Recoil 308 vs 300 Win Mag?

[DL]

I'm looking at buying a new rifle for elk and have been looking seriously at 300WM, 300WSM, or 30-06.  I currently shoot a Rem 700 in .308 with a pretty short barrel and the recoil is very comfortable, but I know that I'm fairly recoil sensitive.  I also have a good slip on recoil pad on it because I'm tall and need the extra length.

My question is how much more punishing is the 300WM/300 WSM vs the 308.  I really want to go that direction, but I'm a little nervous about buying a rifle only to find out I can't handle the recoil.  I 62 and doubt I will be taking shots at 500 yards, but I would like to be able to reach out to 300+ yards if I need to.  Oh yeah, I would like a moderately light gun for comfortable carry.  So, it's pretty simple...I want a powerful, flat shooting rifle with no recoil that's not too heavy.  Any advice? 

[pcal]

Chuck Hawks recoil table list almost all calibers.Recoil for a 180 grn. in those calibres are close if the weights of the guns are the same.300 has only 2#'s.Look it up.

[pcal]

I MEANT 2#'S MORE.lol

[Tiger1358]

Initially it seems like it's kicking really hard, but once you shoot more, you get used to it and it becomes normal.
Some people complain about shoulder pain, but I can shoot 40 rounds and all good. I think the 308 can do the job just fine if the shot placement is right.

[Jellymon]

Chuck Hawks recoil table list almost all calibers.Recoil for a 180 grn. in those calibres are close if the weights of the guns are the same.300 has only 2#'s.Look it up.

On that chart the 300wm in a half pound heavier rifle has almost 9 more ft lbs of recoil than the 308. IMO there is quite a difference between the two.

[hoytxl2009]

Put a break on it and most all recoil is gone. My 300 rum bounces like a 223 and is a pleasure to shoot.

[Antlershed]

Stock design plays a big role too, but I can tell you my .300wsm kicks significantly less than my old .300 win mag in near identical rifle weights. I’ve never shot a .308 to compare it to. 

[bobcat]

300 Win. Mag. in a light rifle is going to have a lot of recoil. If you're only shooting to 300 yards your 308 will do just fine. But if you really want a new rifle, I would recommend the 30/06.

[Magnum_Willys]

Imo You do not want a 300wm without a brake if recoil sensitive.  300 wsm with a brake is a great choice.

That said with a composite stock and good pad you can learn to shoot 300wm or 338wm without a brake - just get a good grip and practice.  I’ve put hundreds of rounds through each unbraked. 

[Stein]

I shoot a 168 TSX in 30-06 and it will get out to 400 comfortably with enough energy for elk.  Since I never shoot beyond that there is no reason to jump up in gun.

[WSU]

300 Win. Mag. in a light rifle is going to have a lot of recoil. If you're only shooting to 300 yards your 308 will do just fine. But if you really want a new rifle, I would recommend the 30/06.

That’s what i was thinking. The 308 is plenty adequate at normal ranges.

[hunter399]

308 vs 30-06 really not much difference kinda of waste just stick with the 308.

Now recoil wise get a 300wm or7mm rem mag and go with a lighter bullet like 140,150 grain bullet and some kind of recoil pad and should not be that much recoil over your 308.

[SpurInSpokane]

My favorite video all time for recoil comparisons is this:

They shoot many calibers, and mark the relative recoil on a length scale (it'll make sense when you watch). They shoot a .308, 300WSM, and 300RUM, so ought to be helpful to compare.
They also have a great series on braked/unbraked recoil (cause they sell muzzle brakes). But it's fun to watch.

[Bob33]

My thoughts:

•   A .308 is an excellent elk caliber at reasonable distances. If you don’t plan to shoot much past 400 yards it will work well.
•   In general, any cartridge with more powder will have more recoil.
•   How much recoil you can sustain without flinching is impossible to estimate.
•   Muzzle brakes decrease recoil but also increase muzzle blast. I would never shoot a high powered rifle with a brake without hearing protection. One shot can do permanent damage to your hearing.

I too am recoil sensitive but can shoot a relatively light Browning X Bolt in 300 WSM without flinching. I use 165 grain bullets which decrease recoil a bit over heavier bullets.

My advice would be to find a friend with one of the calibers you’re considering and ask if he would accompany you somewhere to shoot it. Ask him to do a “ball and dummy” exercise with you. If you flinch with a heavier caliber, any ballistic advantage you may gain would be more than offset by the increased probability of poor shot placement.

[Mtnwalker]

My advice is to find somebody who will let you shoot theirs so you can see for yourself before you buy. It may not bother you as bad as you think. Felt recoil varies so much between individual setups it’s hard to tell until you shoot it. I have a 270 wsm that is fairly unpleasant to shoot and a 338 wm that doesn’t bother me much at all, even though they’re both fairly light rifles it’s just a different feeling recoil