'Low' recoil deer caliber recommendation?

[Doyle]

a fan of the 30-30 eh?

Even thought the 30-30 has a relatively low recoil energy (see the recoil tables), it can have significant felt recoil due to the light weight of a typical 30-30 lever-action rifle. This is made even worse if the rifle has a straight grip (like the Winchester '94) which pushes the recoil energy back into your shoulder rather than directing it up.

[ilv2hunt]

The clear choice for me in this situation would be a 257 Roberts.

[A_Gamehog]

Just remember one thing,

The heavier the rifle the less felt recoil. The "super light" rigs kick like a mule and you end up with a flinch. Go with a good .243 and you won't lack anything.
The twist rate of the barrel dictates the bullets you shoot. Get the heavy bullet 1-9 twist. to shoot the 90-105's.

[semi_problomatic]

I invsted $.98 (YES .98! Wal-marts fault, I even pointed out that it was the wrong price) in a limb saver recoil pad and my .308 has the same or less felt recoil than my wife's .243. They're both bolt actions. My dad's 7 mag has less felt recoil than both, but his is a browning semi-auto. A .50 cal semi auto will have less felt recoil over a bolt action 30-06 with no pad (not much of an exageration). You can look into larger calibers if you go semi-auto over bolt action. And good recoil pad helps a lot.

[jimbob86]

"The best rifle is the one you have."

You have a centerfire rifle?

Learn to handload for it: You can make it do anything you want it to, within reason.


A .243 with factory ammo will do what you are asking: kill deer at moderate ranges. Learn to handload and you can push the range out a bit: Highly efficient bullets can give the .243 a max PBR of nearly 400 yards......

[jimbob86]

You can look into larger calibers if you go semi-auto over bolt action.

Aye, and semi autos complicate handloading, and are not as accurate, generally, as bolt guns.


Deer are not armored vehichles: poke a hole in their heart/lungs with an expanding bullet packing 1000 ft/lbs of energy, and they will die in short order. Hell, if you keep the ranges short and the velocity high, and use a bonded bullet, a .223 will kill deer pretty reliably.

[Keg]

308 or 7-08............
My wife shoots a new Ruger 77 Hawkeye..308..stainless..realtree stock.......
It is light..It has the new Ruger trigger(accurate)..low recoil..soft pad.......

[Buzzcook]

A recoil pad and a rifle the fits are a good idea on any rifle, even one that doesn't kick much.

If you can shoot a 6.5x55 the 6.5 Swede. imho this cartridge is the best compromise between relatively low recoil and a full power round.

[MOshooter65202]

I haven't shot a .243 but I own a Rem.6mm which's very simular to the mild recoiling Win.243...IMO .243 is a very nice cartridge.

I personally hunt mainly with a 7mm Rem mag. for deer and larger game,it's just what I like we have some very long cornfields and beanfields here in Missouri.A cartridge I really like the 7mm-08 I purchased for my son 12 years ago when he was 10,the recoil is very tolerable with some very good downrange ballistics with the 7mm bullets.

[Ludarue]

Even thought the 30-30 has a relatively low recoil energy (see the recoil tables), it can have significant felt recoil due to the light weight of a typical 30-30 lever-action rifle. This is made even worse if the rifle has a straight grip (like the Winchester '94) which pushes the recoil energy back into your shoulder rather than directing it up.

Exactly. I like to shoot my 94 .30-30, but there is def more fealt recoil with it than a .243 because of the weight and design of lever actions.

[taylorce1]

Seriously if bigger game could be on the menu I would look at the
.270 Win, .30-06 or .308 Win. You can learn to tolerate the recoil, if I were you I'd start with a PAST recoil pad on the shoulder. I started out this way, and now I only use it on cartridges more powerful than .30-06. Practice shooting the .30-06 first and then go to the .22 for the rest of the day, don't beat youself up trying to shoot a lot of .30-06 ammunition.

When I go to the range to practice I usually don't shoot more than 20 rounds out of my .30-06 and spend the rest of the time plinking with lighter cartridges. I only shoot that many rounds if I'm doing load development, other than that it only to confirm zero one or two three shot groups and I'm done. The mechanics are the same shooting the .22 as the .30-06 so you will get a ton of good practice. Learn to handload as mentioned to add versatilty to your rifle. You can go from mild plinkers to heavy shoulder bruisers.

However, reading most of you post you should get a .243 and .30-06 then you can hunt anything you wnat in the lower 48 easily.

[myshoulderissore]

If deer (and smaller) is all you're after, the .243 is an amazing round. Barely any recoil, great trajectory for most factory rounds, and if you can hit the deer right, the deer will go down for you asap. I don't have one yet, but my next rifle will probably be in .243...

[sc928porsche]

Since you are recoil sensitive, I would recommend something from the 308 cased brass. 243 (6mm-08) is going to have a flat trajectory with little recoil but is a bit light if you ever get a chance for anything larger than deer. A step up would be the 260 Remington (6.5x308) and will provide you with flat trajectory with very little gain in recoil but with a bit more energy and suitable for longer shots and even useable for elk at shorter ranges. 7-08 would probably be the limit of your comfort zone. It is not as flat as the other two but still a good cartridge. The 308 will probably be a little too much recoil from what you have discribed. It is very similar to the 30-06.

[huntinaz]

I like the 243 for everything you describe. Other good choices of course are the 7mm-08, 25-06 etc.

[cnimrod]

Dad's .308 kicked real hard and bought myself a 30-30 but after moving to a shotgun only state and suffering practice with 12 ga slugs the .308 doesn't bother me at all now. Seem to be a lot of .243 fans here. I've never shot it (but i'd like to;-). Must say I've seen just as many threads argue it's too small for deer, most cons say it's less forgiving of poor bullet placement.

[huntinaz]

Must say I've seen just as many threads argue it's too small for deer, most cons say it's less forgiving of poor bullet placement.

I've seen these threads too...seems that most folks who actually shoot 243 like them a lot, and those who rely on energy tables say it's too light. Just my observation

[cornbush]

Let's not forget the 7x57 mauser, little recoil and great performance...... practice and a good pad would help with the recoil of something just a little bigger too.

[StrongSideArmsInc]

22 Hornet.

[GeauxTide]

I agree with the 243 if you're not going to reload. I have been delighted with my Ruger Compact SS in 260. It'll shoot 100gr bullets like the 243, except faster. Then, there are the 120 and 140s. I haven't found any difference in the recoil of a 100gr 243 and a 120gr 260, but the results.........

[T. O'Heir]

Hi. Your size doesn't mean much. Neither does the cartridge. The stock and the weight of the rifle does matter. Even with a .243 or any other medium cartridge. A 6 lb rifle with a narrow butt stock is going to thump you. An 8 or 9 lb rifle with a wide butt stock or recoil pad, won't.
If you want the felt recoil to go way down, look into a semi-auto. You'll be able to shoot all day with one in any regular .30 calibre with no fuss. Ditto for one in .243.
If you can, go to one of the J.C. Garand shoots and try an M1 Rifle. Just to try one. Felt recoil is light.
"...I'll end up with a 30-30 eventually..." If you don't like the recoil of a .30-06, you won't like a .30-30 lever action either. Light rifle with a narrow stock. There are levers in pistol cartridges though.

[JASmith]

ilv2hunt is on the right track with the .257 Roberts as are the folks who are suggesting the .243 Winchester.

One might, however, consider the 6.5 Grendel or the 6.8 SPC, both of which are good to at least 200 yards for deer. They are also used in AR-15 and bolt action rifles. The Grendel takes the edge as the range increases. It can be compared to both the .243 and the 30-30 in terms of lethality.

You can read more at http://shootersnotes.com/grendelmani...or-large-game/ where these cartridges are compared.

[Bones]

The most important part, is a "GOOD" recoil pad on a rifle that fits you right. Heavier the rifle, the less felt recoil, but still the fit is the most important part of (felt) recoil reduction.

[hooligan1]

Serious there uh sneasy, the 06 hammer's me as well. (Ours is a 700 that has a hard plastic butt-plate) But my 7mm Rem Mag has an excellant recoil pad, and I swear I could shoot it all day. But your choices are numerous .243, 7mm-08, .260, .270, and those will get the job done nicely for deer, and some elk. happy shootin, and ps don't feel soft because the old 06 kills your shoulder, I'm 5 ft 7 inches at 178 lbs, and it killed my arm to shoot it, so I did what every good father would do,( I never would sell that rifle outright) I gave it to my son!!

[skydiver3346]

Well, the .243 is a good idea alright.

However, I would choose the 6.5x55 Swede because it is a serious hunting caliber that can do it all. It can take most any of the game here in North America. The added benefit is that it too has minimal recoil and is pleasant to shoot, (my wife loves her's). IT IS ACCURATE....
Plus it is a cool caliber and different than what most of your friends will be carrying in the deer woods.
Note: You need to get some extra ammo, as it is harder to find in the little stores out of the way of the big city.

[Catfishman]

I like lever-guns too, and I've killed a few deer with a 30-30. I'm just saying that 30-30s kick much more than most people expect.

If I ever get rich, I'll buy an old 44-40 lever-action.