Can anyone with actual experience tell me if with equal rifle and bullet weights, is there a "noticeable" difference in felt recoil?

thanks

I've shot the 280, 280AI 280PDK and the 7mag. Yes I can tell a difference. However if the 7mag causes you recoil issues the AI might not help that much. It isn't night and day. If you push the AI to 7mag velocity then the recoil saving will be marginal.

I've shot the same 7 mag since I was in HS. I picked up a lighter 280AI last year. The 280 is a bit lighter than the 7. I 've never felt the 7 had heavy recoil, but it is more than the 280.

The inevitable difference in stock shapes will make more difference than the actual difference in momentum generated by either cartridge.

Given the same weight bullet loaded to optimal velocity with the same powder (which they never are), and fired in identical rifles (which they never are), you probably couldn't tell the difference in a double blind comparison. The greater difference would be in muzzle blast, but that, too, would be measurable only by instrument and not by your (protected) ears.

Of course, if you were firing factory .280 ammunition (especially in a larger .280 AI chamber), it being normally loaded to a significantly lower pressure and velocity than 7mm RM ammunition, the .280 would yield somewhat less recoil and blast.

Disregarding the stock for a moment, recoil is a result of the stuff you send down the barrel. The ejecta. A bigger (heavier) bullet, more powder = more recoil.
I've never shot an AI but I've shot a whole bunch of .280s and 7mags. And the mag has more recoil.

The only time recoil is an issue, is sighting in. Get a Lead Sled. You never notice recoil in the field. If you are that worried about recoil, then get a 7-08 or something.

Heavier bullets do not always mean more recoil. Some of the worst recoiling rifles that I have seen were .270s. Lots of variables in the recoil issue.

Exactly right sbhooper. Recoil only matters at the range. Of course there are always exceptions, like shooting 2,000 dove a day with a 12 gauge.

I never even think about recoil in the field, whether I'm using a shooting stick, resting on a blind or rock, or shooting free hand.

It's all physics, assuming the same stock shape and rifle weight. I have an AI and it is only slightly less kick than a 7 mag of the same weight and stock design. As stated above, there are more variables in felt recoil. I do hate lead sleds though. If someone can't control their rifle, well, I don't know what to say. I have seen some very bad results in the field where guys only shot their heavy kickers from lead sleds and bulls bags, then when they were under field conditions, they were afraid of them and couldn't hit game. While you might not feel the recoil when shooting at game, if you anticipate it, it will always have bad results. And if you use a lead sled on an Double Rifle, it might not regulate and you can damage the stock. They are like training wheels; at some point you have to take them off.
You guys are experienced hunters; not representative of the average American hunter. Spend some time at your local range and you will see them. Maybe not in Texas where everyone is macho and can shoot anything, but here for sure.

I have owned both and with the same bullet i did not notice much difference. The mag was just a bit more that is 140 or less. Both rifles weight about the same give or take a 1/2 lbs or so. But change bullet weights and the difference is noticeable. When you get past the 140's things change rapidly the 7 mag recoil becomes much more noticeable.

An impossible question to answer and you can get all kinds of answers, but the bottom line is how sensitive to recoil are you, everyone is different and in fact each of us is differnt on given days to recoil..You will be better off to try both before you jump..

I do believe that any good red blooded American Republican boy can conquer the 7 mag with a minimum of practice..I also believe that liberal democrates flinch with a 22 Hornet.

I had 3 rifles once.

A 1960s Rem 700 ADL in 30-06.
A 1960s Savage 110 - a ash/beech stock in 30-06
and I had a Savage 110 Premier stock for it
A 1960s Firearms Interntnl FN in 308 Norma Mag

The .308 Mag was the heaviest and had the worst muzzle blast.

The first go round the Remington had the worst recoil. The ash or beech stock on the 110 was the mildest by far.

When I put the Savage 110 Premier stock on the Savage the recoil was much worse than the Remington or the .308 Norma. One of the worst recoiling combinations I ever fired.

I grew up shooting. I am not a big man and some would call me persistent , others , hard headed .
I have observed and believe different people have different tolerance levels of recoil.
Went to Argentina in 07 for dove. The outfitter recommended we bring gloves, tape and a past or similar pad for our hands and shoulder . Some people needed and used these items. I never used any of it. Not that I'm a ba, but I have shot all my life and have had much more experience w/ recoil.
Recoil is real no doubt , some people's experience w/ it is greater . With some people I believe this makes them more tolerant. I also believe that, to some degree, that comparing many different levels of recoil over time also can give a person a since of comparative relativity. A new shooter may think the 30-06 they are shooting 'kicks like a mule', an experienced shooter who has had a great amount of experience duck/dove hunting or trap/skeet shooting w / a light 12 g o/u , or 338 WM or 16g SxS or shooting from a sitting or laying position, may not think the same 06 is too bad at all.
Just my perception .

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
When I put the Savage 110 Premier stock on the Savage the recoil was much worse than the Remington or the .308 Norma. One of the worst recoiling combinations I ever fired.

Amen!

My father has a 7mag Savage 110 with the premier stock. It recoiled far heavier than my model 70 w/ an HS precision stock. Both guns are roughly the same weight.

Never did like shooting his Savage - but the 7 mag/HS stock's recoil is about the same as my featherweight .270. Whodathunk?

friar

bottom line is, you've got to keep your hand in. If you only pull ole trusty rusty out of the closet once or twice a year to kill something, it doesn't have to be a very stout cartridge to where you'll think it kicks.
I've never used a lead sled nor any of the other contrivances but I don't start out like I'm killing snakes neither. Just a couple or three rounds to begin with. And work up your tolerance over a few days.
At one time, I could fire 100 rounds of 30-06 ammo at a sitting without a problem. Wearing just a T shirt. If I laid off for a few months, shooting nothing but .22s and .223s, when I'd pick up the '06, I wouldn't shoot too many rounds before I became aware of the recoil.

I have shot a lot of 7mm08, 280 AI & some 7mm Rem Mag.

There is definite difference in felt recoil for each step up. The interesting thing I found was that my Kimber Montana 7mm08 at 6 lbs scoped is lively in my hands but the felt recoil on my shoulder is still mild.

My shoulder does feel the after effects of a long bench session with the 7mm RM.

160 gr Accubonds in my 280 AI do just over 3000 fps with VV N560 (Nosler load) but the felt recoil is less than the 7mm RM.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
An impossible question to answer and you can get all kinds of answers, but the bottom line is how sensitive to recoil are you, everyone is different and in fact each of us is differnt on given days to recoil..You will be better off to try both before you jump..

I do believe that any good red blooded American Republican boy can conquer the 7 mag with a minimum of practice..I also believe that liberal democrates flinch with a 22 Hornet.

Yep.

I have never had a problem with recoil, but I get tired of having a bruised shoulder. I shot a 7mag long before the lead sled came around. I can have a good range session with my lead sled and not have a beat-up shoulder. It is not just a magnum that has bad recoil. I have a light 308 that hammers pretty good, too.

I don't notice one bit of recoil when I have an animal standing out there.

You may not "feel" any recoil when shooting at game but any bad habits you picked up during practice, jerking the trigger, flinching, etc, or subconscious fears you have about recoil are still gonna be there.

7mm and recoil?

You're kidding, right?

Recoil doesn't even exist at such puny levels.

Unless your rifle is very poorly designed.

And even then, come on . . .