Difference in kick?

V

vegasgtkid

Inactive
What is the difference in the power of the kick between a 7mm mag and a .308? I have used a 7mm and it kicks like a mule. I have never shot sa .308 though.
 
Of course it will depend on the rifle but generally the 7 RM will kick a bit more then the 308, In my 7 mag it was a lot more.

What is odd, I didn't see that much advantage in the 7mm to justify the recoil, so I gave it to my kid.
 
I have both the 7mm mag and a .308. This year I put on a Limbsaver recoil pad on the 7mag. Made things alot easier. Without it , it was punishing me.

20 years ago, my brother bought a 7mm mag Savage. He talked all day and night about the ballistics and the recoil. I couldn't be one upped. I just had to follow in his footsteps.

If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now. I would've purchased a .270.
 
IMHO the 7mm mag is the most unpleasant shooting rifle I have owned. I have a 300 win mag that does not feel as severe as the 7 in recoil and noise level. My nephew has a 7mm mag and loves it, and it is a great cartridge that does its job well, it is just not my choice.
 
I once sighted-in a friend's 7mm mag, it was the most punishing gun I've ever shot. Accurate, but punishing. I own 2 .308's and they're pussycats compared to the 7mm mag.
 
If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now. I would've purchased a .270.
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Sweet .270....may be one of the better caliber for hunting in relations to recoil. The 7mm-08 is right in there too.
 
The fit of a rifle and the quality of the recoil pad will certainly affect perceived recoil.

You can compare two cartridges by adding the bullet weight to the powder weight and multiplying by the muzzle velocity, for each cartridge. The ratio of the products gives the percentage difference. That's for equal-weight rifles. If the rifles are of different weight, factor that in, as well.
 
Although if you don't mind a brake its just a touch more than a .308. We have a Rem. 700 KS custom mountain edition in .300 weatherby mag. It's lite with a very thing sporter barrel, yet the break takes much of the recoil away and it's more of a big push then a swift kick or hit.
 
thats odd as i dont think a 7mags recoil is much differnt then a 06 and even a light 308 is very simular. none are anywhere near what i condider uncomfortable to shoot. To me that starts at my 8mag using stiff 220 grain loads or maybe a 300 weatherby or ultramag. But even they arent bad if you limit them to about 20 rounds a day. Little trick of mine is when i have more then one gun at the range i allways shoot the harder kicking ones first. 10 shots out of my 8mag makes a 7mag feel like a 22.
 
Looking at recoil tables (I am not sure if I can post the link) the .308 Win in a 7.5# rifle firing a 150 gr bullet at 2800 fps recoils with 15.8 ft-lb of recoil energy.

A 7 MM Rem Mag weighing 8.5# firing a 150 gr bullet at 3100 fps has 19.2 ft-lb of recoil energy.

Google "recoil tables" and you will get some sites that address the subject.

Regards,
Jerry
 
I'm with Art (again) on this one. It's just common sense that any magnum cartridge in a 7 lb. rifle will kick more than a short action caliber in a 7 lb. rifle. If you were to choose a larger, longer, and heavier rifle for the magnum, the felt recoil would be lessened by the weight and ergonomics of the rifle. I've owned several 7mm magnums, and they are some of my favorites. The barrel lengths ranged from 24" to 26", and they each shot different bullet weights well between 139 and 165 grains. That also has a lot to do with recoil, as does stock design and recoil pad construction.

I've also owned two .308 rifles for many years. If you buy a .308 carbine, then choose to shoot heavy 180-220 grain slugs, Light Magnums, or High Energy loads in it, then I can assure you that your eyes may water when that barrel jumps up off the bench and the stock wallops your cheek bone.:eek: My advice is, if you don't need it don't buy it. Nobody shoots a rifle well that they don't have total confidence in. Just because I love the big sevens doesn't mean you have to. If you thread the needle with clover leaf groups even out of a .243, nobody can doubt that you're the master of that rifle. Guns are very personal, and I like them just that way-unique for you AND for me.;)

-7-
 
A 7mm Remington Magnum burns about 50-75% more powder than a 308, propelling a bullet of roughly equal weight about 20% faster than a 308 Winchester. Yes, it's going to kick more. How much depends on a lot of factors, stock fit being critical (like Art said).
If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now. I would've purchased a .270.
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Or a 280, or a 30-06, etc, etc. Magnum cartridges give higher velocities, which give flatter trajectories, which makes range estimation less critical when you start shooting beyond 300 or so yds. But short of dangerous game hunting, magnum cartridges kick out of proportion to their increased trajectory benefit, IMO. Learn how to estimate range well (either by eye, optics, or laser), and the benefit disappears. I have hunted with a 7X57 on and off for over 30 years (with brief lapses into magnum mania), and have never felt undergunned.
 
Nicely put Scorch. Scorch is a wise dude.
In my opinion since you don't want a rifle that may be unpleasant to shoot I wouldn't go with the 7mm rem mag. It can have a pretty sharp recoil. I had 6.5 lb savage with a wood stock in this caliber and it wasn't fun to shoot from the bench. I have the same rifle in .30-06 that is much more comfortable to shoot even with 180 grainers. But even the .30-06's recoil can feel pretty stout. If you want a lower recoil cartridge that has excellent power and performance the .270 win is great. So are lots of others but since you don't want stiff recoil stay away from the magnums. Like scorch said, in the power spectrum magnum cartridges give you a little more but you pay pretty heavily for every bit of gain. That seems to start with cartridges that move up in power past the .30-06 in my experience. There are tons and tons of great cartridge choices from .243 to .30-06 that won't beat you up in the recoil department and won't break your bank account when buying ammo for them. The .308 win you are considering is one of them.
 
My friend has a 7mm Mag Ruger and I have the 308 version. He also has a light model 7 in 308. 308 is no way near as hard kicking in my experience than a 7mm mag even in the lighter model 7. It's not exactly light recoil, but tolerable compared with the 7mm mag. It also does not lay down the grass in front of your firing position like the 7mm mag. Needless to say blast is so much more comfortable with a 308. I'm actually really liking my 308. It's getting more comfortable to shoot 40 or 50 rounds in an afternoon. Not something I want to do with a 7mm Rem mag. I have shot my friends gun a few times, thank him politely and watch he or his kids take a beating while my hands are over my ears. A 308 is a great caliber. Accurate, powerful enough for most game in North America and about as common as any caliber you are likely to find and in the most popular caliber and actions with the greatest selection of bullets. you cannot go wrong with a 308. rc
 
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