new hunter how many calibers?

J

jay smith

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first off happy new year everyone.

I got my hunter number last year and haven't done anything with it.

At this point I want to hunt coyotes and save the furs. i also want to go deer hunting in the future but don't need the meat so im not in a rush to do that.

I have done alot of reading online and talked to a few people.
from what I can tell I have two options.

1 is try to get one rifle in something like 243 or 7mm to try and cover both deer and coyote.

2 is plan on 2 rifles 1 more of the 223 size then once i get the urge to get a deer something in the 308 world. with those two i think i could take most game in Canada.

im pretty green on this so any opinions are appreciated.

i should also note that i have a 10/22 a 12ga and an sks.
main thing is id like to avoid having a bunch of rifles that are poorly thought out junk.

thanks. jay.
 
No junk? Ditch the SKS...

For rifles, your two rifle plan is solid.

For now, get a .223 bolt action from the 7's (M7, M700, M70, M77). Keep it in the "hunter" style as opposed to the "bench/varmint" style... in other words, trim and lighter... a stainless synthetic rifle with 22" barrel would be ideal... top it with a variable scope with some reach, like a 4-12 or 4.5-14... then go get your coyotes.

Later, get yourself another bolt action, maybe walnut/blued for variety in .308 or 7mm-08 or .30/06 etc... and mount a nice compact 2-7, 2.5-8, 3-9 etc... then go get your deer.
 
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Covering both deer and coyote is easy; doing both without wrecking pelts may prove to be between difficult and unlikely. Bear in mind that what hunters call minimal damage fur buyers consider garbage.
 
In my opinion there is no need to get two rifles if your objective is coyotes and deer. The old standby one rifle do it all gun is the .270 Winchester. It certainly will be fine. However, today with all the choices available, I would go with a 6.5x284 Norma. A second choice which is not quite as powerful would be the 6.5 mm Creedmoor. And the old reliable 6.5x55 Swede is kind of between them. To save the pelts on a coyote you want a bullet that does not expand. An example would be the Barnes solid copper bullets. For a gun, Savage makes very accurate bolt actions at reasonable prices.

Here is a comparison of the 6.5 mm cartridges. I have the .264 WM but I would consider it overkill for your purposes.

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Two rifles is a good plan, and short of hunting dangerous game, is all one really needs.

For coyotes there's a number of good calibers, but the .223 will get the job done as good as any. On the plus side, you'll have all kinds of ammo to pick from, and shouldn't ever run out of it. And it's easier on a barrel, which factors in if you're going burn through lots of rounds each year. At 1000 rounds/year, doesn't take nearly as long to burn out a barrel on the 22-250 as it might with a .223.

For deer I'm a huge fan of the 25-06 Rem. And if deer were my only interest, and griz weren't a factor like they are around these parts, that's all I'd ever hunt with. More "dead right there" one shot kills on mulies and whitetails with my 25-06 than any other caliber I've ever used...including .303 Brit, 30-30, 30-06 and .300 Win Mag. Not sure why, but they are like Thor's Hammer on deer!

That said, two great choices, IMHO, would be .270 Win or 7mm-08 Rem. Both easier in the recoil dept, both flatter shooting than .308 or 30.06, and both also are very capable for elk.

If you're new to shooting/hunting, I would suggest that, before jumping into heavier calibers, especially the magnums, if you can, look for opportunities to do some range time with a friend and his rifle. Some people are not good with heavy recoil, which can greatly affect their shooting...and there's no shame in this! I've watched big, husky men flinch like mad on the range with a 30.06, forget about the big stuff! One way to cure it is using the big gun for varmint shooting, not to mention range time, to get comfortable with it. When selecting a rifle for the long run, first and foremost think with your head, not your hormones or ego! :)

Last point, regarding recoil, is that for deer, in the .270 Win. 130 gr is lots of bullet, and in the 7mm-08, 130 to 140 is lots. All those deer I flattened with a 25.06 was with 117 Sierra Gamekings. Remember that the heavier the bullet being stuffed down a barrel, the greater the kickback on one's shoulder. I shoot a .300 Win Mag, and I use 130 gr Barnes TTSX, which kick a helluva lot less than 180s!

FWIW, I agree that the 6.5 Swede, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x284 Norma are great calibers for deer. Having worked behind the counter in a sports shop for a spell, the one word of caution with these is that ammo can be hard to come by, certainly regarding selection. If you handload, no big deal. But so far I think only Hornady loads the Creedmoor, and 6.5x284 Norma can be especially rare. If you live near one of the big chain stores like Wholesale Sports or Cabelas, maybe better odds, but small town stores often only stock their shelves with what sells the most.
 
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As said, get a nice 223. Pretty much anything bigger than a 22 is going to damage the pelt. Skinning 1 coyote might cure you of the desire to do more.

Lots of guys are going to say otherwise, but your SKS will do for most deer hunting.

Only reason to pick a 308 over a 30-06 for hunting is if you want a Savage 99.
 
Very good advise so far depending on where you live in this great land called Canada will depend on what 2 rifles that would be the right ones for you.
223, 308 would be a nice pair. 243, 30-06 another great pair.
Coyotes and Deer, I would suggest look at the area that you would be hunting in, close range or long range would help us as a group for suggestions.

I would also suggest that you obtain a 22 Rimfire that would be similar to the other rifles for practice.
A 12 gauge with interchangeable barrels is also a good choice.

Other things that people should include in a question is if they reload or just shoot factory ammo.
Suggesting a caliber that is not readily available would not be good to a first time buyer.

Let us know more as far as your experience and where you intend to hunt.

David
 
.22lr, 223 & 308 will cover pretty much everything one could want to do. No need to over-think it.

If I were stomping around with polar bear or grizzly's I'd probably carry a bigger hammer.
 
I'm playing with sights on my SKS. It's a valid firearm up to 200 meters though 100 yards is more realistic. Waiting on my new scoped version to arrive with SVD sight and will fairly judge the worth of the sks. Out of box without doing things the hard way a .308 Savage or Ruger scoped with a low to mid power scope with do you better most likely.
 
An aside...

Worked in a store for about a year and a half. Couple things kinda surprised me with regard to rifle sales, at least in these parts.

Hardly ever sold a .308 Win., I'd guess that the 7mm-08 outsold 'em by about 10 to 1, particularly popular with both youth and ladies. For the uninitiated, merely a .308 necked down to 7mm, but they shoot lighter bullets, starting with 130 gr., they shoot 'em flatter out to 300 yds, and they don't kick as much. With today's quality ammo/bullets, lots of gun for everything right up to moose.

Secondly, the most numerous caliber, and arguably slowest seller, on the used rack was usually anything in .300 Win Mag. If there was a .338 Win Mag, it was likely almost in brand new condition...i.e., someone bought it, shot it, and traded it. Bottom line, recoil is a very real issue, and best considered BEFORE laying down the cash.
 
I've never been one to subscribe to a limited number of anything (except for marriages, I'll keep it at the current 1) but I'll play;
.223 offers so many advantages that it would be an easy choice for your varmint caliber in my opinion.
The other...now that argument has fuelled about half of the content on this website, lol...
currently I'm partial to the 6.5 family and the 30/06 but the cabinets include more than a few popular magnums and many of the conversational calibers have been here for awhile...I can't wait to see what grabs my fancy next.
If I was stuck to one I'm not sure what I'd be content with...
The 30/06 would likely be up there, it'll whack anything...
The .270 has about all the same arguments for it but doesn't send heavies...
The old or obscure calibers are all capable but create commitments the popular calibers don't ask for (ammo availability/reloading) so they'd be out.
For you the 308 or even a 30/30 would fit, but the .300WM or 7RM offers a lot too if you can handle the recoil and opens up any hunt for any animal.
The distances I poke an '06 would probably be it but if white tails were the main menu then the 7RM would probably be in my hands.
YMMV.
 
thanks for all the replies, lots of good advice here.

i do like the idea of the 223 being less of a barrel burner.

as for recoil the only experience i have is my 12 gauge. after 2 or 3 2/34 inch slugs i do get a flinch.

i am probably going with the 2 gun idea and dont think i will buy bigger of the 2 this year.
i dont see my self going bigger then 30-06 and like the idea of the short action 308.
that being said i would like the bigger of the 2 guns to work on bigger game then deer only because it would be nice to have the option.


im in BC, my range goes to 300 yards. i dont see my self trying to take game past 200.

i dont reload though i would like to get involved some day, im not sure i have the time and its not something id want to rush.

im not a big fan of my sks though i did like refinishing the stock. ive only taken it to the range twice so my opinion may change.

id like to go with bolt guns the model 70 is sure pretty. ultimately id buy a reliable tool that holds up well.

great replies. thanks.
 
I would personally say get a 308 over 3006, as you can get cheap surplus/ FMJ rounds for practicing/ plinking, same as with the 223. I say this because I bought an expensive 3006, and wish I got it in 308 so I would use it more.
 
jay smith said:
first off happy new year everyone.

I got my hunter number last year and haven't done anything with it.

At this point I want to hunt coyotes and save the furs. i also want to go deer hunting in the future but don't need the meat so im not in a rush to do that.

I have done alot of reading online and talked to a few people.
from what I can tell I have two options.

1 is try to get one rifle in something like 243 or 7mm to try and cover both deer and coyote.

2 is plan on 2 rifles 1 more of the 223 size then once i get the urge to get a deer something in the 308 world. with those two i think i could take most game in Canada.

im pretty green on this so any opinions are appreciated.

i should also note that i have a 10/22 a 12ga and an sks.
main thing is id like to avoid having a bunch of rifles that are poorly thought out junk.

thanks. jay.
Click to expand...

What you have is a very good start. Add a good 223 sporter and a 270, 308 or 30/06 (with good glass) and you're set for most anything.

Not sure why folks say to ditch the SKS. It's a fun/cheap rifle for blasting at the range. Why sell it?
 
A 308 with bullets suited for the game will be about all you would need for everything we have in Canada except the big bears.
That said, what fun would that be? You need at least 3 guns for every caliber, one slow, one medium, and one fast....so a short, long, and magnum length cartridge lol
 
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