Rifle Recoil Table: Updated for 2024 with all popular cartridges

I have spent literally hundreds of hours collecting the information in this blog post. I created it because other recoil databases I found online are dated and do not have the depth of research to truly compare cartridges apples-to-apples.

For those of you who are new to firearms, let’s discuss the basics of what recoil is before we look at the data.

Recoil is the force of a gun pushing back against the shooter when a bullet is fired. It is commonly called a gun’s “kick.” More recoil is created when more powerful powder loads and lighter-weight firearms are used. Recoil is measured by free recoil energy, and recoil velocity.

Selecting a rifle and cartridge combination which does not produce too much recoil for the shooters is critical to being able to shoot accurately without developing a flinch.

A Quick Guide to Understanding Free Recoil Energy

  • Over 30 ft-lbs – Massive recoil that can be difficult for even seasoned shooters to shoot accurately.
  • Over 25 ft-lbs – In a lightweight rifle, even experienced shooters can struggle to shoot more than 15 rounds without pain or developing a flinch, UNLESS a muzzle brake, suppressor, or heavier rifle is used.
  • Over 15 ft-lbs – Begins to be very difficult to spot the bullet impact on target through the scope because of the recoil unless a heavy gun and muzzle brake are used.
  • Under 10 ft-lbs – Even newer shooters can easily spot impacts through the scope during recoil. Ideal for youth shooters.
  • Under 6 ft-lbs – Feels more like a vibration than “kick.”

If you want to reduce the recoil of your rifle, consider upgrading your gun with a Backstop Recoil Pad. It can cut your felt recoil level dramatically, and also improve your ability to spot your impact through the scope.

For convenience, the most popular cartridges are marked in orange. List is organized by recoil highest to lowest.

Rifle Recoil Table

CartridgeFree Recoil Energy (Ft-lbs)Recoil Velocity (FPS)Avg Bullet Weight (Grains)Avg Muzzle Velocity (FPS)
.50 BMG 83.1711.917242,799
.378 Weatherby Magnum60.6819.382933,040
.458 Win Mag55.5717.955002,135
.416 Ruger52.7217.563882,528
.416 Rigby52.4917.524002,412
.416 Remington Magnum50.4617.184002,401
.30-378 Weatherby Magnum45.7818.392053,205
.338-378 Weatherby Magnum45.416.952562,974
.375 Ruger41.6716.062932,713
.375 H&H Magnum38.2815.392932,650
.338 RUM37.815.462562,872
.338 Lapua Magnum37.715.442562,920
.340 Weatherby Magnum36.8815.282562,866
.300 RUM34.9716.072053,017
.33 Nosler33.9114.652582,892
.300 Weatherby Magnum33.1815.652053,002
.300 PRC32.4215.472103,021
.30 Nosler31.5815.272053,009
.45-70 Govt30.8114.683312,065
9.3 x 62mm Mauser30.7213.822772,555
.300 Win Mag29.9914.882052,903
.338 Win Mag29.913.752562,705
.325 WSM28.9514.82042,817
.28 Nosler28.2714.721673,152
.35 Whelen27.1413.022252,805
.300 WSM26.54142052,861
7mm Weatherby Magnum26.0714.131683,055
7 STW25.9114.091683,044
.27 Nosler25.2813.931593,157
7mm PRC25.213.41753,000
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum24.7213.791383,325
6.8 Western23.6131752,835
.270 Weatherby Magnum23.2513.361443,154
7mm Rem Mag23.1513.321632,937
.444 Marlin22.9912.162662,278
.338 Federal22.8412.022392,510
7 WSM22.513.131623,008
.450 Bushmaster22.2212.272682,175
.300 Ruger (RCM)21.612.631952,613
.26 Nosler21.4512.851283,312
.270 WSM21.2412.771493,050
7 SAUM20.5312.541622,890
6.5 Weatherby RPM19.9312.381433,123
.280 Ackley Improved19.2912.161632,834
.257 Weatherby Magnum19.1312.181113,294
.280 Remington18.3511.851602,848
.308 Winchester18.2711.622022,491
.264 Winchester Magnum17.6811.661383,002
.270 Winchester17.6411.641492,944
6.5 PRC16.2711.191422,972
7mm-08 Remington14.8810.681602,672
6.5-284 Norma Match14.4810.561432,782
7mm Mauser13.2410.071602,565
.25-06 Remington12.699.921112,988
.260 Remington12.569.831432,673
.240 Weatherby Magnum12.069.71013,063
6.5 Creedmoor11.879.561382,695
6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser10.99.161392,532
6mm Creedmoor10.899.221053,022
6mm Remington10.368.991032,919
.30-30 Winchester9.978.581632,320
.243 Winchester9.228.481032,922
.22 Creedmoor9.158.6653,500
.220 Swift8.548.3553,794
.22-2507.737.9603,515
7.62 x 39mm7.117.241372,303
.350 Legend7.086.611732,231
6mm BR6.927.35853,011
6.8 Remington SPC6.797.221102,579
.22 Nosler6.527.25653,342
.204 Ruger6.187.37383,963
6.5 Grendel6.186.891252,283
.224 Valkyrie5.516.67713,095
.223 / 5.565.486.65693,122
.300 Blackout4.025.451921,530
.222 Remington45.69543,124
.22 Hornet1.373.32502,469
.17 Hornet1.233.31233,527
.17 WSM0.762.6212,903
.22 WMR0.261.44401,761
.17 HMR0.251.5172,520
.22lr0.120.96391,239

Lightest Recoiling Firearms for Deer and Elk Hunting

After surveying the Backfire audience, we found that 96% of shots on big game are taken within 500 yards. So in the below table, we look at the rifles and their recoil sorted by recoil velocity (the pain it will inflict) from most to least.

Then, look in the three right columns to make sure it has enough power to kill the animal you’re hunting. For deer-sized game, it is recommended that you have at least 1,000 ft-lbs of energy, a Hornady HITS formula ranking of at least 500, and at least 1,900 fps of velocity.

For elk-sized game, it is recommended that you have at least 1,500 ft-lbs of energy, a Hornady HITS score of at least 900, and at least 1,900 fps of velocity.

Excellent Low-Recoil Cartridges for Deer Hunting

If you want a rifle that is low in recoil for hunting deer, I suggest looking for a rifle with 12 ft-lbs or less of recoil energy. At this level, even supervised youth and smaller framed women will generally not have any trouble with the recoil. Here is my list of favorite light-recoiling deer cartridges.

  • 6.5 Creedmoor (By far the most common cartridge for deer hunters today, and for good reason)
  • 22 Creedmoor (This is a 6.5 Creedmoor case necked down to an 80gr bullet, making for a very light recoiling rifle that spits out bullets fast and kills deer easily. It is gaining in popularity, but still somewhat rare to see on shelves).
  • 22-250 (Basically the classic version of the 22 Creedmoor. It spits lighter bullets at high velocity, and low recoil).
  • .243 Winchester (Probably the most common “first deer rifle” of millenials and older generations)
  • 6mm Creedmoor (This is not the most common cartridge, but you will find it on shelves sometimes. It’s basically a modernized .243 Winchester)
  • 25-06 (Great choice if you can find a rifle and ammo for it)

Excellent Low-Recoil Cartridges for Elk Hunting

In my opinion, the best elk hunting cartridge in the world is the .300 Win Mag. Elk are extremely tough animals and I personally prefer to bring a lot of punch to the fight; however, not everyone can shoot that heavy-recoiling of a rifle accurately. Most shooters will develop a flinch or the recoil will take over the rifle and contribute to inaccuracy.

Consequently, you may do better with a cartridge that recoils much less. The following are some of my favorite recommendations.

  • 7mm-08 (Probably the best low-recoil elk cartridge out there. It uses the same case as a 308 Win, but a 7mm bullet which offers lower wind drift and increased speeds. Great choice, but keep in mind that its recoil could still potentially be too much for some shooters, so get something they can shoot with zero flinch).
  • .308 Winchester (An excellent choice for elk hunting as long as shots are kept relatively close. Depending on your load, I’d probably stay within 300 yards. 308 Win can still be too much recoil for some shooters, so consider a suppressor and a Backstop recoil pad.)
  • 6.5 Creedmoor (I really hesitate to recommend a 6.5 Creedmoor for elk hunting; however, for many supervised youth hunters, it may be the max recoil they can shoot accurately. If that’s a case, I recommend choosing a copper bullet to increase penetration, and only take shots under 250 yards when the elk is fully broadside.)
  • 6.5 PRC (The 6.5 PRC shoots the same weight of bullets as a 6.5 Creedmoor, but does so about 200 fps faster if the barrel length is equal. It’s a common elk cartridge, but I still put it on the light side. Hunters may get slightly better results with a 270 Winchester which has a tiny bit more frontal diameter, but similar ballistics.)
  • 270 Winchester (You’ll get nearly identical ballistics to the flat-shooting 6.5 PRC, but with a slightly larger frontal bullet diameter. Great choice and one of my all-time favorites if a cross-canyon shot is likely).
  • 280 Ackley Improved (For adult men or large-bodied shooters with some experience, a 280 AI is an excellent choice. It’s basically a 7 Mag without the “magnum”. It’ll be less common to find rifles and ammo, but this is one cartridge that should be far more popular than it is.

Long-Range Ballistics Compared to Rifle Recoil

Popular cartridges are marked in orange. Ranked by ft-lbs of bullet energy at 500yds.

CartridgeBullet Energy at 500yds (Ft-lbs)Bullet Velocity at 500yds (FPS)Free Recoil Energy (Ft-lbs)Recoil Velocity (FPS)
.50 BMG8,479229683.1711.91
.30-378 Weatherby Magnum2,501234645.7818.39
.338-378 Weatherby Magnum2,338202745.416.95
.300 PRC2,238219332.4215.47
.338 Lapua Magnum2,237198237.715.44
.33 Nosler2,208196233.9114.65
.300 Weatherby Magnum2,200220133.1815.65
.378 Weatherby Magnum2,188183560.6819.38
.300 RUM2,179219134.9716.07
.30 Nosler2,163218231.5815.27
.338 RUM2,150194437.815.46
.340 Weatherby Magnum2,138193836.8815.28
.28 Nosler2,087237428.2714.72
.300 Win Mag1,996209629.9914.88
7mm PRC1,986226125.213.4
7mm Weatherby Magnum1,951228726.0714.13
7 STW1,936227825.9114.09
.300 WSM1,930206126.5414
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum1,919250024.7213.79
.338 Win Mag1,883181929.913.75
7 WSM1,813224522.513.13
.27 Nosler1,797225825.2813.93
.26 Nosler1,764248821.4512.85
.325 WSM1,760197128.9514.8
7mm Rem Mag1,725218323.1513.32
6.5 Weatherby RPM1,725233019.9312.38
.375 Ruger1,716162541.6716.06
.416 Ruger1,684139952.7217.56
.375 H&H Magnum1,664160138.2815.39
7 SAUM1,655214520.5312.54
.30-06 Springfield1,651190721.3412.55
.280 Ackley Improved1,632212219.2912.16
.270 Weatherby Magnum1,628225823.2513.36
.270 WSM1,614221021.2412.77
6.8 Western1,600210623.613
.338 Federal1,598173622.8412.02
.416 Rigby1,573133152.4917.52
.280 Remington1,560209818.3511.85
.416 Remington Magnum1,556132350.4617.18
6.5 PRC1,529220416.2711.19
.264 Winchester Magnum1,526222917.6811.66
.458 Win Mag1,489115855.5717.95
.300 Ruger (RCM)1,486185521.612.63
9.3 x 62mm Mauser1,442153130.7213.82
.270 Winchester1,407206417.6411.64
.308 Winchester1,401176718.2711.62
6.5-284 Norma Match1,329204414.4810.56
7mm-08 Remington1,283190314.8810.68
.35 Whelen1,217156127.1413.02
.260 Remington1,213195212.569.83
7mm Mauser1,194183613.2410.07
.257 Weatherby Magnum1,193220019.1312.18
6.5 Creedmoor1,191196911.879.56
6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser1,040183410.99.16
.25-06 Remington973198712.699.92
6mm Creedmoor946201610.899.22
.240 Weatherby Magnum937204612.069.7
.243 Winchester86219389.228.48
6mm Remington856193110.368.99
.30-30 Winchester74314349.978.58
.22 Creedmoor72422409.158.6
6.5 Grendel70715966.186.89
6.8 Remington SPC60315716.797.22
.45-70 Govt58989530.8114.68
7.62 x 39mm57913827.117.24
6mm BR54817046.927.35
.444 Marlin46788922.9912.16
.350 Legend45410887.086.61
.300 Blackout42710014.025.45
.224 Valkyrie42216315.516.67
.450 Bushmaster42184222.2212.27
.220 Swift42118538.548.3
.22-25038416937.737.9
.22 Nosler38016236.527.25
.223 / 5.5633814835.486.65
.204 Ruger26317666.187.37
.222 Remington246143645.69
.22 Hornet12910751.373.32
.17 Hornet8312881.233.31
.22 WMR829610.261.44
.17 WSM5110380.762.6
.22lr265450.120.96
.17 HMR217500.251.5

Reducing the Recoil of Your Rifle

I have tried many different methods for reducing the recoil of cartridges that are too powerful. The most common method that shooters choose is to simply add a muzzle brake. This can reduce the recoil between 30% and 50% depending on the size and effectiveness of the brake. While the lighter recoil on the shoulder can help a shooter to reduce flinch, adding a brake often backfires and makes a shooter flinch even more because it is so much louder–even when wearing hearing protection.

For most shooters, a silencer is a better option. It cuts the sound dramatically, and reduces the recoil.

Another option is to pick up a Backstop Recoil Pad. This pad uses advanced lattice structures that crush during recoil to significantly slow the rifle’s recoil impulse. It is, by far, the highest-performing recoil pad on the market.

Another great way to reduce recoil is by adding a silencer (suppressor, if you will). A silencer can reduce a firearm’s recoil up to 45% while also making the gunshot quieter. While I still use hearing protection with a silencer, it makes the sound more tolerable.

An additional method to reduce the recoil of a firearm is to use “downloaded” rounds. Handloaders can simply put less powder in the cartridge, but even those who purchase factory ammunition can often find “reduced recoil” loads which can reduce the recoil by approximately 10%.

How Rifle Recoil is Calculated

The formula for determining the free recoil energy of a firearm is (Rifle Weight in Pounds/64.34) *(Recoil Velocity in FPS^2). This formula relies on the formula for recoil velocity, which is simply (Bullet Weight In Grains * Muzzle Velocity in FPS + Powder Charge in Grains * Muzzle Velocity * 1.75)/(7000 * Rifle Weight in Pounds).

The trouble with this formula is that most people don’t know the powder charge unless they hand load their own ammunition, and all of the other number depend on several factors. This makes it tough to figure out the recoil of a rifle unless you look up a lot of other information first.

After shooting a lot of different rifles and cartridges, I have found that recoil velocity number accurately predicts how much pain you’ll feel, and the recoil energy predicts how much you’ll get rocked back and thrown off your target in the scope. Why? I’ll explain.

Suppose a giant, heavy semi-truck is parked in front of you with your shoulder on the bumper. Now that truck creeps forward and pushes your shoulder at a speed of 2 inches per second. Because it’s giant and heavy, it’s going to move you significantly, but it won’t really hurt at all since it’s moving slowly.

Instead, imagine a baseball traveling at 25 inches per second that hits your shoulder. It would hurt much more than the semi-truck.

The same is true with guns. Some people look at the recoil energy of a 50BMG and think they will be KILLED by 83.17 ft-lbs of free recoil energy; however, the 50BMG is a physically heavy gun (usually over 30 lbs), so the recoil moves slowly (also because of the muzzle brake). People who have actually shot a .50BMG usually report mild recoil similar to a .308 Winchester. The recoil VELOCITY number of the .50 BMG is similar to a .308. Just recognize that it’s going to push you a lot–even though it won’t be painful.

About Backfire’s Rifle Recoil Table: How we perform calculations

  • Analyze over a dozen models of rifles chambered in each cartridge to determine the average rifle weight to put in the formula. If you’re shooting a particularly light or heavy firearm, you’ll need to do a separate calculation, but this will be a fair comparison of what the rifle weight normally is. Most recoil tables simply use a 9 lbs firearm for all calculations, but this leads to crazy results for the lightweight 22lr and the heavyweight 50BMG. Also, we include scope and other common accessories to get a realistic field rifle weight.
  • Normalize powder charges within each caliber to make a fair comparison. You can load a 7 Rem Mag with Retumbo or H4350, but the amounts will be different. We keep powder charges consistent to reality within each caliber of firearm.
  • Average over 6 common loads for each cartridge to determine realistic muzzle velocities to include in the formula. Most recoil tables take the muzzle velocity on the box at face value, but we all know that’s rarely accurate–especially if you shoot a shorter barrel length. If you see our recoil numbers are usually just a little less than what you see elsewhere on the web, it’s likely because we’re using more precise averages of muzzle velocities across a variety of common loads for each cartridge.
  • Consider multiple loads for each cartridge to determine a fair average of bullet weights for that cartridge, and caliber.