It is all in the math.
35 cal has more space to push than 30 cal.

To what you are saying, 35 cal can throw a heavier bullet so things even out.

 

I think my 44 mag has a sharper recoil then my 35 rem.

 

Recoil is very subjective and has many factors that affect the perception of recoil, such as bullet weight and velocity, weight of gun, geometry and fit of stock. I think the 35 rem has no more recoil than my 30 rem which is in a much lighter rifle. Course I don’t think a 35 Whelen recoils bad.

 

I don’t think it or the 44 mag have much recoil. My 135 lbs. wife shoots them both and never expressed concern to me. She did to a T-4 though.

 

Depends on the gun.

 

There are a lot physical factors to consider and then there is also the matter of everyone’s perception is different from one another. If you do the math, I would expect the 35 to produce more recoil than the 30-30, mainly due to the heavier bullet and I think case capacity is slightly larger.
The reality though, is that neither one could be considered a heavy recoil by any measurement. I have shot both and IMHO, the recoil for either is less than the 308win I used to have in high school. With that said, everyone will have their own opinion and everyone’s tolerance for recoil is different.

 

I haven't shot full loads in either since I was about 10 years old but being I was shooting both free hand at that age I wouldn't think either were excessive. We can't hunt deer with rifles here so I use a Marlin 512 rifled shotgun shooting 300gr sabots at 2,000fps. We did a side by side comparison and my 12ga has a heavier recoil at 10lbs than my buddies 300 win mag 700 platform shooting both off a table with a bag.

 

My tolerance for recoil on the range varies with different weapons. I shoot very heavy loads in both pistols and rifles as well as "more comfortable" loads. However, I have never noticed any recoil whatsoever when firing at a live target. Most were well aimed for meat and single shots, others in situations that required more adrenaline and could be categorized as defensive. Maybe the adrenaline was similar in both situations.

 

Stock shape and fit matter a lot. Also shooting position. My 870 20 gauge LW Special Field shooting 1oz. Loads kicks me less than my son's old NEF YOUTH MODEL. The 870 weighs about 1/2 pound more but it does not beat me like that NEF.
Watch a couple of the African hunts on youtube. Most shots are standing off sticks.

 

In my opinion, my 1949 marlin in .32 special has one hell of a kick! more then my .35 Remington! Now my Marlin in .444 does kick like a mule! lol!

 

Of all the guns I own and shoot my Ruger American in 30-06 has the hardest recoil. The gun weights less than 7 pounds so with 180 grain bullets it gets in my grill quickly. My CZ 550 in 9.3x62 weighs in at over 9 lbs and is more of a hard shove whereas the 06 is like a belt to the jaw. But the Ruger is still the most accurate gun I own. It’s all about managing the recoil when taking the shot. Neither kick nearly as hard as my 12 gauge Browning B2000 with 1oz slugs.

 

I refer to "Chuck Hawks Recoil Table". Its an interesting way to compare recoil of different calibers. As previously pointed out theres a lot of factors such as over all weight and stock design of the rife you are shooting. the 35 Rem has slightly more felt recoil than the 30-30 but less than a 308.

 

Marlin 336 in 35 Rem shooting factory Win or Rem ammo has a mild to moderate kick. I could shoot that rifle 50 rounds without a recoll pad and not feel uncomfortable. My 30 06 in my MR7 or Remington 760 is noticably harsher. Any more than 5 rounds simultaneously is not fun.

44 mag factory 240 grain ammo in my 1894 is milder than the 336 in 35. My teenage son's could shoot that one all day. However the same ammo in my vintage Ruger Deerstalker carbine kicks surprisingly harder than you would expect. Definitely more than 336 in 35.

 

Recoil force is measurable but felt recoil is subjective and a good part of that is how a specific stock fits the individual shooter. I had a rotator and bicep repair on my right (strong) side a few years ago which required weeks of immobilization and a complete rebuild of the upper arm & shoulder muscles on that side.

It was quite the reality check. I was back on my 30-06 and 12 gauges in six months, but I sure learned the value of proper stock fit and good thin pad. I shoot an old straight grip Marlin 35 Rem with reloads using the 200 grain Sierra at 30-30 velocity and they thump noticeably harder than 200 grain LEVERevolution. The old gun's stock has always been a little short for me and a thin Decelerator fixed that and takes the bite out of prone or bench shooting.

 

I notice after 10+ shots at the range. In the woods I don't notice at all. I shot a .338RUM to help a guy sight in and that determined that me and my anatomy don't like that kinda recoil. Even hurt watching other people shoot it. Then it got a brake installed and it's a different rifle. Not saying a .35Rem needs a brake but if you want it or need it, it's your rifle.

 

To me the 35 recoil is more of a push whereas the 30-30 is more of a punch
35 is better imho

 

Like a 45acp and a 9mm.

 

Yes. 9mm = snap
45acp = push

 

Recoil??????? I didn't realize my 35 had recoil.

 

it doesn’t really have much recoil

 

No offense to the OP meant here. But unless the only rifles he ever fired prior to the .35 Rem were the .223 and/or .243, I simply don't understand.

Yes, recoil is subjective, and a lot depends on the shooter and what he/she expects or experiences. The older plastic buttplates don't help, but I have a double in 9.3x74R that has that.

I shot a bit of .22 and moved up to 12ga with slugs for deer. So, it's all relavent to what you've experienced. I regularly shoot .338mag, .356, .358, .35 Whelen, .375 Win, 9.3x62, 45-70 and previously mentioned 9.3x74R. I don't feel any of them abusive or difficult.

However, my 12ga A-Bolt shooting 385gr Sabots @ 1900 and my BLR with 350s @ 2100 remind me to use proper technique.

Everything is relative. Shoot enough and understand that hearing protection is very important and be sure to use proper technique. When you fire a CF rifle that's spitting a 200gr bullet fast enough to cleanly kill deer sized game at 225yds, there's gonna be some push.

Prepare, expect it and deal with it. Remember, you'll never, ever feel the recoil in the field when shooting that 150" 10. 😁

 

Something to look at....

Rifle Recoil Table

But I find stock dimensions and fit make a difference. The worst recoiling gun that I ever owned was a Remington 760 in 30-06. I also find that straight stocked guns recoil more than pistol grip stocks. A lot of it is personally subjective.

 

30-30 with 170 grain bullet recoil is 11 ft/lbs
35 Rem with 200 grain is 13.5 ft/lbs

Suggest you google Recoil Table by Chuck Hawks. It is a great reference source!
Rifle Recoil Table (chuckhawks.com)

 

Maybe check out Chuck Hawes Recoil Table. Oh wait, four others have already recommended that….never mind.



.

 

I'd much rather shoot my 35-30 wildcat 336 Marlin than a 30-06 when my neck problem is acting up. The 35-30 is very close to the 35 Rem. and shoots the same bullets. It's never been a problem even with hotter loads.

 

The recoil of a 30-30 or .35 Rem is not excessive at all. Now the 444 and .45-70 will get your attention when sighting in off the bench but are not bad at all hunting. This is an old man's experience that shot a .22 as a 1st gun then a 12 ga shotgun more years ago than I want to remember.
Have a great day.
Jim

 

I have several marlin 30-30 and 2 different 35 rem. All wear scopes. I shoot alot at my home as I am fortunate enough to have my own 100 yd and 200 yd target boards set up.
I am always surprised that I cannot really feel any difference in recoil between those 2 calibers.