.30 cal battle rifles are NOT soft shooters...
Compared to some of the bolt guns, especially the lighter commercial guns, they are soft shooters. When properly shouldered, the recoil impulse is more of a firm push than a kick.
The lighter, light recoiling intermediate calibers can even let you adopt a "nose to the charging handle" cheek weld, which means acquiring a sight picture more quickly without concerns of a part of the gun striking the face - from high recoil forces.
With any of them, this is all just a matter of training and how to properly mount the gun being used. You dont shoulder and hold an M4 like you do a M14, and for obvious reasons, but when properly mounted, you get a very good, head down and forward cheek weld on the M14's (just like the M16's and AK's), and you know where to put your thumb. If you dont, you'll soon learn.
The .30 cal may be a treat for some to shoot at a range on a sunny Saturday, but most studies of battle show it was no treat to shoot or carry around.
I suppose times have changed, along with the guns, and the "average" USGI. Back when more were likely rural farm boys who worked hard from a young age and were fit, and all you had to learn on was pap's old '03 or Mauser, and the rifle you were issued was a M1 or M14, it was no big deal.
Give one of todays "average" GI's the same gun, and I can see where you would get complaints. XBox muscles are not quite the same as farm chore muscles.
Soldiers do NOT generally like to shoot them, and won't, to a significant degree.
At this point, how many actually do get to shoot them? I would say a select few, simply because they are now looked upon as a specialty weapon.
Back when thats all there was, there wasnt a whole lot of choice. Then again, they were taught to properly shoot them too. That alone can make a big difference in your perception of the gun.
Dont misunderstand here, I dont believe the old .30 caliber guns should be brought back to replace anything either. Whats currently available is the better choice for 99% of what we have going on today. All I was saying is, the .30's arent the big bad "kickers" and as bad as some will tell you, if you learn to shoot them properly. We are now well past the point where the "lighter" generations now out number the "heavier" generations, and in some respects, things are reversed in that last line if you think about it. Recoil vs weight/fitness level of shooter has turned 180*.
With the state of general fitness of many/most Americans today, its no wonder you see most shooters sitting at a bench when they shoot. Lugging those rifles to the bench on a hot day is taxing. Everything that increases felt recoil is present right there at the bench, and may be some of what things are based on when it comes to it.
This isnt about one being better than the other, its just more about what you learned on and your perception of what happens when you pull the trigger. Those learning on the larger caliber guns arent as sensitive to the issue as those who learned on the lighter recoiling guns often seem to be.
One things for sure here though, learn to shoot the heavier recoiling guns, and you'll be a better all around shooter, than if you shy away from them.
