Two questions

[pa257]

1. I have a M77 in 270 win with an 18" barrel, 39" overall length. I've hunted with this gun for close to 12 years now (recently switched to a 257 rob.) and have always thought the "felt" recoil was more than a 270 should be. Does barrel length effect felt recoil? Nobody in my camp shoots a 270, (35 whelens and 300 mags) so I can't do a quick comparison. I like the gun because of it's size and never feel it when shooting at deer, but I'm becoming more of a wuss these days and don't look forward to range work. Will a new pad help?

2. I shot a deer this year with my 257 roberts with a federal 120 grain nosler partition in the front shoulder area. The deer only ran ~20 yards but I lost the entire front shoulder. The butcher told me it was a mess. Now I'm a firm beleiver in shot placement but nothing's perfect when deer hunting so, would a different bullet made enough of a difference to save some of the shoulder?

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Danny45]

The length of the barrel, while increasing muzzle blast being 18", will not increase recoil. However, it will feel increased due to the loss of weight that has occured. The .270 normally has a 22" tube on it. That's a lot of steel reduction. I take it that it's some sort of featherweight rifle since it's barrel is so short. Weight saving differences in the action and stock can also increase the felt recoil for you. A Pachymire (sp) Decellerator or a Sims Labs pad will help quite a bit. When shooting from a bench, I also use a strap on shoulder pad on my person. It helps alot.

A Nosler Partition is one of the best bullets you can get and are not over-explosive. I would imagine that the most meat damage occured on the inside of the shoulder blade and due to the bullet shattering and spraying bone throughout the meat. That can happen no matter what, even if you used a non-expanding bullet. A more explosive bullet may not even penetrate the shoulder blade.

Hope I helped.

[eldeguello]

Does barrel length effect felt recoil?

YESSS!!! And the increased muzzle blast you get with a short tube makes it seem even worse!!

Nobody in my camp shoots a 270, (35 whelens and 300 mags) so I can't do a quick comparison. I like the gun because of it's size and never feel it when shooting at deer, but I'm becoming more of a wuss these days and don't look forward to range work. Will a new pad help?

Yes, IF you get the right one!

[eldeguello]

[quote]ORIGINAL: eldeguello

Does barrel length effect felt recoil?

YESSS!!! And the increased muzzle blast you get with a short tube makes it seem even worse!!

Nobody in my camp shoots a 270, (35 whelens and 300 mags) so I can't do a quick comparison. I like the gun because of it's size and never feel it when shooting at deer, but I'm becoming more of a wuss these days and don't look forward to range work. Will a new pad help?

Yes, IF you get the right one!

You are now using about the best bullet you can get for reduced meat damage. I don't know if the new bonded-core Accubonds would be better in this regard, but they might be worth a try. Stick with heavier, slower bullets to reduce meat damage.

[BoltactionMan]

Does your M77 have a black forend tip? If so, it is an Ultra Light model and only weigh 5 3/4 lbs without scope. That would be the reason, I don't think Ruger put that short of barrel on anything else.

I think your bullet was fine, sometimes a shoulder hit just tears meat up and sometimes it doesn't. If it shoots accurately, I wouldn't change. I'm not one to tear up meat either, but with a poor bullet you may lose the whole deer.

KC

[pa257]

Thanks for the help guys. Yes the M77 has a black-tipped forend. I bought the gun used in 91 (I think) so I didn't have much info on it. It's great gun for NE PA, crawling through laurel and such. I'm going to fit it with a pachmayr and use it for the overlapping bear and deer season (if pa still has it next year). Thanks again.