Recoil Comparison Tool
A rifle recoil comparison tool for checking free recoil energy across cartridges and rifle weights.
Recoil is one of those things everyone describes differently. The formula at least gives you a neutral starting point.
Pick a cartridge, adjust the rifle weight, and compare up to four pairings on the same free-recoil scale. It will not tell you exactly what your shoulder will think, but it will show why a light rifle can make a familiar cartridge feel a lot less friendly.
Holdover · Reference tool
How hard does it kick?
Compare recoil across calibers and rifle weights. Add up to four pairings to see them side by side, and on a single scale.
Pick a caliber above to see how much recoil it produces.
Add up to four to compare side by side.
Recoil scale
Free recoil · ft-lbsHow recoil is calculated
What is free recoil energy?
It is the energy transferred to the rifle - and your shoulder - when the cartridge fires. The standard formula uses bullet weight, muzzle velocity, powder charge, and rifle weight. Output is in foot-pounds.
Why does rifle weight matter so much?
Recoil energy scales inversely with rifle weight. Doubling the weight of the rifle roughly cuts the recoil energy in half. That is why heavier target rifles feel softer to shoot than light mountain rifles in the same chambering.
Why doesn't this match what I feel?
Free recoil is one measurement. What you actually feel - "felt recoil" - depends on a handful of things the formula does not see:
- Stock shape and length of pull
- Recoil pad material and surface area
- Shooting position - offhand, prone, or off the bench
- How you hold the rifle
- Muzzle brakes are not factored in; suppressors are generally not lawful for Canadian civilian use and are out of scope
A muzzle brake can materially reduce perceived recoil. A bad pad on a hard stock can make a moderate caliber feel stout.
What about pistols and shotguns?
This tool is calibrated for rifle cartridges. Shotgun recoil follows the same formula with different ejecta-velocity assumptions, and pistols have their own ergonomics. Both are out of scope here.
Bottom line
Use these numbers to compare, not as an absolute prediction of comfort.
What The Recoil Comparison Tool Measures
The Recoil Comparison Tool gives you a neutral number before the shoulder gets a vote. Pick representative cartridges, adjust rifle weight, and compare the free recoil energy side by side.
The point is not to turn recoil into a perfect prediction. The point is to make the tradeoff visible before a light rifle, expensive ammunition, and a cartridge you do not enjoy practicing with become the whole lesson.
Quick FAQ
Is free recoil the same as felt recoil?
No. Free recoil gives a neutral comparison number. Felt recoil also depends on rifle fit, stock shape, recoil pad, muzzle device, shooting position, and the shooter.
Why does rifle weight change the answer?
The same cartridge generally recoils less in a heavier rifle and more in a lighter rifle. That is why mountain rifles and range rifles can feel so different in the same chambering.
Can I compare several cartridges at once?
Yes. Use the comparison slots to see how cartridge and rifle-weight changes move the recoil number on the same scale.
Is the powder charge load data?
No. Powder-charge values are representative inputs for recoil math only, not instructions for assembling ammunition.
Cite This Tool
Suggested citation: Holdover, "Recoil Comparison Tool", last updated May 19, 2026, https://www.holdover.ca/recoil-comparison/.
Recoil Note
The tool calculates free recoil energy. Felt recoil also depends on stock geometry, recoil pad, shooting position, fit, muzzle devices, and the shooter. Use the numbers to compare, then let the rifle and target confirm the rest.
Data Note
The cartridge entries use representative bullet weights, muzzle velocities, powder-charge estimates, and rifle weights for comparison. They are not load data, reloading advice, or a recommendation to assemble ammunition. Use current manuals and manufacturer data for loading work.
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