Recoil 270 verus 30/06

[kyarcher]

Ok. I know thats its not an exact science between the recoil of a .270 verus the 30/06 but which will have less recoil with say a 150gr bullet. Reason I'm asking is I have a collapsed disk in my neck. The rifle will be use for deer hunting only so therefor will be shot only a hand full of times after the initial sighting in.

 

[Arkel23]

The .270 would have less kick. I like that GPS saying up there.

 

[Arkel23]

The .270 would have less kick.

 

[jmr40]

The 270 may have less recoil depending on a lot of factors such as the rifles weight, stock design, and the individual loads you are using. The 2 are so close in recoil that small differences could cause the 270 to recoil more.

Try putting a heavy varmit scope in steel mounts on a 30-06 and a lightweight fixed powered scope in aluminum mounts on a 270 and the 30-06 may weigh up to a full pound more even though the rifles are identical. The 270 may now have more felt recoil.

If you are recoil sensitive there is just not enough difference between these 2. I would look at the 260, 7mm08 or 243 if I needed a round that was not going to beat me up too much.

 

[Reid73]

I agree. All other things being equal, the .270 will have less recoil than the .30/06, but not enough difference to matter for most recoil-sensitive shooters.

The three other calibres suggested by jmr40 would be more suitable. 7x57 and 6.5x55 are other viable choices.

 

[minutemen1776]

Don't forget the .257 Roberts if you're looking for a light-kicking hunting rifle.

 

[Jim Watson]

Not enough to matter. Assuming same gun weight and stock shape, factory ballistics show a 150 gr .270 at 2850 fps, a 150 gr .30-06 at 2910 fps. Only 2% less. A 130 gr 270 would be about 10% less, you might could feel that.

I'd be awful tempted by a .257 Roberts, but a .260 Remington is more "modern", .256 Newton ballistics in a short action.

 

[rcmodel]

The .270 would have less kick.

I have to disagree.

Just because the caliber is smaller doesn't make it kick less if everything else is the same as far as powder charge, bullet weight, and velocity.

Depending on the powder used, both can burn about the same charge weight.

Using 150 grain bullets in both:
8 pound rifles:
50.0 grain powder charge.

Velocity:
.270 @ 2,930 FPS
30-06 @ 2,900 FPS.

Free Recoil energy:
.270 = 16.20 ft/lb.
30-06 = 15.97 ft/lb.

rc

 

[bejay]

I dont think youll be able to notice a difference either between the 2 if you are planning on buying a gun specifically for less recoil would go for the 257 roberts or even a 243.
heres a link that may help you choose a caliber.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

 

[SaxonPig]

If the rifles are identical save 270 vs '06, and the bullet weight is the same, the recoil will be virtually the same. Bullet mass has the greatest effect on recoil and if both are shooting the same weight projectile there will be almost zero difference.

 

[homers]

great deer rounds with minimal recoil.

.243
7x57
7mm-08
30-30
20 gauge w/slug

 

[FlyinBryan]

i think the simple answer is the 270, by virtue of what is generally available as far as factory ammo is concerned, will recoil less.

unless the '06 is a garand, in which case the 06 is much easier on the shooter by virtue of IT being a marvel of mechancal genius.

 

[hillbillydelux]

I honestly have never been able to tell the difference. I own both, Remington 700's.

 

[ArmedBear]

Comparing apples with apples, I looked at load charts.

.270 with a 150 grain bullet requires about 4 grains less powder than .30-06 to achieve the same velocity.

So, we're looking at 201 grains vs. 205 grains total payload with the same muzzle energy, velocity, bullet weight, etc.

What does that add up to? If you can tell the difference, you're a rare person indeed.

 

[Supertac45]

I doubt that you'll ever feel the difference between the two. I don't.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

There won't be a lick of difference with the same weight bullet going the same speed.

 

[Reid73]

I think the simple answer is the 270, by virtue of what is generally available as far as factory ammo is concerned, will recoil less

Bryan, I don't believe anyone is disputing that. But the real question is whether the difference is more theoretical than noticeable.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I agree with everything stated above, but remember than a 130 grain .270 bullet has a very long history of success against deer. I've only shot 130 grain loads out of a .270 win and it did seem like less recoil then the 150 grain bullets I shoot out of my .30-06.

BTW, have you considered a .243 win?

 

[kyarcher]

Yes I have found a .243 thats shows to be in stock at my local GS and plan to check it out tomorrow.

 

[Reid73]

I think a .243 would serve you well.

BTW, there are a couple of chapters ("Block That Kick!" and "Caliber Catastrophe") on this very issue in the 1978 book On Guns and Hunting, by Donald Hamilton. IIRC, he also suffered from a spinal condition and was forced to move from his .308 Win. and .300 WM to a .243 Win ... he didn't like it at first, changed his mind later. Worth checking out the book if your library has it.

 

[FlyinBryan]

But the real question is whether the difference is more theoretical than noticeable.

well, like others have said, with same bullet weight and velocity, i would say the differences would surely be too minimal to detect.

i havent fired a 270 in at least 25 years, but for some reason i was thinking that most of the ammo that you could get back then for it was in the 125-140 grain range, and most of the 06 ammo i remembered from back then was a little heavier, in which case you might could feel the difference.

the part about theoretical vs actual felt recoil is a good one.

im certain that if you were to give me one of each, with 100 rounds for each, of the same weight bullet, i could absolutely tell you which was the 06, and which was the 270, 100% of the time



(with a 50% margin of error)

this thread has reminded me of a funny story though. a family friend had an 06, and every single time he shot it, it knocked his hat off. he said it was irritating, but he loved the power and the effect it had on his game (mule deer and elk)

on his last hunting trip with that rifle, he fired, and of course, his hat flew off and out on some smaller branches near his tree stand. in an attempt to recover his hat he fell out of the tree, and his rifle went into a deep creek. he hurt his back in the fall and couldnt get the rifle, and barely made it to his truck.

it was a 5 hour drive back to his house, and was laid up for a couple of weeks. hes better now, and bought a remington 243 win. he said it kicks way less and his hat stays on.

 

[Arkel23]

I have to disagree.

Just because the caliber is smaller doesn't make it kick less if everything else is the same as far as powder charge, bullet weight, and velocity.

Depending on the powder used, both can burn about the same charge weight.

Using 150 grain bullets in both:
8 pound rifles:
50.0 grain powder charge.

Velocity:
.270 @ 2,930 FPS
30-06 @ 2,900 FPS.

Free Recoil energy:
.270 = 16.20 ft/lb.
30-06 = 15.97 ft/lb.

rc

I've never seen a .270 push a 150 gr at 2,930 fp/s.

 

[natman]

The comparison between the 270 and 30-06 using the same bullet weight is misleading. Using the bullet weights commonly used for deer, the 270 with a 130 grain bullet will kick less than a 30-06 with a 150.

If the largest game you plan to hunt is deer and you have recoil limitations and you are going to buy a new rifle anyway, get a 260 Remington with 120 - 125 grain loads.

 

[noob_shooter]

if all fails, just use a .223. It can drop a deer...

 

[blackops]

I have both and reload as well. The recoil is close, but maybe with a bad shoulder you could tell more of a difference. It will come down to the rifle build.