schoolcraft

So I'm going to purchase a NULA model 24 from Melvin the week after Thanksgiving.
He has a left hand .30-06 exactly like I want in stock that was built in 2008 (I actually already put some money down on it) or he can build me one in about 3 1/2 to 4 months which is a little quicker than the normal delivery time.

Here's my predicament.......I'm selling a .300 Win Mag that weighs 7 1/4lbs. (unscoped) to help pay for this. The recoil wasn't all that bad from this rifle, but if I can get away with less recoil it's not going to hurt my feelings any.

After running some numbers on several recoil calculators, the .30-06 with a 165gr. bullet (my favorite) in a 6 1/2lb. total weight rifle at around 2900 fps. is virtually identical in recoil to my current .300 Win. Mag. Actually, the recoil VELOCITY is considerably faster with the 06', and both generate about 25 ft. lbs. of free recoil.

So, now I'm considering waiting the 3 1/2 to 4 months and have Melving build me a .270 Win. or .280 Rem.

When comparing a 130gr. .270 Win. @ 3100 fps and a 140gr. .280 Rem. @ 3050 fps. in a 6 1/2 lb. total weight rifle, the recoil velocity and energy are just about the same....right at 19-20 ft. lbs......but if you put a 150gr. .30-06 @ 3000fps. into the mix, you're up to about 25 ft. lbs. of recoil........pretty close to my .300 Winny.

I really need some advice here folks....

This is a rifle I want to keep for the rest of my life for deer and hog hunting. I want to ENJOY shooting it a lot. Sure do love the .30-06 caliber, but I don't want this rifle to make me hate it.

What would you guys do? Take the 06' that's already built, or having Melvin do a 4 month build in a .270 Win. or .280 Rem.

I'm not recoil sensitive, but I don't want this ultralight to make me that way.

SCHOOLCRAFT