Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles BLR 243 vs 308 - impact of recoil on second shot

Thinking of adding a Browning BLR in either 243 or 308. For the hunting I have in mind both cartridges are adequate. I was wondering if the lighter recoil of the 243 for allow for faster follow up shots with less muzzle jump, etc.?

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P

Get one of each and expand your experience!

I hunted with a '81 BLR in 308 for 15 years as my only rifle. After taking over 50 deer with it, it never crossed my mind that recoil was too much for a 2nd shot.

I've taken various rifles to the range and timed myself firing 3 shots. If the goal is to just put 3 rounds down range as fast as possible a semi-auto is the winner followed closely by a pump. All the lever actions I've shot were only slightly, (meaning a fraction of a second) faster for 3 shots than a bolt gun. I've put 3 rounds through a 308 bolt gun in 1.8 seconds. A 30-30 in 1.5 seconds and the shorter lever throw of a 44 mag got me down to 1.3 seconds. Semi's and pumps; under 1 second.

But when I add the requirement that all 3 shots must hit a 9" paper plate @50 yards my times vary from 3 1/2-4 seconds with any of them except the semiauto AR in 223 which was just under 3 seconds.

In my experience a bolt gun is just as fast as anything, other than semi's for "AIMED" repeat shots. You can cycle the action on any manually operated gun faster than you can get the sights re-aligned.

I have little doubt the 243 will be faster. But you're talking about a fraction of a second spread over 3-4 shots. I really doubt getting off shot #2 in .2 seconds less time will make the difference.

Given that choice, I'd go .308.

It's more versatile with more options.

DF

Does not answer your question, but my ..243 and .308 are identical bolt guns. I don't think that the speed of a second shot ever entered my mind. I would think that all else being equal, the lighter recoiling .243 would win out by a few thousandths of a second.

Along with what Dirtfarmer said, my ..308 gets used a lot more than the little sister.

Best,

Jack

I have one in 358 Win and hadn't ever given it a second thought. Never had a problem getting off a second shot although I've not timed myself. Pick one and practice with it, a lot.

Nail'em with the first shot...

DF

What recoil??

There you go.




P

Zackly what I was thinking..............

The .308 is what I'd call "jumpy" in the recoil. Not uncomfortable, just quick.

The .243 recoil is noticeably less than the .308. If for some weird reason you're truly concerned with the second shot rather than the first, get the .243.

.243, but, I would consider going for the BAR over the BLR if I was concerned about faster follow up shots.

Worry more about a flinch and less about small fraction of a second in follow-up time. Not that a heavier .308 is all that flinch inducing.