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What's the most powerful caliber the average adult can handle?

7K views 93 replies 38 participants last post by  Danoobie 
#1 ·
Assume a reasonable amount of firearms experience, a well-fitting stock, and proper technique, though no muzzle brakes. Chuck Hawks says the 270 Winchester is the maximum for most people, Terminal Ballistics Research says the 30-06, I'm sure there are other claims too.
 
#2 ·
There are just too many variables that can alter a correct answer for the question.
Barrel weight,total rifle weight,bullet weight,shooting position?

Every 270 Winchester that I've ever shot had more recoil than my 1903A3 Sporter 30-06,and it kicks like a pissed off mule. I always enjoyed shooting both of my 300 WM's over shooting the 30-06.
Shooting a 458 WM isn't very bad in a standing position,but shoot it from a bench,and it will punish you.
 
#4 ·
We have had the discussion about Chuck's dislike of the 30-06 before.

Sorry, Chuck is a bit of a wuss with recoil. Every US soldier and Marine from WW 1 and WW 2 (and Korea) learned to shoot a 30-06.

The firing position, style of stock and weight of rifle make a lot of difference in perceived recoil. And how many times you fire it. A couple of rounds standing while hunting is a lot different than 100 rounds from a benchrest. One of the hardest kicking rifles I own is a .308.

Air gun Wood Shotgun Trigger Gun barrel


It weighs less than 6 pounds. Remington 660.
 

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#5 ·
I;m not a very big guy and I have shot countless guns much larger than 30/06. I admit I don't get much enjoyment out of shooting hard kickers.
Look at the Trapdoor Carbines our military had years back. The load they started with was 500 grain bullets out of the relatively lightweight carbine. Later after many complaints the bullet weight for the carbines was reduce to lower the recoil. I have shot one of the original Trapdoor carbines with 500 grain loads and it sure did kick.
 
#6 ·
felt recoil is a subjective factor. everyone is different, just as all guns are different.

there are just too many variables to make that determination, and once you factor in the human variable, it all goes out the window!

and Chuck Hawks.....well, lets just say this, he probably couldn't handle some of my guns that i enjoy shooting! :D
 
#10 ·
We have had the discussion about Chuck's dislike of the 30-06 before.

Sorry, Chuck is a bit of a wuss with recoil. Every US soldier and Marine from WW 1 and WW 2 (and Korea) learned to shoot a 30-06.

The firing position, style of stock and weight of rifle make a lot of difference in perceived recoil. And how many times you fire it. A couple of rounds standing while hunting is a lot different than 100 rounds from a benchrest. One of the hardest kicking rifles I own is a .308.

View attachment 175155

It weighs less than 6 pounds. Remington 660.
After the move from the 1903 and 03/A3, to the Garand they at least had a bit more weight and the Gas system to moderate a bit of the felt recoil. (I've found the Garand and my M1A to be much gentler to shoot, thank bolt action sporter .30-06 and .308 rifles.)

I have three "hunting rifles" for deer sized game animals. A Sako in .30-06 which has a medium to light barrel profile and light weight synthetic stock. It's not a ton of fun to shoot for prolonged range sessions, but it's not a beast either.

The others are a Mauser '95 that was sporterized and belonged to my Grandmother as her deer rifle. It is milder in comparison to the Sako, but it still sports a straight wristed stock and metal butt plate.

My hunting rifle that is also what I would consider to also have some fun factor is my Marlin 336 in .30-30.

I could handle more recoil than these rifles dish out, but haven't found a hunting need that couldn't be met by these rifles if I'm actually doing my job as a hunter. If I can get out and scout before the season, it usuallyeans I don't have to stretch my shots and hese rifles offer plenty of margin. If I have the time and can get a jump in thd season and archery hunt before the modern rifle hunters get out there and spook everything. I get additional and more up to date scouting knformation on when and where the deer are moving from bedding areas to feeding and watering areas and back to bedding areas. Probably s bigger advantage than any caliber.
 
#11 ·
I can comfortably shoot any of my 30-06's all day (M1903, M1917, M1). I have rifle length Trapdoor, and it has some recoil, but its a slow recoil - more like someone pushing your shoulder..

The worst one I own is my Marlin 336, that thing kicks the crap outta me....
 
#13 ·
Back in the late 1970's when we were living in the panhandle of Texas I had a
Ruger #1 in .458 Winchester Magnum, my sisters kids got a big kick over my left foot coming off the ground every time I shot it from a standing position, I never tried shooting it from a prone position, according to specs on the load I was shooting, it had 60 pounds of free recoil, a 460 Weatherby is in the 80 pound area of free recoil. I am a rather skinny guy, so recoil pushes me back easily, I've been told by heavier guys that they get hurt more from heavy recoil. The only time I got a black and blue shoulder was from shooting 110 grain high velocity handloads from a lightweight 30-06. I can't say as if I had ever had the chance to shoot a powerful caliber that is beyond what I can handle, with me it could be something like a S&W 500 caliber revolver. There was a time I thought it would be cool to own a Desert Eagle .50 caliber, then one day I handled a Desert Eagle in .44 and realized those calibers weren't the problem, it was the size and weight of the weapon that made me realize that it was bigger than what I wanted to carry, my Ruger Redhawk is at the upper end of what I would consider, comfortable to carry, like I said, I'm a rather skinny guy, 5'10"+- a fraction and around 160 pounds.
 
#14 ·
In dealing with recoil, the weight of the rifle, fit of the stock, are very important factors. I have shot .375's or .458's in a rifle that had a longer buttstock than standard factory which bothered me less than a lightweight .30-06 or similar round. My wife coaches trap to young shooters and to see how many of them have trouble with a youth 20 gauge shotgun's recoil due to its fit and weight and then shoot my wife's 12 ga. trap gun and have less discomfort and start hitting birds demonstrates recoil can be very subjective on how a rifle, shotgun, or handgun is designed. My .500 Wyoming Express in the round butt Freedom Arms 83 has very heavy recoil but is less uncomfortable than a .454 in a square butt revolver. In my opinion the average person could shoot much heavier calibers than one would think with proper stock fit versus standard factory versions, it may not be the most economical but I think it will definitely improve one's shooting and beat you up less.
 
#15 ·
There are just too many variables that can alter a correct answer for the question.
Barrel weight,total rifle weight,bullet weight,shooting position?

Every 270 Winchester that I've ever shot had more recoil than my 1903A3 Sporter 30-06,and it kicks like a pissed off mule. I always enjoyed shooting both of my 300 WM's over shooting the 30-06.
Shooting a 458 WM isn't very bad in a standing position,but shoot it from a bench,and it will punish you.
This. My first deer rifle was a .270 Remington 7600 that to this date is the most punishing rifle I have shot. I have shot hot 45/7 loads0,375 H&H and various mangnums that seemed mild in comparion
 
#16 ·
'Average' adult, I would agree with the above! That is one of the reasons the old 06 is so popular even today!:D
 
#17 ·
best for what??

question is wrong.

most recoil to handle punching a hole in paper at 100yds??

most you can handle for stopping a charging cape buffalo??

most recoil you can handle for shooting at tin cans??

or most you candle for a elk hunt or antelope hunt??

or maybe upper end recoil for home defense??
 
#43 ·
I was just thinking about this and wish to modify my answer.
It depends on the application.

For many applications were you must provide high volume fire to cover your buddy who is moving... the max caliber might just be whichever caliber you can shoot off a mag quickly in the support-by-fire role and not even notice any recoil.
 
#19 ·
For average weight and build along with a factory rifle I would agree with the 30-06 crowd. Most people do not have a high tolerance for recoil. I have seen smaller shooters using magnums with no problem but that is not average.
 
#20 ·
It varies from person to person. For myself, for effectiveness, I tend to flinch at anything hotter than a .357 mag. in a hand gun and over a 30.06 in a rifle and I have no need for over a .12 ga. shotgun. (I had a ten gauge long barreled full-choke duck gun that was too much..it beat my ***. I got rid of it in a hury)

I am sure there are some net heroes that could shoulder fire a 155 MM Long-Tom without flinching, just not me.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I always kinda thought the .338 Winchester Magnum was a better recoiling magnum round in a 9 pound rifle fitted with a nice rubber recoil pad that is. :D
Fact is take grandpa's early model Remington 721 in 30-06 with its stamped metal buttplate kick's like mule, A fella can make it allot more likeable just by swapping out the waffle-iron buttplate for a comfy recoil pad.
I think you could screw that butt plate to a wood mallet and make one hell of a meat tenderizer from it. :D

I'd done that on a Mosin and a Savage 110, it makes a more comfortable & pleasurable shooting rifle.
 

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#22 ·
Agree on recoil pads. Those old curved steel or brass butt plates were nasty. I knew a guy that almost shouldered his single shot Browning 45-70 and it broke his arm.
 
#23 ·
i agree that a good recoil pad can make a world of difference in felt recoil.

just as the grip on pistol can make a huge difference in felt recoil. a person can handle more recoil in pistol if the grip fits them well. this is why there is huge aftermarket in grips for pistols. booming market!

and the better you can handle recoil, as general rule the better you will shoot accurately.

never let the size of person or their gender fool you into thinking that is an indicator of what type or how much recoil they can handle. my wife, and two you nieces might embarrass some of you grown men with a 357 Magnum shooting some decent handloads i have cooked up! :p
 
#24 ·
never let the size of the person or their gender fool you into thinking that is an indicator of what type or how much recoil they can handle. my wife, and two you nieces might embarrass some of you grown men with a 357 Magnum shooting some decent handloads I have cooked up! :p
Handling recoil has nothing to do with size or gender, it's about physics.
An object at rest wants to stay at rest, so the bigger (heavier) you are the more recoil you will absorb while the lighter person will roll with it more easily.
 
#26 · (Edited)
It was joked that the #5 enfield rubber was all made from Rubber Mallet material for one year, and the older that rubber it gets the less resilient it is.
I had a fossilized 1970's era Remington Wingmaster recoil pad that Id swear you could use as a rubber mallet pad for wood working.

Anyway the #5 rubber is a odd narrow shape almost like a slim hard rubber wedge that concentrated recoil energy in that hard substance into a small area of contact on your shoulder.
That rifle would have been better served to have had full width of the butt cross-section to distribute the recoil.

Like any rubber on automobiles, every once in awhile a fella need's to mount new rubber for a softer ride.
 
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