308

or 270

I see the .308 being recommended a lot, but the recoil table on Chuck Hawk's site lists it as having 15.8 ft lbs of recoil energy for a 150 grain bullet at 2800 fps.

"Recoil energy under 15#"

IMO this is the wrong way to put your question. Felt recoil should be the parameter. Recoil is a function of stock design, rifle and barrel weight, and the application of a muzzle break. I can promise you that a factory Savage or Remington rifle in .308 Winchester has more felt recoil than my 30-06.

There are also other parameter's such as bullet weight and velocity which affect recoil. If you shoot a similar weight bullet from a 30-06 and a 25-06 at the same velocity-then the recoil will basically be the same. Or so close that no one could tell the difference.

A 150 grain bullet from a reduced30-06 loadwould be deadly on deer to 300 yards. And even at a reduced velocity it would be easily asaffective or even moreaffective than a 100 grain bullet from a .243 Winchester(IMO).

I know a lot of people are going to say that the smaller caliber will have a flatter trajectory. And they would be right in saying that. However a couple of inches high at 100 leaves you a few inches low at 300. I do not want to do the exact math(but I am sure some one will), but there can not be more than a couple of inches difference at 300 yards. My 30-06 with 165 grain bullet is 2-1/2 inches high at 100 and about 5 inches low at 300 yards. I am sure that on paper that probably works out to more than 15# of recoil, it would be interesting to know what the felt recoil was.

Not for the sake of argument but I will take the "killing abilty" of the 165 grain 30 caliber bullet over the 100 grain .243 caliber bullet every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Tom.

I knew it was close. However I think it fits best into your outline. The .270 and .25-06 will not give you the desired selection of ammo that you're looking for.

I already have a .308 and I'd like to get another one in a light weight rifle.

Also recoil is pretty subjective. The rifle and fit have a lot to do with it.

Tom

To shed some light on #3, I'm currently using a Remington 7600 .30-06. I agree that perceived recoil is subjective and depends on the actual rifle. I am wanting signficantly less recoil for my next rifle.

I don't want to worry about testing a whole lot of rifles, so I am using 15 ft lbs of actual recoil energy as a convenient cut-off point.

308 Winchester
The use of a lighter weight bullet such as a 125-130 gr or a heavier rifle will lesson felt recoil.


My 13 1/2 lb 308 Win has about 9lbs of recoil shooting 168 gr bullet

I understand what you mean by that. If I was going to go to any sub 30 caliber cartridge for deer I think it would be the 260 Remington. I do not know the # rating of this cartridge, but the 140 grain bullet has a fantastic BC, and still enough weight. I am just not willing to go down to the quarter bores and below. I am not knocking the experiences of other hunter's on this site. But I personally have seen too many deer run out around the hill with the quarter bores and below.

The 260 would also be a great choice for some longer distance varminting. Tom.

6.5 swede, 260 rem,or 7mm-08.Not as many factory loads as 308, but less felt recoil.

Got me again Danny. I have to read slower.

Sorry Ruger. I'm not lookin to get ya. I've read posts way to fast and answered more times than i can count. The 30-06 is a greatcartridge and actually not so much over 15 lbs that it makes a difference to everyone.
Maybe I spend too much time looking at recoil tables and not enough time in the woods anyway