Recoil Question - Different Caliber but Similar Charge and Bullet Grain

[Amos Keeto]

Well, one thing you could do is learn to shoot off a tripod or if you are in a stand some type of shooting sticks to help take off some of the recoil. (They make larger rubber stoppers for a tripod to be used in a ladder that won't allow the feet to fall between the cracks, this will help a lot) I had to do that last year when I tore a bicep. Now, I prefer the "normal" way off shooting out of a stand, but one does what one has to do. A good tripod will mitigate some of that recoil, it should be enough for you to shoot 130's out of the .270 you could step down to a 110 accubond or another. Don't just buy a tripod and expect your bullets to hit in the same place as before, it will take some time to "learn it." I'm not talking weeks or anything, just a little resighting and practice before you hit the woods. Practice a lot at home taking the tripod out, setting it up, learning to mount your rifle, etc., also practice taking it down. Now do it blindfolded and in the dark!!!!!!!!! Watch that noise too.

Buy carbon fiber, use an arca clamp if you have one on your gun, this will help lock the gun in for recoil. You will have to learn "your" hand placement for the tripod, there are several videos on youtube to show you how to handle recoil off a tripod, there were 2/3 that were really good about hand placement and/or using a piece of paracord to tie the front end to your belt loop and hold the front end down (this one really helped.) Most of those videos were of guys shooting 6mm or 6.5 creedmores, crap those little pop guns can't compare to the recoil of a 300 win. Those videos didn't help me with hand placement.

Also, get a good limbsaver or pachmayr recoil pad, yeah I know, they can hang on clothing while coming to bare, but you are protecting your shoulder, there will be some tradeoff. Also, you might try a cheek riser pad to get your head more in line with your scope, this will also mitigate recoil (it helps more than you think and it's a lot cheaper than a new stock). They also make some Tshirts with a pad in them already, you may try that as well. None of these last three things are going to stop recoil, but they should tame it enough to shoot that 270 with 130's out of it. There is nothing wrong with a 130 powerpoint on deer, period some are using a 110 accubond too. That 110 reduced recoil should really help.

After finally obtaining a .270, I made a friend who also was a .270 fan. AND....he was a reloaded!
At that time (early 1970's), the "best" (?) bullet on the shelf was Sierra!
Mitch preferred the 130 grain BTSP! That's pretty much what I've been shooting every since.
When my wife started hunting, I loaded some 110 grain BTSP for her to help reduce recoil. I used some of that ammo myself.
Works great!
About 2010, I went to a 6.8mm Rem SPC (.277 caliber) in an AR platform.
To accommodate for the smaller powder charge, I went to a Sierra 90 HP.

Seemed to work just fine!
I have since acquired some 100 grain Gold Dot (Speer?) bullets.
If a 90 grain HP works this well on a pig, the 100 grain SP should work just fine for a deer.

I think I need to load the 100 grain SP bullets and practice out to 200 yards or so.

I've been hunting out of a ground blind for quite a while now. I built my own and I put in a "shooting bench" (such as it is) and normally shoot off bench bags.

My "biggest" problem is time and resources.
I'm 74 and have mobility issues. If I need something next week, I have to start last month! LOL!

 

[Stinky Coyote]

I find bullet weight makes more difference to what I feel. Ie: 6.5 Grendel shooting factory 123’s feels like a .243 to me shooting factory 90-95gr. Less powder and less on recoil calculator.

Also load for sure. Factory 308 165 fusion from a 20” I have does 2676 fps where factory 168 eldm at 2592 is easy to feel difference.

Then add in different guns. Have two 20” 308’s and one is lighter than other but same load through either the lighter one with better stock design and material is less felt recoil than the heavier one and it’s noticeable. Ie a box through the light gun don’t even think about it, could go all day, a box through the other one and I’m embracing the touch every shot lol.

Just to muddy the waters.

I do enjoy the 308 168 recoil though. Feels good. It reminds me of .270 win shooting 140’s. About my upper threshold for 7 lb all up guns and fun shooting with naked barrels.

I was shooting a friends Tikka 30-06 with American whitetail 180’s that were slow about 2600 and it had a limb saver and was surprised at it, seemed similar to my 308’s. Recoil pad does help those kicky tikkas.

 

[Amos Keeto]

Another "muddy the waters" story.
Back in the late 70's, the (gun) store owner where I worked was trying to get a South African cape buffalo hunt together. Not sure exactly the deal, but it was more a cheap "cull" hunt and a trophy wasn't even mentioned.

Dave ordered two Ruger M77's in .458 Win Mag.
When they came in, we took them out to "check them out", so you speak.
I bought a box of .458's, but didn't expect to shoot more than 2, maybe 3!
The recoil I was expecting, an eye crossing, bolt of lightning like a mountain howitzer going off in your ear with a mule kick to the shoulder in the end ..... didn't happen!
Well I'll be!
The recoil, though the report WAS loud, was more of a heavy shove than a sharp jolt!
I ended up shooting nearly that entire box of ammo! It was a blast!
My PH .270 Win was more uncomfortable to shoot!