What Light Recoil Calibers Are Long Action

R

roc1

New member
I have recently found out I have bulging disks and arthritis in my neck. It is painful to shoot. I will hopefully get disks fixed but recoil has become a factor. I love my old Model 700 270 smoothest action ever had on a rifle. It is SS XCR Model. I was wondering worst case what calibers it could be converted to by changing barrel. I know military uses some long action for short action calibers but was wondering about others. I know 25-06 is probably as good as it gets but checking all options. I have used light recoil loads in 30-06 in past before this to try them but I reload so want one I can load my own. I have thought about brake but really like that too much.
Thanks in advance
Roc1
 
6.5x55, 7x57, 9x57, 30-40 Krag, 257 Roberts, 270 Win, 6mm Rem.

All are moderate recoil, within reason, and suitable for taking large game. You can also handload a 30-06 down to pussycat recoil levels or choose reduced recoil ammunition.

Jimro
 
I'd vote for the 257 Roberts.

Having said that I built my wife a 243 on a long (Model 70) action and its one of the most accurate rifles we have.

My wife broke her back twice and has three rods between her shoulder blades, needless to say she is recoil shy but had no problems shooting her 243.
Don't get hung up on the short vs long action. A good example is the military sniper rifles, the M24 (Army) and M40 (Marine).

Both are Remington actions, the M24 is a long action and the M40 is a short action. Both in 308 and both are quite accurate.
 
You are not limited to just long-action calibers. Many bench rest shooters deliberately choose long actions for building their short-action caliber guns (.308, 7mm-08, .260). That is because having the long action allows them to use really long (i.e. high B.C) bullets and seat them out further. You can't do that in a short action rifle.
 
Doyle said:
You are not limited to just long-action calibers. Many bench rest shooters deliberately choose long actions for building their short-action caliber guns (.308, 7mm-08, .260). That is because having the long action allows them to use really long (i.e. high B.C) bullets and seat them out further. You can't do that in a short action rifle.
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I agree with Doyle, with a long action you are not limited. You can go both short or long, the world is your oyster. If you are switching out your barrel you might as well Rem/Age your rifle. This allows you to use your Remington like a Savage, and swap out barrels at home. Of course your Remington will sport a barrel nut, but it is an option. Barrel makers McGowen and Criterion offer these type of barrels.
 
It is great that you reload...

TnTnTn said:
Just roll yourself some reduced recoil loads and keep everything the same.
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Tn is right - start reloading reduced loads. It is an easy solution to reducing recoil on a favorite rifle.

...bug
 
I would opt for the .243. As has been said my M 70 FWT PRE 64 is on the long action.

Yes you can load reduced loads in the .270, but to get to the recoil level of the .243 you will not have the long range ballistics. I have not callllculated the recoil of reduced .270 loads, but am reasonably sure that comparable loads such as a .270 equivalent to a 100 gr .243 at 3100 fps would not be what you want.

Jerry
 
Since you are already set for 270, any of the 30-06 family will work with just a change of chambered barrel with no other alterations. 25-06 is an excellent choice. If you wish something a little different, 6.5-06 will work too. Of the two, the 25-06 is probably your best bet.
 
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IMO, us .270 aficionados owe a bit of gratitude to the AR guys for embracing the 6.8mm SPC. As this little cartridge caught on, hunters immediately started shooting deer with it. The bullet manufacturers obliged by introducing some excellent light weight .277 cal bullets for this purpose. A good example is the 110gr Barnes TSX. In the .270 Win you can load these down to say 2,500 fps for very little recoil & still be flat shooting & have excellent performance on deer.

At one time, I really got into experimenting with reduced loads & had a ton of fun! If you consider handloading a pleasurable part of your shooting hobby, this is a great diversion & new facet to explore.

If you are dead set on a new gun or barrel job, that's fine. But reduced loads do work & what do you have to lose trying them in your favorite old rifle? A little more trigger time is always good!

...bug :)
 
There are bullets in the 80-90 grain range for the .270 which should reduce recoil a bit, especially with a reduced load.

Also increasing rifle weight will reduce felt recoil. If you don't want to lug around a heavier rifle, get some small pouches, that you attach to the rifle, and fill them with sand/dirt/etc. to increase weight temporarily, for when you do the actual shooting. The difference between a 7lb rifle, shooting a 130grain at 3100, and a 8lb rifle shooting the same load reduces free recoil by over 2ft/lbs and reduces the velocity of the recoiling firearm, over 1fps, down from 12.8fps.
The difference in free recoil energy between a 7lb rifle and a 9 lb rifle is as follows. (With the same load as above)
7lbs= 17.8ft/lbs free recoil energy. 12.8fps velocity of recoiling firearm.
9lbs= 13.84ft/lbs FRE. 9.95FPS
So not only is the 'push' softer, it's also slightly slower, which should help reduce the stress on your back and neck.
 
I'd take a different approach.

I'd get an AR15 in 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel and you have VERY light recoil with 257 Robbers ballistics.

I have shot my 2 ARs next to one another on the bench. One in 5.56 and one if 6.8 SPC. I could not tell the difference in recoil.
 
I thought about light loads what are good recipes that shoot well. I already have a 243 and 3 22 centerfire s just don't want to give up my old Remington and not be able to shoot it anymore. I plan on getting neck fixed hopefully.
Thanks
Roc1
 
You have already received excellent advice about available cartridge options. You are aware that a good muzzle brake will cost you between $100-$200 installed. A good design brake, will make a .270 Win. recoil at less than .243 Win level. The felt recoil of a .25-06 and a .270 Win shooting appropriate deer weight bullets is pretty similar. I am a bit concerned the .25 will not give you the degree of recoil reduction you seek. Possibly shoot one and evaluate it for yourself. My .270 Win ultra light rifle was most definitely annoying to my shoulder before it got a brake. Now, it kicks much less than my .243 Win. in similar weight rifle.
 
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If you are just hunting deer and smaller, this load will do ya.

30-06 - The Youth Load data shows a 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip with 40.5 grains of H4895 at 2615 feet per second muzzle velocity. That results in a 253 yard MPBR with 1135 foot pounds of energy at the MPBR. The 100 yard elevation is +2.8” and the 200 yard elevation is +1.0”. The recoil values are 10.2 foot pounds of recoil force and a recoil velocity of 9.2 feet per second. The maximum load for the same bullet shows 3229 feet per second which results in 17.1 foot pounds of recoil at 11.7 feet per second.

From: http://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_recoil_H4895.htm

You can get more reduced load data from here: http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf

Jimro
 
My son owns a 257 roberts that he got from his grand father. Its a good gun for a kid to shoot. He is 12 years old but tall for his age. he has no issues shooting many shots with it.
 
Good advice already but I will add that if you end up going the .25-06 route, an 80 gr Barnes TTSX under a starting load of your powder of choice (I like W760 for that application) makes an excellent low recoil hunting load. Combine that with a good recoil pad and you will feel next to nothing.
 
BIG +1 for the 25-06 I've all ready had the dic.removed used 100gr. REM.no problems been years now but still use the 25-06 they're just COOL.;)
 
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