traded for a .243 instead of a 6.5 creedmore

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i'm considering trading my .308 for a 6.5 creedmore but what I don't know is how much less felt recoil is there? I have a damaged shoulder and the .308 and even my 30-30 hurt to shoot just a few rounds. it won't be shot a lot after sighting in/building loads if necessary. anyone here actually shoot/have shot both that can give me an idea of the difference. thanks in advance. lee
 
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I have not fired a 6.5 Creedmore in a bolt gun, but in a AR it is not bad at all, much less felt recoil than a 7.62x51 AR, and a ***** cat compared to a 308 bolt gun.
 
All other things being equal, the 6.5 will recoil less than the .308, probably to the point that you would notice the reduction. Problem is, all other things are seldom equal. I have a GAP .308 that weighs in close to 13 pounds and it is a *****cat. The same loads in a pre-64 Winchester Featherweight at about 8 pounds kick considerably harder even with a good pad. Most 6.5 rifles tend to be lighter than .308 precision rifles - you see the problem. Also, I can shoot a 375 H&H rifle all day long in a 1948 Model 70, but a Ruger No. 1 makes me want to quit after about 3 rounds. The difference is stock design.
Best I can suggest is buy the heaviest rifle you’re comfortable with, make sure the stock fits you, consider a good muzzle brake if you don’t mind the extra noise, and add a good recoil pad. Good luck!
 
I don't think there will be a ton of difference.
Beauty of the 6.5 bore is the long for caliber bullets in the 140 to 160 grain range. The difference between a 6.5 anything (C'more, .260 Rem, 6.5 Swede) launching a 140 grain bullet at around the same or a little faster than a .308 launching a 150grain will be too negligible to tell. I can't between my 700 26" bull .308 and my 700 26" bull 6.5, they are both about the same weight.
I've got a hunting weight Savage bolt rifle, a heavy barrel custom Remington bolt rifle, and a heavier AR-10 platform all in 6.5 C'more if you'd like to meet up and try one on before you buy. We aren't that far apart and I'm a member out at MSSA in Arlington if you'd like to meet there. The AR has the least felt recoil but it is a big heavy one with an adjustable gas block.
I will ask this, do you have a suppressor? They are the best thing I know off for reducing felt recoil, especially a big .30 cal can with a muzzle break end cap. They would help you a ton on your .308.
I'll also throw out there if you have an AR already that the .300 Blackout with the supersonic hunting loads or a 7.62x39 upper make the regular AR a pretty good shorter range carbine. I would be leary much past 150 or 200 yds personally and wouldn't use the subsonic rounds at all but otherwise the shoot very soft especially with a decent muzzle break which are a dime a dozen for the AR. I've got a few Blackouts too in both AR platform and a Ruger American bolt rifle if you'd like to try one.
 
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I assembled a low recoil .300 Blackout AR for my best friend's very young daughter for deer. It's carbine length with a muzzle brake and I fitted a recoil-reducing stock (from Israel). When I sighted it in, it felt like a .22lr to me! She's very good with it and has taken two bucks so far.
Myself, I assembled a 6.5 Grendel AR for deer and I don't even notice the recoil. Probably half the felt recoil of my .308's.
 
For me .308 is heavier by a bit. 6.5 is sharper. .308 in Ruger 77 woodstock. 6.5 in Ruger with "composite" stock. both off the bench. Much prefer the Remington 7mm-08 in Remington mdl 788 but very hard to find. Ugly but dammmm what a shooter! Felt recoil wasn't much more than a 243
 
Pretty sure you can get reduced recoil 308 ammo if it will do what you want to use your rifle for. Stock and butt pad can make a huge difference in perceived recoil . 224 Valkyrie is a long range round with lighter recoil in a AR 15 size package you might consider.
 
I shoot a .308 & a 6.5 Creedmoor. I do notice a little less recoil with the 6.5.

A .308 with a 168 gr. bullet and a 6.5 CM with a 142 gr. bullet are both about 2700 fps.
If everything else is the same, weight of gun, stock design, recoil pad, etc.
The 6.5 will shoot much flatter at longer ranges and will probably have a little less kick.

But probably not that much difference for a injured shoulder.

I use to have a formula for figuring recoil. You can probably still find it somewhere on the internet.
 
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Mr Barner, I don't know What you are planning to use the rifle for, or what the game laws are in the Great State of Tennesse, but train loads of deer have been killed with 22-250s and good bullets.
 
Here's a recoil calculator that I use. Remember you do need to include the powder charge. It will give you the raw number. Felt recoil is another matter dependent on action type, stock design, recoil pad etc...

You might consider a .243 Winchester, effective but mild IMO.

Recoil Calculator
 
Very simple, MxV of gun = MxV of bullet + MxV of propellant (powder), where M=mass and V=velocity, all in consistent units. The velocity (V) of the gaseous components of the propellant at the muzzle is generally considered to be around 1.6 times the projectile's muzzle velocity. You solve that equation for the V of the rifle - that is the recoil velocity.
 
My wife is 5'4" and although she could shoot my lttle 308 it bothered her. Went to exactly the same gun (Mohawk 600s) in 6mm and she loves it. A 243 Winchester is about the same. With good shooting those 105 gr bullets are good deer killers. A heavier 243 and a decent recoil pad and maybe a muzzle break and the recoil should be pretty mild.

Good luck.
 
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