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recoil of 308
- Thread starter sniper81
- Start date
I will just add this because I like to post odd stuff. If you load up something like a 208Amax or larger with some trailboss you will have less recoil.
But in general because what I listed is for specific uses, the heavier the projectile the more felt recoil you may have depending on your load.
But in general because what I listed is for specific uses, the heavier the projectile the more felt recoil you may have depending on your load.
The cool thing about Trailboss is its bulk, that is why I use if for reduced loads. it is difficult to double charge a 308 case. With a normal drop, it will be highly improbable to fill it enough for CF (catastrophic failure). Now folks using pistol powders (unique, red dot, etc) for reduced loads can be met with some nasty metal to the face.(if double charged or secondary ignition)
Here is a typical load for a x54 which is a bit larger case than a 308 (DONT USE THIS FOR 308, JUST AS A BULK REFERENCE)
Not condoning any experiments and there is published Trailboss data in the Hodgdons manual (for 150 gn bullet)
Back on topic, typically the longer the bullet is in the barrel(i/e slow powder longer bearing surface) the more perceived recoil. There are more factors, but no real need to get eggheaded about it.
If OP wants to shoot 208's and does not like the recoil, you can unscrew the buttpad and tuck in a bag of lead shot (if you have the original stock). Another alternative is a Beartooth neoprene recoil pad, it is pretty invisible under a stock pack. Not that the 308 has massive recoil but a hundred or so rounds in a tshirt and you will have a raw collar bone.
Amazon.com: Beartooth Recoil Pad Kit - Black: Sports & Outdoors
Here is a typical load for a x54 which is a bit larger case than a 308 (DONT USE THIS FOR 308, JUST AS A BULK REFERENCE)
Not condoning any experiments and there is published Trailboss data in the Hodgdons manual (for 150 gn bullet)
Back on topic, typically the longer the bullet is in the barrel(i/e slow powder longer bearing surface) the more perceived recoil. There are more factors, but no real need to get eggheaded about it.
If OP wants to shoot 208's and does not like the recoil, you can unscrew the buttpad and tuck in a bag of lead shot (if you have the original stock). Another alternative is a Beartooth neoprene recoil pad, it is pretty invisible under a stock pack. Not that the 308 has massive recoil but a hundred or so rounds in a tshirt and you will have a raw collar bone.
Amazon.com: Beartooth Recoil Pad Kit - Black: Sports & Outdoors
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Don't mean to sound like a snob or anything but this is as silly as the guys who ask for bullet tips to load....
Bullets have weight and it is measured in grains for us shooters. They do have grain but the size varies depending on material and how they're made. Guys who ask how much bullet grain they should use or what grain to load with sound like new york liberals who don't have a clue what they're talking about. You wouldn't ask how much pound to use why ask how much grain??? "What bullet weight should I use" or "what weight bullet do you guys recommend" sounds a lot more reasonable.
Now to answer the question you're asking:
recoil will increase with heavier bullets if you load them to higher energy levels. A heavier bullet loaded to a lower or equivalent energy level will have the same or less recoil. The comment #5 about the trailboss and the 208 amax is a great example. Using the fast burning powder and a heavy bullet to create a subsonic load will reduce the recoil substantially over the same bullet with a supersonic load using the proper powder. I don't have the tables to show you exact answers but realize that when you accelerate an object the recoil energy is directly related to how heavy the object is and how fast you accelerate it. A heavier bullet won't need to go faster than a lighter one to make it have more recoil but you do have to increase the energy in order to increase the recoil. Hope that makes some sense.
Frank
Bullets have weight and it is measured in grains for us shooters. They do have grain but the size varies depending on material and how they're made. Guys who ask how much bullet grain they should use or what grain to load with sound like new york liberals who don't have a clue what they're talking about. You wouldn't ask how much pound to use why ask how much grain??? "What bullet weight should I use" or "what weight bullet do you guys recommend" sounds a lot more reasonable.
Now to answer the question you're asking:
recoil will increase with heavier bullets if you load them to higher energy levels. A heavier bullet loaded to a lower or equivalent energy level will have the same or less recoil. The comment #5 about the trailboss and the 208 amax is a great example. Using the fast burning powder and a heavy bullet to create a subsonic load will reduce the recoil substantially over the same bullet with a supersonic load using the proper powder. I don't have the tables to show you exact answers but realize that when you accelerate an object the recoil energy is directly related to how heavy the object is and how fast you accelerate it. A heavier bullet won't need to go faster than a lighter one to make it have more recoil but you do have to increase the energy in order to increase the recoil. Hope that makes some sense.
Frank
If 308 recoil is an issue, why use a 308? You may want to consider a 6mm alternative (6x47, 6XC, 243 etc); better ballistics, way less recoil, same bolt face, same mag feed.
Then I think it would be wise to look into reduced loads or pick up a new rifle in .223.
Kind of what I thought, but seeing as OP said it was for his kids, I can imagine his asking about it.There are sissy-pads out there to help tame the recoil, or perhaps a 2" soft recoil pad. I have an XLR chassis with a soft thick recoil pad on my .375 SnipeTac, and the felt recoil of that is far less than my 7-270WSM F-Class rifle with thin recoil pad.
One of the most appealing aspects of the new DPMS Gen2 is that using my brother's SIG 716 and SIG 516 as references, the Gen2 we both agree handles and our perception of felt recoil is much closer to the 516.
You could always add a muzzle brake or a stock butt pad, but from my experience the .308 is the perfect cartridge - especially if you want something you can hunt with and the cartridge cost and reloading economics are reasonable enough to accommodate a lot of range and practice time. My concern is these new hybrid ar15 rounds like 300 and 6.8 and 6.5 will fade away - and we all know that the .223 and the 7.62 is here to stay.
You could always add a muzzle brake or a stock butt pad, but from my experience the .308 is the perfect cartridge - especially if you want something you can hunt with and the cartridge cost and reloading economics are reasonable enough to accommodate a lot of range and practice time. My concern is these new hybrid ar15 rounds like 300 and 6.8 and 6.5 will fade away - and we all know that the .223 and the 7.62 is here to stay.
I'll admit that I'm 6"1' and 240 lbs. I try to have an athletic, weight forward stance, but the biggest thing is that I got rid of the quad rail and vertical foregrip, and went with a 13inch round free float tube, and shooting right handed I use the "3 gun grip" with my left arm extended and an aggressive "C" clamp grip. In fact, I can see the top of my first thumb knuckle when using the Eotech XPS2. I really like the new change in terms of stability and rapid fire follow-up shots. It also really plants the buttstock into my right shoulder.
IMO that technique also makes the .308 really manageable. Plus, my Gen 2 plus a 20 round PMAG maybe weighs 16 ounces more than a typical AR15 with a 30 round PMAG. I could be wrong about that, but that is what my brother and I believe in terms of range time handling and feel alternating between his SIG 516 and my DPMS Gen2 Recon.
IMO that technique also makes the .308 really manageable. Plus, my Gen 2 plus a 20 round PMAG maybe weighs 16 ounces more than a typical AR15 with a 30 round PMAG. I could be wrong about that, but that is what my brother and I believe in terms of range time handling and feel alternating between his SIG 516 and my DPMS Gen2 Recon.
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