How is Recoil in Handi Rifle faster calibers?

[shinjin]

I am interested in a 308, 30-06 or 35 whelen barrel for my Handi-Rifle but I am spoiled by the mild recoil of my 38-55 and 223 barrels, so - before I jump how heavy is recoil in this light rifle wit the faster calibers?
 
None of those rounds bother me in a Rem 700 or Mauser 98 but they weigh more than my Handi, which incidentally is a treat to tote on a walking hunt.
 

[thejanitor]

I have a 30-06 handi and it is not bad at all with 125 gr bullets. I do not think I want to shoot 220s out of it, but with a wood stock I think I could go up to 150s or 165s without getting flinchy. The  30-06 we have is very accurate, and even though it is still an ejector it has very very rarely stuck a case. I don't think I would want to put all synthetics on a heavy kicker.
 Good luck finding what you want.  thejanitor

[petemi]

I have Handis in both .308 and .30-06.  I shoot and hunt with the .308 more than the '06, and it has a steady diet of 165 - 168 gr. boat tails.  I don't mind the recoil at all, and it is on a synthetic stock.  The '06 on a wood stock seems to kick more with a comparable load.  Of the two, I prefer the .308.  I've had a bolt action .308 for years and really like the caliber and what it can do.  When I got the Handi, it just about retired the bolt gun.  If you want some long range clout and light recoil, you may consider the 7mm-08.

Pete

[shinjin]

Are you saying the handi's recoil in 308 is about same as your bolt gun's? 
 
I find that 30-06's all seem to recoil hearder for me than the same rifles will in 308. Don't know why.
 
Recoil is subjective and I am not terribly bothered by it in most guns but on a dare I shot a .458 Win Mag that a gunsmith had reduced to a 7 pound rifle. Sweet Petunia but that was a ride!
 
I like the 7-08 idea and might could have it rechambered to 7x57 to use all that brass I have sitting about.

[watsisname]

I shoot a .280 and a 45-70. I have Pachmayr Decelarator recoil pads on both and they are a blast to shoot . My advice to you is to invest in a good quality recoil pad.

[shinjin]

So from what I read here a Handi rifle with a wood stock should be no worse than average.  Cool!
Now to find a barrel before those quick fingered buyers on the other list get it!

[hunterwinco]

I dont really consider handi's to be that light...synthetic stocks being the exception!  I certainly wish they were lighter.  I consider them quite heavy for what they are.  I wish that they would thin out that barrel profile some.  I think my scoped handis are basically the same weight as my Ruger 77.  I shoot my 4570 with "lever gun loads" with the hard factory recoil pad and dont find that painful at all.
22 hornet, 4570, 357 Max, 223, 3030, sidekick

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! There's not much difference in recoil between the 308 and 30-06 when comparing same weight bullets and rifles, about 2lbs which I doubt most people would notice, a good recoil pad upgrade like a Limbsaver or Decelarator would be wise for anyone that's recoil sensitive for either chambering. 

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

I like the 7-08 idea and might could have it rechambered to 7x57 to use all that brass I have sitting about.

A 7mm-08 Handi can't be rechambered to 7x57, best you can do is 7x57 Ackley, the 7x57 won't clean up the 7mm-08 chamber without setting the barrel back which can't be done on a break barrel rifle unless the barrel is refaced, rechambered and refitted to the action and I'm not sure that would even work, a chamber cast would have to be made first to see if it would work.

Tim

[parson48]

I recently acquired a 308 Handi and I don't find the recoil to be too bad. I also have a 30-06 in another brand single shot that isn't too unpleasant to shoot. Although I must confess that I use a small "cheater" pad when shooting at the range.

[Default_Required]

No where near a Rossi/Braztech single shots recoil

[shinjin]

RATS about no 7-08 conversion to 7x57. There goes another dream shot to shreds by reality.
 
Thanks for input guys. Now I need to find me a barrel in 308 or 30-06.

[LaOtto222]

Get a 280 ... longer barrel = less recoil. It can be down loaded to 7-08 levels or up to darn near 7 Mag levels


Good Luck and Good Shooting

[Spanky]

Get a 280 ... longer barrel = less recoil. It can be down loaded to 7-08 levels or up to darn near 7 Mag levels
Good Luck and Good Shooting

 
How does barrel length relate to recoil?
 
 
 
Spanky

[quickdtoo]

Get a 280 ... longer barrel = less recoil. It can be down loaded to 7-08 levels or up to darn near 7 Mag levels
Good Luck and Good Shooting

 
How does barrel length relate to recoil?
 
 
 
Spanky

It weighs more, exactly why I haven't hunted with my 280 Improved! 

Tim

[Spanky]

Get a 280 ... longer barrel = less recoil. It can be down loaded to 7-08 levels or up to darn near 7 Mag levels
Good Luck and Good Shooting

 
How does barrel length relate to recoil?
 
 
 
Spanky

It weighs more, exactly why I haven't hunted with my 280 Improved! 

Tim

 
I hear ya on that one Tim. It's amazing how 7 or 8 pounds can get so heavy after lugging it around all day.
 
 
 
Spanky

[OldSchoolRanger]

RATS about no 7-08 conversion to 7x57. There goes another dream shot to shreds by reality.
 
Thanks for input guys. Now I need to find me a barrel in 308 or 30-06.

You can get a 7x57Mauser barrel for a Handi, in one of two ways.  Keep watching the classifieds and pray that one pops up, and your quick enough.  Or you can do a stub job (or have your gunsmith, or one of the guys here could probably recommend someone to you that would be able to do it).