Low recoil, flat shooting, deer options

[CTK]

I had an earplug fall out of my ear just as the braked rifle next to me went off. Have permenant damage in that ear as a result. I would probably have a brake if went with something like an ultra mag. This said, I would be careful and concious of those near me. The covered range environment is a miserable place to be around muzzle brakes.

 

[PAshooter20BR]

257 weatherby with 80 grain Barnes TTSX at 3900 fps.

 

[Rem06]

i'm gearing up my 22-250 Sako for 55TTSX @3901fps. power line and field use. use a 243 win featherweight 85TSX for carry
my primary is 6.5x47Lapua.
easily covers you to 500yds.

you don't need a 7 or 30 anything to DRT a whitetail. those little Barnes are impressive!

243 with 85tsx 90HPBT GK and your DONE!

 

[CTK]

i'm gearing up my 22-250 Sako for 55TTSX @3901fps. power line and field use. use a 243 win featherweight 85TSX for carry
my primary is 6.5x47Lapua.
easily covers you to 500yds.

you don't need a 7 or 30 anything to DRT a whitetail. those little Barnes are impressive!

243 with 85tsx 90HPBT GK and your DONE!

What hunting load do you use in your 6.5x47? I planned on using 120 TTSX or 130 VLD's. I was able to get tiny groups with the 120TTSX and H4350 but only got about 2700 FPS out of my 23" barrel. Ran out of load development time and have been hunting with my 280AI.

 

[Rem06]

What hunting load do you use in your 6.5x47?

140VLD orange box, it used to be the yellow box. It works great!

 

[snowpro440]

My suggestion would be to put a Ross Schuler brake on your 280 and be done with it and you can switch bullets if it really bothers you that much.

 

[long40shot]

I've often wondered how a 243 ackley running a 95 berger hvld would do. Probably would hammer a deer pretty hard.

 

[timeout]

I've often wondered how a 243 ackley running a 95 berger hvld would do. Probably would hammer a deer pretty hard.

Seen some kills using that bullet in a Dasher. Pretty devastating wounds. Put it where it belongs and there is no wondering!

 

[Webster]

I'm currently an A-Bolt .280 Rem (50 something) shooter, primarily for deer in Wisconsin and will be having a shoulder replaced early next year. The Doc told me no more high power rifle trauma on the new shoulder so my question is this...
I love the ballistics of the .280 Rem and am looking for a reasonable replacement to this in a low recoil option for next year's hunt. I shoot the Remington Core Lock 165g. Soft Points, as I've never had a deer walk away from one shot, as I have with the plastic tipped bullets.
I'm looking at the 7mm-08, .260 Rem or .308 Win, and am favoring the .260 Rem for the flat shooter that it seems to be.
Any input on the pros and cons of these and or other options would be valuable in my decision.
Thanks

Why not lower velocity loads in the rifle you have? No caliber with a 130-150 gr bullet and decent FPS has less recoil. You don't need a flat shooter out to 300 yrds. I sight my rifles in about 2 1/4" high at 100 yrds, this gives about 2" high at 200 yds. 0" at 275 yrds. and 3" low at 300 yrds. Doesn't make sense to zero for 100 yrds. A 150 gr bullet at 2700 fps should drop a deer just fine if you place the bullet where you want it. How about a suppressor to reduce recoil? In a given cartridge lighter bullets have less muzzle energy.

Factory loads
Cartridge Bullet Energy
243 105 2080
260 140 2351
308 150 2648
270 win 150 2706
30-06 150 2910
280 154 2730
257 Weatherby 117 2952

 

[Tommie]

I'll say it again: 250 Savage!

 

[wapiti25]

25-06 with 115 VLD's

 

[timeout]

25-06 with 115 VLD's

Great choice. Accurate, flat shooting and deadly. I have one myself and shoot the HVLD'S.

 

[CTK]

Why not lower velocity loads in the rifle you have? No caliber with a 130-150 gr bullet and decent FPS has less recoil. You don't need a flat shooter out to 300 yrds. I sight my rifles in about 2 1/4" high at 100 yrds, this gives about 2" high at 200 yds. 0" at 275 yrds. and 3" low at 300 yrds. Doesn't make sense to zero for 100 yrds. A 150 gr bullet at 2700 fps should drop a deer just fine if you place the bullet where you want it. How about a suppressor to reduce recoil? In a given cartridge lighter bullets have less muzzle energy.

Factory loads
Cartridge Bullet Energy
243 105 2080
260 140 2351
308 150 2648
270 win 150 2706
30-06 150 2910
280 154 2730
257 Weatherby 117 2952

Webster, Something seems amiss with your drop numbers. 2 1/4" high @100y with a 2700ish FPS bullet should be zeroed at 200y and 8" or so low at 300y.

I agree that a reduced load in the 280 Rem will accomplish the same recoil reduction as going to a 260. OP could shoot 120gr bullets out of the 280. Add a brake and recoil would be like a swat from a kitten paw.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

17 204 . 25 gr bullet over 24 gr ww ___ powder. No blood trail-- no tracking.. Or so I am told by some poachers I once knew.

 

[Webster]

Webster, Something seems amiss with your drop numbers. 2 1/4" high @100y with a 2700ish FPS bullet should be zeroed at 200y and 8" or so low at 300y.

I agree that a reduced load in the 280 Rem will accomplish the same recoil reduction as going to a 260. OP could shoot 120gr bullets out of the 280. Add a brake and recoil would be like a swat from a kitten paw.

I never said my zero was for a 2700 FPS. It was a 6BR at 3550 fps. Low Recoil but maybe a bad example. The OP was interested in low recoil. Why are some people suggesting stuff like a 25-06? 243 looks ideal. Does anyone make a 250 Savage anymore? A 6BR with 105 gr bullets would be low recoil and adequate for deer.

 

[endurokids]

Thanks again to all, lots of good ideas to consider.

 

[CTK]

I had a 5lb NULA in 260. It did not have "heavy" recoil but it had a fast and sharp pop to it. Weight of rifle obviously makes a big difference in recoil. Ultralight rifles are also tough to shoot well for hacks like me.

 

[Flouncer]

Just use the recoil calculator, select and add a brake. But to speed things up, <140g bullet, < 2600 fps and > 7 lb gun with brake = win.

 

[Fasteel]

I'm currently an A-Bolt .280 Rem (50 something) shooter, primarily for deer in Wisconsin and will be having a shoulder replaced early next year. The Doc told me no more high power rifle trauma on the new shoulder so my question is this...
I love the ballistics of the .280 Rem and am looking for a reasonable replacement to this in a low recoil option for next year's hunt. I shoot the Remington Core Lock 165g. Soft Points, as I've never had a deer walk away from one shot, as I have with the plastic tipped bullets.
I'm looking at the 7mm-08, .260 Rem or .308 Win, and am favoring the .260 Rem for the flat shooter that it seems to be.
Any input on the pros and cons of these and or other options would be valuable in my decision.
Thanks

250 savage with the 90gr Sierra HP bullet, turns deer lung into mush, very little recoil, children shoot it. FS

 

[water doctor]

I have a savage 260 which shoots 120 gr BT @ 2875 fps using RL19. I loaned it to a friend who is using it for deer the last two years. His longest shot was around 250 yds..... dropped the doe in its tracks.