Another vote here for a 7mm-08. I’d consider myself recoil sensitive and have no issues with that cartridge. One thing to keep in mind is that stock design can make a big impact on felt recoil. Even some of the bigger rounds mentioned can be a pleasure to shoot with a good stock, but with the wrong stock they can be a lot harder to handle.
Problem with an AR-10 in .308 or 6.5cm, they all are heavy, I’d never hunt with mine when I can take a lighter rifle.
6CM would be my first choice, my second would probably be 6MM ARC, and my third would be a 6.5 PRC.
I’ve been helping my pops with the same thing. 7 mag guy since he bought the first one. He saw my bulls I killed with my 6.5prc and I forced him to carry it on our last elk hunt together. He shot a cow with it at 508 yards. It’s a savage ultralight 110 and weighs right about 7 pounds loaded. Threaded for a suppressor, but a muzzle-brake is rocksett on it until I take it to the gunsmith. The action is a bit sloppy and clunky (but functional) and that’s my only complaint. That rifle has killed 3 bulls and his cow, and I don’t remember how many deer. He has converted his deer hunting to a 6.5 creedmoor and when he is ready for “a new elk rifle” I don’t think he would be hard to convince the 6.5prc is the way to go. It has enough “knockdown power and energy” to calm his mind, it’s light enough to keep him going, and with the lack of recoil, he can still go hunting. That’s all that matters.
22 Creedmoor has been excellent so far. Three 1 shot kills on big game so far in 2024. Looking foreword to more kills coming up as the fall and winter roll on.
Less recoil. Will kill just the same.
6.5 prc with suppressor is perfect. My Fierce weighs 5.3 lbs naked add a scope of your choice and a 11-13 oz suppressor and your off to the races.
