Recoil control

arrowhead · Jun 7, 2009

We will be hunting elk from a stand with rifle. Probably a 270 win. or a 243 win. We need to have as little recoil as possible. (Handicapped hunter) I have a 270 BAR with BOSS. Is there anything out there that has the effect of a lead sled but more field friendly. I appreciate any input.
I plan on putting a red-dot sight on the rifle. Any ideas on the best model which has some flexability for eye relief/side to side forgiveness etc.
We will not be shooting past 200 Yards. Thanks for you help in putting this special hunt together.

marley · Jun 7, 2009

I think the .270 would definately be the better choice but a .308 or a 7mm-08 if you can get one would be a great caliber for what you are looking for. The .243 is pretty light for elk. It can be done but it's light.

slamdunk · Jun 7, 2009

There are also some pretty fancy recoil pads available these days........

nickman · Jun 7, 2009

Recoil is a relative concept.

Some rifles are just worse for some people than others.

I personnaly mostly shoot a 1917 Eddystone 30-06, with a steel buttplate, for my big game rifle. I have used it for over 40 years. I easily shoot it a hundred times a year and the recoil is no issue at all.

I have a .338 and don't really have a recoil issue with it either, but it has a Limbsaver pad.

I won't say how many large caliber rifles I have, but I need more space than the 2 gun safes I now own.

Two things that I don't own are ANY .308 or any .270. Both of those rifles have recoil that makes me feel like I have just been "##### slapped", so I won't own one......I have shot many models of both. They piss me off.

If you have a limited ability hunter, you don't want to be chasing down a wounded elk, so I would steer away from the .243.

I would find a 300 Winchester, put a good pad on it and add a good conventional scope.

Take your hunter and practice a bit. There isn't going to be any substitute for some recoil experience, otherwise the anticipation of "kick" is surely going to influence the
critical shot.

Good luck with the experience.

AZBuckSnort · Jun 7, 2009

Quite a bit of felt recoil is a function of stock fit, sight alignment, and muzzle blast noise reduction. If your hunter has a stock that fits and allows for a good cheek-weld to the stock while sighting through the scope/red dot sight, and has adequate hearing protection along with a Sims or Decelerator recoil pad, he should have little trouble with the .270 Winchester caliber.

mtmuley · Jun 7, 2009

Look at the Thompson/Center rifles. I believe some models have an in-the-stock recoil reducer. mtmuley

Rem308 · Jun 7, 2009

I had a Browning ABolt in 300 Win mag that had a muzzlebreak from MagNa Port put on it.The recoil was in line with a 243,but hearing protection was needed because of the noise.

flyingbrass · Jun 8, 2009

my experience is that the noise is usually much more of an issue to new shooters than the actual kick. Try using ear plugs and ear muffs to really cut down on the noise!!!!!!!!!!!
I got 2 boys age 7 and 10 so I been down this road. They been shooting machine guns since age 4.
Nothing wring with a .308 that is for sure. Police and military snipers use this gun to shoot at people who are a threat to them and might be shooting back at them so it's hard to argue against this caliber, especially with a recoil sensitive shooter. Perhaps getting a youth model to help shorten the lenght of pull would be a good idea as well.
flyingbrass
cold dead hands