Thread: 7mm-08 benefits

Originally Posted by Tussock

Reality is, .308, the projectiles most people shoot give worse than .223 ballistics. You can shag around with it, but to get even ordinary acceptable ballistics you are flogging the guts out of it. My experience, pushing big heavy pills at any speed results in a sharp, unpleasant recoil.

There is more to recoil than bullet weight. Recoil is best considered if you think about it as a little rocket. Most (but not all) of the movement (backwards into your shoulder) happens after the projectiles leaves the barrel. Watch time lapse video of the muzzle of the firearm as a projectile exits. All the movement happens after the projectile exits and the gases propel the rifle backwards. Thus, suppressors and muzzle breaks make great recoil reducers. Suppressors especially show the effect of muzzle gases being slowed. There is no propulsion backwards of the rifle (internal muzzle breaks are a myth). Its purely slowing of the muzzle gasses.

Therefore, its how those muzzle gases exit that give you the recoil "signature". I prefer the recoil of 30-06 to .308 with the same pill. I own/owned both. In my logic, 30-06 is nicer to shoot for ~8-10 rounds as its more of a shove backwards than a smack in the shoulder. .308, in my case would be higher pressure gasses exciting in a shorter period of time, resulting in sharper recoil, versus a larger volume if lower pressure gas for the 30-06. Im sure I could duplicate and excede the .308 recoil with the 30-06 with a faster powder.

Etc etc.

I understand completely what you are saying but most Deer are shot well inside 200 yards so ballistics are a non issue for most "hunters"