Recoil comparison of 30-06 to other elk calibers?

[Lucky Strike]

Recently gotten into elk hunting (this will be my 3rd year) and so far have been using my uncles older Ruger M77 in 30-06. I figure it's probably time to get my own elk rifle and at first was just going to get something in 30-06 but am starting to get intrigued by some of the other common elk calibers out there.

Just wondering on the recoil differences (assuming a common weight rifle) between 30-06 and rounds like 7mm, 300 WinMag, 300WSM, etc

The idea of a flatter shooting round sounds great but not sure how big a jump the recoil is

I have yet to actually take a shot on an elk (got within 50yds to a cow last year but we had spike only tags) with that 30-06 but when sighting the rifle in i haven't have much problem handling the recoil. Sure after i was done my shoulder was a little sore but it wasn't like i was dreading it every time i pulled the trigger

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

If you really wanted to power down, cartridges like the 6.5x55, 7mm08 and 7x57 with heavy for bore partition type bullets will work on elk, reduce recoil, and catch up ballistically to the 06 down range.

 

[Art Eatman]

Fairly easy to get direct comparisons. For each cartridge, add the weight of the bullet to the weight of the powder. Multiply that by the muzzle velocity. For equal-weight rifles, that will give you the percentage differences.

Example (arbitrary): '06: 180-grain, 50 grains of powder, MV of 2,700. .300 Win Mag: 180-grain, 75 grains of powder, MV around 3,000. So 230 times 2,700 compared to 255 times 3000. The Win Mag will have around 23% more ouchie.

 

[usmc1371]

I killed my first 8 or 9 elk in oregon with a ruger M77 30-06 and it worked great. I now carry a m77 all weather for elk and it does shoot a little flatter but you pay for it in recoil, the 7mag imho is right there with the 06 recoil wise and shoots flatter and many a elk has been smoked down with the 7mag. I am just a die hard 30cal fan.

I had a spike only tag... once. Saw the two biggest bulls I have ever seen in oregon with that tag in my pocket at less than 100 yds. Never have killed a spike, lots of cows in NE oregon and one nice bull in Idaho.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Win Mag will have around 23% more ouchie.

Now I have read that the perception of recoil is nonlinear, i.e. below a certain threshold, it feels like "no big deal", but above it, recoil FEELS harsh out of proportion to the actual increase.

Hard to say what to think... I mean, how do you measure how it feels?

 

[UnTainted]

Don't overlook the 338 win mag! It's a good elk caliber i hear.

 

[ILikeLead]

Recoil has been measured...

and may be in charts on the internet, But CONSIDER that the recoil pad will make a difference. My wife prefers to shoot her .270 WSM in REM 700 LSS more than my 30-06 BAR (heavier). It's because of the limbsaver pad. No hard plastic driving into your pectoral muscle and collarbone.

Just 2 pennies for ya

 

[ArmedBear]

A soft recoil pad, and the stock fit. Stock design matters, too.

The reason for the Weatherby's funky comb is that you can have a tight cheek weld, but the comb will recoil away from your face. Combined with a good pad, and the generally heavy weight of Weatherby's rifles, they are surprisingly comfortable to shoot offhand.

Roy Weatherby was, of course, a high-velocity Magnum freak. So his stocks are designed accordingly.

Also, you might not think of it, but the overall size, and especially the width, of the butt matters. A skinny gun concentrates the recoil, a fat one spreads it more.

 

[bang_bang]

and may be in charts on the internet, But CONSIDER that the recoil pad will make a difference. My wife prefers to shoot her .270 WSM in REM 700 LSS more than my 30-06 BAR (heavier). It's because of the limbsaver pad. No hard plastic driving into your pectoral muscle and collarbone.

That and the amount of clothing you would be wearing on the hunts. I admit, my 300 Win Mag will punish the hell out of you in the summer, around 10 shots and that's more than enough for me. I dress in my hunting clothes, which includes a nice thick coat, the recoil decreases.

I can honestly say though, when shooting game, I have only felt recoil once. I shot a spike buck once with my 7mm Rem Mag when I was around 14 years old. The scope bloodied my nose....

 

[dakotasin]

i think the ultimate in elk-whackers is the 338 win mag, and is what i use.

describing recoil is really tough... i have a pretty decent array of magnum (and standard) chamberings at my disposal. to me, assuming the same rifle is being used, i think the recoil of the 338 win mag is manageable, and just a touch more than a stiff 30-06 load, while the 300 win mag and 300 wsm provide significantly more felt recoil. i rate the 30-06 and 7 rem mag even in recoil.

of the most common elk chamberings, i would rate the 300 win mag as having the harshest recoil, and the 30-06 as having the least. thus... 1: 300 win mag, 2: 300 wsm, 3: 338 win mag, 4: 7 rem mag, and 5: 30-06.

if you can handle a 30-06, you can handle a 338 win mag easily, and is my suggestion looking for an all out elk whacker.

i also suggest that any rifle that will see significant trigger time (ideally, any rifle that will hunt, but we all know how that goes...) gets a 'kick-eeze' pad installed. it is the best recoil pad i've tried. i'd rate a limbsaver as #2, and a decelerator #3...

good luck!

 

[cyclopsshooter]

stay with 30-06, it as an american standard... my store is full of the other calibers that people thought they needed for elk, but the cost and recoil proved to be more than they wanted...
we have a hard time keeping 30-06 in stock- people love em and keep em

i use a rem 700bdl in 30-06