Mild recoiling rifle for hunting medium sized game

[JungleBoogey]

I'd go with the .308 or .270 win... I'm probably a little biased since along with a 30-06, they are all I need for the Whitetail, Chamois, Mouflon and Wildboar running around here.
Both are medium recoil, ammo is readily available and you can reach out and touch distant game accurately...

 

[Rflshootr]

The answer is an individual thing but.308 ticks all those boxes & has the biggest factory ammo choice of any cartridge in the world!

+1

 

[sturner]

308

 

[sw282]

lf you were to take a poll of Elk Guides they will tell you most of their successful hunters carry a 30-06... Been killing critters both large and small for well over a CENTURY.. lts a rather mild ctg on the shoulder, but BIG MEDICINE on the other end. '06 ammo is almost UNIVERSA... l NEVER notice recoil when shooting Big Game...
One more point... Buy a GOOD scope FIRST. Then the rifle.

 

[Danehunter]

What sox said, 6.5 Creedmoor. Mild recoil, flat shooting, large number of manufacturers of both the ammo and rifles chambered for it. Not a barrel burner cartridge, not expensive and widely found in stores.

Eric B.

 

[Lompoc]

Exactly what Barrelnut says. Hunt, 6.5 PRC if you are 6.5 inclined. Just for shooting? 6.5 Credemore.
I'm a 308 fan to 800 yards but the 6.5 PRC is hard to argue with. The Cede shoots extremely well in several moderately priced factory guns.

I finished this 6.5 Credemore Friday. A gift. Broke it in Saturday. 25 rounds. Fusion hunting for initial break in. Fusion shot .60"/.620" start to finish. 6 rounds of Hornady match ammo. Shot 4 rounds in one hole at 100. Thought something was wrong. At 36x it looked like a single hole. Moved 1 moa left. Shot next 2 into same hole again. Quit. I like to think its more bout the ammo than the rifle. It's hard to argue with factory hunting and match ammo that shoots like that and costs $20-$35!

Again agree with Barrelnut. Generally, with today's Name Brand Glass it merely a matter of budget and use/options/power. Vortex pretty much has it all covered in that price range.
View attachment 153410

That is one sweet looking rifle would you mind sharing the details of it

 

[MagnumManiac]

Late to the party, hope I haven't missed it.

I really like my Sendero based 6.5x47 Lapua for medium game, zero recoil, can spot hits out as far as you can hit stuff.
Rifle is 14+lbs, so carrying it around is a pain, but superbly accurate.

Cheers.

 

[swe123]

308!

 

[CVCOBRA1]

My suggestions are not going to be anything new but I might have some that you did not think about.
#1 would be the 6.5-06 (1:7" barrel twist) but you asked for factory rifles. this one might not be for you
#2 270 WSM or 270 Win (1:7" - 1:8" barrel twist)
#3 264 Win Mag (1:7" barrel twist)(recoil might be more than you want)
#4 30-06
#5 280 Rem AI
#6 7MM WSM/7MM SAUM
#7 25-06 or 257 Rob AI
the problem with some of these suggestions you need a heavy twist barrel for heavy slugs. factory barrels are only standard twist, nothing in the heavy twist barrels.

I would suggest these custom chamberings but you want a factory rifle. 260 Rem AI, 25-7MM R/M, 25-284 W/M, 6.5-284 W/M, 6.5 SAUM, 270 H.Express,

have you thought about Cooper or Montana rifle companies? they will chamber one of their rifles in most anything you want. it would definitely be higher end but it would be a "factory" rifle.

He doesn't plan on reloading and none of your recommendations are over the counter guns with the twist you call for. Why even post your ideas?

 

[Weatherby Fan]

If you want to shoot lots out to a 1000 yards with lighter recoil using reasonably priced factory ammo the 6.5 Creedmoor is close to fitting the bill but after having both cartridges it's really hard not to like the 6.5 PRC, it's just a better version of the Creedmoor !

 

[willtim]

Why not a .243 Win shooting 100 grain Partitions? Somebody talk me out of building one.

 

[window licker]

I like the .260AI, but the .260 is still close. I use a 142 smk at 2900+ with good results. I shot this antelope with the above combination at 842, last saturday.

 

[BEEMAN]

I also have a 14 lb 6.5x47. It's a great gun built by RBros. Very accurate with very little recoil. My last build has even less recoil. It's a 6 Dasher shooting 103 ELD-X or 105 bergers. For deer and antelope size game out to 500 yds, I think it's going to be great. Compact with a 22" barrel but still gets decent speed. Running 32 gr of Varget right now at about 2850 fps. I may push for another 100 fps after hunting season and see if there's another node.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I like the .260AI, but the .260 is still close. I use a 142 smk at 2900+ with good results. I shot this antelope with the above combination at 842, last saturday. View attachment 153443

Do you open the tips on the 142? I have some and the 150s. The tips on most of them are completely closed