Originally Posted by
jerry d
I'm just saying to me the recoil between the two is noticeable.If you check the chart you'll see there's a difference in recoil between the two. The difference in recoil between the 30-06 & 7mm RM is about identical using a 180g bullet out of the .06 & a 150g out of the 7mm.
Recoil is a physics problem. Same weight rifle, different caliber, but same weight bullet, driven at the same velocity, the equation will yield the same answer.
Here's some additional data for you to ponder:
Given a 9 lb rifle in all calculations, identical bullet weights, velocity from the test yielding your referenced chart (Chuck Hawks):
.30-06 (150 gr, 2910 fps) 1.94 lbs/sec Free Recoil Impulse
7mm RM (150 gr, 3110 fps): 2.09 lbs/sec Free Recoil Impulse
.300 WM (150 gr, 3290 fps): 2.21 lbs/sec Free Recoil Impulse
Let's experiment a little. If I push the 7mm at 3290, or drop the .300 to 3110, what do you suppose I come up with? Hmmm, the Analyzer I have in LoadBase 3.0 says that the recoil impulse is exactly the same. When same weight bullets are driven at the same velocities, regardless of caliber, the same recoil impulse is generated. It's just physics.
Now, what comes into question in the velocities referenced by Hawk's chart is why thre's nearly 200 fps difference between the 7mm and the .300? Not to mention that a 150-grain bullet isn't exactly a common factory offering in terms of loaded 7mm RM ammunition. I don't have one, likely never will, but is the 7mm RM that much slower than the .300? If that's the case, even more reason to stay with the .30-06, or go the extra for the .300.
Originally Posted by
jerry d
With that being said the only guy that was to be comfortable with the recoil is Schoolcraft and if he doesn't notice any increase in recoil that's all that matters.
Unrelated, but in our house we used to have one of those old-fashioned, round Honeywell thermostats with the needle that pointed to a hard-to-read scale that told us what temperature the furnace was set at. Rarely did my wife complain.
One day we replaced that antique with a newer, DIGITAL thermostat that told us PRECISELY what the temperature was set out. Now, my wife is suddenly "too cold" or "too warm" all the time, but voila! Set the temp scale up or down a couple of degrees one way or the other and now she's comfortable.
My point is this: Sometimes knowing the numbers only makes problems. This chart's been floating around for awhile, and applied to this instance, about all it's going to do is reinforce to Schoolcraft that the .300 WM, rifle, and loads in whatever test developed this chart recoiled more than the 7mm RM did. Introducing it at this juncture in Schoolcraft's decision cycle only serves to muddy the waters as, by your own admission, his comfort is the only factor that matters.
My advice to Schoolcraft: You managed to survive those extra ft/lbs of recoil with the demo rifle. Select an optic with proper eye relief, mount it correctly, and stay with the .300.