Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Recoil difference in 243 vs 270

Thanks for all the good replies gentlemen. I think at this point I’ll either be replacing his stock with a full size or possibly buying him a regular Tikka T3 in 243.

He has shot the 243 well and is just ready size wise to move up to a full size rifle. I was the same at his age and moved into a BAR in 270.

Always a good place to go for advice.

Since he is familiar with the rifle just step up to the full sized stock. All of the controls will be the same and he is already familiar with the current trigger.

I saved up for my Rem 700 ADL wood stock when I was 11. That was in 1997 and the rifle had a hard plastic buttplate. Before that, my rifle/shotgun collection was a 336 30/30, a 22, and a NEF single shot 410. I was skinny as a whip. Not sure how y’all I was, but I’m 6’2” now and at 11 years old if I weighed over 100 pounds it’s wasn’t by much.
The 270 definitely inflicted pain on me, but I rolled with it. For bench shooting I had my mom sew up a pad for me out of an old dish rag. A couple years later, I wished up and put on an aftermarket recoil pad that took the sting right out of the kick. With all that said, I’m pretty sure I developed a flinch from that rifle and it took me a few years to overcome that.
I don’t have that rifle anymore, sold it to my buddy. But if all the rifles I have now, my pre-64 270 with the steel but plate has the most sting, even if it isn’t the hardest kicker.
I th k you can get him the rifle, make sure he has a good recoil pad, and if you need to reduce the recoil more, you always have the option of reduced recoil loads.
Also maybe consider a 7mm/o8.

For my 3 boys I used a 270 with the stock cut down, and hand loaded the 130 gr nosler partition and 4895 to about 2800 fps for hunting. ( i used the nosler partition because it expands at low velocity) I used even lighter loads and the cheapest bullets i could find for them to become familiar with the gun and recoil. After a summer of shooting we went deer hunting and no one ever complained about the recoil. Its about like a 243 but is far more effective..

Yep. 42 grains of h4895 is like 2750 fps with a 130 grain bullet. Long action creedmoor

Give him access to several rifles, brands and chamberings. For an individual different makes in the same chambering have different felt recoils. To me, a Ruger 77 kicks more than a Remington 700.. Stock configuration does make a difference.

I don't think there's a finer 2-rifle setup than a 243 and 270 Win.

I agree with the majority, the 270 is an unnecessary step up in power for a 12 yo.

However, as has been pointed out, "youth loads" with H4895 will change the equation.

I’d say the difference in recoil is significant. I’d not be surprised if he shoots a 270 and likes it though.

Hornady says their custom lite in .270 reduces recoil by 41%. Now the do not say compared to what but lets assume the 16.5 ft.lbs of recoil that was posted earlier for a 130gr full powered load from an 8# rifle is correct, that would mean the reduced loads from Hornady would recoil at around 10 ft.lbs. That is very close to the 8.8 ft. lbs quoted earlier for a .243 win. I don't think an experienced boy would notice the difference.

The .243 is a good deer cartridge, and is the one I started my boys out with. With these reduced recoil factory loads available today other options are out there.

The whole issue of recoil, and who can handle it, is very subjective.
After working my way through several BB guns, my own .22 rifle at 11 YO, and shooting friends and families' 6.5x55 and .250-3000 rifles, my folks gave me a .30-06 for Christmas when I was 14. It was a sporterized 03-A3 Springfield, wearing a Redfield peep sight. I also got a healthy supply of military ammo for it. I still have that rifle. I don't recall ever being bothered by the recoil, and used it to take a deer every year for the next 4 or 5 years.
I suspect that, as a 14 YO gun nut, I was an anomaly, and not every kid can handle recoil.

Well, I think I'll add my two cents here. I think Shaman gave some excellent advice. Unless your boys have been told since they started shooting that "this gun" is a family learner gun and will be passed on when they get bigger, I think they would start to see "this gun" as my gun.
Also, most boys hit a growth spurt at about 14 and put on a good amount of height and weight. That would be the time to get a larger gun. Looking back at your youth, when did you really start to grow? But still, discuss it with them first to see what caliber and type they would like.
Just my opinion. Don't want to hear, "Dad always liked you best".

If you can load it down with lighter bullets, he would be ok. Have you considered a 25-06?

I would physically have him try the gun for fit before buying, the RAR LOP feels longer than most other factory rifles, and the butt stock is so skinny it does not spread the recoil as much as other brands, and it is too thin for a decelerator pad to fit.

I would agree that he could probably handle a .270 especially if he shoots shotguns or has tried shooting larger calibers. One of my friend's wife hunts with a .270 and I doubt she weighs more than 125 lbs.

I haven’t read through all the replies so I apologize for redundancy. I recall being in your son’s shoes but rather was afraid of the recoil of my Ruger flat bolt 6mm and light magnum ammo. My father gave me a reloading set up for Christmas when I was 13 and I started loading for his pre 64 270. He liked 90 and 110 grain bullets (apparently he dislikes recoil also). I used IMR 4895 in the loads. Granted his rifle was much heavier than mine, I remember it being more pleasant to shoot despite poor stock fit.

All this I re discovered shooting hornady custom lite 270 loads in my new to me pre 64.

I suppose my comment in closing is get a heavy 270 and light loads, or stay with what is working. Also whosever comment about muzzle blast being significant in 270 is spot on. I prefer longer barrels partly for that reason.

Best of luck!

My neighbor brought over a Mossberg .30-06 bolt rifle for me to help them sight in with factory ammo. It kicked like a mule. I would keep him shooting the .243. Buy another .243 for the younger kid.

When I was 12 I was around 5’7” and 125 pounds. Shot an older cousin’s .270 and it was too much. When I was 13 I was 5’10” and 165 pounds. Shot the .270 again, took some calf money, went to Gibson’s and walked out with a 700 ADL .270.

Every child is different. As parents we know that. When my two children were 12, they were very big for their age. Recoil was an afterthought to one and the other didn’t like it at all. So before going out a buying a .270 I’d find a way to have your son shoot one and make my decision based on the result.

This

FWIW a 270 loaded with a Nosler 110ab will kick about like the 243 with a 100 gr pill. All this of course is a bit subjective. I've played a lot with reloading for a 270, and even one powder vs another can show a difference in recoil to me.

I went from a 223Rem to a 270Win with my son but didn't rush it. The 243Win is a fine cartridge so I'd say let him enjoy it as long as he possibly can and he'll let you know when the 270Win needs to be HIS.....

I started my son on a 243 at a young age. He is an adult now and has his choice of any rifle I own. He isn't interested in any of them and sees no reason to shoot anything other than that 243.