I think if you can develop your own throttled down load, that's the best way to approach reducing the power of a larger chambering. My experience with factory-made "reduced recoil" loads has not been good. Remington's version for a 300WM literally tumbled from a Rem 700 and Hornady's version (I think it was called Hornady Lite?) was all over the place in a 7mm-08 that grouped multiple, full-power loads well. A sample size of two might not be the best way to decide, but the reduced stuff is generally scarce and thus very expensive... I'd want to know for sure how it was going to group before investing in multiple boxes.
I don't doubt your experience and observations. But the Hornady Lite .243 loads shoot under a MOA in my sons' Wby Vanguard, and the Hornady Lite 300 WM loads shoot under a MOA in my 1990 Remington 700 BDL.
I think if you can develop your own throttled down load, that's the best way to approach reducing the power of a larger chambering. My experience with factory-made "reduced recoil" loads has not been good. Remington's version for a 300WM literally tumbled from a Rem 700 and Hornady's version (I think it was called Hornady Lite?) was all over the place in a 7mm-08 that grouped multiple, full-power loads well. A sample size of two might not be the best way to decide, but the reduced stuff is generally scarce and thus very expensive... I'd want to know for sure how it was going to group before investing in multiple boxes.
I don't doubt your experience and observations. But the Hornady Lite .243 loads shoot under a MOA in my sons' Wby Vanguard, and the Hornady Lite 300 WM loads shoot under a MOA in my 1990 Remington 700 BDL.
Oh, I'm sure they work well for lots of folks. I'd just figure out a way to make sure before assuming they were my long term, lower recoil solution and investing in enough boxes to have a stable supply.
The Remingtons in the 300wm were bizarre. Major stabilization issues. But honestly, a slow 150 grain 300wm was also sort of besides the point of a 300wm!
Black Bear and the various deer in my state vary a lot in size. That, and while I find bear generally easy to kill, they get tougher if they get riled up.
While I used a .243 for a while, I came to feel more comfortable with a 6.5x55 in a '94 Carbine. A 140 grain sp at low velocity penetrates and kills very well.
I now have a Kimber Hunter in 6.5C I may start using too.
Get a 270, put a brake on it, you will have something then. I had a 300 win mag that came with one. It was like shooting a .223
Gotta go with hanco on this one
I fouled up once, jumped a pig, hit him on the run at 50 yards or so, but I don’t know which one of us was hurt the worst. I forgot about the brake, my ears rang for 3 days. I sold that Kleinguenther to Hasbeen1945. I was lucky it didn’t jack my eardrum up.
6.5 Grendel and 6 mm ARC would be good rounds to look into. I haven't spent any time with the ARC but have spent a good bit of time shooting the Grendel recently. Even in a light weight rifle the recoil is very low.
You can reduce felt recoil of any round just by adding weight to the rifle. Reduced recoil loads as well. Don't rule out any of the standard short actions rounds if you don't mind using a heavier rifle. That said, if you want a light/handy rifle, the Grendel or ARC in a Howa mini would be tough to beat.
This is How I would roll!
If the op is a reloader Id recommend a bolt action 6mm ARC Would do well IMHO. If you are not a reloader I may go another direction, due to the few factory Ammo choices currently offered in 6mm ARC. Otherwise 6.5 Grendel would do well with a wide range of factory loads & Reloaded options can offer even more great bullet choices.
A lot of felt recoil has to do with stock design and the weight of the rifle, but I agree that the 30-30 is pretty mild recoil wise and has killed tons of deer and bears.
If you hate recoil (is there really such a thing ?) it's a mental thing ..... I know a lot of pre-teen kids that enjoy shooting and never complain about recoil
I would suggest hunting in the meat section at the grocery store
No loud, bad recoiling guns to terrify you there
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
I love shooting...hate heavy recoil. Got a bad neck; more than a handful of shots through a heavy slapper and if feels like the back of my head got beaten with a sock full of quarters for a couple days. Traded off all the bigger cartridges for more modest chamberings years ago with zero regrets.
I was quite happy to finally see the shotgun slug restriction for deer here go the way of the dodo.
If you hate recoil (is there really such a thing ?) it's a mental thing ..... I know a lot of pre-teen kids that enjoy shooting and never complain about recoil
I would suggest hunting in the meat section at the grocery store
What is the lowest recoiling rifle to reliably harvest deer and bear? (Yes, I hate recoil)
A lot of it depends on range.
For longer ranges, I'd probably go with a 6.5 Creedmoor in a fairly heavy rifle.
For moderate ranges, I'd look at downloading a 308 if you handload. If not, then there's plenty of good advice here.
Up close, the 30-30 is a great cartridge for this but lever-action carbines seem to magnify recoil. A Ruger bolt gun in 357 or 44 Magnum might also work.
Okie John
Originally Posted by Brad
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
If you hate recoil (is there really such a thing ?) it's a mental thing ..... I know a lot of pre-teen kids that enjoy shooting and never complain about recoil
I would suggest hunting in the meat section at the grocery store
