Your personal recoil limit for predator hunting…

As to my tolerable recoil level, I have shot multiple magnum cartridges quite a lot up to and including a .375 H&H with no problem. I actually think a .338 Win. pounds me more than a .375 H&H. However, on coyotes the heaviest I have used is a .308 and .270. The .308 is not bad at all, but way more cartridge than I need. This past season I mainly used a 25-06. The smallest centerfire cartridge I have used on coyotes is a .17 Remington. It anchors coyotes with authority.
 
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Most of my predator hunting is with thermal now. Although my scope is rated for magnum recoil, I don't like the idea of pounding an electronic device if I don't have to. So far I've run it on a .223 and .20 practical. I think I'd be willing to run it up to a .243.

So recoil limit with thermal: .243.

Recoil limit with daytime optic: 300 win mag
 
6mm06 said:
As to my tolerable recoil level, I have shot multiple magnum cartridges quite a lot up to and including a .375 H&H with no problem. I actually think a .338 Win. pounds me more than a .375 H&H.
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My experience, as well, David. Not sure if it's the stock design/fit or the fact that the .338 is quite a lot lighter, or maybe a combination thereof. The .338 is sharp recoil and the 375 is more of a push??
 
I don’t own anything larger than .308 and kill 95% of anything I’m hunting with .223 and 6.8 SPC AR’s. I have a .243 that I really like as well. Just Not a fan of excessive recoil if I dont need it and I just enjoy shooting light, low recoiling rifles. My favorite to shoot is my .223 AR. To answer the question I’d say probably some of the more stout 12 ga loads out of my 870 are my limit.
 
I use H380 in my 338 wm(elk loads) with 200-225 gr bullets. H380 changes the way the recoil pulse feels. I can bench/bag shoot in t-shirt weather with that combo. Less "kick" felt than my synthetic stock Rem m700 30/06. May have to shoot a couple coyote with it, for fun.
 
Years ago I bought a 358 Norma Mag on a Springfield action. I shot it a lot with 250gr Hornady RNs loaded hot. It wasn't bad even on the bench. My wife brought with her a Rem 700 ADL 270 Win. with metal butt plate, it was brutal shooting it at the bench, that rifle hurt me.

Stock dimensions and weight can make a huge difference. .Everytime I heard someone suggest a 270.for.a new shooter saying it was lighter recoiling I cringed. I had lightweight 30-06s, 300 Win Mags and the 358 NM that didn't hurt like that 270.
 
AWS said:
Years ago I bought a 358 Norma Mag on a Springfield action. I shot it a lot with 250gr Hornady RNs loaded hot. It wasn't bad even on the bench. My wife brought with her a Rem 700 ADL 270 Win. with metal butt plate, it was brutal shooting it at the bench, that rifle hurt me.

Stock dimensions and weight can make a huge difference. .Everytime I heard someone suggest a 270.for.a new shooter saying it was lighter recoiling I cringed. I had lightweight 30-06s, 300 Win Mags and the 358 NM that didn't hurt like that 270.
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Funny you mention the .270. For some reason people always ask my son and I to check their scopes or sight in their rifles. We had a buddy buy a Savage last year in 6.5 and .270. That .270 reminded me of that old Browning shotgun, it kicked like a ticked off mule. I generally don’t mind recoil, but that joker was rather unpleasant to shoot. The bad thing was he bought it for his wife to shoot. I made him shoot the dang thing before he gave it to his wife to shoot and after one shot he put it up for sale. Heck I had a .300RUM I’d hold on my balls and pull the trigger rather than shooting that gun on my shoulder again. Not sure if it was the gun or the caliber or a combo of just that particular gun and caliber. The 6.5 shot fine and that’s what his wife ended up using last season.
 
HM, I think you are right about the way a .338 recoils vs. a .375 H&H. Also as mentioned, stock design can make a perceived difference in recoil. I think the Weatherby design lessens felt recoil.

.338’s are known to be unpleasant. I have owned three rifles in that caliber - a Winchester 70, Remington 700 stainless and now a Weatherby Vanguard sub moa. All were / are kickers but the Weatherby is easier on felt recoil.

A neighbor one time asked me to sight his .338 Remington Ultra Mag, which I did. While not pleasant, I got it done.

I guess we have strayed a little from recoil limit for predator hunting, and I think we all agree that large calibers are not needed for coyotes, fox etc. however, sometimes it’s fun to think out of the box and do something different. One summer my Son purchased a new CZ .375 H&H. It was so accurate with factory ammo, Remington 270 grainers as I recall, that I suggested he take it on our next trip to the groundhog fields. He did and decapitated a groundhog which I got on video. Sometimes it’s just fun to play around.
 
A friend had a 270, I don't recall the brand, possibly a Savage and I distinctly recall the recoil was terrible. It took one shot to decide I'd never want one of these. I'd rather shoot my Tikka 300wsm.
 
crapshoot said:
I use to use a 338wm quite often in the past. Just loved the gun.
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When I got my 338 Win Mag I bought a set of dies and some bullets at the same time. OH, also a box of factory ammo. Used to like to stop on the way home and shoot a new gun. Did it with that 338 and result was the blackest shoulder I've ever had. Could not believe the recoil. But determined to learn to handle it and started reloading right away. Found out the only way to learn to handle recoil was to shoot guns with recoil. Got pretty good with that 338, Lot's of rounds at paper target's and used it for sage rats! Equaled lots of shooting and I don't know that I got used to the recoil or if I simply learned to ignore it. Set the gun aside for a couple weeks and I'd have to start all over again! Had a 7mm mag at the same time and that 338 helped make the recoil in the 7mm easier to take. I think many people use the magnums even though they don't shoot well with the recoil, it's an ego thing I think! I mean isn't a 300 mag gonna make that animal deader than that 30-06?
 
Rotty said:
Ive used my .50bmg..so there's that
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LOL Never hunted coyotes with a .50, but years ago had a Jackrabbit jump up at Ft Hood in front of 6 jeeps w/pedestal mounted M1919 MG's just as range officer gave command "Fire when ready". You just thought the Road Runner was fast; jackrabbit is small target and you wouldn't believe the maneuvers they are capable of.:ROFLMAO:
 
hm1996 said:
LOL Never hunted coyotes with a .50, but years ago had a Jackrabbit jump up at Ft Hood in front of 6 jeeps w/pedestal mounted M1919 MG's just as range officer gave command "Fire when ready". You just thought the Road Runner was fast; jackrabbit is small target and you wouldn't believe the maneuvers they are capable of.:ROFLMAO:
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That is unfortunate timing.
 
Through the years, and just for fun I've shot a .375 HH, 300 Weatherby Mag and a 338 Win. They all kicked more than comfortable (338 was the worst), but the worst I've used was 3.5" buckshot through a 870 Pump shotgun. Knock your fillings loose.
 
I was a Trap shooter. Shot 2/3 times a week. During a multi day tournament I’d shoot 1200 rounds in a week. Recoil was never a consideration. Keep in mind the shotgun was a Trap gun and the stock was fit to me. Plus I loaded 1 1/8 oz @ 1145 fps . A stock that fits you makes a world of difference.My buddy has one of those Russian $69 rifles- talk about kick- buy one for someone you really think is annoying!!!
Soup
 
Hey Bill (Soup) I shot a lot of Sporting Clays and never had an issue with felt recoil. I wasn’t super serious and shot my hunting shotguns. Remington 1187’s mostly with 1-1/8 oz hand loads running around 1150-1200 fps. Not enough behind those loads to worry about.

Stock fit is real though! My experience is more with rifles, but its the same. Guns that fit you, and are designed correctly will transfer recoil forces better than a 2x4 bolted to a cheap gun!

It’s just FACT!
 
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