sandgroperbill wrote:My advice is don't pick a rifle, let the rifle pick you.
I picture a guy walking into the gunshop.... standing in front of the racks... closing the eyes and placing the index fingers to the sides of the temple.... occasionally opening an eye and peering out to see if a rifle is levitating closer....
I know what you mean......
but first things first OP,
FIX the flinch.
THEN think about another rifle, dont think about finding a soft rifle, dont be a girls blouse (no offence to the GBs)
Shoot the 308 and shoot a lot! it is after all a mid-range recoiling rifle... to test your flinch place a dummy round in the mag...mix it in there....
Just try not to anticipate the recoil... 'psychologise' yourself as you pull the trigger.
Once sorted go for a 223Rem, its the plinker of centrefires, but hard enough hitting at the same time (for reasonable sized game)... lots of fun.
Then, sure, go the 243, but you can also load light bullets in the 308....for what its worth.....