Lowest recoil caliber for elk hunting??

I'll echo what some others have said about the stock fitting you properly.
I had a Ruger 7mm Rem Mag with the "canoe paddle" stock...that thing kicked like a mule, but I knew it wasn't because of the cartridge. I had previously shot a .300 Wby Mag and .375 H&H mag with no recoil problems, so it had to be poor stock fit with the 7mm Rem Mag. Sure enough, I changed the stock and the problem was gone.
I've since sold the Ruger, but now have a Win M70 in 7mm Rem Mag with a McMillan stock...it's a pussy cat to shoot.
 
Haven't read all posts. You have a 7 mag, figure out how to tame it. A break, better recoil pad, Pass shooting shoulder pad, a lighter premium 1 piece bullet. All these used together will help. USE EAR PROTECTION while at the range breaks are loud and not popular with other shooters. Practice till you can hit a 6 in group at your range & go for it. Too small and not enough energy is not fair to the game IMHO. Good luck Aj
 
Thanks guys.

The hunt would be next year. And I am gonna try to tame the 7mm rem mag. On monday im gonna shoot 80 rounds with a military buddy to help me :)

Right now I can't decide between a 270 or a 7mm08. I did some calculations and the recoil difference is around 1 lbs. I doubt id notice that in the field. But Im stuck on wanting a short action, just....cuz. I like that a 270 has more potential and easier to get components, but I like the shorter ammo. Just some first world problems
 
kykamo said:
Thanks guys.

The hunt would be next year. And I am gonna try to tame the 7mm rem mag. On monday im gonna shoot 80 rounds with a military buddy to help me :)

Right now I can't decide between a 270 or a 7mm08. I did some calculations and the recoil difference is around 1 lbs. I doubt id notice that in the field. But Im stuck on wanting a short action, just....cuz. I like that a 270 has more potential and easier to get components, but I like the shorter ammo. Just some first world problems
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That is NOT going to help.

Buy a lead sled and a recoil pad. NEVER shoot off the bench without the lead sled, and never shoot more than 3 rounds in a row from the 7mm. Don't shoot more than about 10 in a range trip, if that, for now.

Buy a scoped 22 bolt and shoot THAT until your dang arms fall off.

I fire three rounds through the loudenboomer, then 50-100 rounds of 22 while the loudenboomer cools, then three more rounds.

Get one of those little dinky plates you can shoot over and over with a 22 to save bootleather. That's my advice.

Just stop shooting a rifle you hate off the bench! :)
 
I don't think there are any rifles that meet your conditions. A 6.5x55 or 260Rem would be good from a recoil pov but i hesitate to say those lighter bullets will have enough retained energy to be decent elk medicine at 400 yards. Maybe you need to lower your maximum range to about 200-250 yards max. Have you tried shooting at longer ranges yet? There's a bit more involved than just getting a rifle and going hunting. What do you shoot now?
 
I don't agree with the lead sled shoot sitting, standing using sticks what ever is close to how you would hunt my last one was off a fence post (white tail) but over doing it is not going to help fire a few take a break, if you push the limit you will be flinching and it is hard to stop. The trick is to relax and know the rifle is not going to hurt you, shooting off a bench or prone is about as hard as it will hit you, standing the least you only are going to need one or two in the field don't shoot 80 in one sitting.
 
jethunter said:
I don't think there are any rifles that meet your conditions. A 6.5x55 or 260Rem would be good from a recoil pov but i hesitate to say those lighter bullets will have enough retained energy to be decent elk medicine at 400 yards. Maybe you need to lower your maximum range to about 200-250 yards max. Have you tried shooting at longer ranges yet? There's a bit more involved than just getting a rifle and going hunting. What do you shoot now?
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those 140s @ 2900 retain a lot of downrange velocity and energy, 400 yards for elk isn't unheard of with the 6.5x55
 
Throttle_monkey1 said:
those 140s @ 2900 retain a lot of downrange velocity and energy, 400 yards for elk isn't unheard of with the 6.5x55
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"isn't unheard of" wouldn't be the best recommendation i can think of, LOL. But I agree that load would not be a bad choice. :)

But I was thinking of lighter bullets due to recoil - I'm not sure the OP could tolerate 140 gr at 2900 fps - it's not that much different from the 7mm mag recoil that he found completely unmanageable.

I started all 3 of my kids out using a 7mm-08 with 120 gr bullets loaded down to about 2500 fps. Very light recoil, good 200 yd deer gun but a bit light for elk IMO. Using a 140 gr loaded to full power turned it into a capable elk rifle.
 
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Cummins said:
I don't agree with the lead sled shoot sitting, standing using sticks what ever is close to how you would hunt my last one was off a fence post (white tail) but over doing it is not going to help fire a few take a break, if you push the limit you will be flinching and it is hard to stop. The trick is to relax and know the rifle is not going to hurt you, shooting off a bench or prone is about as hard as it will hit you, standing the least you only are going to need one or two in the field don't shoot 80 in one sitting.
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This gentleman is quite right. I was unclear: Use the lead sled for sighting in, etc, whatever would have you shooting from a bench. Shooting from the bench is where your flinch came from, and you'll never shoot from a bench while hunting.

Every other shot should be from a hunting position, as above.
 
Have killed many elk with 6.5 creedmore & 6.5x284 Norma at ranges from 150 yards to about 375 yards. Have not had to track anything further than 100 meters. The 6.5mm cartridges above are hands down my favourite.

Cheers, and good luck.

Brobee
 
6.5x55.
I have used the 6.5 on moose years ago. it works very well for moose or elk size critters and the recoil is low.
I'm not 100% sure how far out it will give a clean fast kills but I'm sure 600 feet or a bit more is not an issue. If you need to shoot farther then that you should consider the 270 win it's also reasonably mild in recoil and it will give you a clean kill a good distance further than 600 feet.
 
kykamo said:
So i have an opportunity to hunt some elk in a new spot that requires longer shots since they're in wide open fields. So it might be necessary to reach out to 400 yards. I don't like recoil. i think my dads 7mm rem mag scarred me as a kid. i still cant tame that thing, but still try every year :p So whats the lowest recoiling caliber that can ethically take an elk at 400 yards if need be? Lets assume the rifle is 8 lbs and getting ammo must be very easy. btw im also partial to anything not 30 cal. i don't like 30 cal ballistics.

I originally wanted a 7mm-08, but finding the rifle i want in it is really difficult and finding ammo is proving to be a beach. So i started thinking about a 270 with reduced loads. What do you guys think the best caliber option is?
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You have a fine rifle in a great caliber. It will cost you less to get a muzzle brake installed than to purchase a new rifle. A quality muzzle brake will lessen the felt recoil about 50%.
 
NL-Hunter said:
You have a fine rifle in a great caliber. It will cost you less to get a muzzle brake installed than to purchase a new rifle. A quality muzzle brake will lessen the felt recoil about 50%.
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I still think it's that darn bench.

I'd start with a soft recoil pad, and stop shooting from the bench!

My old 270 is a pussy at to shoot. 9 pounds all up with a limb saver. I had the scope poop out, and it took me an *embarassing* number of shots to figure that out. I was black and blue the next day.

I punted the scope and bought a lead sled, and practise pretty often... Standing, kneeling, sitting...
 
Put a brake on the 7mm rem mag and a good recoil pad. Solved any issues I had with the big 7's recoil.
Mine was a win 70 with boss brake/balancer
These days my ruger 7mm rem mag has just the recoil pad and I shoot her just fine without the brake. And I'm satisfied and confident for elk/moose out to 400, if I had a good shot.
My .338fed is a fantastic moose/elk/bear rifle with 210gr but it's for hunting the thick stuff, she's not for reachin out to 400 on anything other than targets.
 
If you use a muzzle brake, make sure that you use ear protection. One of the newer models with the ability to hear what your partners are saying!
 
Ditching the bench and going to a bipod and bag setup and shooting prone to establish your accuracy may be very helpful as well, then practice firing from sitting and standing positions, all these are practical field positions and will do more good then shooting off a bench.
 
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