Which of these 2 cal has the least felt recoil?

[dirt dauber]

A 7mm08 or a 25-06? How does their recoil compare to a 243?
Starting a young shooter and don't want to get them flenching right outta the chute.

[wsteffen]

I've shot the 7mm08 in rifles and a pistol. Really like it, very flat shooting. A little more recoil than a 243 in like rifles.

[Northeaster]

I love a 7mm-08 but for a my kids I like light loads. But - they're hard to find - 140gr seems to be the standard and even those are sometimes a little hard to find.
I'd go with a 243 and you can usually find 100gr bullets that will work for deer .

25-06 is harder to find ammo than either of the above.

-if you reload the 7mm08 will be the most versatile and they will never outgrow it.

[Pistol Pete]

I have hunted with a 25-06 since I was 12. With a 100 gr. bullet out of Winchester Model 70 the recoil is not bad at all. In fact, one of the reasons I like the 25-06 is that you can see the impact on the critter in the scope. However, I now hunt with a lighter stocked SAKO A7 in 25-06 and the felt recoil is a little harsher than the wood stocked Winchester.

Last year I purchased a Savage yth 243 for my boys (12) and (9) mainly because the stock on my 25-06 did not fit them properly. While I like the 243 and personally don't feel like the recoil is bad at all, the boys begin to complain after 6 to 10 rounds. (I make them practice before the season). I think it has more to do with wood vs synthetic stock when you are comparing recoil out of a 25-06 vs. 243.

Having said all of this in my opinion I think the best thing you can do for a youth is to buy them a firearm that fits them properly, with a wood or laminate stock, and in a smaller caliber like the 243 that they want to shoot all the time. While I hear good things about the 7mm-08 I don't know much about it. I would also encourage you to use both ear plugs and muffs for any youth or new shooter while practicing. I find they flinch a lot less and are much less intimidated by the KA-BOOM (short barreled youth models are especially loud) when shooting with double ear protection.

There countless adults and youths that use the 243 on deer every year and it works great. I grew up with the 25-06 and love it.

I disagree that the 25-06 is harder to find ammo for than the 7mm-08. With the exception of the most recent ammo shortage (when everything was hard to find) 25-06 can be found at Wal-mart, Academy and Bass Pro where I live.

[JustinJ]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

[kumathebear]

The 08 IMO. Not trying to mess your thread up, but ever considered a 22-250? Great round that will take any Texas game with well placed shot. Just saying....Good luck and have fun with your kiddo!!

[dirt dauber]

The 08 IMO. Not trying to mess your thread up, but ever considered a 22-250? Great round that will take any Texas game with well placed shot. Just saying....Good luck and have fun with your kiddo!!

Absolutely. I have one and love it. However, Im not sure beginners will be able to place a shot in the perfect placement. I have shot 36 hogs with my Howa 22-250 and it is devastating.

[treestand]

In rifles of equal weight, the 7mm-08 will generally have less recoil but felt recoil is also a function of the rifle design and recoil pad. Recoil itself is just force = 1/2 mass X velocity squared against the weight of the rifle. While the '08 bullet can weigh nearly twice as much, the '06 velocity can be 50% more and squaring that results in considerably more force. I'm sure there are loads where '06 has less recoil but for any loads considered typical, the '08 will have less recoil.

[DarrellS]

25-06

[M16]

Not enough difference between the two to worry about.

[32drawlength]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Great reference...been using it for years

[treestand]

I stand corrected. Although in my defense I was assuming the 3300 fps load I shoot in the 25-06.

[cwill37]

You can get your kids a PAST recoil pad to practice with. It will make a big difference for them. Also cheaper than a new rifle.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/367156/past-mag-recoil-pad-shield-ambidextrous

[Texas276]

7mm-08 /SA vs the 25-06/LA. Weight and length difference, not much but may be a bigger deal to a kid. More hand load options with the 7mm bullet as well.
I just went through the same thing and picked the 7mm-08.
Ballistics not quite a good, but perceived payoff was better with 7mm-08
Both are good choices, can't go wrong with either.

[RascalArms]

In theory the 25-06 should have slightly less recoil than the 7m08 but I'm not sure it would be noticeable IMHO. The overall set-up and weight of the firearm could make a difference but all 3 rounds (including the 243) are very similar. Overall fit to the shooter, in terms of size-shape of the stock and a good recoil pad will eliminate a lot of the perceived kick.