Calculated recoil, which numbers matter most?

[PinesAndProjectiles]

I'm doing some research on the felt recoils of some of the 6BR variants compared to a 6.5 Creedmoor.

I found a felt recoil calculator, found here:

ShootersCalculator.com | Recoil Calculator

An online calculator that calculates the recoil energy, impulse, and velocity of a firearm according to the firearm's weight, powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet muzzle velocity.

www.shooterscalculator.com

When I run the numbers, the calculator gives me Recoil Impulse, Recoil Velocity, and Recoil Energy.

Which of these three numbers matters most when it comes to felt recoil?

I would say energy would be the biggest contributing factor, but is that correct?

 

[Steel head]

I always go with total energy.
lol
Energy of some of the heavy gamer 6mm rifles!

 

[Vinootz]

The ones that pain you the most.

 

[jgsh1375]

I'm curious as to whether your question is related to preparing research for scientific study or for personal reference for a potential future rifle purchase? I'm not qualified to speak regarding any scientific study, but for personal reference I may be able to share my experience with recoil issues. As a recreational shooter (non-competitive) and hunter, I have shot my share of different caliber rifles over the past 60+ years. And the one thing I learned from it all with regard to recoil is that if you plan to make a purchase, borrow a rifle in that particular caliber and style rifle before you purchase. Take it out to the range for the day and become familiar with its recoil. That experience will have a significant role in your decision whether to purchase or not. As you know, there are many opinions about recoil, but the only opinion that matters is yours when you fire the weapon. Your comfort level with the recoil will matter more than any numbers. I purchased a Remington 30-06 when I was 18 yrs old and to this day I use the same rifle for deer and hog hunting. Not a particularly a light recoil caliber, many ask why not use a .308 or 6.5 CM instead? Well, I'm just very comfortable with it and will most likely continue to hunt with it. My point is, don't place so much emphasis on "lbs of recoil" as opposed to "lbs of comfort" - if that makes sense. As with any rifle, if you employ proper technique, you'll enjoy shooting it. Just my thoughts.

 

[Vinootz]

I'm curious as to whether your question is related to preparing research for scientific study or for personal reference for a potential future rifle purchase? I'm not qualified to speak regarding any scientific study, but for personal reference I may be able to share my experience with recoil issues. As a recreational shooter (non-competitive) and hunter, I have shot my share of different caliber rifles over the past 60+ years. And the one thing I learned from it all with regard to recoil is that if you plan to make a purchase, borrow a rifle in that particular caliber and style rifle before you purchase. Take it out to the range for the day and become familiar with its recoil. That experience will have a significant role in your decision whether to purchase or not. As you know, there are many opinions about recoil, but the only opinion that matters is yours when you fire the weapon. Your comfort level with the recoil will matter more than any numbers. I purchased a Remington 30-06 when I was 18 yrs old and to this day I use the same rifle for deer and hog hunting. Not a particularly a light recoil caliber, many ask why not use a .308 or 6.5 CM instead? Well, I'm just very comfortable with it and will most likely continue to hunt with it. My point is, don't place so much emphasis on "lbs of recoil" as opposed to "lbs of comfort" - if that makes sense. As with any rifle, if you employ proper technique, you'll enjoy shooting it. Just my thoughts.

Ah, semantics. For that matter one could say how much recoil are you comfortable with. Lol

 

[jgsh1375]

Ah, semantics. For that matter one could say how much recoil are you comfortable with. Lol

Exactly! lol

 

[C.R. Adams]

Felt recoil is conundrum because there are so many variables that either aren't captured or cannot be captured. there is the drop in the butt stock, LOP, butt placement for the shooter how high is the bore centerline, weight of the stock etc........................... There's measured recoil, but Felt Recoil just has too many moving parts

 

[308pirate]

Which of these three numbers matters most when it comes to felt recoil?

None of them. There is no 6 mm cartridge that recoils "too much" or where recoil really matters; except maybe some wildcat like 6-284 or 6 mm-06, or some crazy magnum necked to .243.

 

[b2lee]

Did any of you ever warm up for a softball game by having someone slow pitch baseballs to you? Now, translate that to..... once I practiced the day before...and warm up the day of with a 30cal magnum....then I grabbed a 6.5cm and went to work....both rifles were within a pound of each other....but 'felt recoil' dang near went to zero.

 

[C.R. Adams]

first change the question to exclude variable "energy" and change to velocity. Energy uses bullet weight in the calculation and therefor changing bullet weight automatically changes energy.

 

[Vinootz]

Did any of you ever warm up for a softball game by having someone slow pitch baseballs to you? Now, translate that to..... once I practiced the day before...and warm up the day of with a 30cal magnum....then I grabbed a 6.5cm and went to work....both rifles were within a pound of each other....but 'felt recoil' dang near went to zero.

I will shoot a 30-30 or .223 before I step up to the 30-06 or 325wsm. After a few rounds my muscles start to wake up(and pump up). Then I don’t notice it at all, and absorb all the recoil easily up to 100 rounds.
Some times a little more. Some times a little less-lol. I’m 60 years old and not totally impervious to pain every day as when I was young. On another note 12 gauge slugs I always noticed after a few at practice. Unless shooting at quarry. After shooting a few 12 gauge slugs you are often reminded you are alive. Lol

 

[OXN]

I'm doing some research on the felt recoils of some of the 6BR variants compared to a 6.5 Creedmoor.

I found a felt recoil calculator, found here:

ShootersCalculator.com | Recoil Calculator

An online calculator that calculates the recoil energy, impulse, and velocity of a firearm according to the firearm's weight, powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet muzzle velocity.

www.shooterscalculator.com

When I run the numbers, the calculator gives me Recoil Impulse, Recoil Velocity, and Recoil Energy.

Which of these three numbers matters most when it comes to felt recoil?

I would say energy would be the biggest contributing factor, but is that correct?

Recoil is so variable in so many ways that, as mentioned above, it's hard to put a number on it. Even if you determine an exact metric for the recoil of a cartridge, that figure changes completely according to the mass, structure and manner of use of the firearm it's being shot in.

Example- I had a Ruger M77 compact chambered in the humble .308. 16.5" barrel, ultralight optics setup, etc. Obnoxiously snappy recoil with full powered .308 loads. My Winchester Extreme Weather SS, however, in .300 WSM, is much more pleasant to shoot despite all the numbers associated with its recoil being significantly "worse." In other words, the metrics you can find via those calculators are a good starting point, but nothing more.

 

[C.R. Adams]

Recoil is so variable in so many ways that, as mentioned above, it's hard to put a number on it. Even if you determine an exact metric for the recoil of a cartridge, that figure changes completely according to the mass, structure and manner of use of the firearm it's being shot in.

Example- I had a Ruger M77 compact chambered in the humble .308. 16.5" barrel, ultralight optics setup, etc. Obnoxiously snappy recoil with full powered .308 loads. My Winchester Extreme Weather SS, however, in .300 WSM, is much more pleasant to shoot despite all the numbers associated with its recoil being significantly "worse." In other words, the metrics you can find via those calculators are a good starting point, but nothing more.

you have hit the nail on the head..................I shoot a few rifles in warmer cartridges ( a 8lb .35 Whelen w/ warm 250gr, .375 H&H and .416 Rem Mag). From the bench they can get your attention if you get sloppy with your hold and let them hurt you once, you might as well put it away for the day......... standing upright, you just roll with them and they are surprisingly easier than you expect, mostly due to the heavier rifle and the weight being out front in the barrel profile. . Both of them are modern controlled feed Winchester model 70s, so i think fully dressed with optics, they are both 10-1/4 pounds. IMO, the .375 is closer to the .35 whelen than the .416 However, the most violent recoiling rifle i have is a damn marlin guide gun that knocks the snot out of you, in 45-70 running 405gr bullets at 1850. first the damn LOP doesn't fit me well, and the rifle weighs 7 lbs. (why do i shoot such a heavy load? because i can and second, it shoots accurate as hell.)