Low recoil deer rifle/cartridge?

7.62 x 39
300 blackout

Ar10 or boltgun
260 rem
7mm-08

The .243 has always been the traditional choice for low recoil and a woman's hunting rifle since the 1950s.

• 150 yards and under
• Relatively low recoil
• Deer gun

.30-30? I thought that was the "default option" for years...

[EDIT: If this is a query about appropriate uppers, please disregard. I am a levergun man and that is just where my mind immediately went.]

In order to use a 243 upper, you'd need to have an AR-10 lower. It's not going to fit on your normal 223 AR-15.

A 243's a fine choice for what you're looking to do, and you may even consider a 16" Ruger American in 7.62x39.

I avoid recoil whenever possible. My 2 "traditional" deer rifles are a 700 sporter in 243 and a Ruger American in 6.5 CM. I like them both, but the Ruger is a better rifle and caliber.

6.5 Grendel would be a good choice for your distance. Less recoil than a 243. Light for a bolt gun and fits the ar-15 platform.

If I ever again feel that I can’t take deer with a 6.5 Grendel, 6 ARC, 6 Creed, 243win, it will only be because I have chosen to do something foolish.

.350 Legend, works in both bolts and ar15s.

7.62x39 bolt action is kind of a no-brainer kid's deer rifle. Why? Because they can get in a LOT of practice for cheap, and with good hunting ammo, it's a more than capable 150 yard deer caliber which is as far as most kids need to be shooting at a live animal anyway.

I started my daughter out with a single-shot .243 and looking back, I think she would have enjoyed the 7.62x39 much more, and the deer she shot would have been just as dead.

You're a reloader so why not consider a reduced load to meet your specifications. Look for cartridges that have bullets by caliber designed for high velocity & low velocity. For example, a .308 can be loaded quite accurate with a 150gr FN bullet designed for the .30-30 & launched at .30-30 speed. The same is true for the .270 Win just look for 6.8mm bullets designed for the 6.8SPC. As I'm sure you know, they sell "managed-recoil" ammo but you can make your own at whatever velocity you want. Just a thought....

BTW: A good friend of mine bought some .243 managed recoil ammo to take his grandson hunting for his first deer. One day hunting on his own, he was in a hurry & mistakenly grabbed the light ammo along with his rifle. He had a successful hunt & now that is his preferred ammo of choice for himself!

6.5 GRENDEL!

Don't discount the 6.8SPC a little more recoil than 5.56 but less than 6.5 Creedmoor and it fits in a AR-15 platform.

7.62x39*
.243
6.5
Any of the above are a decent choice. If you reload it opens up even more choices for a low recoil rifle.
*I love shooting my ruger american in 7.62x39 suppressed. Its so much fun.

Dive into the following....in part how I selected a 257 AI for my wife...

https://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

EDIT - For your daughter, stock fit will be more important than round...

7.62x39 would be a really good choice I think. a good second choice would be 7mm-08. Both would be even better if you load your own ammo.

brewer12345 said:

I am thinking about adding a low recoil deer rifle to the safe. I think there are two default options:

1) .243 in a modest priced rifle.

2) ??? caliber AR upper.

223/556 is not legal for deer where I live. I don't generally take shots farther than 150 yards on deer. This rifle might end up being used by my daughter, who is not keen on recoil. Am I missing something? What is a candidate for the upper?

I cast and reload, so if I can round up dies, brass and maybe some bullets I am not real worried about ammo availability.

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I've seen and been in on plenty of these discussions. There's usually a range of opinions. I haven't read the thread yet, but here's mine.

A .243Win is a good low-recoil deer rifle. If it's zeroed at 100-200yds, you own anything within 300yds, so you'll be good within your 150yd comfort zone. Your daughter can benefit from .243, 100gr SP's, and your reloading.

Old Stumpy said:

The .243 has always been the traditional choice for low recoil and a woman's hunting rifle since the 1950s.

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Some of us guys like 'em too. I've seen deer flattened by a well-placed .243.

The 243 is a great choice. Thinking of adding one myself in a Ruger American.

A close friend bought a 308 for his son and is using reduced recoil loads. His son shot 3 deer last season. Did I mention that he is 8 years old. The 308 is a cartridge he can use for his lifetime, for all big game in the lower 48.

Old Stumpy said:

The .243 has always been the traditional choice for low recoil and a woman's hunting rifle since the 1950s.

Click to expand...

I don't know why people call the 243 a "kid's rifle" or a "woman's rifle"- when our kids, wives, etc. go hunting with us, they are hunting the same deer we are. The 243 does just fine at putting down deer, as long as it hits the target- the deer don't seem to care who was holding the rifle at the time.