Recoil Question

[mdThanatos]

I am in the market for a new rifle, been looking at the Stevens 200 and the Marlin XL7 and XS7 but can't decide what caliber I want. My shooting experience with rifles is an SKS, Winchester 94 .30-30, M44 and a Yugo M48. So hopefully you gents can assist in my decision as to what caliber to purchase, and I am sad to say that all the Marlins seem to have dried up locally so I am kinda sad today.

Now to me with regards to recoil, my M44 kicks like a mule and isn't a pleasure to shoot and the M48 is more bearable. The SKS I can shoot all day and the .30-30 is a little stronger than it.

With that said I have looked at the recoil table from Chuck Hawk's site and have tried to imagine what each potential caliber would be like based on my own experiences. From what that table says a .243 would be very similar to that of the 7.62x39 (SKS) would this be a safe assumption or am I misinterpreting the data?

If my assumption is correct then a .308 would feel more like the M44 and the .30-06 would be even higher than those correct?

Thanks in advance,

MD

 

[scythefwd]

The numbers don't mean anything without a little context. Your M38 and M44 both have steel butt plates. That marlin doesn't, it has a recoil pad. The .30-06 and the 7.62x54R you shoot are similar in power, but the ergonomics, weight, and the type of recoil pad on the rifle make a world of difference. I have a .30-06 that I can shoot all day, but my friends m44 is uncomfortable to shoot more than a few times. The xl7 should be easier on your shoulder in anything less than a magnum cartridge than your mosins. With a good recoil pad, the .30-06 or .308 are very comfortable to shoot.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

I think Cabela's had the marlin rifles on sale recently. That's too bad if you can't find one. What do you want to use the rifle for predominately? And do you handload?

I'm guessing you wouldn't want the .30-06 based on your dislike of recoil. But, people seem to like the recoil pad on the XL7, and you can use limbsavers or other products to help dampen kick. Also, you can find managed recoil loads. But in the end perhaps the .243 would be best, if it's just a range gun and won't kill anything bigger than deer.

 

[Whitman31]

What are you going to be using the gun for?

 

[mdThanatos]

I should have mentioned that it will be a range gun, steel targets starting at 200m and max I think I would ever attempt after practice practice practice would be 600m.

Currently I do not handload, college student without room to have the equipment unfortunately, but that is something that I do want to get in to in the future.

 

[TehK1w1]

I'd rate the M44 closer to a standard-weight 300 win mag in terms of recoil, due to the M44's short barrel, steel buttplate, awkward stock, and relatively light weight. A 30-06 with a scope and a recoil pad will almost certainly be more comfortable to shoot.

 

[cbrgator]

Assuming a similar bullet weight, 308 and 30-06 will recoil the same. The weight and shape of the rifle will effect perceived recoil a great deal. You should worry more about perceived than actual recoil. You can use things like recoil pads and adding weight to the rifle to reduce the perceived recoil.

 

[General Geoff]

Felt recoil is a mostly a function of muzzle energy:rifle weight ratio. Given two rifles in the same caliber (we'll say .308), one that weighs 6lbs and the other weighs 12lbs, the 12 pounder will have drastically less felt recoil.


I have an M44 Mosin Nagant carbine, and I find it fairly pleasant in terms of recoil. My friend has a Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 in a synthetic stock that is absolutely brutal. It physically hurts, with every shot you fire out of it, even with a tight shoulder hold. The model 70 weighs about 2lbs less than the M44. That's all it takes to turn tolerable recoil into painful.