Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What is the sharpest kicking round - my vote is -

338 Win Mag

It would depend on the rifle & ammo I'd think.

I've got a model 7 custom ks .308 that kicks like a mule with hornaday light mags.

Diddo, I have a Savage 99 in .308 that kicks pretty sharp with 180gr fodder. My Win 88 on the other hand, shoots pleasantly with the same load. The 99 has a recoil pad, and the 88 does not. Note, I'm not voting the .308, but backing up eblue's point that load, stock design, balance, and how the rifle fits the shooter all come into play.

A customers 300 Weatherby Magnum kicked me harder than anything else I can remember.

30-378wby ...

I did forget a steel butt plated Remy 30-06.. ouch.

338 RUM can chase ya' across the bench.

Really does depend on the weight of the rifle and stock configuration.

Worst dang flinch I ever had was courtesy of a Marlin .444 with a scope mounted. Didn't hurt my shoulder but that comb would up and whack my cheekbone like a karate chop.

Second worse was a Model 700 BDL .338 Win. Mag. I just couldn't handle more than 10 rounds from the bench, and just a few months before I was shooting my Model 70 .375 H&H up to 80 rounds at one bench session preparing for Africa. The Model 70 weighed over 10 pounds and the M700 about 8 1/2. Don't know why that thing rocked me so bad as the BDL stock is my favotire design.

Third worse was a Ruger #1 .375 H&H with a scope. 20 rounds was enough, 30 was rough and 40 was just plain torture. And I'm not even talking off the bench but from regular field positions.

I think without scopes on that #1 and the Marlin .444 I would have been able to handle them, but lifting the head up just enough to look through a scope gave the combs a running start at my cheekbone.

My MarkV 378Wby was brutal(but fun, in a twisted kind of way)
For whatever reason, the rifle weight a full pound less than what Wby's catalog said!

I had a VXIII 2.5-8x on it, and all up it weighed just under 9 pounds.

It really does depend on the gun and the ammo,
I have a Weatherby Mark V in 30/378 and shooting 180 grain barnes at 3500 fps its a real pussycat next to my friends dads Savage 110 (?) 22 inch barreled 30/06 shooting 180 grainers as well, that stupid thing with literally kick your teeth down your throat!
I can handle recoil very well but after a few shots with that 30/06 I went back to my mild mannered but loudly speaking Weatherby.

The 378 Weatherby with 300 grainer bullets is by far the worst I have shot, man do those kick hard and fast.

460 weatherby. Kicks like a 12guage. HAPPY HUNTING

Interesting you would say that, Tom.

My little brother used to have an OLD WBY vanguard in 30-06.
It was heavy, but it really kicked pretty darn hard!

I can't explain it, but there it is!
??

How about a non-ported, bolt-action .50 BMG?

You boys obviously haven't shot a Mossburg 12ga with a 3 1/2" load.....

378 Wbymag...bar none.

True, I have not.
I do own a Benelli M4, and I was surprised how hard it kicks with 3" loads, it has a pretty short stock.

I would imagine that Mossburg with 3 1/2" load would be harsh.

Maxed out 45-70 loads in a 6 1/2 lb Ruger #3.

Mike

Oh I forgot about the H&R single shot 12 gauge with a 3" load......my dad wont either, the gun blew out of his hands and caused his whole right side of his upper torso to turn black and blue.....Woooweee!!

Gotta be my Husky 300 Win.One ignorant mo-fo.