do .308 and .30-06 kick too much for you?

[SpeedAKL]

I've heard and read many shooters complain that .308 and .30-06 are too hard-kicking for a lot of shooters to handle properly, and that those shooters would be best served for the typical deer hunt with a smaller cartridge such as the 7mm-08 or .25-06 or .243. Others don't seem to mind and find them perfectly acceptable to shoot at the range or in the field.

Around here, .30-06 is pretty much the default whitetail caliber. Take a visit to the local public range right before deer season kicks off, and it's a 10-gun .30-06 salute all day long. We can get some pretty decent-sized bucks around here, and since lots of hunting is either done in the national forest or in open fields, the long-range knockdown power of the all-around high-power cartridges are much appreciated (.270 is also very popular). Don't see too many .300 Win Mags - hunters in SW VA seem to as a whole draw the line at .30-06.

Personally, I don't find either cartridge objectionable. If I ran 100 rounds through my .308 or my roommate's .30-06 I'd probly be sore the next day, but overall I find both cartridges are enjoyable to shoot.

 

[benzy2]

As a deer rifle no they aren't too much. As an all day blaster or anything but the absolute longest range target shooting, yes they are excessive.

 

[FlyinBryan]

i picked no, but i also would feel it the next day if i were to go through 100 rds in a 30 06 bolt action.

a 308 ar type rifle is a pleasure to shoot, and a garand aint too bad for the 30 06.

it really depends on the rifle a lot.

 

[Coal Dragger]

The rifle stock shape, recoil pad, and rifle weight will have more to do with shooting comfort for me than caliber.

I don't find either the .308 or .30-06 to be objectionable in a sporter weight rifle, and with a good stock a light weight rifle in either caliber is not too objectionable.

 

[SpeedAKL]

I've fired .308 in several bolt guns as well as an AR-10. The AR-10 was a pussycat, and none of the bolt guns were/are too bad. I've fired .30-06 in two bolt guns, my friend's Remmy is fine with standard loads, the other one (a Win M70) was a bit stout but then again the ammo was hot-loaded. Never had the pleasure of shooting a Garand.

 

[Jim Watson]

For a few rounds sighting in and going hunting, they are ok.
For target shooting, my .308 has a heavy barrel, all recesses filled with lead, and I wear a RAND shoulder pad. It is still about as much kick as I want to put up with for a hundred round F-class match.
My plinking loads in my old .30-06 run from .30-30 down to .32-40 ballistics.

 

[Bitmap]

I put 600 rounds through a sporter weight .30-06 bolt gun in 4 days. No big deal.

 

[kcmarine]

Never fired a bolt gun in either caliber. I'm sorta a stick... but ever since I fired about 300 shells of 12 gauge in 1 day, nothing really measures up anymore. They don't kick too hard in semis, though.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

I put a muzzle brake on my .308 (Short gas system FAL carbine, weighs ~8#) and now the only thing limiting how much I shoot it is my time and budget. The most I've done in one sitting is ~200-250 rounds, and still no soreness. It even has an all-aluminum para stock. Without the brake, I'd start getting sore after 120 or so.

 

[russcoh]

Both 308 and 30-06 are relatively light calibers when used in a well configured rifle (at least when it comes to recoil). I've fired a low model savage 30-06 with a cheesy stock and a curved recoil pad, then a Remington 700, both factory, feels like a different rifle. The load you use really makes a difference, too. The best thing to do is try every rifle you can, see which feels best, and doesn't feel too hard kicking.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

You needed a couple more options on the poll.

I can shoot a couple hundred rounds of 308 out of a bolt action without trouble.

30-06, on the other hand, usually wears me out in about 50 rounds.

In semi-autos I can go 'til I run out of ammo with either caliber generally.

 

[jkingrph]

My old Win 70 Ftw with factory buttplate is a bear. A recoil pad, no wood removed tamed it. M-1 is a pussycat by comparison. I shoot some bit stuff, lightweight 45-70, 375H&H and 458 Win mag, and I still remember the beating that little Win. gave me 45 years ago.

 

[Chipperman]

I'm good with .308 and .30-06 for countless rounds. I've never fired the big magnums, but I suspect they'd be a little much for more than a couple of rounds.

The biggest gun I've ever fired was a four bore rifle. I fired two rounds. Fun, but that was enough.

 

[jrfoxx]

voted "no", but will clarify that I use a slip-on recoil pad on my model 70 in 30-06. It's not that it kicks to much without it, but is more comfortable with it, so for the $10 it cost, and can be put on any gun I choose in seconds, no reason not to use one and take up some of the recoil, IMHO.

 

[missouri dave]

Depends on the rifle. I had a winchester featherweight years ago in .308 with an 18 inch barrel that was absolutely brutal. My garand in 30-06 is a pussycat.

 

[IndianaBoy]

The 30-06 is not a rifle I would hand to a beginning shooter. A person too lazy to develop decent shooting skills with an 06 will not magically become a better shooter with a 223.

I enjoy shooting my 06. The only thing keeping me from shooting hundreds of rounds is funding.

 

[Shawnee]

The recoil (and blast) of the .308 and 30/06 are pointless (and even detrimental) for varmints, deer, antelope, black bear, hogs and informal target shooting.
Their recoil/blast is somewhat justified for hunting Elk or larger game, or some formal target shooting because of the benefit of using a caliber with increased power for game that is best hunted with more powerful calibers. A 7mm/08 or .270 would be just as good and have a little less recoil.

No matter what the shooting task is - recoil is never your friend. It simply serves no positive purpose and often - very often - is a negative influence.

 

[elmerfudd]

I don't have a problem with most full power 30 caliber rifles even when it comes to shooting 100 rounds or more from a bolt action. That said, I do have a lightweight 30-06 with a metal buttpad and shooting that with heavy bullets is uncomfortable at best. With that particular rifle, I don't like to shoot more than a few shots. That's pretty much the exception though. I've got over a dozen rifles in calibers like 7.62x54R, .308 Win, 7.5 Swiss and 8mm and the only one that kicks my butt is that lightweight 30-06.

 

[HM2PAC]

Recoil is fun.

Basically I like a little kick.

If a person can't handle a little give and take, that's fine.

But if you can't handle it, there is no reason to call it pointless or unjustified.

 

[aspade]

Some recoil is fun. Lets you know something happened. If it wasn't we'd just shoot rimfires.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

When shooting make sure that you achieve the right sized stock that fits you because it can make all the difference in the world.

 

[CU74]

I'm "recoil averse" - old, skinny and arthritic shoulder - and I checked NO. I don't have any lighter-weight rifles chambered in .30-06 and I use a strap-on recoil pad on my 1903A3, 1903 and Garands. My sole .308 shooter is a Springfield M1A1 and, with the recoil pad, it is "better" than the .30-06 shooters.

My "stout" recoiler is a .303 Enfield - kicks like a mule.......

 

[stubbicatt]

I made master shooting a Remington 40x in 308, with 168 to 190 grain bullets. Did it thump me? Why yes it did. Can you get used to it? Yes you can.

 

[Hud]

I agree with missouri dave: " Depends on the rifle. I had a winchester featherweight years ago in .308 with an 18 inch barrel that was absolutely brutal. My garand in 30-06 is a pussycat. "

I have a full dress military Colombian mauser in 30-06 that I enjoy shooting.
I also have an FR-8 in 7.62 that I wanted to put down after about 10 rds. 'till I straped on a decent recoil pad.
Then there is the 1936 8mm mauser that was sporterized in the '60s, that with 180 gr. hand loads just flat HURTS!
But using any of them for hunting, I won't feel the recoil at the time or see the brusing for a couple of days.

Hud

 

[Slamfire]

I first started shooting with straight grip M1903's. That rifle had such a vicious kick that I had swollen lips and my shoulder hurt.

However, rubber slip on pads do wonderful things.

However, in my dotage, I have become a big wuss, and add lead weights and use heavy barrels on my 308’s .