hunting load that doesn't hurt ur shoulder

[444ttd]

i was reading https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...ery-type-loads and when i was done, i thought somebody should make a thread that makes a hunting load that doesn't hurt your shoulder.

i am a cripple, handicapped or whatever floats your boat. i had a really bad stroke about 9 years ago. my right arm/leg are around 20% good and my speech is around 15% good. i had to learn how to walk again and shoot again. before my stroke, i'd rate myself above average shooter. after my stroke, at first, i would close my eyes and yank the trigger. it took me about a year (shooting sticks are mandatory, lead sled, sandbags, PAST recoil pad...) to get to where i am now, average shooter.

i can do, recoil wise, a 30-06 with a 180gr factory load, but after that, i can't. my late friend brought over a 300 win mag and 180gr factory load that i could fire. i did and i will not comment on the things i said. but i will tell you, never again!!!!
this was coming from a guy who used to think that 460 weatherby mag was stout in recoil department. he....er rather i, thought the shooting 416 rigby was child's play. my limit on recoil is the '06 with 180gr factory loads. when i say limit, after 5 shots, then i'm done. my shoulder hurts and i don't want to get flinching again.

i could get a box of 170gr factory loads in my 30-30 and be done with it. no sir, where's the fun in that!!!!!!



i use cast boolits only for my deer/black bear hunting that doesn't hurt MY shoulder. all of these were 1 shot cast boolit kills and under the recoil of the '06 with 180gr factory loads.




30-40 krag 165gr ranch dog with 25.5gr of h4198 goes 1930fps

35/30-30 200gr rcbs fn gc with 20.0gr of 2400/.6gr +/- of dacron goes 1726fps

9.3x57 275gr wfn gc with 39.0gr of imr4895 guesstimate 1700-1800fps

44 mag 280gr wfn with 10.0gr of unique no guesstimate

44 spl 250gr fnhp with 7.5gr of unique no guesstimate

444 marlin

275gr ranch dog with 41.0gr of rel7

275gr ranch dog with 40.0gr of h4198

280gr lfn gc with 41.5gr of rel7

280gr lfn gc with 42.0gr of h4198

250gr mihek hp with 11.5gr of unique

220gr wc with 13.0gr of unique

280gr wfn gc with 25.0gr of 2400

280gr lfn gc with 38.5gr of rel 7

300gr fn gc (saeco) 24.0gr of 2400 with 1.1gr +/- tuft of dacron going 1624fps avg


45-70 405gr fnpb 36.0gr of h4198


have not killed

500 linebaugh (tc encore 23" mgm barrel) with 450gr lfn gc with 16.5gr of hs-6 goes 1235fps


have to handload

7.65x53 argie with 185gr rn gc

7x57 145gr fn gc



i have a 8x57 and 6.5 carcano and 303-06(or 318-06 japanese) to find loads for.

what is your deer load(s) that don't hurt your shoulder?

[dverna]

Sorry to hear of your physical limitations.

In your situation, may I suggest equipping your favorite rifle with a muzzle brake? The downside is a lot more noise and I wear both plugs and muffs when shooting the .300 Win Mag.

In any case, deer and black bear are not difficult to harvest as your loads demonstrate. But I prefer to shoot a modern rifle at or very near its maximum capabilities so I use jacketed bullets for hunting. I could download the .308's to less than .30/30 levels but what would I gain???? Certainly, no better accuracy, range or terminal performance.

If/when recoil becomes a factor, I will likely go with a .260 Rem.

[444ttd]

ewwwwwwwwww!!!!! a muzzle brake!!!!!!!! eeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!


thats why i use cast boolits for hunting!!!!

[Minerat]

Have you thought about one of these? I don't use one but once had a gunsmith suggest it would make 340 Weatherby mag feel like an 06. Something about the way the mercury shifting absorbs the recoil. Wish I had got the 340 instead of keeping the 300 wby. I still would not use one, I'm not recoil sensitive.....yet.

https://www.brownells.com
C & H RESEARCH - STANDARD STOCK RECOIL SUPPRESSOR

[Krag 1901]

If you have a Krag that doesn't hurt, why would you want an 06 level gun? The Krag will kill anything on this continent!

[Shopdog]

My DD(daily driver) is a R700 SSF sporter in 7-08. It dotes on the 130g Lee and starting JB,"book" loads of Varget.

I use an old,mint condition,fully padded 10X shooting jacket when shooting off a bench. In the field the onsey twosey shots don't bother me.

That's one.... for something a little heavier..

Another stainless fluted R700,this one is the venerable 30-06. Another Lee mould,150g and some more Varget at starting JB loads. This is my limit on recoil. Both of these rigs aren't real lightweights.... not boat anchors either. They both wear old,put your sun glasses on,shiny 4-12 Redfield's which I wouldn't take $1k for either. They aren't so heavy or cumbersome (40mm objective) to be a bother but do add to me,just the right amount of extra weight.

I've been on a looong road of rehab. A widow maker heart attack and then a MAJOR getoff hitting a deer on one my sportbikes had left me in pretty bad place. NOT listening to Drs,who basically said,tough doodoo... make funeral plans(yes,that's what they told the Mrs),instead I focused on diet and rehab. And am almost where I need to be. Shooting heavy calibers is O.U.T. out.

Am heading out the door to a bow shoot though,it'll be 90* and about that much humidity,in the shade. I may not win,but they're gonna know I was there.

Stay focused,it's all about the trajectory healthwise. Short term,or long term,your choice. Good luck with your shooting.

[GhostHawk]

.444Marlin in a single shot handi rifle. 310 gr cast with gas check. Over 13 grains of Red dot does not hurt until after round #10. With 10 grains of Red Dot under same could shoot all afternoon.

Same caliber with 200 - 220 gr cast no gas check and 6.5 grains of Red Dot could shoot every day for a week.
Essentially its a moderate .44mag round but loaded in .444marlin brass.

Same for .357mag. 200 gr gas checked bullet with 4.6 grains of Red Dot is mild as can be.

[oldcanadice]

Strange: I thought I was just getting old regarding recoil hurting where it never did before (348 win was nothing, or 44 mag in a revolver), but since heart attacks I've become way into hurt mode even with a 44 mag 310gr hunting load in a RIFLE (with doubled recoil pad yet). Can't begin to handle a 12 guage and a 308 150gr is not fun. This discussion makes me wonder if there is more to the pain connection than just being weaker from the effects.

[444ttd]

Have you thought about one of these? I don't use one but once had a gunsmith suggest it would make 340 Weatherby mag feel like an 06. Something about the way the mercury shifting absorbs the recoil. Wish I had got the 340 instead of keeping the 300 wby. I still would not use one, I'm not recoil sensitive.....yet.

https://www.brownells.com
C & H RESEARCH - STANDARD STOCK RECOIL SUPPRESSOR

yes, i looked at it or something quite similar. my 444 marlin (tc encore with 23" mgm barrel) and a 265gr hornady fn with a, dare i say hot, load of h4198 was on the chopping block. but i changed my direction to cast boolits that are sorta heavy and slow.

[richhodg66]

ewwwwwwwwww!!!!! a muzzle brake!!!!!!!! eeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!


thats why i use cast boolits for hunting!!!!

I'd never consider putting a muzzle break on a rifle, if I can't handle the recoil, time for a different rifle or to load it down.

[444ttd]

I'd never consider putting a muzzle break on a rifle, if I can't handle the recoil, time for a different rifle or to load it down.

i load it down to fit my needs.

last year, i used a 9.3x57 with 275gr wfn gc and 39.0gr of imr4895. i think i got to 44-45gr of imr4895 when my shoulder started complaining, alot, and the accuracy was still good. but i backed her down to 39.0gr and the deer don't complain.

[Texas by God]

I'd never consider putting a muzzle break on a rifle, if I can't handle the recoil, time for a different rifle or to load it down.

Amen. Recoil is temporary, hearing loss is not.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[444ttd]

Strange: I thought I was just getting old regarding recoil hurting where it never did before (348 win was nothing, or 44 mag in a revolver), but since heart attacks I've become way into hurt mode even with a 44 mag 310gr hunting load in a RIFLE (with doubled recoil pad yet). Can't begin to handle a 12 guage and a 308 150gr is not fun. This discussion makes me wonder if there is more to the pain connection than just being weaker from the effects.

i shoot a 255gr keith-type boolit with 7.5gr of unique(44 spl) with my ruger sbh. coming out of 4 5/8" barrel its going 900-1000fps(i never tried my chrony). its a killer on deer. the only bad thing to say about it, is the range and thats me.

i have shot my 444 with 200gr hornady xtp(23-27 of them) and 16.5gr of trail boss in 1 1/4 - 1 1/2" at 50 yards. i should have took a picture, 20 some bullets, all going into 1 1/2" hole. i should have bought some 200gr xtp and hunted with that. the recoil was insignificant as well as the sound. i took my hearing protecting off and shot some more. there is or was a guy on another forum that just luvs use trail boss and 255gr keith -type boolits in his 444. he hunts deer with with it, but he kills deer is only about 50+ yards or so.

more with 444 that doesn't hurt my shoulder

250gr penta hp with unique


280gr wfn gc with unique


and a 35/30-30 with 2400/dacron



i try to limit my range to 150 yards while hunting. yes, i have to let deer go that are over my range. my oldest son's range with cast boolits is 200 yards. it depends on yourself.

[444ttd]

Amen. Recoil is temporary, hearing loss is not.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

+1 with that!!!!!!!

[wilecoyote]

i was reading [url]https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?423057-303-
have to handload....i have a 8x57 ... to find loads for... load(s) that don't hurt your shoulder?

I think I could learn something from your .444 redux !
next:
about 8x57js, Sierra Match 200 grs. can be loaded with 53 grs. of Vihtavuori N160 or even better Norma MRP: both very slow powders, fine about accuracy. I'm not a hunter, but from the bench I fully perceive and suffer any excessive and useless recoil (.444!)_ the 8x57 loads above are used in K98k's, mil. barrel & sights, and are well more accurate than me from bench at 150meters. no sharp recoil, but some kind of push softened by a homemade removable recoil pad. the loads can be lowered or stiffened a bit, but I was mainly about target accuracy_ robust load, I've no doubt that they can down now&forever any deer, but others could know better the terminal effects. well more tolerable than any .30-06 Garand, overall_
on the very light side, I've used Vihtavuori N140 reduced according to Richard Lee data, tuff-of-dacron, 175 GC lead, but as I see that too much paper/target load, in all my ignorance. for sure nothing more than a .30-30_
I understand that these powders can be difficult to find now in USA, but as xperienced reloader you well know how find something of the same burning rate and some real hunting bullets for your purpose.

[charlie b]

If I were still hunting and wanted a deer load with light recoil, I'd be using a 6mm cartridge, probably a .243Win.

Combine that with a rifle that is 1lb or 2lb heavier and you get a LOT less recoil.

One rifle I did not like shooting was a steel butt plate M94 carbine with 170gn factory loads. It hurt when shot with just a shirt on. I was a LOT more comfortable shooting my Garand with 168gn factory loads (it has a nice cushion recoil pad instead of the steel buttplate). Yep, a bit heavy to carry but I like shooting it.

[lesharris]

243 win or 7mm-08 Both work for me.

[richhodg66]

Most of mine are very close range, it's just the way I do it and it's how I would do it if I was using a .264 Win Mag. I set myself up for close shots and I killed a few deer every year, most of my real learning about deer hunting came from bow hunting and using a muzzle loader with iron sights.

It doesn't take much to kill deer cleanly if you can be patient and keep your cool to place the shot well. I've done it with cast in 7x57, several .30s, a .32 Special, .351 WSL (two in a few minutes of each other, dropped where they stood), .358 Winchester and a .45-70. Recoil wasn't a problem with any of them. I really don't care to shoot full house .30-06 level loads very much anymore, no real need to anyway. I dislike recoil pads and absolutely won't entertain the thought of a muzzle break. A heavier rifle is OK, but I am getting to an age and strength level where I appreciate a lighter rifle for carrying. We're all handloaders and casters here, no need for any of us to put up with objectionable recoil, this silly "magnumitis" is for people who are dumb and don't know any better.

[Goofy]

All ballistic problems have a solution, it's up to the wanker with the problem to figure it out. List of variables runs from here to hell and back a couple times I'd think. Broad stroke of the brush: Smaller cases, bullets, closer targets, etc. etc. etc......

[444ttd]

Most of mine are very close range, it's just the way I do it and it's how I would do it if I was using a .264 Win Mag. I set myself up for close shots and I killed a few deer every year, most of my real learning about deer hunting came from bow hunting and using a muzzle loader with iron sights.

It doesn't take much to kill deer cleanly if you can be patient and keep your cool to place the shot well. I've done it with cast in 7x57, several .30s, a .32 Special, .351 WSL (two in a few minutes of each other, dropped where they stood), .358 Winchester and a .45-70. Recoil wasn't a problem with any of them. I really don't care to shoot full house .30-06 level loads very much anymore, no real need to anyway. I dislike recoil pads and absolutely won't entertain the thought of a muzzle break. A heavier rifle is OK, but I am getting to an age and strength level where I appreciate a lighter rifle for carrying. We're all handloaders and casters here, no need for any of us to put up with objectionable recoil, this silly "magnumitis" is for people who are dumb and don't know any better.

i used to use a right handed flintlock(i'm lefty) for the first time (at 15yo.) it took alot of effort not to flinch. when i was 21+/-yo, i traded it for left hand deerstalker. now i got a left hand cva hawken flintlock. i forgot what name brand it was, but i got steel sights with fiber optics. it will let me do 1" to 1 1/2" at 50 yards(3 shots/shooting sticks). i'm a roundballer(.490") and pillow ticking and 70gr of 2f. i have a tc muzzleloader barrel, but its like shooting a rifle.

my heaviest rifle is a 1908 brazilian mauser with a 2-7x vortex scout scout. i never weighed it, but its gotta be over 10lbs. i still have to shoot it, but the 7x57 with 145gr fn gc isn't going cause my shoulder problems.




other that a limbsaver (tc encore, high plains gunstocks) bought new and a Pachmayr recoil pad that i had to put on my 9.3x57(it had a homemade black piece of plastic and roundhead screws), the recoil pads stay the same as i bought them. i do have a PAST magnum recoil pad that i use in the summer, i don't use it in winter because of my clothing. a muzzle brake is a no go fer me.

i have only bought one "magnumitis", a ruger sbh in 44 mag and i haven't used the mag for years. 44 special is the way to go. about 30+/- years ago, i thought i was recoil-proof. today, someone says recoil and i'm a scared little kid in a haunted house!!!!!