Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What rifle soaks up the most 300 WM recoil?

It was exactly the opposite for me. I had one in .308 that seemed to amplify recoil. It was very accurate, but very unpleasant to shoot.

My .300 Win Mag MRC has a MRC brake on it and while loud has mild recoil and is very pleasant to shoot. I shot over 50 rounds off the bench in one sitting doing load testing, no big deal.

I have a Browning Eclipse M1000 in 300 WinMag that shoots the heaviest loads with the recoil of a 243, but the rifle weighs in at 11.25 lbs with scope. I have both of the BOSS brakes, the ported and the conventional recoil model. The ported one really tames the recoil, but the noise level is right up there. the weight of the rifle mitigates the recoil well. It shoots like a lazer guided missile. It's pretty beefy,though.

Another consideration is what the brake is doing to your ears. According to Mule Deer, a braked .300 can damage your ears even with plugs and muffs, because some of the noise comes through your skull. Your choice, of course, but I'd not use something like that myself unless there was no other option. I'm not an ear- ninny either; I hunt with my needle-blowers with no protection ordinarily, though I now have a set of clamping muffs I might try from a stand.

You asked for thoughts.

the Weatherby 300 mag seems not so bad on recoil But the Howa 1500 in 300 win mag hits a tad harder or it seems to me Have a 375 in a Weatherby and that is a shoulder bruiser and the 416 rigby I use in Africa seems to be a tad lighter than the 375.

I have a Vanguard 300 Wby that I hunt with every year. It is a little heavy and I guess the stock fits me well. I don't notice the recoil at all shooting it at game.
The thing about it is when you shoot an animal with it they drop dead from my experience. No tracking or dragging out of a thicket required. You shoot and walk to where the animal was standing and put your tag on it. It's worth 30 extra grains of powder not to drag them to me.

Lighter bullets and lighter charges of faster burning powder are two other considerations.

Sir,

I imagine you can fix your problem rather easily. Take a drill bit and create a void in your stock. Insert lead into the new void until the recoil is more to your agreement. Happy Trails.

Stock fit is an individual thing. I have found the Mark V stock with the cast off keeps the stock and thumb off the cheekbone. I don't really mind the .300 Weatherby of mine but a buddy’s Vanguard seem to have more felt recoil with the same load.

It's the exact opposite for me. I'm short and husky without much of a neck and a weatherby stock on anything feels like someone is hitting me in the cheek with a 2x4

My Browning X-bolt stalker in 325WSM has very tolerable recoil - must be the stock design because it is relatively light. I presume the 300WSM would be similar. Don't think they make one in 300WM though.

If you're stuck on a 300WM, I suggest you shoot a Browning X-Bolt in 300WM. With it's recoil pad and stock design, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. RJ

BAR.

I shoot a Tikka 300WM Boar Hunter with a Limbsaver recoil pad and it is not unpleasant to shoot.

They're not for everyone and a bit hard to find these days, but the old A-Square rifles were designed for big calibers, and would handle a 300 WM like a BB Gun.

I'm with Dillonbuck and Viking. I have a BAR Lightweight Stalker with a fluted barrel in 300 Win Mag and really haven't had any issues with recoil with it. I have had a few other 300s and definitely noticed recoil more with the others.

One with a muzzle brake on it ?

a heavy one.

This would answer the original question.

I've tried/built 6-7 30 cal magnum rifles between 7 and 8 lbs and didnt find anything that handles recoil well. I strongly suspect all the soft shooting 300s either weigh 9+lbs or are shooting 30-06 velocity loads, which if course never happens.......

Having been through various varieties of larger 30 cal offerings ( and several 7mm magnums), I decided I needed to either carry more rifle weight or find a smaller cartridge. I opted for the later. The 6.5 Creed proves a smaller cartridge with good bullets can get it done. Just me (flame suit on), but I want a bit more bullet weight and velocity for bigger game. I settled on the 280 AI shooting 160 Accubonds. My Kimber Montana wears a 20+ oz dialable scope. I'd wager the 160 NAB carries more velocity and has less drift than most 300 manglem loads at the 500 yard limit. I guarantee it recoils alot less.

That said a 30-06 loaded to 2800 with a 180 NAB will hang as well. Several 165 grain bewlits work well in the 06 - 165 NAB, 165 Fed Trophy have high enough initial velocity and BC to retain velocity at 500 yards. Both of these loads recoil less than a 30 cal magnum in a reasonable weight mountain-type rifle. I built one from a Kimber 8400 and an Oregon Gunsmith stock a couple years back. It weighs 7.25lbs.

Lots ways to skin this cat. I'm not a fan of recoil and have several magnum eyebrows as proof. The last several elk have died to a 270 or 308. A bit cliche but a good bullet in the right place at a useful velocity works wonders.

Well said. We don’t NEED much to get us to 500 anymore. Great bullets and powders really make a strong case for what you just mentioned.