Rifles for the recoil sensitive?

Ruger mini 30 or a 243 autoloader like Remington 7400. Add a mercury recoil absorber tube and a limbsaver pad and it would be very tame, while still getting them on the ground. A classic Remington Model 81 in 30-30 would do the job too

Most of these are older guns, but can be had at reasonable cost and can be "restored" to fine condition.

For those with shoulder issues I suggest fairly straight stock, soft round and really good fit. Limbsaver pads will be godsend. PAST shoulder pad sewn into your hunting vest will help spread the load a great deal and make recoil much more manageable

If bolt rifle, go modern with straightish stock, stay away from featherweights. Something in 6.5mm Swede ought to be nice if the 243 seems OK? It would be my move up choice from the 243

Could also consider a lever action in 357 Magnum.

Savage model 10 or model 12 in .308...
Accurate...heavy enough recoil is not bad...will do a number on hogs, deer,
paper, and large vermin...then you can spend the money on optics and ammo.

Odd I should run across a thread of this nature. Details aside, and me having had 47 surgeries following an automobile accident, I was introduced to the TC Contender pistol in about 1998 for similar reasons. Next, investigate "failed fusing", and potentially save your father a few dozen needless surgeries.

I suggest you look into a TC Arms Encore pistol in .260 Rem, with a 2.5-7 scope.

Just my humble, and painfully earned experience.

Geno

I will also agree with the 6.8spc. It is just about the best hunting round available in the ar-15 platform. From what I have heard is the 95gr. TTSX is a good all around bullet in the 6.8.

Have read of it taking everything from small whitetails to 400 lb bear and even a few elk. should have a light to moderate recoil.

if you just need them to die, just use the 223. They'll run off, but they'll die. Or you can just find a funoodle with a hole in it, cut off 6", slit the piece lengthwise and slip it over your buttstock. Then shoot anything you want.

Two calibers come to mind. One is the .223 with Barnes 70 gr TSX you would need a 1in 7 barrel for these but they would go right thru a hog. Second would be something in 243 with the 85gr Barnes TSX . I stress the Barnes TSX because it flat drilles a hole thru critters. Both of these calibers are light recoiling and while I don't profess to be a MD or any other kind of medical person I doubt that these would do any damage to anyone. Especially if you put a quality recoil pad on the rifle and maybe wore a Past pad also.Frank

I would recommend the 243. I own the DPMS LR-308 with a 18" heavy barrel. It has very low recoil and with a 243 bullet the recoil would be about of a .223 in a AR-15.

In his situation, I wouldn't go anything heavier than .243, not for one shot, not even on a bet. If he wants an AR, the 6.8 is probably the heaviest round he wants. 6x45mm is a lighter choice that is basically the 5.56 necked up slightly to take 6mm bullets. If you watch the "helicopter hog hunts", you might notice that there are a lot of hogs being put down with 5.56x45mm. Load that 5.56 right, and it will do. Load it with varmint bullets or FMJ, and you might regret shooting hogs with it.

I'd look at a nice, light Kimber (I think it's the model 84) in .257 Roberts. Quieter than a 243, with less recoil when shooting 100 grain bullets.

Second the lever gun in 357 if you can find one. That is the tough part lately. Very light (easy to hold), VERY low in recoil, and enough for purpose within 100 yards.

I've never met a 257 with less recoil than a 243. The one I had kicked pretty good, but it was an older rifle with a lot of drop in the butt. More of a cheek biter than a shoulder kicker. could have just been that rifle?

OK, I understand on the mercury thing, even though they are all sealed at the time of MFG. The other option on recoil reducer is a spring loaded ball unit that does the same thing. Fits in the stock bolt hole and takes up some of the inertia.

I think it depends on a few things. It seems the AR style is what he is looking to buy. From there, you have a few good options. If you/he are willing to wait for a good clean shot and only take those, a .223 with proper bullet will work fine, quickly and effectively. There will be shots other rounds could take that you would pass while using a .223. You could also look at one of the necked up .223 options. Something like a .223 necked up to a 6mm or 6.5mm would be a good balance of low recoil and more appropriate bullet selection. Match that with some of the more effective breaks as well as potentially adding a bit of lead weight and recoil drops significantly. From there I'd look at the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8SPC They would be a bit up on recoil but still less than the bigger .308 based case platforms.

A good recoil pad as well an effective break would be a suggestion for whatever rifle you pick.

Mercury recoil reducers are scams and work no better than the same amount of lead weight.

If you want more weight on an AR, the best place to put it is the barrel - as you benefit from that in terms of it not heating up as fast. If you have an existing rifle you want heavier, you can add lead to a fixed stock.

Henry Big Boy .357mag around $650.00 NIB no noticeable kick at all (and it's purdy too)!

The physics proves that recoil reducers work. Scam, I dunno - I have installed them for friends with hard hitting rifles and they were happy with them. If you want to check out others opinions, just look into last issue of Rifle magazine for more info. Whole article on recoil reduction. So we'll leave that there.

I can't speak to the AR style rifles since I have not shot one since I was in, back in the 70's totin my trusty Hydromatic Div mattel rifle. You'all go on with that part of the thread.

Since the OP says they are about to have some serious $$ to spend, I was hoping they would consider getting some fun classic wood & steel rifles too? I'm not down on AR's, it just that there are so many options up to heavy barreled prairie dog poppers and all sorts in between. I'd be buying a BIG safe and filling it with toys

What about a .45 ACP carbine? A number of companies make .45 ACP AR-15 uppers and lowers. If your Dad is not married to the AR-15 platform you have a lot of options from the High Point to the EMF Just Right Carbine to the Beretta Storm to the Auto Ordnance Thompson to the H&K USC. You might also look for a second-hand Marlin Camp 45 if you can find one. All should put Porky down hard with less kick than most of the calibers already mentioned.

30-30 shooting Managed Recoil ammo is is soft shooter.

TR

Short action bolt, straight pull stock, .25 to .284 caliber for the recoil sensitive, will still kill anything you point it at. Put a decellerator pad on. Good stock design helps alot.

AK 74 in 5.45 caliber. Shoots like a 22 magnum on steroids.

nathan said:

AK 74 in 5.45 caliber. Shoots like a 22 magnum on steroids.

Click to expand...

Since neither tactical use nor tactical appearance are deciding factors, a "plain vanilla" unmodified Saiga in .223, 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 would work, that latter offering, as nathan said, excellent penetration with low recoil.