Recoil of 11 Lightweight Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor

[Old Medic]

I'm a proud papa 'cause my 16 y.o. daughter has decided it's time for a deer hunting rifle of her own. The Lady Hunter is out because she hates the way it felt when she shouldered it at a shop the other day. Leaning toward the Lightweight Hunter in the 6.5 Creedmoor. While it shouldn't be an issue, we're just curious about recoil on a 5.5 lb. bolt gun. Has anyone shot one? It's a fine looking rifle but how does it shoot?

[FEENIX]

I'm a proud papa 'cause my 16 y.o. daughter has decided it's time for a deer hunting rifle of her own. The Lady Hunter is out because she hates the way it felt when she shouldered it at a shop the other day. Leaning toward the Lightweight Hunter in the 6.5 Creedmoor. While it shouldn't be an issue, we're just curious about recoil on a 5.5 lb. bolt gun. Has anyone shot one? It's a fine looking rifle but how does it shoot?

http://handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

[jonbearman]

If recoil is an issue , get a muzzle brake installed.

[FEENIX]

If recoil is an issue , get a muzzle brake installed.

Yep!

[Stockrex]

I don't haf one of these but that barrel is pretty thin at muzzle, dunno if it can be threaded

[spelunk]

I have one in .260 and recoil is not bad at all. If you are worried about it, get the same model in 243 instead. I would not recommend a brake, they are obnoxiously loud and can cause new shooters to develop a flinch.

[FEENIX]

I don't haf one of these but that barrel is pretty thin at muzzle, dunno if it can be threaded

IIRC, the lightweight is .575" at the muzzle. I'm sure there are other muzzle brakes but Holland's QD MB below can be installed.




12-3075-SS-T
QD Brake S/S - 1/2 ins. - 28 TPI -.530 -.575 Tapered

[FW Conch]

The Creedmore has no more recoil than a 243 or a 260, and maybe slightly less, depending on the bullet weight.

JMHO :-))......Jim

[FEENIX]

The Creedmore has no more recoil than a 243 or a 260, and maybe slightly less, depending on the bullet weight.

JMHO :-))......Jim

Very true, however, felt recoil is different for each person, what is excessive for one end-user might not be for you and vice versa.

[Old Medic]

Thanks for all the feed back, folks. She's shot deer with one of our .308's, but it has a heavy barrel. I don't think the Creed should be an issue. She's a gritty little thing, and a darn good shot. I doth believe we shall acquire the 11 LH and work up a load. Thanks again, all.

[spelunk]

Thanks for all the feed back, folks. She's shot deer with one of our .308's, but it has a heavy barrel. I don't think the Creed should be an issue. She's a gritty little thing, and a darn good shot. I doth believe we shall acquire the 11 LH and work up a load. Thanks again, all.

Remember you can always use the 120gr class bullets to reduce the recoil a little. I think you will be very happy with your choice. It's a nice rifle to carry around.

[darkker]

Ready to have your wig blown back a little bit?
Some progressive powders can also help as they spread the force across more time.

Look at how close the velocities are, but one runs almost 10,000 PSI lower pressure. Look at how table top the curve is compared to the suggested load found on Hornady boxes.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j84/Darkker13/Mobile%20Uploads/Screenshot_2014-12-26-14-35-27_zpsvfj221vz.png
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j84/Darkker13/Mobile%20Uploads/Screenshot_2014-12-26-14-36-09_zpsv6lwcels.png

[jpdown]

The Savage LWH is slimmer and more compact than other Savage models. So I believe your daughter will find it easier to handle and shoot. It comes with a 1" Pachmary Decellerator pad already installed to help tame felt recoil. If you reload, then you can take advantage of the high BC 120/123/130 grain 6.5 grain bullets and loads to also tame recoil. You don't need a muzzle break. Once you add a scope, rifle weight will be around 7 lbs. Recoil is in the 14 lb range with 260, 130 grain Accubond load of around 44 grains H4350. You could go with the Savage LWH in .243 as a starter and then swap out the 20" FW barrel to a 22" Savage sporter barrel in 260, 260 Creedmore, 7mm08 or 308 down the road when your daughter is ready. A Savage 22" sporter barrel weights 6 oz more than the 20" LWH barrel. And it also helps tame recoil, muzzle jump and the muzzle blast.

[Old Medic]

See, I know'd I could count on y'all for some solid 411. 'Preciate it.

[JASmith]

Recoil in that light rifle will be surprisingly sharper than one might like.

A good weighty scope will help.

Better still - handloads with 130 gr-class classic hunting bullets with a velocity of 2500 -- 2600 fps or all-copper 100gr class bullets with a muzzle velocity of about 2700 -- 2800 fps.

Use the same load for all her shooting over the first couple of years.

That will cover most hunting needs and help her develop confidence with the rifle.

She can work toward full-power loads with heavier bullets after a few years of shooting with the rifle or if going after Elk or larger game.

[FEENIX]

Thanks for all the feed back, folks. She's shot deer with one of our .308's, but it has a heavy barrel. I don't think the Creed should be an issue. She's a gritty little thing, and a darn good shot. I doth believe we shall acquire the 11 LH and work up a load. Thanks again, all.

If you have access to a similar rifle (or close) with muzzle brake, let her shoot it and see what she prefers. "WE" can all speculate and make all the recommendations but she's the one that has to ultimately shoot it.

Like anything else with proper equipment and training everything is possible. It's extreme but this reminds me of the 9 YO girl a few years ago that shot a nice brownie .375 H&H with .270gr Barnes TSX (http://www.blackbearheaven.com/9-year-old-girl-record-brown-bear-record-girzzly-bear.htm). :cool:

ADDED:

My wife (5'2") prefers shooting my .338 Win with muzzle brake loaded with 225gr NAB over my un-braked .30-30 loaded with 150gr soft points. :p

Cheers!

[psharon97]

If concerned about recoil, you might could install one of these: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/678973/graco-breako-mercury-recoil-reducer-standard-7-8-x-4-14-oz

[wbm]

I have a Light Weight Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor. The original barrel was a pencil-thin 20" . For me, recoil was not a major problem but muzzle jump was. Sometimes in order to have a light weight rifle, manufacturers go too far and the Savage LWH is an example of this. I took off the 20" inch barrel and replaced it with a standard 22" barrel from a Model 11 Predator Hunter. It made a very positive difference in how the rifle handled and responded when fired. Personally I would not recommend any of the Savage Light Weight models in any caliber greater than the 223 for young shooters.

[shooterfpga]

I have a 6.6lb 6.5 creedmoor lightweight rifle with a medium varmint contour. It shoots real nice with low recoil. I just installed a ross schuler muzzlebrake on it because i love lowering recoil as much as i can even if its already soft shooting. To combat recoil you could always add weight to the foreend and buttstock via some type of filler and epoxy.

[FEENIX]

I have a Light Weight Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor. The original barrel was a pencil-thin 20" . For me, recoil was not a major problem but muzzle jump was. Sometimes in order to have a light weight rifle, manufacturers go too far and the Savage LWH is an example of this. I took off the 20" inch barrel and replaced it with a standard 22" barrel from a Model 11 Predator Hunter. It made a very positive difference in how the rifle handled and responded when fired. Personally I would not recommend any of the Savage Light Weight models in any caliber greater than the 223 for young shooters.

Bingo! Sometimes muzzle brakes are associated to reduce felt recoil alone. An effective muzzle brake reduces both felt recoil and muzzle rise/fall. It is so effective, it's being used on .22LRs or even air rifles?