Lighter recoiling elk rifle

[7RemMag]

Ammo availability could be a limitation for him, depending on how internet savvy he is, and if he reloads or not. I suppose it could be a bit on the spendy side, but I purchased a Weatherby Mark V in 280 Ackley Improved this August, and I absolutely love it. The brake is not obnoxious, and My sister who is quite petite shoots the rifle with no problems. The barrel is threaded, so a suppressor is not out of the question, but I'd be leery of putting anything heavy on it for fear of accuracy issues. The barrel is thin and might not handle a heavy suppressor very well. The same rifle, or many others, in 7mm-08 is an excellent choice as well.

 

[Billyvan]

7mm-08 or an old school favorite, 25-06. The 25 is a great round but has been overlooked now by all the 6.5 variations. You would be able to find heavier factory loads for the 7mm-08. I recently purchased some Underwood 150 accubonds for my 7mm-08. I think that would be a great option. I have a couple in the Remington 700, but have seen a few tikkas for sale on here at times. The 243 option seems crazy to me on an Elk because I’ve shot a truck load of deer with one and never been that impressed. (Though I do own one in a tikka that’s a tax driver)

 

[Gman12]

I use my bow for elk hunting but have a rifle that I really like for deer hunting at home that would be perfect for your dad. It is a 7mm-08 Savage 110 Lightweight Storm. It is very similar to expensive, custom mountain rifles and has very little recoil. It is very light and easy to carry in the mountains and accurate right out of the box. 7mm-08 would be fine for elk IMO.

 

[Pharmseller]

My dad at 77 with his final bull. Tikka 7mm-08, 140 AB, 225 yards.

One shot.






P

 

[JackButler]

Not

I’d suggest 6.5 cm if you reload and can load it for the heaviest bullet and he only takes perfect shots, otherwise I’d go with a .308 and still reload and get some 215’s slinging at slower speeds and limit range.

Factory ammo I think both 6.5cm and .308 feel the same recoil wise.

I like my 6.5cm but can’t see ever using it on elk while I have a 30 cal.

Not saying this wouldn’t work, but the 308 with 168 tmk’s is good to go to at least 400 yards for elk, farther if you’re at higher altitudes. Probably same deal for the 6.5 cm with something like the eldx but I don’t have first hand real world experience with that one.

 

[TaperPin]

I love a 7mm bullet - what the 7 mag can do at 600, the 7mm-08 can do at 400.

Having said that, is there a hill of beans difference between getting hit with a 140 or 150gr 270 bullet or the same weight in a 7mm-08? .007” difference in bullet diameter doesn’t equate to a big advantage based on that alone.

I have both, and either would work, but I’d use the 270. If pops already has a 270 and shoots it well, there’s zero advantage to getting a 7-08. The 270 has been used extensively out west for 99 years, or is it 100?

 

[3325]

The Henry Long Ranger is chambered in both .308 and 6.5. I think a lever action looks a bit goofy suppressed but people do it:

I’d stick with the .270. From marmots to moose, .270 is never a bad choice, even if some people argue it’s not the optimal choice.

 

[EJFS]

The Henry Long Ranger is chambered in both .308 and 6.5. I think a lever action looks a bit goofy suppressed but people do it:

I’d stick with the .270. From marmots to moose, .270 is never a bad choice, even if some people argue it’s not the optimal choice.

That is an abomination

 

[southLA]

I used to think my lightweight savage .308 was light recoiling. Then I got a new savage .270 and use a suppressor on it, that sucker is nice

 

[TheCoyote]

I did not read the entire thread so forgive me if it has already been mentioned, but have you considered putting a muzzle break on his 30-06?

Lighter than a silencer, less recoil than a silencer, and no ATF hoops to jump.

My gunsmith put a Terminator break in my .300 WM and it recoils like a .243. I instantly became a better shooter!

Only downside is that you must must must be wearing ear protection because it is LOUD!

 

[Indian Summer]

On the subject of lighter caliber guns, just remember the more energy you send out one end of a gun the more energy you’re going to get back in your direction. The only variable would be a muzzle brake or suppressor. So while you’re focusing mainly on the energy coming back at you in the form of recoil, don’t lose sight of the fact that the more energy the better, when it comes to killing and recovering elk.

 

[GunsAreFun]

It's all relative, but my 300WM suppressed is very manageable on recoil. My 6.5CM suppressed is basically recoilless. Also could look at an AR-10 in .308. It suppressed would be smooth too.

How would your 300WM suppressed compare to something like a 308, 270, or 6.5 unsuppressed?

 

[TheCoyote]

How would your 300WM suppressed compare to something like a 308, 270, or 6.5 unsuppressed?

I have a Q trash panda silencer and honestly it makes a huge difference. It felt like a .270 to me. Very manageable.

The issue I had with it was that 24” barrel plus 7” silencer was like walking around the woods with a flagpole. That’s when I went to the muzzle break.

For what it’s worth, when I was 14 I shot a bull elk with a 6mm Remington at 300 yards and it dumped him in his tracks. Obviously it isn’t an ideal elk round. Just sayin.

 

[406life]

How would your 300WM suppressed compare to something like a 308, 270, or 6.5 unsuppressed?

I'd say the felt recoil is less. I never loose sight picture and I don't have to deal with the muzzle blast. Both make for much more effective shooting and followups. My 6.5 suppressed is essentially nothing.

 

[wind gypsy]

in regards to the OP - any 6 to 7mm in a standard short action cartridge with the right bullets should do the trick.

How would your 300WM suppressed compare to something like a 308, 270, or 6.5 unsuppressed?

Some math:

Say a 300 WM has 32 ft/lb of recoil energy compared to 12.5 ft/lb in a 6.5 creedmoor, both being 9 # rifles. You'd need 61% recoil reduction on the 300 WM for them to be on par.

Lets use a TBAC magnus S as a representative hunting suppressor. TBAC has tested and published the measured recoil reduction of this suppressor in 308 and 300 WM rifles - in the 300 WM it had 14% recoil reduction. That reduces your 300 WM down to 27.5 ft lb of recoil energy... Still over double the 12.5 from a 6.5.

I'd love to see phone scope vid from the folks who have non-existing recoil with their 6.5 creed and bigger cartridges. They all must be much better than I at managing recoil.