How much does the 308 recoil? Most experienced shooters say it’s mild, which would explain why the 308 Winchester has remained one of the most popular rifle cartridges for so many decades.
This article discusses how much kick the 308 Win has, how it compares to other popular rifle cartridges, what influences recoil, and how to reduce recoil to as little as possible.
How Much Recoil Does .308 Have?
The 308 Win has an average of about 14.6 ft-lbs of recoil energy. It generally ranges from 13.5 to 15.2 ft-lbs, depending on several factors discussed in the following section. The 308’s recoil is on par with many rifle cartridges and substantially less than most long-range ones. For example, the 300 PRC magnum cartridge generates up to 39 ft-lbs of energy.
Shooters typically find recoil stronger than 15 ft-lbs to be uncomfortable – the reason why many should steer clear of the 308 Win.
Factors That Influence Recoil for .308
“Felt recoil” is subjective. It varies from shooter to shooter, making it an unreliable reflection of how much recoil a cartridge generates.
For example, a seasoned shooter would feel that the 243 Win’s recoil (9 ft-lbs kinetic energy) is very manageable. On the other hand, an inexperienced shooter might feel the 243 Winchester kicks too much. This is why it’s typically best for new shooters to start off with 22 LR (0.18 ft-lbs) or 223 Rem/5.56 NATO (5 ft-lbs).
“Free recoil,” on the other hand, is objective. This measurement of kinetic energy is determined solely by projectile weight, propellant weight, muzzle velocity, and rifle weight. For example, when a 308 Win cartridge with a 39 grain propellant charge fires a 150 grain bullet from a 9-pound rifle at a muzzle velocity of 2,820 fps, its free recoil energy equals 13.5 ft-lbs. When we increase bullet weight to 180 grains, lower muzzle velocity to 2,570 fps, and keep everything else the same, free recoil energy increases to 15.2 ft-lbs.
How .308 Recoil Compares to Other Calibers
The 308 Win’s recoil is manageable compared to many other rifle cartridges. Check out the chart below to compare it to many of the other standard and magnum rifle cartridges commonly used for hunting and long-distance shooting. This table assumes 8-pound rifles across the board to produce as equal a comparison as possible, which is why figures differ from those listed above.
| Cartridge | Free Recoil Energy |
|---|---|
| 223 Remington/5.56 NATO | 5.5 ft-lbs |
| 6.5 Grendel | 6 ft-lbs |
| 22 Nosler | 6.5 ft-lbs |
| 6.8 SPC | 6.8 ft-lbs |
| 22-250 Remington | 7.7 ft-lbs |
| 243 Winchester | 9 ft-lbs |
| 6mm Creedmoor | 11 ft-lbs |
| 6.5 Creedmoor | 12 ft-lbs |
| 6.5 PRC | 16 ft-lbs |
| 308 Winchester | 17.6 ft-lbs |
| 257 Weatherby Magnum | 19 ft-lbs |
| 450 Bushmaster | 22 ft-lbs |
| 6.8 Western | 23.5 ft-lbs |
| 7mm PRC | 25 ft-lbs |
| 28 Nosler | 28 ft-lbs |
| 300 Win Mag | 31.5 ft-lbs |
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