Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

[sandwarrior]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

That's good you guys like the .270 and both have a small framed fiance that can handle that recoil. I wouldn't really call it heavy recoil either, just stout. And without knowing the level of recoil Bondoscustomz1's girfriend can take, I'm just not thinking I would buy it and say here you go. As both you guys noted your fiance's migrated to the .270 and took to it. FWIW, I think that is flat out awesome. I've had friends own them and felt recoil was stiff but not terrible. I just always had my eye pointed in a different direction until I started helping my brother load for his .270 WSM. That's when I decided I should give the .270 Win cartridge a serious go and see what it would do. Pretty amazing what I missed all these years.

This is where friends with guns can help out. As noted the OP is looking at a .308 which some consider too heavy and many consider just right for a new hunter. Don't be fooled by the "I can find it anywhere" slogan either. From before the '08 election and for over a year afterwards, .308 was very hard to find on the shelves. The only two 'common' cartridges I saw on the shelf were .243 Win and .270 Win. And the .243 got pretty thin sometimes.

One of my favorite cartridges is the .257 Roberts. Hits a lot harder than a .243 with heavier bullets. Also has that 'old school cool' as mentioned above. Finding ammo can be somewhat problematic though if out in the far reaches of the boondocks. I've bought the last box, some little mom&pop store had, twice now.

 

[Btillr]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As long as it's the best tail that it can be one should not judge it by its color.

</div></div>


+1 very well played

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

DidJa go for the .308?

 

[Charger442]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mclevela</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RPG or .250 Savage </div></div>

another vote for the 250 savage. it warmed my heart to see someone had the wherewithall to mention that round. great round and factory 100 grains can be found from remington and winchester but not just everywhere.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charger442</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mclevela</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RPG or .250 Savage </div></div>

another vote for the 250 savage. it warmed my heart to see someone had the wherewithall to mention that round. great round and factory 100 grains can be found from remington and winchester but not just everywhere. </div></div>

It is a pretty snappy l'il round ain't it

I love mine but I can't shoot 100 gr.'ers from it. It's a first year production Savage 1899 with the 1-14" twist. It sure puts 87's and 75's downrange in a hurry though.

 

[samnev]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmileMaker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A .243 winchester in a suitable rifle for your wife will
be effective, flat shooting and have light recoil. </div></div>

That would be my choice for your wife.

 

[bondoscustomz1]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sandwarrior</div><div class="ubbcode-body">DidJa go for the .308? </div></div>


He sold the 308 before I had a chance to get it in my hands. I am still looking around for one for her. Also, I haven't heard about the .250 before. Can those who have one enlighten me on the advantages of it's abilities?
Oh, we are in good ol' Alabamee shootin' Bible belt whitetails. Thanks for everyone's input. Tommy

 

[scotharr]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

308 with managed recoil makes sense if you already have another 308 and want to keep things simple. On the other hand, I have no doubt your wife will be happier with a 243WIN. All my rifles are switch barrels in 308WIN & 243WIN. My wife and kids have been able to hunt with both options: 243WIN & light recoil 308. The 308W is fine, but they love shooting the 243. So, do you really want your wife to join you hunting or are you just looking for a way to get another rifle? j/k

 

[Tunanut]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

Like many others have told you a 243 is what you want,with a 8 twist tube. 105's will shoot flat with little recoil and kill whatever you point them at. 7mm08 or 260 are also good choices if you roll your own ammo, 260 gets the nod then. All are easy on the shoulder deadly on anything running around Alabama rounds. Good luck!

 

[Tangodown911]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

.243 first choice for the shooter. Ammo is readily available just about anywhere too.

 

[Silver_Bullet_00]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bondoscustomz1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My wife wants to go hunting next season and I need to find a bolt rifle. It needs to be a rifle that will knock down a Alabama whitetail but not knock down my wife. Any suggestions??????? Thanks Tommy </div></div>

243 in a stock Savage, Remington 700, or Howa 1500 / Weatherby. Youth models are available depending on her size and reach. All the brands above have an adjustable trigger also. Howa and savage are the best bang for the buck.

 

[CWPINST]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

Take a look at this article: http://www.scilowcountry.org/cedar_knoll_deer_study.htm

It was a multi-year study comprised of nearly 500 deer harvests. In summary, for southern whitetails there was no statical difference between a .243 and a .300 Win. Mag. in harvest rates as long as conventional soft point bullets were used.......very surprising but true.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bondoscustomz1</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sandwarrior</div><div class="ubbcode-body">DidJa go for the .308? </div></div>


He sold the 308 before I had a chance to get it in my hands. I am still looking around for one for her. Also, I haven't heard about the .250 before. Can those who have one enlighten me on the advantages of it's abilities?
Oh, we are in good ol' Alabamee shootin' Bible belt whitetails. Thanks for everyone's input. Tommy</div></div>

In 1912 a Guy named Charles Newton developed a round for the Arthur Savage Co. The round was adopted in it's final form as a 1-14" twist <span style="text-decoration: underline">actually</span> capable of launching an 87 gr. bullet @ 3000 fps. It is the first commercial cartridge to do that. The chambering was quite popular until the bigger .257 Roberts came along in 1934. So for about 20 years it dominated the varmint to light/medium game rifles. Then in the mid fifties the .243 Win and 6mm Rem came out and you could see the writing on the wall that this cartridge was about done. But, resurgence in the cartridge came about when people got into collecting those 'rare' calibers in different type rifles. Two most notable of those were the Win 70 in .250 Savage and the Savage 1899. Over the course of it's life the .250 had a 1-14", a 1-12", and a 1-10" twist. The reason for that was although it was intended to shoot 87 gr. bullets there were those that preferred 117's that the older 25-35 and 25 Remington used. Those required a 1-12" to stabilize the mostly round nosed 117 gr. bullets. But, when 117 and 120 Spitzers came out, a 1-10" twist was required to stabilize them.

Anyhow, you can find them in the above named rifles and the Remington 700 Classic and now Savage is chambering them in their model(s) 10-16.

In a 24" barrel they are capable of launching 117's/120's @ 2700 fps. With newer powders they will push 87 gr. bullets to 3100 fps. Factory Remington 100 gr. bullets were chronoed @ 2725. But, as noted they are anemic like most rounds on the market for older rifles. They can be driven easily to 2900 fps. A shade under the Roberts, but 1/4" shorter case.

 

[camelback]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

I have become a fan of the 223 for the southern whitetail. With a proper bullet it can do the job. Also for training that cheap 55 grain M193 ball makes for some cheap practice. There is no recoil and she might like to start shooting with you.

I like the 60 grain Nosler partition or 64 Winchester power point for actual deer use. Might need a faster than 1-12 twist barrel for those though.

 

[JamieD]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

I was going to say the same thing about the .223 this morning but got side tracked with work : ) I agree all the way - mine shoots the 75 A-max and we had it out with some friends letting them shoot the steel and it always shocks them what kind of authority it hits with when the suppressor is on it and you can hear the hits. I love my .223, great round - it's accurate and very capable with shot placement. The lack of recoil and boom really helps new shooters settle in behind the rifle.

Good Luck,

JamieD


______________________________
Jamie Dodson
Wolf Precision
814-262-7994

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

Really hard to beat a 243, but let me vote for the 260 Remington.

I've hunted with a 270 and 30-06, and continually come back to my 700 Mountain LSS in .260 for whitetail because of negligible recoil and great terminal effects.

I've found 41.5gr H380 and a 120gr Nosler Ballistic tip is a fantastically mild load, replicating Remington's 120gr Accutip factory load but with a fuzz less recoil.

 

[KLambert05]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

i hunt with 22-250, great round within 200 yards, passed that, i only take neck shots as the bullet starts to lose energy. The 243 is a little bigger, my cousin hunts with a .243, he has been since he was like 9 and only 80 pounds, so I'm sure the wife could handle it. I would take a look at both rounds, both are great deer killers, this is a guess, but I would think the .243 has a better killing distance than the other because you can deliver more energy downrange. At that point a lot of it is going to come down to personal preference, I like the 22-250, but its what I grew up with.

 

[jcallan]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for white

A 260 or 308 would be good. I was at Cabelas today and noticed they offer 4-5 choices in loaded 260.

 

[223Rem]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for white

Can you hunt with an AR15 in your state? If so, just buy a Stag 20" 6.8 SPC upper and let her have at it. Factory loads will get you close to 2700 FPS with a 110 grain bullet.

 

[pawprint]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for white

My suggestion would be to get her to a range, with some of your friends, and various caliber rifles, see which one she feels good with, she'll always do better with a rifle that doesn't "hurt", and she'll be much happier with the purchase, as it was "her" choice. Not to mention, spending a day with your friends shooting isn't really that hard a chore! In any case-I hope she does well with what ever you two end up with!

 

[Sami]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

6.5x55 has mild recoil and, especially if you reload, is suitable caliber from critters and birds all the way up to bears. Excellent long range ballistics as well which makes it an excellent all-around caliber of choice to many that want to hunt geese (N/A in NA

) and moose with the same rifle.

 

[ptaylor]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

300 whisper/black running 125gr supers. If you can hunt with a can on your gun even better. This is her 3rd buck with the above set up, not one has run more than 20 yards.

 

[map_it]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

1987 Ford Escort?? At 57mph neither the whitetail or driver will feel a thing.........

 

[999yards]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

6mmbr, 257 roberts, 6.5 creedmore, 7mm-08.

 

[jonbearman]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

Another guy who thinks the 6.5 swede will do it.I have one and love it and with my bad shoulders it is a welcomed relief.

 

[Acer2428]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

Lots and lots of good choices mentioned.

I know you say bolt gun, but an AR in 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel (have both, Grendel gets used the most) would be a great start.

Also, what about adding a brake? My 7mm RM w/ brake is MUCH softer shooting than the heavier .308's in the safe. Invaluable.

 

[pappy83]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for whitetail

I went through this with my small 100 pound daughter, we had her shoot a cz in 7.62x39, we had her shoot a .243, in the end we loaded 130gr barnes ttsx over 50 grains of varget and never looked back. those bullets are great on whitetail they usually dont go more then 20yds if they go that far, plenty of blood trail and very accurate.

 

[boudin]

Re: Light recoil but with stopping power for white

My vote is for the .243 Win. Recoil is nil and a well-placed 85 gr. or 100 gr. Sierra Gameking will drop em DRT, everytime. And as others have said, ammo is plentiful.