Hunterdad
Member
Im having a friendly debate with a buddy of mine on which has more recoil; the .308 or the .270. Considering it's the same model gun and both are identical in weight, which would it be?
Thanks
Adam
Thanks
Adam
Which has more recoil: .308 or.270
- Thread starter Hunterdad
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ISO1600
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my buddy and i have similar rifles- my savage is a 308 and his howa is a 270. almost the same weight and setup. with similar loads, his 270 has noticeably more recoil. enough so that i dont think i could enjoy shooting it on a regular basis.
my 308 i can shoot all day though.
my 308 i can shoot all day though.
These 2 are very close. The 308 will probably work out to have the most recoil if you do the math, but differences in loads could change that.
There is a difference in real recoil, and felt recoil. The stock shape and weight of individual guns can make some guns with well designed stocks feel as if they have less recoil than they really do.
For all practical purposes I'd call this a tie. If I were handed two rifles in both calibers and asked to shoot them without knowing which was in which caliber, I'd probably have a hard time telling.
There is a difference in real recoil, and felt recoil. The stock shape and weight of individual guns can make some guns with well designed stocks feel as if they have less recoil than they really do.
For all practical purposes I'd call this a tie. If I were handed two rifles in both calibers and asked to shoot them without knowing which was in which caliber, I'd probably have a hard time telling.
Recoil depends a lot on stock design. A good stock will make recoil go away. A bad one will be painful.
I learned this recently. I had an M1 Garand. After 20 rounds I was done. The gun kicks like heck.
I boight a Ruger #1 in 30-06. Smaller lighter gun should kick more, right?
Nope. Gun has no kick hardly. I can shoot 30 rounds and keep going.
I learned this recently. I had an M1 Garand. After 20 rounds I was done. The gun kicks like heck.
I boight a Ruger #1 in 30-06. Smaller lighter gun should kick more, right?
Nope. Gun has no kick hardly. I can shoot 30 rounds and keep going.
According to the above noted chart, both identical rifles shooting factory 150 grain loadings,,,the .308 would develop less recoil energy.
Remember though that felt recoil is a perception in each shooters mind.
Because the .270 would produce a louder report, one shooter may also perceive the recoil to be greater while another shooter, not affected by muzzle blast, may perceive the .308 to develop greater recoil forces because the shorter case ejects the blast faster than the longer case of the .270 resulting in a sharper, faster recoil impulse, even though the .308 actually produces less recoil energy mathmatically.
This is one of those tavern arguements that can never be adequately resolved because perception is a concept of the mind.
Remember though that felt recoil is a perception in each shooters mind.
Because the .270 would produce a louder report, one shooter may also perceive the recoil to be greater while another shooter, not affected by muzzle blast, may perceive the .308 to develop greater recoil forces because the shorter case ejects the blast faster than the longer case of the .270 resulting in a sharper, faster recoil impulse, even though the .308 actually produces less recoil energy mathmatically.
This is one of those tavern arguements that can never be adequately resolved because perception is a concept of the mind.
SpeedAKL
Member
From experience they feel pretty similar. .308 may be a touch sharper when using heavier bullets.
Sav .250
Member
All things being equal.............the .308. But if a shooter is a wimp, then both will do him/her in. 
mljdeckard
Member
Well, for .308 I shoot 175 gr, for .270 I shoot 130 gr, so I feel significantly less with the .270.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Add the bullet weight to the powder weight and multiply by the muzzle velocity. Then compare the numbers.
E.g: For common loadings for the .308, 150 + 45 x 2,800 and for the .270, 130 + 53 x 3,000.
The math is left as an exercise for the student.
E.g: For common loadings for the .308, 150 + 45 x 2,800 and for the .270, 130 + 53 x 3,000.
The math is left as an exercise for the student.
Dr T
Member
Given the same weight, stock design, bullet weight, powder type, and velocity, the 308 will kick less.
It is simple physics. Without going into the equations, recoil is a function of bullet weight, powder weight, velocity, and gun weight. Recoil increases with bullet weight, powder weight, and velocity, and decreases with gun weight.
In the same case design (say 270 and 30-06), the larger diameter bullet will take less powder to accelerate it to the given velocity. The smaller case (308) will take even less powder than the 30-06.
That is why, for 150 gr bullets and the same powder, the 270 will kick more than the 30-06, which will kick more than the 308.
As a side note: This also explains why, up to about 165 gr bullets, the 308 will tend to outperform the 30-06. Above 165 gr bullets, the 308 performance is limited by pressure considerations.
It is simple physics. Without going into the equations, recoil is a function of bullet weight, powder weight, velocity, and gun weight. Recoil increases with bullet weight, powder weight, and velocity, and decreases with gun weight.
In the same case design (say 270 and 30-06), the larger diameter bullet will take less powder to accelerate it to the given velocity. The smaller case (308) will take even less powder than the 30-06.
That is why, for 150 gr bullets and the same powder, the 270 will kick more than the 30-06, which will kick more than the 308.
As a side note: This also explains why, up to about 165 gr bullets, the 308 will tend to outperform the 30-06. Above 165 gr bullets, the 308 performance is limited by pressure considerations.
pikid89
Member
get some 100 grain 270 bullets and shooting the 270 will be a breeze
i have a Ruger M77 MKII with the super light canoe paddle stock and while 150s would be tiresome in a hurry, the 100s are nothin
i have a Ruger M77 MKII with the super light canoe paddle stock and while 150s would be tiresome in a hurry, the 100s are nothin
Cop Bob
Member
I don't even notice it.. to me about the same... >308 with a 168gr, and 270 with 130's... moot point... Both 700 rems...
Hunterdad
Member
Seems like we both may be right. I think it really comes down to the individual. The reason this all came up, was because a friend and I went to the range together. I had got a Marlin XS7 in .308 for Christmas and he happened to stumble upon a XL7 in .270. He shot 10rds out of his and was complaining about his shoulder hurting because the recoil was so bad. I had shot 40rds out of my .308 and my shoulder was a bit tender but really didn't hurt. He claimed that his .270 has WAY more recoil than the .308. I had trouble believing it.
Z-Michigan
Member
As others have noted, felt recoil is not identical to actual force. I find that my perception of recoil is far higher when there's a lot of muzzle blast and a really sharp report, even when I'm wearing the best hearing protection.
Actually no, you would compare momentum of the projectile.
Actually no, you would compare momentum of the projectile.
gamestalker
member
With both identical models and stocks, the difference is going to be the in the loads. A 130 gr. with a MV of 3150 fps from the .270 v.s. the .308 shooting a 165 gr. @ 2800 fps is probably going to make that .270 the higher recoiling combination. I don't have my books in front of me right now, so that is only my best guess and opinion.
I used to shoot a lot of hand loaded .270 and .308 and always got beat up worse by the .270. Now I work mostly with the 7mm rem. mag. which has taken recoil to a much different level.
I used to shoot a lot of hand loaded .270 and .308 and always got beat up worse by the .270. Now I work mostly with the 7mm rem. mag. which has taken recoil to a much different level.
d2wing
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Another guy must have slept through his physics classes. According to Newtons law, all else being equal, the one with the most energy has the most recoil. Of course this is measurement of the cartridges. It is just a rule of thumb because there are many more factors in actual recoil, but it gives a very good idea how cartridges directly compare.
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lightman
Member
On paper,they are close.But,in real life the 270 seems to have more recoil.Guess I'm a wimp!
Read Art's post, #12 and do the math. With the example Art gave the 270 will have SLIGHTLY more recoil. Use another load combination and the 308 would have slighty more recoil.
Even though you and your friend have identical rifles the 308 is on a short action and a .308 caliber hole in the barrel vs a long action 270 with a .277 hole in the barrell. The 270 would weigh 4-5 oz more. That does not take into account the differences in scopes and mounts. Depending on your optics one rifle could weigh a pound more than the other. Even though both are identical Marlin's
Even though you and your friend have identical rifles the 308 is on a short action and a .308 caliber hole in the barrel vs a long action 270 with a .277 hole in the barrell. The 270 would weigh 4-5 oz more. That does not take into account the differences in scopes and mounts. Depending on your optics one rifle could weigh a pound more than the other. Even though both are identical Marlin's
The accurate answer is: both. It depends merely on which load you use in each. Load a .270 Win with 160 grain projectiles to max, and a .308 Win with 55 grain sabots. Conversely, load the .308 Win with 180 grain projectiles at max, and the .270 Win with 90 grain HPs, and see. It depends on the load.
Geno
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