7mm Rem Mag Recoil: How Does It Compare to Other Magnum Rifle Cartridges?
The 7mm Remington Magnum excels at long-range hunting thanks to its bullets’ high ballistic coefficients. But do its long-distance capabilities mean increased recoil?
Let’s discuss everything you need to know about 7mm Rem Mag recoil: how hard it kicks, how it compares to other magnum cartridges, and how to reduce it if needed.
How Much Recoil Does 7mm Rem Mag Have?
The 7mm Rem Mag generates 22 ft-lbs of free recoil energy on average. Recoil typically ranges from 16.7 to 24.8 ft-lbs when fired from an 8-pound rifle, which means it is definitely a shoulder thumper.
Most shooters would find 7mm Rem Mag recoil unmanageable. Anything stronger than 15 ft-lbs is generally considered challenging for the average shooter to control. However, the 7mm Rem Mag's recoil is on par with many of the magnum cartridges commonly used for long-range shooting and hunting.
Factors That Influence Recoil for 7mm Rem Mag
"Felt recoil" is subjective. It varies from shooter to shooter, making it an unreliable reflection of how much recoil a cartridge generates. A seasoned shooter would consider the 243 Winchester's 9 ft-lbs of free recoil energy easy to manage. An inexperienced shooter might conclude the 243 Win kicks too much, though. This is why it's often best for new shooters to start off with a low-recoil cartridge like the 22 LR (0.18 ft-lbs) or 223 Rem/5.56 NATO (5 ft-lbs).
"Free recoil," on the other hand, is objective. It is determined solely by projectile weight, propellant weight, muzzle velocity, and rifle weight. For example, when a 7mm Rem Mag cartridge with 60 grains of propellant fires a 120 grain bullet from an 8-pound rifle at a muzzle velocity of 2,910 fps, its free recoil energy equals 16.7 ft-lbs. When we increase bullet weight to 170 grains, lower the muzzle velocity to 2,887 fps, and keep everything else the same, free recoil energy increases to 24.8 ft-lbs.
How 7mm Rem Mag Recoil Compares to Other Calibers
If you have experience with other rifle cartridges, the following table will help you understand how the 7mm Remington Magnum compares to other standard and magnum rifle cartridges, which are commonly used for hunting and long-distance shooting.
| Cartridge | Free Recoil Energy |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 7mm Remington Magnum | 22 ft-lbs |
| 270 Weatherby Magnum | 23 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 |
| 45-70 Govt | 32 ft-lbs |
| 300 Weatherby Magnum | 33 ft-lbs |
| 338 Lapua Magnum | 37.5 ft-lbs |
| 50 BMG | 83 ft-lbs |
How to Reduce 7mm Rem Mag
The more often you shoot and practice proper form, the less you will be affected by recoil. You'll grow accustomed to the thump against your shoulder as you fire 7mm Remington Magnum more and more. However, if you still find the 7mm Rem Mag uncomfortable after lots of proper practice, try any of the following tips.
To reduce 7mm Rem Mag recoil, use a heavier rifle, make your existing rifle heavier, or choose ammunition with a lighter bullet and/or lower muzzle velocity. Installing a muzzle brake on your barrel and replacing the stock's butt pad with a more forgiving one will also reduce recoil to more manageable levels, as well as help your shoulder feel less wear during an extended session at the range.
You'll experience the maximum possible recoil reduction if you combine all the abovementioned methods. If you still feel that 7mm Rem Mag recoil is too much to manage, then it's likely time to find a more recoil-friendly long-range cartridge, such as the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Final Take: Is 7mm Rem Mag a Good Choice for Recoil-Sensitive Shooters?
The 7mm Remington Magnum is not a good choice for recoil-sensitive shooters. Its recoil energy exceeds the 15 ft-lbs threshold at which the average shooter becomes uncontrollable. The 7mm Rem Mag is on the lower end of the recoil spectrum for magnum cartridges, although magnum cartridges are known for their shoulder-thumping tendencies.
