K95 magnum recoil - one experience

[lovelight]

I am an infrequent poster on this forum but have greatly benefited from the community and insights shared. A couple of years ago, I decided to go the R8 route for my son and got pulled into the K95 for myself. I have a .243, 6.5x55 (stutzen), and 300 win mag. The 300 win mag was the last one I acquired and I agonized over whether or not the recoil would be tolerable. Sharing this post so others with similar questions can benefit.

If you search online for advice on recoil for a K95 in 300 win mag, you will find everything from “it’s not that bad” to “I thought I had been hit by lightning”. None of these opinions are wrong. Because the answer to the question is your frame of reference. For years, I hunted with my father’s old Winchester Model 70 in .270 caliber. When I geared up for an elk hunt in the Idaho backcountry on foot, I did my research and settled on a Sako Finnlight in 300 short mag. At the time, I had the same trepidation about being able to shoot accurately and developing a flinch with a lighter rifle. What I can tell you is that after developing a load that shot well in that gun and putting in the time to practice, I can confidently take a shot at an elk at 500 yards and can hit a 6” metal plate 95% of the time at that distance. Sure, the gun kicks but I’m used to it now and really, really enjoy shooting it. There is nothing about that gun that intimidates me.

Fast forward to the K95. To me, going from the Sako Finnlight in 300 short mag to the K95 win mag with 175 grain Barnes LRX bullets shooting at 2900-3000 fps was about what it was going from the Model 70 in .270 to the Sako Finnlight in 300 short mag. At first, the recoil is noticeable but with practice and familiarity, it doesn’t bother me at all. Similarly, the Sako Finnlight in 300 wsm with 190 grain bullets at 2900fps feels about the same as the K95 win mag with 175 grain bullets. Although the Sako has noticeable barrel flip and the K95 is more polite.

So for those of you who have the same questions I did, I can offer guidance to consider your frame of reference. If you are coming from a 6.5 Creedmoor in a typical hunting rifle, a K95 in 300 win mag could be intimidating. If you already shoot a 300 win mag, 300 wsm, 300 Weatherby magnum, or similar, you will probably be fine with the K95 in a 30 caliber magnum. And maybe even more relevant is to commit the time to get to know your gun and invest the time to practice. Handloading kind of has this built into the process but put in the time to practice at the range, in the field, and in simulated hunting scenarios. The K95 is a blessing to have in the field and you will be rewarded if you put in your time. HTH.

[USPfan]

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences... I may just try a magnum barrel one of these days.

[Rod]

good review.

[SPEEDY]

I almost bought my K95 in 300win MAG, but settled on a 30/06.
Ut one thing I've noticed from shoot g magnums and larger bores is gun fit and hold makes a huge difference in both recoil and accuracy.
But nice to get someone else's opinion.

[mchughcb]

It depends. If you want to shoot a few shots at elk fine. But if you are shooting 20 rounds at the range with a 20" barrel thats going to kick like SOB on the shoulder.

[canalrifle]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[MC2]

I started with a 7MM REM MAG and found it quite tolerable. I added a 30.06; it was a punisher and subsequently sold. I added a .257 Weatherby and it was fun to shoot. My experience might not be the best, but I went back to the 7MM REM MAG. Of course, none of these are in the 300 MAG class but thought I'd share my experience (15-20lb recoil energy class).

[Gamsjagd]

Did not care for the 30-06 in this rifle. 243 was awesome.

I'd own a 7mm Mag in a Blaser K95 ultimate though.

[secondtry]

With my 7x65 K95 pushing 175gn at 2900, the scope would just touch my eyebrow on recoil after every shot. Just touch - barely feel it. Felt recoil was brutal (to me)

I reduced the load, and at 2800 with the same projectile all is fine.

Because of aesthetics my K95 has only a .6" decelerator, which is noticeably harder than .8" or a 1".

There is a reason why the 30R in K95 is reportedly not popular in Europe

[MM]

My "big" K95 calibers are, 30-06 300 Weatherby and 9.3x74R. I have never felt the recoil on game but do off the bench. I bought my 300 Weatherby barrel used and it came with a muzzle break on it but it was such a great deal I bought it anyway. I always wear ear plugs when hunting so no big deal and it is very pleasant and accurate to shoot. Recoil on the 9.3 is stout but manageable and my 30-06 is the hardest kicking '06 I have ever owned but again not a huge deal. I have a decelerator on my rifle the pad that came from the factory was not effective. If I want to put a lot of rounds through a barrel I just switch to my 22 Hornet or 222 barrels.
Matt

[Vaughan]

There is a reason why the 30R in K95 is reportedly not popular in Europe

For years the owner of the local gunshop tried to sell me is Baroness K95 in 30R Blaser with octagonal bbl. Beautful rifle. He took it to Africa. Said he didnt notice recoil on game but it was horrible off the bench. Every time he bought it out I asked him to remind me why he was selling it.... It was a pretty thing but...

[SPEEDY]

My "big" K95 calibers are, 30-06 300 Weatherby and 9.3x74R. I have never felt the recoil on game but do off the bench. I bought my 300 Weatherby barrel used and it came with a muzzle break on it but it was such a great deal I bought it anyway. I always wear ear plugs when hunting so no big deal and it is very pleasant and accurate to shoot. Recoil on the 9.3 is stout but manageable and my 30-06 is the hardest kicking '06 I have ever owned but again not a huge deal. I have a decelerator on my rifle the pad that came from the factory was not effective. If I want to put a lot of rounds through a barrel I just switch to my 22 Hornet or 222 barrels.
Matt

Strangely my 30/06 K95 barrel is one of the mildest recoiling big game calibres I've ever had.
My gun had a decelerator pad fitted by the previous owner and I wonder if that has anything to do with it.
But I keep wanting to add a 9.3x74R barrel to it and this makes me think it might be more mild to shoot then I am expecting it to be.
But it does go to show that recoil can be a very subjective thing to the individual shooter then simply paper figures alone.

[Gamsjagd]

A decel pad is going to change it dramatically. Mine had a little 1/4th inch Blaser pad on it. It was a holy terror.

[Kflattmann]

My 9.3 is very manageable….even on a bench. Not unpleasant at all…..

[SPEEDY]

A decel pad is going to change it dramatically. Mine had a little 1/4th inch Blaser pad on it. It was a holy terror.

Mine is definitely a pussy-cat to shoot, I'd say the pad must make a huge difference then.
But I guess that goes to show how one tiny change can make a world of difference recoil wise.
The difference a Vais muzzle break made to my under 7lb 375H&H was enormous, and more surprising was that I could still shoot it without hearing protection on. Most breaks even in small calibres are extremely painful to shoot without plugs in but that Vais was brilliant and massively tamed the recoil too.
But I wouldn't break another gun again, sound forward device yes but never a break again.
A good pad and good gun fit are probably the best solutions I've found over the years and the pads, are maybe the easiest and cheapest fix to tame the harshness out of recoil.
Playing with slower reloading powders can help a lot too, I've noticed that slower powers tend to push more then hit you.