Recoil with 308 and 6.5 creedmoor and similar bullet weights

douglasfir

Lil-Rokslider
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Dec 17, 2019
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In similar rifles, how would the recoil compare between a 6.5 creedmoor shooting bullets in the 140 grain range and a 308 win shooting bullets in the 150 grain range? I know there are a number of factors involved here, so I'm just looking for a general idea.
 
Joined
May 18, 2019
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my 6.5cm feels similar to stout loads from my 243. A 308 has more felt recoil to me given guns of similar weight and stock design. I recommend the creedmoor to anyone who is recoil sensitive.
 

Tradchef

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Aug 30, 2017
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Willow Creek, Montana
I’ve shot both a lot and owned a .308 barrel for my tc. The 6.5 is an easy one to shoot. I always thought the .308 was an easy one to shoot as well. But as said above....the 6.5 is pretty mild overall
 

EmperorMA

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Dec 7, 2018
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Yup. The 6.5 Creedmoor certainly has less felt recoil than the .308 Win. The CM feels more like a .243 to me.
 
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douglasfir

Lil-Rokslider
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Dec 17, 2019
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Thanks everyone. I'm considering my first truly lightweight rifle, probably a Kimber Hunter. With such a lightweight rifle, recoil is a real concern for me.

Have any of you seen this recoil calculator? http://kwk.us/recoil.html

It's pretty interesting - the "Barsness' index" is especially interesting.
 

Antares

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For what it's worth, it's not like the .308 is going to kick your teeth in either. I have a 5lb 14oz Kimber in .308 and it's totally manageable, I don't even think about it. It does have a brake on it, which helps. I don't like recoil either, I don't really enjoy shooting .270 or .30-06, just for reference.

I also have a 10lb 4oz Tikka in 6.5CM with a brake...talk about light recoil!
 

Sandstrom

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Sep 24, 2020
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This fall I helped a kid sight in his new 6.5 cm with 140 ish bullets. I was shooting my 308 with 150 grains. I could not tell a difference in recoil. The 6.5 was also heavier than the 308.

Ryan
 

260madman

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Dec 15, 2017
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WI
I have both. 6.5/260 are easy on recoil all else equal gun wise. I have a 140gr 260 load that is not fun to shoot out of an M7 (it’s a ver heavy kicking load for just this particular bullet) but a 168 308 load is no big deal from a Howa.
 

MattB

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Sep 29, 2012
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It is going to largely be a function of bullet weight and powder charge weight. That should be pretty easy to figure out and run through a calculator.
 

EastMT

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Dec 19, 2016
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Eastern Montana
I loaded 125 gr in a 308 model 7, they were fairly hot but not crazy. The muzzle jump was stupid. That’s still my favorite rifle but I shoot 180gr loads. As long as they aren’t hot I think there would be a minor diff, but if recoil is the goal I’d vote CM over 308.

If recoil isn’t the goal I prefer 308 over CM, I like heavy bullets
 
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