.308 / 30-06 felt recoil

[rection47]

I am interested in getting a rifle but im not sure whether id want a .308 or 30-06, all i do know is that i want something bigger then .223, but ive never fired a .308 or 30-06.

Compared to a 12g shotgun, is a .308 much more or less recoil? (12g being the biggest thing ive fired)

 

[MechAg94]

I would say less, but it really depends on what kind of rifle you get. Light weight hunting bolt action rifles will have more recoil and you might want a butt pad. In a heavier M1 Garand, i would say it is less. I don't have any light weight bolt actions, just surplus stuff.

 

[USSR]

rection37,

If you can handle the recoil of a 12 ga., you will have no problem with either a .308 or .30-06.

Don

 

[1911JMB]

12 gauges and high brass loads are vicious to shoulders. .308 even in harder kicking guns isn't nearly as bad. The lightest kicking .308 I know of is a AR10. Compared to a FAL or M1A or something an AR10 is remarkably soft shooting.

 

[Quintin Likely]

.308 or 30-06 are both pretty stout in a sporter weight bolt action rifle. In a heavy barrelled varmint/target gun, they're a lot easier to get along with.

 

[rection47]

thanks guys, im lookin at a few different rifles, either a Remington 710 in 30-06, Savage Arms 11FCNS in .308 or a Tikka T3 Varmint in .308,
For a while i was looking at .223 thinking it would be the best to upgrade to from only having used a .22, but then I went shooting with my bro and a friend and fired his friend's AR-15 (which was less recoil then i originally thought it was gonna be) and a 12g(12g wasnt that bad, but then again im a pretty big dude).
Thanks for all the imput.

 

[USSR]

rection47,

Of the 3 rifles you listed, get the Tikka T3 Varmint in .308.

Don

 

[MCgunner]

I've got a six and a half lb Remington M7 in .308 and I can hold it in one hand and fire it fine. I won't do that with a shotgun firing a slug or 3" steel magnum loads.

If you go Remington STAY AWAY from the 710 and think M7 or M700. Everyone says the 710 sux. Savage is a good gun. Never messed with a Tikka. I love my M7, though.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I think that the Tikka's a fine option for the 30-06 since Tikka only makes long actions and there's no good reason to have a long action with a short chamber like the .308. If you're thinking .308 Winchester, I'd recommend the Savage over the Remington just for economics. Recoil is only as bad as you think it is.

 

[Jackal]

Here's a good comparison. The .308 shot through my heavy Ishapore Enfield feel almost identical to the 7.62x39 fired through my SKS.

 

[Uncle Alvah]

Recoil is as much a function of load, action type, stock design, firearm weight, and "accessories" ie recoil pad as it is of a particular cartridge.

 

[MCgunner]

Me and my M7 earlier this season.

 

[ETXhiker]

Make sure the stock fits you and avoid the featherweight models. The .308 or .30-06 should be just fine if you are comfortable with a 12 gauge.

 

[MCgunner]

Make sure the stock fits you and avoid the featherweight models.

Sorta depends on the application, doncha think? The little M7 is pretty featherweight, but shoots 1 MOA for 3 shots and is a pleasure to tote around the ridge lines and canyons or to maneuver in a tight stand or box blind. Best hunting rifle I've ever owned. I've got a 7mm Rem Mag long action, heavy as hell Savage I just cannot get into anymore since I got this thing.

If you want to shoot silhouette or varmints or something, or are target shooting, that's different, you'd want a match bull barrel. But for anything I use a rifle for, this M7 is the cat's meow! And, like I say, in .308, the recoil is quite mild. A gun that light in .30-06, now, is gonna kick. The 06 has more recoil because it holds more slower burning powder. It's really pretty dramatic, too. My 7 mag don't kick a whole lot more than a stout 06 load. I'm sure those that own a Garand and never fired an 06 out of anything else will argue, but the Garand is a heavy gas operated gun.

The "sendero" models, fluted, long barreled magnum guns Remington made for a while were all the rage 20 odd years ago. I never could figure why? I mean, it don't matter how much the barrel weighs if it's accurate, it's accurate! The first shot is what counts and the barrel ain't gonna warm up to the point of opening groups for several shots. Why tote all that excess weight and length in a rifle when it's totally un-necessary? OTOH, I've jumped all over the light, short action craze. That's how I got to wanting the M7.

 

[rection47]

Thanks for all the responses, always a pleasure here, Ima probably go with the Tikka or the Savage, ive never heard anything about the remington 710, and was a bit skeptical about the 30-06 anyway, cause i heard the .308 was better all around accuracy.

Gonna do a bit more research ofcourse

Actually looked at a CZ 550 Kevlar, but its a bit more expensive and ive heard great things about the Tikka.

 

[hagar]

I always felt that a 30/06 has more tolerable recoil in the same size rifle than a 308. A 30/06 has a gentle shove, while a 308 has a sharp unpleasant recoil. As far as accuracy, it will only show up at 600 yards or more, and then by so little most shooters won't notice. And at 1000 yards, unless you are shooting a 308 Palma rifle with 30 inch barrel, the 30/06 will beat it hands down.

 

[NateG]

As the others said, .308/.30-06 generally seems to have less recoil. However, shotgun shooting doesn't have the long anticipation of sitting at a bench, slowly pulling the trigger to really focus your mind on the recoil that's about to hit your shoulder. (And the bench is just about the worst position for recoil.) You'll probably be more aware of the rifle's recoil, even if it isn't quite as bad. If you can handle a 12ga, you can definitely handle either of the .30s you're looking at. If, however, you're worried you might develop a flinch, start with Remmington's "reduced recoil" loads, and work your way up. Otherwise, just go for it, and you'll be fine. But, if you can shoot one before buying, so much the better.

 

[rection47]

hagar, I read on another website an article written by a professional shooter about how the .308 dominated the 30-06 in all the categories to a point where they made they made the standards at competitions higher.

 

[Quintin Likely]

Thanks for all the responses, always a pleasure here, Ima probably go with the Tikka or the Savage, ive never heard anything about the remington 710, and was a bit skeptical about the 30-06 anyway, cause i heard the .308 was better all around accuracy.

For the price of a 710, you could buy a 700 that's a lot more rifle than the 710 ever will be.

And '06 and .308, the practical differences only matter to those seeking the ten tenths - the '06 is a bit better when you're talking about shooting bullets over 190 grains or so.

 

[Bottom Gun]

If I was going to hunt with the rifle, I would go with the .30/06 since it is slightly faster than the .308 and will handle a heavier bullet.
I have .30/06 and .308 rifles. I cannot discern any recoil difference between them when I shoot the same weight bullet.

Action type has a lot to do with recoil. The felt recoil of my .30/06 Remington 742 semi-auto seems less than the recoil from my bolt action in the same caliber with the same ammo. The bolt action is more accurate though.

Weight also makes a big difference. My hunting buddy had a lightweight .30/06 Ruger which was great to carry all day but brutal to shoot since it was so light. He finally traded it for a heavier rifle.

Combining action with weight will make a substantial difference. Two years ago, I found a smoking deal on a Browning BAR in .338 Win Mag. Even though I already have a Sako .338, this BAR was too good a deal to pass up so it followed me home.
I was amazed at the difference in felt recoil between the two rifles with the same ammo. I attributed the difference to the fact that the BAR was heavier by a pound or more and to its semi-auto action. I'm sure the cut of the stock was a factor too.

The cut of the stock can make a difference as well. I was comparing a Remington 700 with my Sako AV for accuracy. Both were .30/06 and approx the same weight. The recoil of the Sako was much easier to handle than the Remington shooting the same ammo.

You may wish to consider one of the Tikka rifles. They are extremely accurate and, IMHO, one of the best values for the money.

The bottom line:

You can expect bargain basement performance from a bargain basement rifle such as Rem 710. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more for good quality.

 

[MCgunner]

As the others said, .308/.30-06 generally seems to have less recoil. However, shotgun shooting doesn't have the long anticipation of sitting at a bench, slowly pulling the trigger to really focus your mind on the recoil that's about to hit your shoulder.

I took my 12 gauge double, a rather light weight field gun, to the range once to see how it shot with foster slugs... THAT woke me up! I was shooting over the seat of my motorcycle at 50 yards (we didn't have a 50 yard range at the time) and not at a bench, thank God. I was pointing 12 o'clock after every shot! My little .308 is NOTHIN' compared to that. It's a very light rifle, but I can shoot it all day long, no recoil pad and a T shirt, and it doesn't bother me. I am rather recoil tolerant, though, fired up to .375 off the bench, but still, it feels little more than my .257 Roberts to me. OTOH, my much heavier Savage 110 in 7 mag is a definite step up the recoil ladder. That one has some smack to it. I usually put on a Past pad to shoot that thing from a bench if I'm going to put many rounds through it.

You can expect bargain basement performance from a bargain basement rifle such as Rem 710. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more for good quality.

I've never priced the 710, ain't interested, but I don't think you'd spend a lot more for a 700 ADL or a Savage 110, two guns I have or do own that I can say are quite good. The Savage has to be THE bargain in rifles. Mine's an older gun without the Accutrigger and it's still excellent. I tuned its trigger to about 3 lbs and it shoots 1 MOA with a couple of hunting loads. That's all I can ask of a hunting rifle.

I prefer my Remingtons to the Savage, more refined rifles, look better, finished and fit better, but they don't honestly shoot much better. For the money, the Savage is a deal. That Tikka might be a more refined gun as is the 700 Remington, but I doubt it shoots any better.

Whatever you do, though, stay away from that 710. I've never heard anyone praise that thing. I've never handled one, but it sounds like a POS from everyone I know that has.

 

[Sniper X]

My PSS weighs 11lbs with everything on it...I know...anyway, it is about the same felt recoil, only louder than my Savage model 110CL in .243. I love it, and it shoots awesome at about 1/2moa average unless I use cheap available mil loads. With Austrailian match 144gr, or fed GMM it goes between 1/4~1/2 or so and with my handloads it is exactly like GMM because that is what I loaded them to. Oh, it is a 7.62mm Nato, or .308

 

[____hoot____]

The 308 usually has a sharper kick than the 30-06 because the smaller cases are loaded with faster burning powder. The 06 is much more pleasant to shoot.

 

[don]

recoil; 308vs30-06

All other factors being equal, recall Newton's law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The mass of the bullet X the speed of the bullet= the mass of the rifle x the speed at which the rifle moves backward and this is a good indicator of recoil. A heavy rifle does not recoil as much as a light one because it isn't moving as fast. Nobody has mentioned the drop of the stock,how does this affect recoil?

 

[nobody_special]

The 308 usually has a sharper kick than the 30-06 because the smaller cases are loaded with faster burning powder. The 06 is much more pleasant to shoot.

I've heard that before, but I wonder... is it really true? Speaking as a physicist... have you calculated the length of time for the powder to burn? The total impulse (change in momentum) of the bullet is about the same either caliber, so the recoil after the bullet has left the barrel will be about the same. The only effect of the difference in burn rate is before the bullet leaves the barrel, which takes something like 1/1000 of a second. In that time, the rifle will have recoiled something like 1/10 of an inch, and it's unlikely that the shooter has experienced the full effect of the recoil at that point.

So it seems unlikely that different burn rates or chamber pressures would significantly alter the felt recoil for a given gun, provided that the muzzle velocity and bullet weights are the same.