Need some help choosing hunting rifle caliber

For what it's worth, I would suggest you take a good look at the .308 before making your final decision. Ammunition is plentiful with lots of bullet choices and if you choose to reload, there's tons of data available. We know it's strengths and weaknesses, bottom line it's tried and true.
 
captonion said:
If thats your reasoning why they aren't tried and true!
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Never said they weren't, I said the .308 is tried and true. From what I gather, OP is starting to hunt. I believe the .308 would be a good rifle to begin with. A .243 requires more skill in making a clean shot and even though 25-06 is good in making long range shots with it's great ballistic coefficient it offers no clear advantage over a 30-06. Bottom line, for ammo availability, knockdown power, mild recoil and accuracy, the .308 is an all around good choice. My 2 cents.
 
.308 doesn't "knock down" any differently than a .25 cal really. We make mountains out of molehills in tiny, minuscule ballistic differences more imagined than actual. I do agree about the .30-06 as it's just plain available anywhere. Same for .270, .308's a little behind but close, for some reason .308 goes through supply fluctuations. Three years ago I couldn't find .308 brass at Wholesale Sports, Backcountry Sporting Goods out of Fort St John, some Grande Prairie one I forget, and the shop in Whitecourt. Not a piece to be found. All the other usuals were predictably on the shelf; .30-06, .270, .30-30, .243 etc.

In the end we're spitting accelerated pieces of metal of comparble size at game, most differences among the standard chamberings are imagined, not real. The trajectories of even a .243 and a .30-06 are for all intents and purposes identical to beyond where 99% of hunters can shoot. Willing to bet a .25-06 doesn't shoot any more than a few fingers flatter than the .30-06 over 300 yards either. In field conditions, that's meaningless. Pick something whose minute advantages you find attractive, that's available, and practice practice practice. There's something to be said for the .308 in that regard, cheap FMJ.
 
For someone who is 'just starting to hunt' ..

If the hunter only wishes to hunt say deer, then the .243 is an excellent and extremely popular choice. The fact that the .243 has almost no recoil allows the shooter to become familiar with the rifle at the range over a period of months without risk of developing a flinch and this, in turn, will promote the firearm to become, in effect, a natural extension of himself so that, in the field during hunting season, the opportunity will translate into venison in the freezer.

The .25-06 or the 7mm-08 are also well known for their mild recoil, superb accuracy, and flat trajectory; as such, they have all of the advantages of the .243 but with greater killing power which allows them to be used on larger game such as elk, moose or black bear.

The .308 or the .30-06 or the 7mm mag or even more powerful cartridges are very accurate, have flat trajectories, with ample killing power for almost any North American game but .. .. they all have considerable recoil. As such, they may not be the best choice for someone who is just starting to hunt.

While many of us gunnutz like to talk on and on about rifle muzzle velocity and energy, bullet sectional density, etc., the actual killing power of any particular bullet is predominantly a factor of accurate shot placement; the skill to deliver accurate shot placement is a function of practice; and the number of hours of careful practice is directly related to the recoil of the rifle. (for example: I can shoot a .243 or a 7mm-08 all day long, but I am not so keen to try that with my .270 or my .30-06).

Finally, .243 ammunition is cheap and available everywhere.

My 2 cents.
 
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Consider a different platform and get both... H&R Handi rifles get flack, but I have many and have learned to really appreciate and love the platform (heck of alot cheaper than TC's and IME just as accurate... TC lovers, resist flaming me)... you can buy a .223 and a 7mm-08 (or .270, .308, .30/06 etc...)... you can fit both barrels to one frame and sell the extra stock set and receiver to recoup some money... for $400 you can have both... and cover all your bases... don't worry about follow-up shots... make the first one count.
 
This is my first Hunting gun, its a .270 win Browning. The .270 has served me well.
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There are four that never fail to impress me: 30-06, 308, 270, and 7x57. If I were to choose amoung the four, it would be 7x57. It gets the job done, always, with less recoil and a nice flat trajectory. All the rest are simply boutique calibres to me :) Yes, you can substitute 7mm-08 for 7x57 if you don't reload.

Honourable mention to 12 gauge (e.g. 870)... a rifled barrel sabot slug gun is a rifle to me, and mine works well to 150 yards with deadly accuracy. Of course, it doubles as a real shotgun, for whatever fowl you wish to hunt.

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Left to Right:
12 Gauge 3" --(00 Buck)
30-06 Springfield --(180 grain soft point)
7mm Mauser / 7x57 --(173 grain soft point)
308 Winchester / 7.62x52 NATO --(165 grain SST)
7.62x39 Soviet --(123 grain, brass case, soft point)
7.62x39 Soviet --(123 grain, lacquered steel case, steel core FMJ)
22 LR --(40 grain lead round nose)
 
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There have been a number of excellent posts here that should be able to help this fella out but as often happens with a topic such as this one a considerable amount of heat tends to build up over differences of opinions as to what caliber can do this,that or whatever over another one.My own opinion in most topics such as this one is based upon either personal experiences combined with those of others as well as a degree of research on various subjects relating to said topics and usually boils down to a combination of all three.In the end it is still an opinion, let's keep this in mind.Everyone's mileage may vary somewhat and that is OK.
 
Lets keep it real though, the .30-06 is in the mild category for recoil as well. Millions of 19 years olds now in their seventies and upward would likely agree. The present day recoil aversion phenomena is a new thing likely related to how fewer and fewer shooters actually grew up shooting.
 
-Savage- said:
In Southern Africa the .243 was voted as the most popular hunting cartridge in South Africa, Namibia and south-western Botswana, because of its long range capabilities and effect on game in the Springbok/Blesbuck category where ranges can reach in excess of 300m."[/I]
http://www.imbmonsterbucks.com/info.php?id=150
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By whom, and where? "Southern Africa" is a big place, one I enjoy hunting and have family and friends, and this is news to me. The .243 has been practically non-existent in my experience there, I've seen a grand total of one, and it didn't get used. Not saying I don't like the .243, I just bought one, but broad, reference-less quotes like this are my pet peeve. How do you know this is true, and holds enough water you post it as fact? :) I may well be referred to the study and results and have to eat my hat, but .243 being Africa's favourite long range cartridge smells like quite a kettle of fish to me.
 
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