Low recoil rifle for elk, deer, etc. but .270 or larger caliber

[EastHumboldt]

Not really, no. A 150 grain out of a 7-08 will a) run about 2770 vs 2875 for the 308, and b) burn a fair bit less powder to do it. Using reloading data, we get:

7.5 lb rifle in both cases, and using kwk.us/recoil.html to calculate:

150 grain 7mm-08 at 2770 FPS using 40 grains of powder = 14.3 lbs of recoil (12.7 in an 8.5lb rifle).

150 grain 308 at 2875 FPS using 47 grains of powder = 17 lbs of recoil (15 in an 8.5 lb rifle)

So the 7mm-08 is around 16% less recoil. That's plenty less recoil to be noticably less, both on paper and in real life (I've owned Tikka's in both 308 and 7mm-08, and the 7mm-08 was very noticeably less recoil). There will be some variation in those recoil numbers depending on what powder factory ammo used, those are just what I use for my reloads (Varget in both cases), but not all that much.

I’m always open to learning. I see from examining Hodgdon tables for .308 and 7-08 that you are about 1/3 of the way up between min and max loads for varget on the 7-08, but maxed out on the .308 load, so of course more recoil would be expected using a 150 gr projectile. For 7-08, I use Staball 6.5 at 46gr behind a 150 ELDX which delivers more pressure and correspondingly puts the projectile in the same velocity class as the .308 with varget. What I should have said is “if both projectiles are launched at the same velocity” then recoil should be almost identical. I should note that I don’t use the max listed load of 48.5 gr because I get pressure signs. (This is out of a tikka T3x)

Am I correct in assuming that the .284 projectile with a higher BC will have flatter ballistics and maintain more velocity at 500 than would a .308 projectile at the same velocity?

 

[grfox92]

I’m always open to learning. I see from examining Hodgdon tables for .308 and 7-08 that you are about 1/3 of the way up between min and max loads for varget on the 7-08, but maxed out on the .308 load, so of course more recoil would be expected using a 150 gr projectile. For 7-08, I use Staball 6.5 at 46gr behind a 150 ELDX which delivers more pressure and correspondingly puts the projectile in the same velocity class as the .308 with varget. What I should have said is “if both projectiles are launched at the same velocity” then recoil should be almost identical.

Am I correct in assuming that the .284 projectile with a higher BC will have flatter ballistics and maintain more velocity at 500 than would a .308 projectile at the same velocity?

Im also open to learning, but as a guy who reloads for both 7mm08 and .308, I havent seen a combination yet where a
308 maintains more velocity than the 7mm08.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[joliver2]

7-08 and 25-06

 

[Brandon_SPC]

The likelihood of you drawing a tag in KY is slim to none. You have roughly less than 1%...... So I would personally just buy whatever you want, then IF you draw a tag in KY, get a rifle that is .277 cal or bigger.

 

[EastHumboldt]

Tell your wife the internet consensus was buy whatever you want. Works for me!

 

[Mcsmith]

Tell your wife the internet consensus was buy whatever you want. Works for me!

Sounds logical. “Honey, the guys said it’s not possible to do unless I get two new guns” I’m sure I can make that work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColPenguin]

If you draw a KY Elk tag then you can shoot it with my .308 CTR.

 

[landman650]

7mm-08 or 280ai

 

[UnckleBob]

Tell your wife the internet consensus was buy whatever you want. Works for me!

He could always leave the house with an empty rifle case after telling his wife that he is having the gunsmith take a look at it.
1) Buy what he wants
2) Dump the box and return with the new rifle in the rifle case.

 

[Pharmseller]

It is a once in 20 years draw odds tag. Plenty of use have said don't base a primary rifle on that what if and pick up a take off barrel or such.

He also might hunt out west, were dumb regulations don't mandate larger that a 6.5 for elk.

I once bought a new rifle because my brother had one and I didn’t.

 

[Pharmseller]

Not really, no. A 150 grain out of a 7-08 will a) run about 2770 vs 2875 for the 308, and b) burn a fair bit less powder to do it. Using reloading data, we get:

7.5 lb rifle in both cases, and using kwk.us/recoil.html to calculate:

150 grain 7mm-08 at 2770 FPS using 40 grains of powder = 14.3 lbs of recoil (12.7 in an 8.5lb rifle).

150 grain 308 at 2875 FPS using 47 grains of powder = 17 lbs of recoil (15 in an 8.5 lb rifle)

So the 7mm-08 is around 16% less recoil. That's plenty less recoil to be noticably less, both on paper and in real life (I've owned Tikka's in both 308 and 7mm-08, and the 7mm-08 was very noticeably less recoil). There will be some variation in those recoil numbers depending on what powder factory ammo used, those are just what I use for my reloads (Varget in both cases), but not all that much.

Run it again using 46.2 grains. Do the numbers change much? I don’t know of any powder where 40 grains gets you 2770 with a 150.

46.2 grains of Big Game gets me 2780 fps with a 150 out of a 7mm-08.

 

[Mcsmith]

He could always leave the house with an empty rifle case after telling his wife that he is having the gunsmith take a look at it.
1) Buy what he wants
2) Dump the box and return with the new rifle in the rifle case.

She’s not against me getting a new rifle, she’s actually encouraging me to buy decent rifle but when I bring up the idea of a rifle better for deer and a separate one better for elk is where she doesn’t follow along so that’s where I’m trying to decide on a do it all. And with the brakes I’m seeing I don’t think I’d have an issue with some of the larger caliber’s as much as long as I find a decent stock and caliber that’s not overkill on deer but still is over the .270 limit. So now I’m looking into ballistics in that recoil range and might just have to settle on a heavier rifle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bobbyboe]

I didnt read through this entire post, but I wouldn't make a caliber decision based on lottery ticket odds. Get the caliber you want, and treat yourself to a new rifle if you stike gold.