.30-06 Kicks Like a Mule

[Kittitas George]

The worst recoil I remember was my friend's Model 88, 308 Win. It was just the way it fit me, I think. I had a 308 M-14 in the Army, it didn't kick so much. Now the big stuff is way in the back of the safe, I like little and heavy, with 50 grain bullets MAX.

 

[Mark W]

The hardest kicking rifle that I own is a Remington 760 chambered in 30-06. It’s no fun at all to shoot. My other two 30-06 rifles aren’t bad at all. I don’t hunt anything larger than a whitetail deer, so I got away from magnum cases a while back. In reality though, I’ve never remembered the recoil and barely the sound from a shot fired at game. It’s totally different from shooting at paper.

 

[cmysix]

My Fclass Rem 700 Krg bravo stock comes in at about 18 pounds, like shooting an AR very little if any kick

 

[KMart]

That is in the underground rifle range of Saeed Al Maktoum (Accurate Reloading website owner) in Dubai. Part of the Royal Family

 

[whatsupdoc]

Looks like the girls win this one.

 

[55fairlane]

My M1917, M1903 & M03a3 are pretty brutal, but a little 110 Hornady makes the 200 o= 300 yard trip just fine with minimal recoil

 

[Bc'z]

Recoil? What recoil?...the 30-06 is a "girly gun" to me. Fired a 50 BMG off my chin when I was a lad.

Would you look at that smile!!
8 stitches 2 on the inside 6 outside.
700 CDL 30-06 hand load with 150 ballistic tips.

 

[wbm]

OUCH

 

[pintopete]

Would you look at that smile!!
8 stitches 2 on the inside 6 outside.
700 CDL 30-06 hand load with 150 ballistic tips.View attachment 1398534

Poor kid! Taking it well, but darn that’s frustrating.

 

[biggun2869]

Although I have at least 4 rifles in 30-06 my fav is a browning w/boss. The recoil is --like maybe a .223. Gary

 

[biggun2869]

I haven't shot these others for several years.

 

[ObiJohn]

I fired a Weatherby Mark V in .460 Weatherby Magnum, twice offhand. I got a slight concussion from it. I think I'd rather be mauled,gored, or stomped by a bear, buffalo, or lion... it would hurt less. Now a Win M70 Classic Safari in .375 is a sweet shooter.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

Would you look at that smile!!
8 stitches 2 on the inside 6 outside.
700 CDL 30-06 hand load with 150 ballistic tips.View attachment 1398534

That reminds me of the 1st time one of my old shooting buddies shot his Savage .30-06. His bit him a little lower, the nose took most of the punishment. To his credit, the next weekend he was out with it again. That had to be at least 25 years ago, he still has that Savage and it shoots 1" 200 yard groups.

 

[TC260]

It's interesting reading all the replies about '06 recoil. I'm sure many, if not most of us, remember when it seemed like the answer to practically every hunting cartridge discussion was...30-06. Maybe it's the improvement in bullets, more accurate rifles, or maybe just a recognition that we don't need that much cartridge for deer sized game, but personally I don't like shooting my '06 anymore and haven't even considered deer hunting with it in many years. It's not that I can't handle the recoil anymore, it's more like "what's the point"? It's just so much more enjoyable to shoot the smaller rounds and they're more than adequate for the job at hand so why beat yourself up?

 

[Downhill]

Firing the 1941 Johnson issued to the Marines will get your undivided attention on the first pull of the trigger.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

I too find livht rifles chambered in .30-06 to be possession of objectionable recoil.

Hence, i go to hreat lengths to mitigate recoil.

1. Muzzle device
2. Suppressor
3. Recoil Pad/Gracoil

 

[spaniel]

Beware of the old thumb in the nose from the 03A3, learned it first hand with my late and great Dad's 03 back in the day.

Funny you say that. Way back in college one of my profs got me to join the local gun club, coached me through the CMP steps to get a Garand. Worked a lot of extra hours to save up for that Garand. I didn't own a rifle for the qualifying shoot, so he loaned me is '03. I swear first round I bloodied my lip. By the time I got to the prone rounds I'd sight on the target, move me head to the side, THEN pull the trigger. I actually scored OK, LOL. But it was a miserable experience with that 03.

 

[ncageneral]

Son in law showed up Saturday sporting a new Rem 700 SPS in 30-06. I'd forgotten how much one of those blamed things in a hunting weight rifle kicks. Shot pretty good though.

 

[Adam in WI]

I'm getting a chuckle out of this at the moment. Brings back memories of my first John C Garand match. I was proudly using my Remington built 1917 Enfield. I remember the match director saying "are you nuts, that sucker cocks on close"... Not only did I score pretty decent, I actually finished the rapid fire string with time to spare. I remember laying the rifle down and catching a smiling nod of approval from the director.

 

[Tempest]

It's all about the weight and mitigating recoil.

I have numerous .30 cal WWII rifles that recoil worse than my .50 BMG as it's almost 40 lbs with a huge brake. My 18 lb FTR rifle with a 200g Berger is mild compared to the old wood stuff.

An M1 Garand is pretty nasty for recoil. But when you get into some of the bolt actions, Mausers, 54R Russian Carbines etc, they pack some punch.

Personally, I think the Mosin M38/M44's are probably the worst (or best) for recoil fun!