You are probably shooting 140gr from the 7-08 and only 100-120gr out of the 257. That is a most of the difference that you are feeling.



There are 2 components to recoil:
1) How hard the rifle pushes against your shoulder
2) How fast the rifle pushes (is it a push or a punch)
Everyone focuses on #1, but #2 can have a huge impact.

If you fire a blank round from your rifle it will kick, by not nearly as much as with a projectile in the barrel.

How do you decrease recoil in your rifle:
1) Increase the weight of the rifle
2) Decrease the weight of the projectile
3) Dampen the recoil velocity
4) Play with the amount of powder (most of us can't/won't do this, so we focus on 1-3)

If your 7-08 has a polymer stock, then fill it with something and you will reduce the recoil. I filled my son's 270 with some RTV silicone and it helped quite a bit. Most of us don't walk enough hunting that 1lb increased rifle mass will matter to us. If you were out west, then you don't want to carrying a heavier rifle. youtube rifle stock filling and you will see lots of ideas.

Put a Simms recoil pad on your rifle. This will spread out the recoil, and makes it more of a push than a punch. This makes a huge difference in the felt recoil.

If you do both of those things and you will notice a reduction in the recoil.

This is an interesting comment I found in an blog post by Ron Spomer. "...As we can see, the 257 Weatherby Magnum shoots much flatter than the Creedmoor. Surprisingly, it hangs right with it in wind deflection. As for energy, the 6.5 Creedmoor carries 1,000 f-p to just beyond 700 yards. The 257 Wby. Mag. carries it past 750 yards. Clearly the 257 is the ballistically superior round to 800-yards. You pay the price, however, in ammo costs and recoil. In an 8-pound rifle, the 257 Wby. Mag. should hit your shoulder with about 21.7 f-p force at 13.2 fps velocity, about like a 270 Winchester. The Creedmoor hits 14.8 f-p at 11 fps velocity in the same 8-pound rifle. For comparison, the 30-06 pushing a 165-grain bullet 3,000 fps generates 26 f-p at 14.5 fps. Compared to the 25-06 Remington, the 257 Weatherby Magnum pumps out roughly 600 f-p more energy at the muzzle and 150 to 200 fps more velocity. One of the reasons the 257 Wby. Mag. goes so fast is its allowed pressure, 65,000 psi. The 25-06 is limited to 63,000 psi, the 6.5 Creedmoor 62,000 psi....". Here's the link to the whole article. https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/speed-demon-257-weatherby-magnum

Numbers are not the only factor which determines how much you feel in your shoulder when you squeeze a trigger. Stock shape, materials, pads all can mitigate felt recoil. A Kimber Montana is a lightweight rifle but the stock does an excellent job reducing felt recoil. A Montana can feel like it has less recoil than a different rifle weighing a pound or two more in the same cartridge.

Our grandads shot 9lb 30/06s and we all want 6lb 30-378s. To add to Wes's point above the 338/06 which is roughly 200-300 fps slower than the .338 Win mag with 200/210 grainers doesn't "feel" nearly the same to me. Course Wes will say I need to stick to my .264-p and not bruise my shoulder.

As these two stated, all things being equal except the bullet weight, then the heavier bullet will kick more. I still say, if you are shooting at a target you will feel it more than shooting at game.

Muzzle Blast determines recoil. Your perception is that there is more recoil because the recoil is sharper. It's all in your head. Simple example for y'all:

12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/8 oz / 1200 fps 7.5lb gun = 23 ft. lbs. of recoil.

7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860) 7.5lb gun = 13.5 ft. lbs. of recoil.

40% less than the 12ga shotgun you are shooting doves with. It's that simple.

I get 2860 FPS with 200 gr bullets outta my 338 06 AI. About 150 FPS less than the win mag.

Manly guns for real men.

I feel beer belly is spot on but you make a good point about shotgun shells

Take that 1 1/8 oz load running 1500 FPS with long shot powder and it will hurt. I mean hurt. It’s right at max.


There is other factors
Gun fit along with weight play a role.
Years ago we were patterning some turkey guns and loads. The only gun I refused to shoot after the second time was a Winchester 1300 NWTF edition. It was heavy and kicked like a mule. Shot the exact same loads in a SBE and a 835 and nothing compared to the stomping that 1300 delivered. From appearance the 1300s stock is straighter with less drop.

I shot a 338 Lapua with a muzzle brake. LOUD BOOM and very little recoil.

Another thing I’ve not seen mentioned.

Your shooting position. Standing versus bench versus prone.