bearhuntr

Just get a normal hearing aid and put the volume at 10 when hunting.

dodger02

Research: recoil in ft*lbs

7mmMag - 19.2 (150 gr.)

7mmWSM - 22.4 (160 gr.)

.30-06 - 17.6 (150 gr.)

.308 - 15.8 (150 gr.)

.270 - 17.0 (150 gr.)

.270WSM - 18.9 (150 gr.)

.300WinMag - 23.5 (150 gr.)


If you were shooting a .270 or .30-06 previously, I could see where you might be a little shaky. That' s a bunch of gun you' re shooting. (I fall in the " we' re over-gunned" category of shooters)

NE Hunter

dodger02,
Where does .243 and 7mm-08 fall into that chart? Seems it would be handy information for those of us looking for a ladies/youth gun. Also where did you find it? Might save you a lot of questions to just post a link. Thanks

dodger02

[link]http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm[/link]

NE Hunter

thanks, dodger

seattlesetters

From this chart, I would have to conclude that the .270 WSM is the superior round. With the 150gr bullet, there is no comparison to what it can do compared to a .30-06 with the same weight bullet. In fact, the 150gr .277-cal bullet launched from the .270 WSM will out-penetrate a 180gr .308-cal bullet fired out of a .30-06 any day.

woodseye

I notice that all calibers are given with 150gr bullets ,even 30 caliber and then the 7mm is a 160gr which will boost recoil numbers.Any reason a 140 or 150 gr wasn' t used?I shoot a 300WSM and recoil is comparable to a 300win mag,a muzzlebrake will not do your ears any good and you probably won' t hunt with ear protection as I know no one that does.Does a walker game ear go in both ears to protect?Sore shoulders get better,lost hearing don' t come back,ever.I agree with Seattlesetters the 270WSM is the gem and recoil is not bad either.

woods

handloader1

Woodseye:

The Game Walker comes with a ear plug for the other ear. Good luck.

patrkyhntr

Being one who is blessed by being relatively insensitive to recoil, I am amazed at hearing that the 7mm WSM has recoil that is too much for anyone. The rifle I have is a Ruger (you know, the one with the ugly plastic stock) and it is in 7mm rem. mag. The recoil is close to that of my .30-06 Remington Mountain Rifle, which I guess is a bit high. At least other guys tell me it is. My .416 Remington Magnum has recoil. When a cape buffalo is charging, believe me you don' t feel it.

If I had a rifle that kicked uncomfortably, I would do the following in order:
1. Take myself and my rifle to a gunsmith and have him check how the rifle fit me. If it didn' t fit correctly, I would have him adjust it.
2. Have the gunsmith install a high-quality recoil pad on the stock.
3. If the recoil was still unpleasant, I would have him install a muzzle brake.
4. If the gun still kicked too much for me, I would sell it and get a .25-06 or something in that range, and reevaluate why I wanted a Magnum of any kind in the first place.

You might consider getting a rifle that weighs a bit more. The heavier the rifle is, the less recoil you will feel. Try out one of the Savage heavy varmint rifles.

woodseye

Sorry handloader but the thought of hunting with a plug in one ear and a hearing enhancer in the other just has no appeal to me just so I can shoot a braked gun without hearing damage.Just me I guess but the recoil of a WSM just doesn' t seem that nasty to need a brake.The bench is the only place you will feel it and there are shoulder pads and heavier clothes you can wear to help tame it,in the woods as already mentioned,you will NEVER feel it when shooting at game.A 12 guage shotgun kicks a lot worse than a WSM IMO.

woods