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Author Topic: .243 superlight recoil  (Read 2085 times)

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Offline iceking02

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.243 superlight recoil
« on: December 12, 2007, 11:01:58 AM »
I was just talking to one of the salesman at Sportsman's Warehouse who said that the recoil of the Handi-rifles is out of proportion to the caliber that you're shooting. He said that it was due to the drop the of the stock channeling the recoil to the shooter and that the .243 Superlight recoiled like a 30-06!

Have you guys experienced this same phenomenon? I have no experience with disproportionate recoil as I've been mostly into shooting shotguns. I have no difficulty handling the recoil of the .450 Marlin or .405 WCF--I'm a little guy that just gets pushed back without having to absorb the recoil, I guess. My buddies who are bigger just don't like shooting my cowboy guns but I think that these things are a hoot. Even so my concern is for my daughter. I'm planning upon hand loading her practice rounds but want to have higher powered rounds for deer and caribou. Any of you folks with kids who shoot the Handi rifles see problems with recoil? Anybody using limbsaver pads because of the recoil in this round? My daughter is 4ft 2" and about 65lbs. at 8yrs. of age. This rifle is a Christmas present but she won't be eligible to hunt with it for another eight months. I'm assuming that she'll continue to grow and become even tougher by then. I just don't want to have her develop a flinch before she develops a love of shooting and hunting. Was even thinking about those .22 Hornet barrels so that she'd have more practice with less recoil out of the same rifle. Besides...her daddy could always "borrow" her shooter when he wants to go out plinking... ;D

Thanks in advance for the replies,

IceKing02
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2007, 11:17:11 AM »
I've got a .243 Superlight, never noticed the recoil at all with 95gr-100gr Federal factory ammo or Speer handloads. There are numerous hunting reports of kids using the 243 Superlight for deer, the muzzle blast of the shorter 20" barrel may account for what some may perceive as felt recoil, but the recoil is very mild compared to a 30-06.

Tim
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Offline MS10point

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2007, 11:28:22 AM »
Based on my experience, I think the salesman is full of it. My son started using a .243 superlight @ age 6.  I also have a bolt .243 and I never noticed that the handi had any more recoil than normal. Because of the short barrel there is quite a bit of muzzle blast and the barrel will raise if you don't hold on tight. Be sure she wears hearing protection because i think the noise will be worse that the recoil.
 While I like the 100 gr. bullets for hunting, the 85 gr. might have a little less recoil just for target shooting. You could also replace the factory buttpad with a Limbsaver pad if needed. Also be sure to get a scope with enough eye relief .
I say get a gun and get her shooting!
TP
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Offline Blucollar

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2007, 12:54:11 PM »
The first handi I tried was a plain stock nef, no heavy barrel but not a superlight, just the ordinary rifle.
I noticed it had more recoil than I was expecting for a .243, but nothing at all like a 30-06.
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Offline greenjeans

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2007, 02:11:21 PM »
The salesman hasn't a clue. I have a std. .243 Handi and also a 30-06 std. Handi. Also shoot a .308 bolt action and a .270 bolt. The .243 Handi doesn't come close to any of them. I can't imagine the superlite is that much worse.
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2007, 02:35:30 PM »
My opinion of any 243 is that they have a very sharp nasty recoil that feels much worse than say a 30-30.  In a Handi rifle or Rossi I find them most unplesant.  My 58 cal Huntsman has a less objectional recoil than the .243 does.  Just my opinion, but I will assure you it will hurt a 65 pound person.  Larry
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Offline LeadSled1

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2007, 03:38:31 PM »
My son just turned 8, 57lbs and has the ultralight 243 as his first gun. It does have some recoil to him as the only other rifle he shot was my 22. But it is acceptable to him and he does hunt with it. I used it to take a doe this season and it dropped her on the spot.

Now when I sighted it in along with my 270 CVA it had much less recoil in comparison to the 270. I have even been thinking of either trading my 270 barrel for a 243 barrel with someone or just picking up a 243 from CVA. 

It does have a higher pitched "bark" that tends to sting the ears, but we are happy with it for a lower recoil deer round. I picked up a limbsaver recoil pad to add on for him just to give him more confidence in himself with the gun too. I'll probably put it on this weekend even though he doesn't really need it. He had a bad experience with a 20 guage that still haunts him every once in a while, especially when under pressure.
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Offline iceking02

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2007, 04:25:24 PM »
To one and all,

I appreciate the replies...I guess that I'll just get her to shoot it and see. I can always add the Limbsaver and download the rounds if she has any doubts about recoil tolerance. Thanks again guys, I just got to second-guessing myself after talking with this guy last night.

IceKing02
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Offline Datil

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2007, 06:02:16 PM »

 Most sales people are full of B.S. Not really knowing what they are talking about.
 This my 2 cents. Marv.
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Offline Hunter NZ

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2007, 10:16:37 PM »
The Superlight .243 is a real pleasant rifle to shoot with 95gr handloads, I can shoot all afternoon at the range without a hint of flinch, I used to have a wood stocked .308 handi and that I felt with the 150gr handloads after 20 or 30 shots at the range.
regards Howard.
 
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2007, 03:27:42 AM »
He would rather sell you a gun that costs twice as much.
That's all.
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Offline J. Plate

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2007, 04:18:23 AM »
I have pretty much the same setup on two rifles: a .243 Win Handi and a .308 Win Ultra.    I can tell you that the .308 recoils harder than the .243, but the .243 sounds 10x louder. 

Neither of those two rifles kicks half as hard as my Mossy 935 with Remmy Buckhammers!!   And that's an semi-auto, gas operated shotgun. 
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2007, 04:36:14 AM »
I got a superlight youth .243 for my wife. With my loads using the 87 gr. Hornady she found it very unpleasant so I loaded some down with  Reloader 7 and that was OK but I just don't have much confidence in those loads for hunting. I do have confidence in the full power .243 but there really isn't much margin for reduced loads. I'm putting together a .357 Max and hope that will be more comfortable. I did think the full power .243 had a surprisingly sharp recoil and the pebble grain texture of the synthetic stock seemed abrasive on the cheek.
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Offline PeterCartwright

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2007, 06:32:11 AM »
What!!! A gun store salesperson who is ill informed???  I'm shocked!  SHOCKED!!   ;D
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2007, 08:50:46 AM »
Ha, just like all the other big box stores, they hire who they can get.  Either this guy does not know what he is talking about, or he is trying to sell you a more expensive gun. 

Since I was shooting TCRs before I ever bought my first Handi, I never noticed the recoil.  The .243 Handi and My .243 TCR kick about the same to me, hardly noticeable.  Now the 30-06s in both will get your attention.  But the .338 TCR seems not much worse than the 06.  But you want to get recoil?  Shoot my son's youth stocked 45-70 Handi, with 500 gr bullets.  It definitely gets your attention.
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Offline aulrich

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #15 on: December 13, 2007, 09:40:00 AM »
99.9% bs, the .1 %  is the stock is not the best shape to handle recoil, but it won't make something out of nothing, and the recoil pads are like a 72 Buick Le Sabre big and soft. The pad on my older ruger 77 all weather is narrow and made of use hockey pucks.
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Offline Dog88

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #16 on: December 13, 2007, 03:13:12 PM »
I have a Remington semi-automatic .243 and my kids use a .243 Handi-rifle superlight. The Handi has a little more recoil than my Remington, probably due to the weight difference, but it's not bad at all. My kids have taken 3 deer each with the Handi and have never complained once about the recoil. They target shoot with a .22 and only shoot the .243 when deer hunting. I'm assuming the adrenaline takes over and they never feel the recoil. My son was 7 years old and about 50 lbs when he killed his first deer with it last year.

So, I think the .243 superlight Handi would be fine for just about any child. It's a great little gun.

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Offline dinodog

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Re: .243 superlight recoil
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2008, 04:51:20 AM »
I have a .243 with the bull barrel.  I was surprised at the recoil.  I'll admit, I've not shot a lot of high powered rifles, mainly my .50 Cal Blackpowder and a 12ga.  My stock only had a plastic butt on it, so I added a slip on Limbsaver, I believe the medium size.  Wow, what a difference.  I have let several kids shoot it, (with the limbsaver on), the youngest was 9 who hadn't shot any kind of gun until that day.  He didn't have a problem with it and couldn't wait for his turn to shoot it again. 
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