Best hunting gun for deer with medium recoil

[MCgunner]

I can take a pretty good thump to the shoulder.
Am kinda scrawny and of average height...........stuff fits me well and stays put.
What I don't like....is getting smacked in the cheek.

Dunno why, got a TC Hawken Silver Elite............that just ate me up.
Buds Hawken didn't.
The gorgeous HSE was just brutal.

Drop at comb is often the culprit. If the gun was designed for optics and you're using irons, that can be the problem. I love to hunt birds. Over the years, my old SxS 12 that doesn't really fit well, not enough drop, had beat me up. My Mossberg was evil, even cut my face when it was good duck hunting. THEN, I shimmed the stock after learning about that, increased drop. Now, that Mossy is sweet! Still have that old SxS I bought in 1971. I don't shoot it much anymore. There's no way to shim that stock, fits the action too tight, very nicely fitted. So, it mostly collects dust in the safe. I have all my shotguns fitted well, now. One must try 'em on before purchase if it's a well fitted double gun. Repeaters can be fitted/shimmed. Rifles, well, most now days, even some inline muzzle loaders, are fitted for optics. My investarms built Hawken is sweet, but it wasn't made for optics.

 

[rodwha]

I load the same 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip spitzer in my 12" .30-30 Contender that I load in my .308 20" barrel Remington M7 stainless. It gets 2050 fps out of the Contender and almost 2800 fps out of the rifle in .308. It has killed 5 deer quite dead with the pistol, longest shot 90 yards. I'd have to sit here and think about and count the game I've shot with that rifle and the thing is deadly. The difference is the .30-30 drops below 1000 ft lbs just before it reaches 200 yards. With a good rest, I'd make a 200 yard shot with it. It groups 3" at that range and is dead on at 200. The rifle, of course, can reach out there. Longest shot I've made was about 370 yards on a coyote, WHAP, DRT. I could not have made that shot with a .30-30, rifle or pistol. Oh, I might have with a .30-30 rifle and my Nosler load as the bullet has a good BC. Forget about it with a RN.

You know, my .308 is only about 7 lbs with optics. I don't find it objectionable at all in recoil, even shooting groups off the bench. My 7mm mag is MUCH rougher and it weighs more. A grown man should handle the .308 easily enough. When I can't, it'll be time to quit.

For quite some time I felt I really needed a T/C Contender, and looking over many aspects of what I felt the ideal medium game round that could also handle large game was the 7mm x 30 Waters and 30-30 Win, but Ackley Improved and handloaded with boattail spitzers. That 30-30 AI nearly becomes a light .308 Win.

Now I’ve shifted gears and feel a muzzleloader with a few drop-in barrels is what I want (a compact .50 for stalking, a longer barrel with peeps and .45-.50 for still hunting longer ranges, and a 28 ga for small game and possibly turkey, and then a few other barrels that I may not need but seem cool to have).

 

[MCgunner]

For quite some time I felt I really needed a T/C Contender, and looking over many aspects of what I felt the ideal medium game round that could also handle large game was the 7mm x 30 Waters and 30-30 Win, but Ackley Improved and handloaded with boattail spitzers. That 30-30 AI nearly becomes a light .308 Win.

Now I’ve shifted gears and feel a muzzleloader with a few drop-in barrels is what I want (a compact .50 for stalking, a longer barrel with peeps and .45-.50 for still hunting longer ranges, and a 28 ga for small game and possibly turkey, and then a few other barrels that I may not need but seem cool to have).

I have a Hawken Hunter Carbine, quite accurate, rifled 1:24 for heavy Minie balls, that I got 30 years ago and never hunted with. I've shot a deer with a CVA Wolf inline scoped rifle, but none with the Hawken. I need to change that. In the woods around here, that gun makes sense and my cataracts have been fixed, so I can see those open sights now.

 

[Chickm1]

What's the best gun for deer with lower recoil?

Boy, this topic will stir the pot. I say the 7mm08 is the best deer for whitetail, period. I have a lot of other calibers, but the 7mm08 is my pet. I will kill further than 99% of the people can shoot, and is a tame recoil.

 

[.308 Norma]

I say the 7mm08 is the best deer for whitetail, period.

The 7mm08 is the best "deer" for whitetail, period??? Weird...I've never heard of a 7mm08 deer, and I've been killing mule deer for well over a half century.
Just kidding around Chickm1. I know what you meant, and I have to kinda agree with you although I personally have never shot a whitetail. I've seen a few of them, but we mostly have mule deer around here.
Nevertheless, my wife, our oldest daughter, and our oldest grandson have killed plenty of mule deer with their 7mm-08s. I prefer my 30-06 or my 308 Norma Magnum, but will readily admit neither is any better than their 7mm08s for mule deer around these parts.

That's our oldest grandson, (in the orange) Jake, his mom,(our oldest daughter) Chrissie, and Jake's friend, Seth, with Jake's 2017 deer. It's kinda funny...the 7mm-08 Jake killed that deer with used to belong to his grandmother...my wife. Mrs. .308 Norma had two 7mm-08s at one time. One was a Ruger 77, which Jake laid claim to, and a Winchester 70 Featherweight, which his mom laid claim to.
My wife had a Winchester 7mm Rem Mag customized for herself 10 or 12 years back. It's a real nice gun, but the truth is, it doesn't work any better for mule deer than either of her 7mm-08s. And it's longer and a little heavier.

 

[Hookeye]

Drop at comb is often the culprit. If the gun was designed for optics and you're using irons, that can be the problem. I love to hunt birds. Over the years, my old SxS 12 that doesn't really fit well, not enough drop, had beat me up. My Mossberg was evil, even cut my face when it was good duck hunting. THEN, I shimmed the stock after learning about that, increased drop. Now, that Mossy is sweet! Still have that old SxS I bought in 1971. I don't shoot it much anymore. There's no way to shim that stock, fits the action too tight, very nicely fitted. So, it mostly collects dust in the safe. I have all my shotguns fitted well, now. One must try 'em on before purchase if it's a well fitted double gun. Repeaters can be fitted/shimmed. Rifles, well, most now days, even some inline muzzle loaders, are fitted for optics. My investarms built Hawken is sweet, but it wasn't made for optics.

Hawken.............never seen one w stock designed for optics LOL
Mine bashes my cheek, my buddy's does not.
Somewhere my stock differs.

View attachment 826716

No pic of the gun or deer afield on this one...........biggest taken w that cheek busting POS!

View attachment 826717

 

[tlynch]

I eat more venison than any other meat, a shameful admission for a beef farmer

Why would you want to eat your inventory? Talk about "eating up profits"...

Regards,
Tom

 

[40-82]

Why would you want to eat your inventory? Talk about "eating up profits"...

Regards,
Tom

A good point and one I follow. I still regard eating beef as good advertisement. It seems ridiculous to be seen eating bacon or what the chicken pluckers produce in a public restaurant and turn around and complain about the prices of your own product.
Still, maybe I go too far. Once in the Seattle airport, on the other side of the country, my brother turned to me and said, "You can go ahead and eat chicken. Nobody knows you here."

 

[Charlie Martinez]

There are many light kicking calibers that can take deer under most conditions (check thread on the 44 mag.). I had a friend & his wife dropped a deer every season right from her kitchen window with a 222 Remington. In Texas hill country, where shots could be very close or very far I used a Ruger Mod 77 in 243 Win - Remington Core lockt 100 grainers. Hit in the lung area none ran over 30 yards before they dropped. If hit in the neck they dropped right there. I also liked my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. That is also a nice round & it doesn't kick very much either. Most Texas hunters use very powerful flat shooting calibers (30-06. 270 Win & even 300 Win Mag are very popular) but I never felt undergunned with my 243. Important to remember that for deer sized game the 243 must be loaded with the heavier bullets (I like 100 grain minimum) because the lighter bullets are for varmints & do not perform well on larger animals.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, this particular Texas hunter has .257 Roberts to 7mm Rem Mag in my safe and that doesn't include ancillary multi use weapons like an M4 in .223 and my SKSs, oh, and then there's stuff like my old 98K Mauser that will never kill a deer, but could, and my muzzle loaders and handguns. But, I like guns. One can never have too many guns, though I haven't quite convinced my wife of that. However, her problem is fabric. She's a quilter. She has a little trail to her $8000 Viking sewing machine in her sewing room. She has to clear the stuff off her long arm quilting machine just to use it. So, she doesn't have a lot of room to give me any lip about my past times.

 

[George P]

Drop at comb is often the culprit. If the gun was designed for optics and you're using irons, that can be the problem. I love to hunt birds. Over the years, my old SxS 12 that doesn't really fit well, not enough drop, had beat me up. My Mossberg was evil, even cut my face when it was good duck hunting. THEN, I shimmed the stock after learning about that, increased drop. Now, that Mossy is sweet! Still have that old SxS I bought in 1971. I don't shoot it much anymore. There's no way to shim that stock, fits the action too tight, very nicely fitted. So, it mostly collects dust in the safe. I have all my shotguns fitted well, now. One must try 'em on before purchase if it's a well fitted double gun. Repeaters can be fitted/shimmed. Rifles, well, most now days, even some inline muzzle loaders, are fitted for optics. My investarms built Hawken is sweet, but it wasn't made for optics.

A good SxS gunsmith can always bend the stock to get more drop IF that is what you need. Don't forget about cast, pitch and toe angle.

 

[MCgunner]

A good SxS gunsmith can always bend the stock to get more drop IF that is what you need. Don't forget about cast, pitch and toe angle.

My CZ is cast neutral, but I had a problem with my cheap Spartan. But, the stock was fitted pretty sloppy. It's a cheap gun. It's a solid gun and has killed a lot of birds for me, until I got my CZ O/U, but the wood is cheap. It's cast for a right hander and I shoot lefty due to eye dominance problems. I just shimmed it with a piece of shotgun shell plastic and managed to reduce the cast to neutral and increase drop a tad. It's a lot better, but not perfect. That CZ fit so well off the rack that I just had to have it. It's my bird gun, now, practically points itself.

 

[George P]

Try with some quarters or similar, or make a wedge shim for between the stock and butt plate

 

[Dhom]

All have mentioned good calibers. I believe you are overlooking the 6.5 caliber. I have in the past used most calibers mentioned and have to include 260 Remington. It performs out of porportion to it's size and velocity range. If you have experience with the 6.5 caliber you would have to agree.

 

[Paul7]

All have mentioned good calibers. I believe you are overlooking the 6.5 caliber. I have in the past used most calibers mentioned and have to include 260 Remington. It performs out of porportion to it's size and velocity range. If you have experience with the 6.5 caliber you would have to agree.

Agree with the 6.5, I like my 6.5x55, hits like a .308 but less kick than a 7mm-08. Here it is below with a cow elk I took with it.

 

[MCgunner]

Scared of the recoil of a .308? SHEESH! Gimme a .375 H&H. I ain't no wuss!!!!

 

[Garandimal]

Don't overlook the 6.5 Creedmoor w/ 125 gr. bullets.

Mimics the 130 gr. 270 - but w/ ~ 25% less recoil.




GR

 

[Elkins45]

With a heavy enough rifle I can shoot anything, so gun weight makes a real difference.

Lots of suggestions for 243 but I think 7-08 is a better choice just because you have the option of heavier bullets in case you aren’t just limited to deer.

 

[Boattale]

Rifle type makes a difference but you can't go wrong with a bolt action in .243. Great deer cartridge with minimal recoil.

That didn't take long to get the right answer.

 

[Newtosavage]

I used to say .243, because that has been the default answer for decades now. However recently, I'm quick to add the 6.5 CM to that list. I'm a long-time 7mm-08 fan, but I've been impressed with the 6.5 CM.

 

[40-82]

I've noticed a tendency to worry over minutiae. Are there differences between the ought-six, the .270, .280, 7mm-08? In the old days people would endless explain why the .32 Winchester Special was in every way superior to the 30 WCF, or even wonder if these tiny 30's could kill anything, when they were accustomed to a more substantial bore.
Sure, there are differences, but I wonder what kind of shot is contemplated on a deer that'll show much difference in the effectiveness of cartridges of a broadly similar class?
I say these things not from a position of wisdom, a desire for peace among opposing parties, or an inability to detect small advantages, but from a stand of pure bile and bitterness.
Take my favorite cartridge, the 40-82. When it came out, because of case capacity it had a significant advantage over its nearest rival the 40-65. Since back in '05 with the invention of the copper gas check and the prevalence of smokeless powders in reloading, anything I can do with my favorite 40-82, I can duplicate with the 40-65. Cases for the 40-65 are cheaper, being formed from the more commonly available 45-70, and in the full magazine '86 I can carry an extra round of 40-65's in the action.
I can argue I have long range accuracy with my old Winchesters, but when I attempt to demonstrate it to doubters on metal knock over targets. I shoot. Their invariable reaction is that I've missed, and I have to respond, "Wait. Let me start making a sandwich and before I'm halfway done, you'll hear the bullet ring the gong."
So sure, love your cartridge. Explain why it's the very best, but have a consideration for those of us who lost our argument a very long time ago.
Then this, go ahead; eat right up to hole on the deer you shot with your god awful new thing that I don't half understand.

 

[.308 Norma]

In the old days people would endless explain why the .32 Winchester Special was in every way superior to the 30 WCF,

The days don't have to be all that "old" 40-82. I remember my dad, an anything 32 guy, arguing a "32 Special kills better than a 30-30" many times. And Dad's only been gone for 12 or 13 years. Weird thing about it though - I don't remember Dad ever having a 32 Special. He loved his 308 Winchester, swore "30-06s kick too hard," and once lost a deer that he hit with a 25-06, so he swore off 25-06s, 243s, and the like forever. He tolerated my 270 Winchester for the few years I was using one for deer hunting, but he never failed to tell me, "a 270 is okay for deer, but it's a little bit small for elk."
Yeah, Dad had his idiosyncrasies and some pretty far-out opinions when it came to guns. But I dare say he was darned good with his trusty 308 Winchester, and he did kill many a head of mule deer and elk in his day.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

First, I admit I didn't read all of the comments, so if someone has already said this, forgive me.

If you're willing to spend a little money, you can get a bigger caliber that recoils like a smaller one.
I have a buddy that has a 7mm Rem mag in a Browning BAR with a muzzle break and it kicks less than my .30-06 bolt action.

If you got a .30-06 or .270 in a BAR with the break, it would recoil like a .243 or maybe even less.

 

[40-82]

The days don't have to be all that "old" 40-82. I remember my dad, an anything 32 guy, arguing a "32 Special kills better than a 30-30" many times. And Dad's only been gone for 12 or 13 years. Weird thing about it though - I don't remember Dad ever having a 32 Special. He loved his 308 Winchester, swore "30-06s kick too hard," and once lost a deer that he hit with a 25-06, so he swore off 25-06s, 243s, and the like forever. He tolerated my 270 Winchester for the few years I was using one for deer hunting, but he never failed to tell me, "a 270 is okay for deer, but it's a little bit small for elk."
Yeah, Dad had his idiosyncrasies and pretty some far-out opinions when it came to guns. But I dare say he was darned good with his trusty 308 Winchester, and he did kill many a head of mule deer and elk in his day.

 

[40-82]

The days don't have to be all that "old" 40-82. I remember my dad, an anything 32 guy, arguing a "32 Special kills better than a 30-30" many times. And Dad's only been gone for 12 or 13 years. Weird thing about it though - I don't remember Dad ever having a 32 Special. He loved his 308 Winchester, swore "30-06s kick too hard," and once lost a deer that he hit with a 25-06, so he swore off 25-06s, 243s, and the like forever. He tolerated my 270 Winchester for the few years I was using one for deer hunting, but he never failed to tell me, "a 270 is okay for deer, but it's a little bit small for elk."
Yeah, Dad had his idiosyncrasies and pretty some far-out opinions when it came to guns. But I dare say he was darned good with his trusty 308 Winchester, and he did kill many a head of mule deer and elk in his day.

One of the things I miss most about hunting in the old days was the stories of the older generation. Back in the 60's in the Virginia mountains deer hunting was more a social thing. We averaged killing two deer a year on the farm. When the season rolled around, my father's World War II buddies showed up, and the assortment of rifles they carried was amazing. While they went into the cabin to play poker and reminisce, I was tasked with checking the zeroes of the rifles. I shot Mausers, Enfields, Springfields, every manner of pre-World War II sporting rifle.

But back to cartridges, and specifically the .32 Winchester Special. If I were really hungry, would I pick it up as opposed to a bolt action telescopically sighted .308? I suppose that would depend upon the nature and the closeness of the cover. But much, I think can be learned about hunting and perhaps life with such a rifle in your hands.

A few years ago, late in the season, I had a Model 55 .32 Winchester Special, full buckhorn sights out with me, loaded with 180 grain RCBS cast bullets, at about a similar velocity to a factory jacketed load, and accurate enough on a calm day in good light to shoot a ragged hole at fifty yards, about as good as I can ever hope to do with aging eyes. In bad light, I tend to be very careful about the shot I'll take. What I did once on a warm afternoon in flat light means very little under the rigors of the hunt.

Two little bucks started going wild over a doe. I'd hate to have somebody hunting me when I was in the condition they were in. It might cause me to redefine my idea of sporting.

After a few minutes of watching, it was obvious the one buck had the inside track, and the poor second buck was going to come out too late and too slow. Realizing this, the second buck stopped to consider his situation. And there I was, twenty-five yards away in the shadows, an easy shot. With an expanded chunk of wheel weight straight through where he lives, he didn't get out of sight.

So there's your life lesson that any young hunter reading this ought by rights to pay strict attention to: If you're losing in love, keep pushing. Don't never stop to think about it. Cause sumptin might be waiting in the shadows ready to put you in the pot.
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