Author Topic: Advice for a lite recoiling deer cartrige for the wife. (Read 1416 times)

kb · « **on:** February 16, 2008, 12:32:31 AM »

This will be for the Encore frame. Must be light recoiling for a small woman.

I was thinking of a .243.

How light is the 243? Maybe 6mm? I will eventually reload for the chosen cartridge.

Any advice?

thanks

kb

Grumulkin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2008, 01:31:30 AM »

My choices would be 22-250, 243, 7mm/08.

Kurt L · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2008, 02:37:21 AM »

as you know the heavier the bullet the more recoil you will get also.
My boy has a 243 in a rossi single shot and that thing i hate it. it kicks and jumps.
i love my 270 win in an old rem 760,i shoot 110 hp bullets and it is just plain mellow
and fun to shoot.
to add to the list above ,i have killed many deer with a 257 roberts
with 85&87 gr bullets also with a 30-30 with 125HP flat nose,the 125 ballistic tip
may work well in this case.
but the 257 roberts and 243 etc would give a lot better range.

Keith L · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2008, 02:46:06 AM »

I have just started shooting a 7-30 Waters and find that quite pleasant to shoot as well.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:22:53 AM »

I have been shooting the 6.8 SPC lately and the recoil in nonexistent. The round is chambered in Remington bolt rifles, TC rifles and handguns and several AR-15 types. The cartridge continues to grow in popularity and launches a .277 bullet of 115 grains. Since you reload the possibilities are many. I recommend it.

Cheese

Chuck White · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:23:37 AM »

I have to agree with Keith on this one.

I have a 7mm-08 and I think that if someone is really sensitive to recoil, they are not going to like this cartridge in a light rifle!
The 7-30 Waters will give good performance beyond 100 yards and it has noticeably less recoil than the 7mm-08.

CBM · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2008, 05:57:45 AM »

For what it's worth ......we have killed 3 does ranging from 75-125 yrds with my son's .223 (Federal 60 grain nosler partition). No recoil to speak of in a NEF HANDI.

Most went down quick, the damage was fairly impressive, but I would only shoot a big buck in the neck with it ...........maybe the lungs........but I wouldn't try a shoulder shot like with bigger rifles !

Keith L · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2008, 06:22:39 AM »

I am assuming this question was asked for an Encore pistol. Let me know if it is a rifle question and I will move it to the rifle forum for their wisdom.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2008, 06:24:20 AM »

There are a lot of good options out there. .30 carbine, 30-30, .44 Mag, just to name a few that haven't been covered yet. All three are proven deer killers with tame recoil.

Lone Star · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2008, 01:41:44 PM »

While I have killed deer with a 10" .30 Carbine barrel, I used pretty stiff loads and 125-grain bullets to do it. Performance wasn't that great, and the .30 M1 has a deserved reputation for a very loud report even with factory ammo. For many sensitive shooters, noise can be worse than recoil. I can't recommend the .30 M1 for a beginner, a down-loaded .30-30 or a .357 Mag are far better choices.

.

chiefs50 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:48:53 PM »

Factors to consider in choosing a caliber would, IMO, depend, in part, on how experienced a hunter/how good a shot your wife is and the distance at which she would likely be shooting. At ranges up to 100 yards the .30-30 with 125/130 grain bullets would do nicely. For close quarters another option might be the .45 Colt.

rickyp · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:54:37 PM »

let me toss my two cents in.

first check with the state, county, and local regulations where you will be hunting that will give you a place to start.

in some places you can not use a 22 center fire round for deer others you have to use a straight walled case other have minim power level, then check if they have a limit of barrel leanth.

recoil is a funny thing! what is harsh to me could be tame for you. you have to have a good set of grips that fight your hand they way you hold the grips can influence the felt recoil. them you have other things that will affect the way a hand gun recoils. bullet weight power weight speed of the powder, barrel length, scope or open sights if the barrel is ported or have a break, if you are going to shoot it free hand or off a bench/ rest.

For bottle neck I would look to the 243 stair wall I would look at a 41 magnum as minim. yes the 223, 22-250, and 357 mag can kill deer but the chances of a wounded deer are higher

skarke · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:08:16 PM »

For what it is worth, I absolutely love the 260. Of all the 308 based cartridges, it has an excellent balance between recoil and knock down power. The 243 has been the rifle of choice for my boys for years, but we have had a couple run after good shots. The 308 kicks like a 308, the 7mm 08 is a little better, but will still let you know it is in the 308 family.

I can't tell much difference between a 243 and a 260 in recoil, but I like the bigger bullets.

That said, ammo is a little hard to find, which for many, might be a deal breaker.

243 and 7mm 08 is as common as sand on the beach.

After that dissertation, everybody else did a great job on the subject as well. These questions are always fun.

maineturkeyman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2008, 01:14:08 AM »

my wife is shooting and hunting with a 7mm tcu. she is finding it tolerable. (120bt)

spinafish · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2008, 06:54:05 AM »

I agree with Cheesehead on this one..I have a .243, a 7-30 Waters and the 6.8 SPC. Its a very underrated cartridge! NO recoil to speak of. Very effective on the receiving end.

jhalcott · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2008, 09:12:23 AM »

Is this an excuse to get ANOTHER barrel? If you already have a 30-30 0r even 308 barrel you can get "managed recoil" loads for the gun. These reduced loads are great for small sensitive people to use. A 7-30 shooting a 120 grain bullet at top velocity has a bit more recoil than most people think. Of course ,IF you shoot a 45-70 the recoil doesn't seem as harsh. What ever you choose have her practice a good bit before she goes hunting. Do the practice from HUNTING/field positions so she and you know what to expect.

xphunter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2008, 06:07:34 PM »

243 Win, 6mmBR, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 260 Rem, 6.5 BR.
15" barrel, should work out fine for your wife.

basdjs · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:23:49 PM »

You already have great advice from others on several great low recoil deer cartridges, especially for the .243 and .260. Since this post is in the handgun forum, I assume you're looking at handgun. I shoot the .243 and it's very effective in 15" barrel. I'd stay with factory loads under 100 gr. or hand load lite loads for your wife at least to start. In a rifle, I used a .243 successfully for whitetails for a number of years before switching to the .260 on my Encore. I also have a 7mm-08. I don't think I'll ever give up the .260. Recoil and muzzle blast of 120 gr. .260 similar to 100 gr. .243 in a rifle which can be reduced even further with a SIMMS recoil pad or ProHunter stock. Much more punch than the .243 and choice of 120gr. to 140 gr. bullets. Check out the ballistic reports and performance on the .260 compared to other calibers. The only draw back is that the barrel and ammo may be more difficult to get. I haven't shot the 7-30 Waters but you couldn't go wrong with it either in pistol or rifle based on what I know from friends.

major257 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:49:06 PM »

I have a 13" VV barrel in 257 roberts that in fun to shoot and does a nice job on the whitetails around here.

ContenderCrazy · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2008, 06:12:33 AM »

If your shots are likely to be within 100 yards or so, the 357 Maximum or 35 Remington make good choices. You might also consider the 375 Winchester if you handload, as you can easily use 38-55 data to create mild loads and work up to full 375 loads as needed/wanted.

giturgun · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2008, 02:29:30 PM »

I would 2nd the 7 tcu in this case . Small case capacity with good performance and little recoil. I sure miss mine a lot. 2nd choice would be the 30-30 in a 14 inch barrel. With 125 to 135 gn bullets it dosen't recoil so bad and packs a good punch. But no matter what you and the wife choose , bullet placement is the key factor. No matter what caliber practice makes the difference in a clean kill and runnin em all over the place.

jw4570 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:52:45 AM »

I have to respectfully disagree with ContenderCrazy.

My wife has fired one 44 Magnum round out of my 6" S&W, and she took it pretty well, but expressed it was too much. In no case would I have her fire my 375 Win Contender Pistol. No, it's not that bad, but it's not for my wife.

The 7mm TCU is nice and light in a pistol, much less than a 30-30.

If this is a rifle, things change.

ContenderCrazy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:06:28 AM »

No offense taken, when I mentioned the 38-55/375 I was thinking rifle also. In a pistol, I still like the 357 Max or 35 Remington, but the 375 is a handful.