72471]

Low recoil calibers,keeping in mind the rifle weight also plays a part in this therefore a rifle in the 7.5 to 8lbs minimum.
308 with lite loads, 7-08, 260-slightly better than 6.5 creedmore and possibly the 243(I find this one a bit on the lite side) Select ammo in the mid weight range. Practice your offhand shooting this is what separates the miss from the successful hunt.
enjoy

 

[SuperCub]

Just wanted some input on what people would suggest for a light recoiling calibre that would work for mule deer and black bear out to 150 yards.

243

I will be possibly getting into a situation where won’t be able to reload anymore, so looking at what caliber that is easy to find in the stores and would work for deer and black bear

243