A new low recoil deer rifle

[Don Fischer]

Can the OP reload or does he have a friend that can for him? Cast bullet's loads can be extreamly mild to shoot. Had a 180gr load worked up for a grandson and turns out he doesn't care for shooting. Recoils about like a 22 Hornet! If reloading can't be done and it's legal any 22 CF will get the job done very well with the right shot placement for the bullet used! Otherwise could be that even a 243 could recoil to much, couldn't know just from guessing. And if it does, there's always the 30 caliber's with cast bullet's!

 

[Gojo03]

If you are an AR shooter, 6.8spc or 6.5g would get my vote for best whitetail. I have a 6.8spc and that's all I use it for. I'm going to try the 300BLKOUT this year. If you aren't shooting far that 300 with Subsonic ammo is really light recoiling. You have to be real selective with the ammo choice for proper expansion at slower speeds.

If it's a bolt gun, see if you can find some Hornady lite reduced recoil ammo. My daughter's 7mm08 is very light shooting with those 120gr SSTs and very effective on the WT she shot when she was 9.

My latest 308 shoots much softer than my last one did. Shorter barrel, muzzle break and a can brings the recoil and noise level down a good bit.

 

[Bullshot]

I’d think 243 is the simplest, easiest, best and most versatile low recoil/high performance answer if you want to use it for various things both east and west. Up it to 260 Rem or 6.5 cm if you want to include elk where .243 might not be legal, and can take a couple more FP’s of recoil.

A 30/30 might take 2nd place, if you are focused on eastern whitetails and black bears and/or shot distances are generally kept shorter.

I don’t believe dropping down to
near “varmint” calibers is necessary or will gain you any noticeable relief.

 

[TheNorthStar]

Sorry this happened to you, man. I dumped out of my ladder a couple seasons ago while putting it up in a new location. The lower rope portion gave way before i could get the ratchet strap up top fastened. Lucky for me, I came down on my feet and rolled out, all I have to show for it is a smiley face scar on the inside of my right bicep. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Before buying a whole new rifle, if any of your .308's are capable, I'd look into muzzle breaks. A friend of mine has a DD Delta 5 in .308 with a giant break on the end. Son of a bitch is like 14 pounds too, which helps immensly, but it's comparable to shooting my light weight 5.56.

 

[steveshuntn1]

Thanks for all the ideas…I go back to doc Monday to get a bucket full of staples out and on the road to therapy. So I’ll be asking then about hunting and recoil. If need be I have a crossbow!

 

[Redmt]

I have knocked down countless deer and hogs with a Ruger American Ranch in .223

 

[Gunner46]

I had lower back surgery a few moons back. Just a couple weeks at home with both my wife & my Mother Hen'ing the BaGeezes out of me over all the "Don't do That's" I called my best man at my wedding and told him to rescue me. 2 days later he shows up, in the Jeep, and against the hurricane force objections of womanhood Bill whisked me away to Billy's deer camp.

I was carefully cared for and treated better there than at home.......

George (My CO during Desert Storm) lent me his 7/08. Nice, nice recoil pad, great stock.

The guys escorted me to a stand and made sure I was good, then left me the F' alone (great guys)

I tagged 2 deer that afternoon. 1 shot each and never had a flinch of pain.

After that I retired my 308 and became a 7HT advocate, which has lasted for over 20 years. I did however put a AirTech pad on it. It shoots Sweeeet !!

 

[steveshuntn1]

Bought a Ruger 300 blackout from my cousin for little to nothing. Nice light little gun. Watching my daughter shoot it the recoil seemed little to nothing. So I think I should be good to go by December. If the back keeps healing as well as it is I’ll hopefully have some deer for my son in law to drag out for me this winter.

 

[Redmt]

Bought a Ruger 300 blackout from my cousin for little to nothing. Nice light little gun. Watching my daughter shoot it the recoil seemed little to nothing. So I think I should be good to go by December. If the back keeps healing as well as it is I’ll hopefully have some deer for my son in law to drag out for me this winter.

I have a .300 BO also. There's some very nice recipes available for reloads for the caliber.

 

[Caseknife]

You will do good with the BO. I have an AR pistol in .300 BO and loaded up the 110 TAC-X Barnes.

 

[Redmt]

The 110 and 120 gr. Barnes are very effective with the correct charge behind them. Very hard hitting and accurate out to 150yds.

 

[steveshuntn1]

I don’t reload and don’t know anyone who does, but I ordered some of the factory Barnes 110 to hunt with, I didn’t see any 120 for sale. My cousin gave me two boxes of the Winchester deer season xp…he’s been using those for deer and hogs and has had mixed results. Hasn’t lost an animal, but has had to do some tracking jobs that were pretty far he said. They didn’t penetrate well either in his opinion. I’m hoping the Barnes 110 will do a better job.

 

[Tikka06]

If you already have an AR in 556, then just order a 6.5 Grendel or 300BO upper from palmetto state. I helped a friend sight in a 6.5 Grendel AR the other day and it was super accurate. Plus you can always change the brake out for more recoil reduction. I have also been working with my AR 308 with a suppressor recently and it has virtually no recoil but the whole rig comes in around 10.5lbs.

 

[winmag]

Why is everyone making this complicated? 243 Win. Its an excellent deer cartridge and it’s even legal for elk in CO.

 

[steveshuntn1]

Why is everyone making this complicated? 243 Win. Its an excellent deer cartridge and it’s even legal for elk in CO.

I was actually going to go check out a local gun shop next week after a therapy appointment and my cousin called about the 300 BO and for 200$ I couldn’t pass it up! A .243 would have definitely been on my radar! Kicking myself for selling a little compact ruger .243 I had about 10 years ago now.

 

[winmag]

I was actually going to go check out a local gun shop next week after a therapy appointment and my cousin called about the 300 BO and for 200$ I couldn’t pass it up! A .243 would have definitely been on my radar! Kicking myself for selling a little compact ruger .243 I had about 10 years ago now.

$200 is a steal! Good choice then!

 

[Addicting]

.223 with a good bullet or .243 with a stock that is a bit on the heavy side.

So I picked up a 223 for the “kids” and you need to check the twist before you buy. The 700 has a 12 twist that is only good for 55-60 grain and below. 60 is marginal stability and depends on each person altitude and gun.

Newer 700s come with a 9 twist that most ARs have. They will stabilize a much heavier bullet suited for deer.

I recovering a 55gn Vmax bullet from a groundhog and it only weighed 12.4gn. It got about 5” of penetration and was found on the off hide. No way that is suitable for deer but it is about as heavy as I dare go.

 

[ImBillT]

So I picked up a 223 for the “kids” and you need to check the twist before you buy. The 700 has a 12 twist that is only good for 55-60 grain and below. 60 is marginal stability and depends on each person altitude and gun.

Newer 700s come with a 9 twist that most ARs have. They will stabilize a much heavier bullet suited for deer.

I recovering a 55gn Vmax bullet from a groundhog and it only weighed 12.4gn. It got about 5” of penetration and was found on the off hide. No way that is suitable for deer but it is about as heavy as I dare go.

A 12” twist will stabilize the 60gr Partition, 64gr BSB and 64gr PowerPoint. All excellent bullets for hogs and deer.

The original 60gr partition was stable in a 14” twist, but the new version is longer and requires a 12”. Shame on you Nosler! I would 100% hunt whitetails in the back country with my 223AI if the 60gr Partition was stable in a 14” twist.

I would not recommend a V-max for deer. I’m not saying it can’t work, I’m just saying I wouldn’t recommend it. A 60gr V-max is not stable in a 12” twist.

Remington offered both a 12” and 9” twist in the 223Rem for many years. It depended on the model. I’m not sure when they started offering a 9” twist, but my dad had a 9” twist Police Special in the 90’s, so you have to know which model you have, but it’s anything but new.

 

[tzone]

For that sort of injury the only two I'd even consider would be the .223 Rem or the .22-250 Rem.

But truthfully, I'd worry more about getting healed up for future hunts than I would about hunting this season. Good luck to you.

 

[tzone]

So I picked up a 223 for the “kids” and you need to check the twist before you buy. The 700 has a 12 twist that is only good for 55-60 grain and below. 60 is marginal stability and depends on each person altitude and gun.

Newer 700s come with a 9 twist that most ARs have. They will stabilize a much heavier bullet suited for deer.

I recovering a 55gn Vmax bullet from a groundhog and it only weighed 12.4gn. It got about 5” of penetration and was found on the off hide. No way that is suitable for deer but it is about as heavy as I dare go.

We have shot a fair amount of deer now with the 55gr barnes ttsx out of .223 Rems. They're flat lights out killers. I can't tell you what they weigh because they're buried in the dirt behind the deer we've shot. Not one has been recovered.