309JDJ or the 375 JDJ

[contender hunter]

Thinking of either the 309 or 375 in a 23'' contender carbine , wonder how much more the 375 with 220 gr. would kick compared to the 309 with 165 gr. There's pros and cons for both , 375 is avail. in a factory bbl. and I already have dies and I could use it for elk , the 309 would be milder and flatter for deer but I would have to do a re-chamber but its a very nice round.

[Camp Cook]

I have a 21" Contender barrel in 308X444 that gives me 2620fps with 150gr bullets slightly less than what a 309JDJ gives and I have another 21" Contender barrel in 375JDJ gives me 2300fps with 260gr Accubonds.
 
I would not hesitate to shoot either on game out to 300 yards.
 
If I had to choose between them it would be a tough choice but I would go with the 375JDJ...

[contender hunter]

Camp cook , good to hear from someone that has both calibers , I have a 375 jdj in an ssk 12 bbl. with a magna port its a killer on deer even with 220 gr. Hornadays and very capable of elk with  the 260 accubonds , I just wasn't sure about the recoil in a carbine .I would say 99% of my hunting will be deer with maybe an elk hunt thrown in some day .I've kind of gotten away from the handguns and got into the carbines a little and have the dies for the 375jdj . I also have a 7x30 waters carbine bbl. but wanted something with a little more punch and thats where I thought the 309 would shine but since I already have the 375 dies and accessories the 375 might be the way to go. How is the recoil with the 375 carbine ?

[Camp Cook]

Tough question to answer for you = I do not find it bad at all but I shoot a 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps + 350gr TSX @ 2450fps and do not find the recoil overly bad with this combo I do install magnum Kick-Eez recoil pads on all of my heavy recoiling rifles which take the bite out of everything I shoot.
 
If I had to say it is like shooting a 30-06 with 180gr bullets but I maybe off a bit.

[contender hunter]

That 375 rum must be a hand full 3000 fps with a 260 gr. !! The 375 jdj is bad enough ! I might pick up a 375jdj bbl. in 23'' bull , that would help take the bite out a little .

[Camp Cook]

It could definitely wreck a person that is not familiar with this level of recoil.
 
The key to making it managable is to install the magnum model Kick-Eez recoil pads I am always amazed at how well these recoil pads work I have not found any other pad that even comes close.
 
When I was working up the 350gr TSX loads I stopped @ 2520fps backed off to 2450fps the recoil was just to much to get a fast second shot off.
 
Other than I really do not like the balance of the bull barrels I feel that would be a very good choice.

[contender hunter]

Thanks for the info on the recoil pad , I'll keep it in mind , I usually went with pachmyer pads , never tried limb savers  .