Deer hunting caliber for shoulder injury

Status
Not open for further replies.
ldlfh7 said:
I do reload for my 308 and 06. Never loaded anything under 150 gr. Should I look to 125 gr bullets around starting loads? .
Click to expand...
Use a good hunting type 125 gr SP bullet, not a HP or varmit specific type.
Go with a reduced load of 4895, Hodgdon says you can safely reduce the load down to 33 gr. using 125 gr bullet in a 30-06
0.6 X Max load is how they determine absolute safe minimum with 4895, this is quite a bit less than published starting load data.
Work the load back up to get to ~2400 fps.
Sight it in ~2.5” high at 100 yds.
Get to within ~220 yards of the deer with no hold over or under.

I personally think this load combo would be superior for your purposes in any scope sighted 30-06 bolt action hunting rifle compared to any of your other choices, and not be an issue for your shoulder.

A hole in the stock behind a (fat) recoil pad full of lead or lead shot in a epoxy matrix goes a long way to reduce recoil, and can be remove or tuned down later.
 
Last edited:
I agree with most of the options given.
To me:
Best is AR with 55-77 grain bullets. (I'm partial to 77smk-wc)
Second best is soft bullets at low velocity (think download using 30-30 bullets and velocity)
Third is muzzle loader. Unless you like muzzle loaders. Then it's first...
Least preferred is SKS or Win94 these kick for performance given.
 
Eiether download the 30-06 or slap a cheap 6.5 grendel upper on your AR. After 6 months of physical therapy for a badly frozen shoulder last year, I am increasingly cautious.
 
62gr Federal Fusion -125yds Iron Sights - DRT
index.php
 
Light loads can bring your 30-06 down to approximately 30-30 levels. I found a load that I use for the ladies and youths in my life that pushes a 150 with a minimum charge of 3031, and it is surprisingly pretty accurate to boot.
 
Got a .243 as a kid and still have it. 22-250 with 60 gr. partitions is another option on whitetail size deer. My sons and I both have taken many a whitetail with heart/lung shots. Some ran a few yds others right down and never lost one. I like head shots on does and cull bucks...
 
I think the 6.5 Grendel idea is a great one. Now I’m shopping, as if I need something else to load.
 
The SKS would be a light recoil rifle but the 7.62x39 has limitations.
You could shoot a heavy round in the AR15 but only at short distances, I wouldn't trust a .224 dia to be a humane kill at long distance.
I would suggest dropping a .300 Blackout or a 350 Legend upper on your AR, both have very little recoil & have great accuracy. That's along with being very able to drop a deer in it's tracks, I have taken deer with both of these & can trust it's ability to take deer with a no tracking one shot.
 
I like the looks of the 6.5 grendel upper. Think this might be my best option. Any recommendations on uppers? I do not want to spend a ton of money but want something that will last.
 
ldlfh7 said:
SKS - factory chinese type 56
Marlin 336 (no scope - my eyes are not what they use to be)
AR15 - I do have 55 gr barnes TTX i bought a ways back for a coyote hunt but it fell through
Click to expand...

Of the guns you have (minus the BP rifle since I don't know what you have, and the only one I have experience with is my inline)

SKS- after a nasty divorce 25 years ago, a SKS was one of the few guns that survived the ordeal. The main reason I didn't sell it was that it was worth less than $100, since a new one cost less than $100 at the time. I spent another $30 on a CTD 4x scope with mount, and it was my deer rifle for several years. I put down quite a few Tn deer with it using Winchester soft points, but I rarely got an exit wounds (deer shot at 100 yards and less) and as a consequence, got poor blood trails. Not a fan of it, but I still got it. Mine did 3-4" groups at 100, so I wouldn't have tried further even if the opportunity had ever been there.

30-30- this may be your best bet, given the circumstances. You may want to invest in a decent mount and scope, and the rounds required to zero it. It will be cheaper than a new rifle in a new caliber and scope, and buying into a new caliber. Assuming you have/ can find ammo for it.

AR15- I have killed more than a few deer and hogs with 223. Even though lots of experts claim it is no good for this purpose, I have had good results using Hornady 75 grain BTHP. Never lost a deer. I would go so far as to say I prefer that setup to anything launching 7.63 x 39.
 
AK Hunter said:
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/gu...e-15-handguard-rc-slick-side-nrail-upper.html
Click to expand...

I bought a 20" stainless heavy barrel from them in 6.5 Grendel for a similar price. I had to replace the extractor (minimal effort and money), but otherwise it works well and is accurate. The bull barrel makes the gun pretty heavy, but that also means that it has really no recoil. Since I plan to hunt a piece of land where I am unlikely to be walking real far with it, I don't mind the weight.

Sub MOA with Hornady ELDM Black. I put together a couple of test load strings with 123 grain SSTs, TAC and H335. Every single load was minute of deer at 100 yards, and both test strings yielded a sub MOA group that I will explore further and chrono. Not bad for a couple hundred buck upper.
 
Regardless of which rifle and load you wind up using, I would recommend buying a P.A.S.T. recoil shield. I have used the magnum model for decades when bench shooting a heavy hitter. They make a thin one that relieves a good bit of felt recoil and doesn't increase your LOP by much.
 
I would also load the .308 down there's lots of loading information out there on reduced loads. I know the .223 will do it with a proper bullet but if it's a really large bodied buck quartering away at 175 yards it wouldn't be ethical to take that shot in my opinion. I really enjoy being a reloader and being able to tailor loads to my needs. My 11 year old son at the time killed his first deer with a 45-70 that was loaded with lead bullets and and lighter charge of powder I don't recall if it was H335 or IMR 3031. You can do it. If you are in the market for another rifle I would buy a .243 in a pretty wood stocked bolt gun of your choice.
 
I would recommend the Hornady Custom Light or Remington reduced recoil loads. These are great deer loads cutting the felt recoil of your 308 down to 300 Savage recoil and ballistics.

If you hunt from a stand a gun cradle/rest may be a big help. You will still have recoil from the gun but won't have to endure the pain of holding the rifle.
 
ldlfh7 said:
I like the looks of the 6.5 grendel upper. Think this might be my best option. Any recommendations on uppers? I do not want to spend a ton of money but want something that will last.
Click to expand...
I've separated both my shoulders from my collarbone, and taught very recoil sensitive folks to shoot and hunt just fine with the .223, ammo is back on the shelves around here if you're low on primers that's a VERY viable option, after that I'd go .22-250 or a .224 Valk upper, running something like a 62 bonded bullet at those speeds has yielded phenomenal results, the Grendel is dandy, but not necessary, running a 123 sst shouldn't let you down, but realistically that ar15 you already have with the right bullet should be just fine. Idk how old your tsx are, I have some old ones and the petals break off, in loaded ammo, there are plenty of options 55-70 gr that should work just fine depending on your barrel twist, we handload the 62 scirocco2 for both the ar15 and .22-250 here and no animal yet has noticed it wasn't a .243 or .308 etc, in my slow twist single shot .223 I wound up using the 50 ttsx, and with either that or the AR I'm good to 200 yds which is plenty for Bambi around here, if you have access to the components or ammo to setup the new upper and are looking for an excuse to expand your arsenal, then I hereby don my enabler hat and say full speed ahead! Just making sure you're aware of the options.
 
Depending on the twist of your ar there are good bullets out there for 223 although that would not be my first choice. Have you considered a cross bow? A few years ago I had a failed back surgery and shoulder issues. could not even stand to shoot my super redhawk with 44spl loads. Friend suggested the cross bow, I killed alot of deer with since then.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
handgun caliber for deer
Replies
12
Views
885
Bezoar
B
C
  • Locked
Best Hunting Caliber?
2 3 4 5
Replies
119
Views
5K
Art Eatman
A
H
  • Locked
What calibers /gauges have you hunted with ?
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Barry the Bear
Barry the Bear
T
  • Locked
Cast bullet for Deer Hunting
Replies
10
Views
7K
loose noose
loose noose
C
  • Locked
My first day of deer hunting.
Replies
13
Views
694
BP Hunter
BP Hunter
Back
Top