Medium game caliber for the recoil sensitive?

I'd stick with the 308 family of cartridges, not going over 30 cal. Probably 7mm-08 is available enough in factory ammo. No great variety of cheap loads, but it doesn't seem you are looking for a high volume plinker in this gun so I think you'd be good to go.

The powder gases are a big contributor to recoil, and in my opinion the gain in ballistic performance when you go up to the -06 family of cartridges is not worth it for an all around hunting rifle for a new shooter.

fyi, my first rifle was a bolt action .30-06. It worked out fine, but if I were to do it all over again it would be either a Savage '99 in 300 savage or 308, or a bolt action in 7mm-08.

RG

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Wow, never imagined my question would span 5 pages... =D

How do 30-30, 270, 7mm-08, 30-06 and 308 compare price-wise? Speaking of practice rounds here, not hunting premium bullets.

As I said, price is definitely a factor. I'd rather do all the shooting I can and just worry about letting the barrel cool off, rather than having to let my wallet cool off...

During my club's rimfire nights, I find myself just warming up when I reach the limit of 50 / night...
 
just got to Cabelas.ca or Wholesaplesports.com and go to there ammo section and compare the prices for the different calibers they have lots of ammo on there to compare prices!;)
 
Remember that bullet weight, velocity and rifle weight and stock design determine recoil. My 30-06 Rem. 760 with 180Gr. bullets shivered my timbers pretty good, until I added a good recoil pad. World of difference. Not a heck of a lot of difference between a 30-06 or a .308 in factory loads. Probably more difference in the design of the stock of the rifles. Same for other calibers in each family. You will only notice the recoil when you are sighting in, and you can always put a pad in your coat to help with that. When you line up on that trophy animal, you won't even feel the recoil. If you are going to encounter grizzlys I would stay with 30 calibers.
 
I was in a situation similar to yours and went with the 308. When I take new people out shooting, 308 seems to be the limit for comfortable, sustained shooting. More than anything, make sure you have a rifle with a decent stock and good recoil pad. I am more than comfortable taking a 308 into the field for any game that I am hunting (stopping dangerous game is a different subject, but even in this regard I am comfortable enough in the 308 to not feel terribly undergunned when in the mountains).
 
You simply can't go wrong with the performance of any of the aforementioned cartridges. Personally, I think for a newbie just getting started- the .270 is an execllent choice. If you pick a .270 in a good (very subjective) rifle, you will have a "go to" gun for many years. Even if you get into some of the weird and wonderful gun/cartridge combos out there. One other thing to keep in mind. If you are going to use a scope, DO NOT go cheap. Buy the best scope that you can afford. You will never regret having a high quality scope. On the other hand you will likely find yourself cursing a cheap scope at some point.

Good luck and enjoy!
 
Domyalex, if you're thinking price, buy a used Husqvarna rifle in whatever caliber you choose (30-06 covers all the animals you mentioned- from varmint to moose). Husqvarna made their rifles from the best available steel and they were a direct competitor with Sako (which gives a clue as to their quality). The rifles aren't expensive ( I bought my last one for $250) and you are getting a tremendous bang for your buck. Bring the rifle to the range, shoot it and if you are having trouble with the recoil (I highly doubt it), fit it with a decent recoil pad (Limbsaver, Kickeez, Pachmayer, Sims etc).
If you ever listen to a hunters story about a great hunting trip, you will never hear him mention how bad his rifle kicked when he took the shot. It isn't something you notice or remember during the hunting experience. Though you will feel it when practicing (hence the recoil pad), you sure as sh#t won't feel it when you're on the hunt (30-06 doesn't kick hard at all).
Walmart has boxes of Winchester Super-X 165gr hunting rounds for around $17-18 (approx) so as you can see, not expensive and you can probably get cheaper.
Though, I would advise not to cheap out on your actual hunting ammo. Buy a box of GOOD cartridges, shoot a few at the range to be sure they shoot the same zero as your practice rounds and only use them for the hunt.
 
7mm08 or a 270. Lots of factory ammo, big enough to be reliable on big game and mild recoil.

308 - recoils same as a 30-06.

.243 - 25-06 - do-able as a BG rifle if you are really having trouble with recoil. Learn to shoot them well and practise practise practise.
 
.270 would be my choice, just because a wide variety of ammo can be bought almost anywhere including Cdn Tire and Walmart. Too many discredit this argument about affordable and readily available ammo, but it has a great impact on the majority of ordinary everyday type shooters and hunters.

The caliber itself uses lighter bullets of 130 grains (probably the most used weight in this caliber) to a heavier 150 grain weight for the bigger stuff like moose, elk, and bear. Lighter bullets = less recoil.
 
Lots of good advice here, but IMHO it doesn't matter which rifle or cartridge you choose because the best way to manage recoil to to load your own ammo. I can load ammo that you could shoot without discomfort in my .375 Ultra carbine. Any cartridge can be loaded so that the recoil it generates is manageable by any shooter. Handloading has benefits ranging from saving money to squeezing additional accuracy out of your rifle, but one of the most often over looked advantages is that your ammo can be tailored to your comfort level. Having done that, it is a simple matter to slowly increase the velocity as your tolerance for recoil grows. The more you shoot, the faster you become tolerant of recoil, and handloading, aside from being a worthwhile and enjoyable activity, allows you to shoot more. Choose the rifle that appeals to you. Choose the cartridge that grabs your imagination, load up some moderate velocity ammo in 100 round batches (some manuals like the one from Speer provide light load data) and start shooting.
 
I did't read all six pages of replies but you should consider a good soft recoil pad. Makes any calibre very tolerable. Do not put on a muzzel brake. The noise when hunting without ear muffs will develop a huge flinch and may cost you your eardrums. I would likely go with a 270 (or 7mm08 or 7x57). In my opinion, calibres smaller than these ie 243, 2506 etc are just not as effective for big game. The 308 and 3006 will have more recoil, but with a good pad could still be handled.
 
.30 TC

has anyone mentioned that cartridge yet?
ive heard its almost ballistically identical to the .308, but kicks hardly as much
 
Which rifles have you tried that gave you recoil beyond enjoyment.
Have you never tried these and you are just feeling intimidated?
Some folks say that an SKS needs a recoil pad.
Only infants and people with health problems should be getting away with that.

Best route is to throw on a smile and have fun.
If you are not confident while holding the rifle it will show and results will be poor. Too many guys out there with arms like ghandi, chicken wingin' it.

You will never get passed the fear if you only shoot big once and a while.
You have to use it a while, toughen up
Shoulder will bruise first time, go out every other week.
Eventually it gets comfy

For some of us .308 is our .22
Same level of confidence behind the trigger.
Don't set yourself up by getting scared now and shooting later.
 
Woodsman said:
Lighter bullets = less recoil.
Click to expand...

This line of thought can be a trap. Consider the two loads for the .270 Winchester, one with the 130 gr bullet and the other with a 150 gr bullet. Let's assume both bullet weights are loaded to maximum pressure with the same powder. The lighter 130 gr bullet has less mass, but it is propelled by a larger powder charge. The heavier bullet has greater mass but it is propelled by a smaller powder charge; so when fired in the same rifle the recoil will be similar despite the difference in bullet weight.
 
My vote is 308 Winchester -- "enough gun" to kill anything on this continent with authority, small enough to not beat you up when you pull the trigger, one of a very few calibers that anyplace that sells ammo will usually have in stock, and best of all -- it uses the least expensive ammo out there for a "big game rifle". My wife shoots a 308 with no complaints about the recoil, and she's smaller than you are. Oh, and when you start handloading, you'll find that 308 Win is a dream to reload.
 
.270 will serve you well and you can get factory ammo anywhere that sells ammo.

The most important thing for recoil management is to select a rifle with a stock that fits you. A quality recoil pad will also help.

I would also recommend a PAST Recoil Shield. This is a pad that straps to your shoulder. Use it for sighting in and practice. You likely won't find recoil much of a problem for shots fired while hunting.
 
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