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Posted this in hunting rifles & it was suggested that I post this here in the reloader section for more details. Seems our options are greater than ever before. What's your preferred low recoil deer cartridge. Options that I have considered include the following. feel free to include others I had not considered.

.223 with a good bullet for the application at hand.

7.62 x 39 " "

300 blackout " "

6 x 45 " "

6mm ARC " " my personal favorite

6.5Grendel " "

22 - 250 " "

350 legend


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45/70, 444 Marlin, 44 Mag, loaded with 5744

30-30, 35 Rem, loaded with Varget.

243 and a Sierra 100 gr pro hunter at 3K MV.....


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We've used the .223 on deer and pigs with 55gr. Hornady, 62gr. Fusion and TBBC and would have no problem with Gold Dots or TTSX. I have 75gr. Gold Dots and 77gr. Sierra TMK in the line up to try.

The 7.62x39 with 123gr. Hornady SP on deer and .308 Win. with a 125gr. Sierra Pro Hunter with 32gr. RL7 on deer.

My brother and his wife have used the 350 Legend with factory Win. 150 Deer Season XP with good success on deer and pigs.

I haven't used them, but would think the small case 6.5s might be the ideal.

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22/250 with a 63 grain Sierra SMP is nice. Recoil is next to nothing.

243 with 95-100 grain bullets.

A good 30/30 with 150 grain bullets ain’t bad either.

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Hunterapp, some time ago I saw reduced loads for a variety of cartridges from a Campfire member "Seafire". I ended up adopting some for my use in the 270 winchester (involves either IMR/H-4198 or Reloder 7). I'm sure he will see this and reply but you could PM him or do a search of his posts. It will be well worth the effort. Good luck.

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Fast twist 6 creed

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I have been increasingly impressed with the .350 Legend for a low recoil/low muzzle blast option. IF your ranges are going to be 200 yards or less

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375 H&H magnum with either 200 gr Sierra or 220 gr Hornady loaded to about 1800 fps (per Mule Deer article from long ago). Recoil is minimal in most 375s and the shooter gets a charge out of shooting such a large cartridge.

7mm/08 (or any other cartridge) with Hornady or Remington reduced recoil loads or reloaded equivalent.

8x57, 150 gr bullet, starting load (2400-2500 fps) of Varget or 4064 (found Varget to be more accurate)

Replica Winchester 1876 in 45/60 with 300 gr lead bullet behind 53 gr FFg

50 or 54 caliber muzzleloader using round ball or conical with 50-70 gr FFg

Any "normal" load out of a heavy gun.

Last edited by woodmaster81; 03/25/24.
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Seafire and others guided me toward the 30 grain IMR4198 load for 308 win . Use 125 grain speer tnt bullets for that load .
Tried several charges between 29 and 31 grains 30 grains proving the most accurate for me . My Win 88 lever gun will never
be a target rifle ( the trigger pull ) but now can be used comfortably at the range . Wouldn't have a problem using it
for deer inside 200 yds .

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Low recoil and deer?

Casual situation, like shooting does for meat, etc.: A .223 has worked fine for me and everybody seems to have a .223 on hand.

Shorter range propositions: Inside 200yds or so, the .350L has worked well, kicks lightly, and ammo is everywhere

General Purpose Deer Season: I'd lean toward something like a 6mm Creedmoor if I had to pick one for all ranges and low recoil was paramount.

Other situations: A)If picking a youth rifle that will turn into a "lifetime" rifle, I would go with the 6.5 Creedmoor and load it down, like the 4198 loads mentioned above. I've seen them work nicely. B) If making any of the above choices where a suppressor is allowed, this changes the game. Your typical 6.5CM, 7mm-08, .308 with full-power ammo is now going to be a "low recoil" option, due to the recoil mitigation of the suppressor.

Edit: I've used all of the above and they all work, considering their limitations. Having said that, I'd easily give up several "extra" rifles to purchase one mid-size suppressor to use with my favorite hunting rifles. Shooting something that feels and sounds like a 10/22 but hits like a .308 carbine is tough to beat.

Last edited by JPro; 03/25/24.

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223 and 243 win are the first ones that come to my mind. Wondering why people directed you to this forum? Are you looking to handload? You can handload just about anything so it is "low recoil"...


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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I see a lot of people recommending a .243 with a 100gr bullet. That .243 in a 7.5 lb rifle gives 11 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

My 7mm-08 with 120gr bullets gives 12.1 ft-lbs of recoil energy and has the option of moving up to a 140gr bullet if later on you choose to hunt larger game.

When I shoot my Sako .243 side-by-side with my Tikka 7mm-08 from the bench, I can't tell the difference.

Of course, rifle weight and a good recoil pad make a LOT of difference!


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I have been pleasantly surprised with how little the 6.5 Creedmoor kicks.


I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all.
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For Deer....

and you can handload...

.........270 Winchester 130 grain loaded down to 2700 fps....you can go lower.
This is soft shooting and easy to shoot...flat to 230 yards.

next up..

.223 and 6 x 45......

have fun.


Best
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Last edited by HeavyDove; 03/25/24.
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After shoulder surgery I used the 6.5x55, 120 gr, 36 gr of 4895. 2,580 fps in a 20 inch carbine. Accuracy was more than satisfactory...and that from a long military throat.


Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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7mm-08 , 120 gr, min load of 4350. That’s my wife load.


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7mm-08 light bullets, low velocity is a kitty cat.

My wife shoots a 25 Creedmoor loaded down with 4350 and it kicks the same as a 204 Ruger. It is a blast to shoot.


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7-08 or 260 Rem.
Both soft shooters, and very versatile.


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My heart's in the mountains, chasing the deer.
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300 Savage is pretty low recoiling. Ammo is probably harder to find these days though. I saw a nice Remington 722 a few weeks ago, chambered in 300 Savage, and also a nice Savage 99.


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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Take any rifle you own and use H4895 and follow Hodgdon’s reduced recoil guidelines for reloading.


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