Top 5 low recoil cartridges for medium game hunting, which are also adequate for elk & moose.

#hunting #caliber #rifle #review #huntinggear #longrange #deer #elk
Top 5 most effective low recoil hunting cartridges that are capable for deer, antelope, black bear and just enough for moose and elk if proper shot placement is taken with high quality suitable bullets are used. To be considered low recoil the cartridge must have under 15 pounds of felt recoil.
None of these cartridges would make a good dedicated moose or elk cartridge. They are more for deer and just enough for the occasional moose or elk hunt. The only one I would personally use for elk or moose is the 7mm-08.
25-05: 120g nosler partition
30-30 150g Barnes tsx fn
6.5 creedmoor 140g nosler partition, 142g nosler accubond lr
6.5x55 140g nosler partition
7mm-08 140g nosler accubonds, if a reloader 162g eld-x

I can’t stress enough shot placement and quality ammunition. Using smaller cartridges on big game means you must be willing to pass on shots unless you can hit in the vitals at a range your cartridge is capable of.

[lrac]

This one video could replace about 10, 000 “best cartridge” videos. Short, accurate, to the point. Thank you sir

[Canadianhunter]

Thank you to one of the viewers. Caught a typo, 30-30 good for deer to 200 yards on average. Of course at 205 it won’t magically fail. But on average 200 yards.
Good catch! Thanks for pointing that out.

[garysmith]

.308, repeat, .308 Forget the rest, go with the best.

[MidlandTexan]

Nice to see the Swede on this list. My Dad built an M96 for Mom in the early '60's, my wife hunts with it today.

[Canadianhunter]

According to the calculations I used, the cartridges have the following recoil energy. 25-06 14.5 pounds, 30-30 9.9 pounds, 6.5 creedmoor 11.8 pounds, 6.5x55 10.9 pounds, 7mm-08 14.5 pounds.
I find the calculation tables are generally off, just like how some companies try to say their muzzle brake reduces recoil by over 75%. I have never seen or used any muzzle device that reduces more than maybe 50%.

[Canadianhunter]

I wanted to add, a viewer or two pointed out it’s not just about recoil energy. Free recoil energy, which is true there is also how sharp the recoil is. Some cartridges are more of a slower push and some are a sharp jab.
All of these cartridges are extremely manageable in both departments. Some people handle recoil better than others as well, some have more experience shooting. For example I know a few people that consider 308 fairly mild recoiling and others that consider 308 kind of harsh. As soon as you pass that 15 pound mark is when some shooters start to think recoil is a bit much. Some shooters it’s more around the 30-06 level or 20 pounds where they consider things to be a bit stiffer.
Personal experience with recoil is the weight of the rifle and recoil pad highly effect recoil, also how the stock fits a shooter. The best recoil pads I have used are limbsaver and inflex recoil pads. I have found browning xbolt rifles to be some of the best for recoil management, and I have found tikka rifles some of the worst for recoil. I know I owned a 270 wsm in a tikka t3 and I found the recoil very snappy and I didn’t enjoy the rifle, it gave me a very negative opinion of the cartridge. A little while back I tried the same cartridge in a friend’s rifle and the experience was very different. I owned a 300 win mag tikka t3x and the recall was a nightmare, yet I have used a savage 110 and a couple other rifles where it wasn’t to over the top.

[blackieof]

Great job putting this one together!

When I started hunting.. I had to use what was available! Being one of four boys and the third in line.. I started hunting with a 20 gauge single shot!
Never actually harvested a deer with it! Missed a few though! Then once my oldest brother left for the military.. I got to use his 303 British. Missed a few.. but finally got one!
After that first buck.. I wanted my very own firearm ❤️
I put money down on a 30-06 Springfield cause that's all my father ever used! I bagged a few deer with it and eventually wanted something else. A lower recoiling cartridge that was accurate to boot!
That got me into the 7mm-08 Remington! That being said.. I've taken my share.. with these..

303 British
30-06 Springfield
7mm-08 Remington
350 Remington Magnum
350 Legend
358 Winchester

All these goodies pretty much did the same! Dead is dead! However.. I did get more burger using the 7mm-08 Remington!

Nowadays.. I'm either carrying my 7mm-08 or my 350 Legend! Have never had to shoot past 125 yards.. most inside of 50 yards!

Thanks again for sharing

PS.. I do go to the range often.. and I have no issues out to 200 yards! Sub moa even with my 1x4 power scopes!

[grabbag]

25-06 is commonly referred to as a deer slayer for really good reasons

[johnkaraphillis]

I liked/agreed with your choices. As a CM hater, it fits in this conversation. Great to see the ‘08 getting its due. Thanks

[ICUBUDO]

.25-06 has got to be for me, top 5 cartridge of all time...

[karlantonlillester]

6.5x55 Norma bondstrike extreme still has 1500 foot pounds past 350 yards. My handloads push that past 400 and that is still well below any pressuresigns.

[forrestwright]

It's not all about recoil energy, you have to strongly consider the rate of speed that the recoil is delivered to your shoulder in feet per second

[rags]

Love my 7mm-08 but still hunt mostly with my grandfather’s .257 Remington. Have taken countless deer with it and never lost one!

[clayreynolds]

Shot a 3006 most of my life had to shoulder ops went to a 7m08 boy is it nice you could beat it got my first deer with it nice 3 point

[rennaisanceman]

I load 6.5 x 55. Norma brass, with a 125 gr Nosler Partition to avg.of 2800fps. Very accurate in my CZ 550. Never had to track but 1 deer and that was my fault.

[LovingIdaho]

I will stick to my 308 . It has not let me down yet .

[PassivePortfolios]

Most shots on deer, antelope, sheep and goats are within 300 yards, which is the range at which most hunters can reliably hit their target's vital areas. The .243 is not mentioned although it is very popular, has low recoil and flat trajectory. And it's plenty for taking the soft skinned game I mentioned.

[winner]

Good presentation, Has All the Vital Information, Responsible Ranges, Thank You

[xArjay]

No 308 in the list at all eh, how interesting lol

[jimparker]

Stressing the importance of shot placement means you must include the .22LR Any shot in the earhole will usually kill large game. I'm not seriously suggesting that hunters shoot a moose with a .22 but I can't begin to tell you how many lousy shots I've seen that wounded deer with a 30-30