I'm looking for a all season rifle not only as a back-up in RSA this year, but also for hunting in the western mountians.

At 6 5/8 lbs. and with the shorter 22 in. barrel will the Mtn. LSS have much more recoil than the XCR weighing 7 3/8?

I'm 5'7 145 lbs. and I want a light rifle but I don't want to be punished by the recoil of 180gr bullets that I'll likely be using most. Any thoughts on which rifle would be better for me? Which one would you choose? Thanks.

since you will be using it as a backup in Africa, I would look at something adequate for DG. Consider a CZ FS in 9,3x62? I live near Boise, what part of Idaho are you in? You are welcome to try mine with some factory ammunition if you are close enough.

Rich
DRSS

fairchase,

The heavier rifle will have slightly less felt recoil. Your best bet is to handle both rifles to determine which one "balances" best for you. I focus on rifle balance more tha rifle weight. Below is an excerise to follow if you're interested in plugging in your numbers for a more technical answer:

The 3rd Law of Physics:
"Whenever one body exerts a force on another, the second body always exerts on the first a force which is equal in measure but opposite in direction." In other words, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The rifle will have a recoil momentum equal to the bullet and powder gas momentum exiting the muzzle. Momentum equals Mass (M) times Velocity (V).

Example:

Cartridge: 9.3x62
Bullet Weight: 286 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2350 fps
Average Powder Weight: 55 grains
7000 grains = 1 pound
Powder Gas Velocity = 5200 fps

MV = MV, therefore;

Bullet Weight/7000 x Bullet Velocity + Powder Charge/7000 x Powder Gas Velocity = Rifle Weight x Rifle Recoil Velocity, therefore;

Assume an initial rifle weight of 9 pounds to determine Rifle Recoil Velocity in order to calculate Kinetic Energy, therefore;

[286/7000 x 2350] + [55/7000 x 5200] = 9 x Rifle Recoil Velocity, therefore;

[96.01 + 40.86] /9 = Rifle Recoil Velocity = Free Recoil Velocity, therefore;

Rifle Recoil Velocity = 15.21 fps for a 9.3x62 weighing 9 pounds. For comparison purposes, the Rifle Recoil Velocity of .30-06 weighing 8.5 pounds firing a 180 grain bullet is 12.71 fps.

Now we can calculate Kinetic Energy (KE) expressed in ft. lbs:

KE = Mass times Velocity squared / Gravitational Constant, therefore;

KE = [9 x 15.21 x 15.21] / 64.32, therefore;

KE = 32.37 ft. lbs. = Free Recoil Energy for 9.3x62 weighing 9 pounds.

Run a sensitivity analysis to dial in rifle weight and balance taking into account distribution of recoil technology.

The 9.3mm (.366") caliber is only legal on dangerous game in Africa for a very experienced person that can prove their DG resume to acquire a special license for the 9.3. ALL others, by law, must employ a .375 caliber as minimum for use against DG or they will not be permitted.

fairchase,

Here are calculations to help put recoil into perspective:

Cartridge Bullet Wt. Muzzle Vel. Powder Wt. Rifle Wt. Recoil Vel. Recoil Energy
.30-06 180 gr 2700 fps 52 gr 8.5 lbs 12.71 fps 21.35 ft lbs
.30-06 180 2700 52 6.0 18.01 30.26
.375 H&H 300 2550 73 9.5 17.21 43.75

Idaho SS,
Nice offer. We'll have to shoot together soon. I shoot mainly at Blacks Creek. Send me an E-mail when ever you want to head out. Huntidaho @msn.com Also, good idea but I really want to stick with a 30-06. I'm mainly a muzzleloading hunter and with my RSA trip being plains game only, a muzzleloader and a '06 will be all I need. If I go back, I'll get a CZ 550 375H&H for the Buffalo.

Buliwyf, Great math there, that has my head spinning! I guess I just need to find out which rifle feels better in my hands. The only problem is the Mountain LSS can't be found in town here. It's a special order item right now.
So, I'm just trying to figure out if the XCR with a 3.5 X 10 Leupie and sling will be too heavy to want to use in Idaho's steep terrain when I get back from africa. Or if the mountain rifle at almost a pound lighter will be too punishing to well in a 30-06 regardless of where or what I'm shooting. Like most of us, I'm not a big fan of heavy recoil and If it wasen't for my plains game trip I'd most likely just buy a Mnt. LSS in 7mm-08 or 280Rem and call it good. I do like the thought of a 22 in. barrel instead of the 24 in., because it can be really thick with alder in lots of my hunting areas. What to do??? Thanks, at least I can put my thoughts in writing.

If I were deciding for myself, I'd go for the lighter rifle with the 22 inch barrel. It will kick you somewhat more. But unless you are really recoil sensitive or prone to flinching (aren't we all?!), I doubt that it will make enough difference that you will experience it as unpleasantly punishing. I think that you will definitely appreciate having a lighter rifle when you are carrying it for any extended period of time in any hunting situation.

If you are hunting sheep, a 150 or 165 grain bullet from the 30-06 should be more than adequate, and the lighter bullet will produce less kick.

Fairchase, my two cents on your dilema... I have an '06 in a all weather stainless Ruger M77 with 22 inch barrel... With scope and sling it weighs about 7.5 lbs... This thing beat me up worse then my 338-378 Weatherby (brake does make a difference)... I had it at my smith to do a trigger job on it and had him put a Pachmeyer pad on it as well... Major difference in the comfort level after many rounds... It used to take 10 or 12 rounds for my shoulder to be telling me to quit... I ran an entire box through it after the new pad was installed and the shoulder never noticed... You might try an even better pad like the Pachmeyer Decelerator or one of the Limbsavers.. Either one will make light rifle recoil a non issue (based on a non magnum cartridge anyway)...

Ken....

I carry a NULA '06 in the mountains of Idaho. I wouldn't want it any heavier. Most hunts are over after ONE shot and most people can handle the recoil of one shot. Recoil is rarely felt with a critter in the scope. The lighter rifle is much more pleasant to lug around. You got to figure that 99%+ of the time, the rifle is only ballast in the field.
It's the range practice that is a problem. Shoulder pads, lead sleds, improved recoil pads will make the range work more comfortable.
My suggestion is to get the lightest rifle. Suck it up at the range with some of the recoil mitigating accessories and enjoy some pleasant walking in the woods of Idaho.