help with 1st centerfire rifle?

ibloom

ibloom

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Toronto/Niagara; Ontario
newbie hoping for some guidance...

I've decided to buy a bolt action, but am unsure of the caliber i should get. As much as i would love to have my pick of premium ammo also, budget is something i do have to keep in mind so something which maybe comes in great varieties and is economical would be great :)

my MAIN use right now would be target at the range (hence the economical need), but i will also be using it for the occassional coyote and deer hunt (variety). What would an appropriate caliber be that is small enough to not injury myself after a full day at the range, nor is it overkill for a coyote, and certainly not underkill for a deer (i would much rather have too much power for a coyote than not enough for a deer and end up only injuring it).

i've been trying to learn all these calibers but am finding it pretty confusing. im hoping thats normal...
 
.223 if you intend to use it alot at the range for practice. Ammo is cheap, can be had for just under $0.50 per cartridge if buying factory ammo, and way cheaper if you invest in reloading equipment.
 
Caution that .223 may not be regulation for deer in your province/territory though. There are plenty of arguments for it and against it for deer sized game too. Can't beat it for yotes and paper targets though.
 
Before you go and buy it remember that in our area you cannot hunt deer with a rifle anyways! Shotgun only in Southern Ontario! So unless you plan on taking trips up North than I'd say get a .223 for targets and yotes and get yourself a shotgun later on if you don't already have one!
 
mlehtovaara said:
Before you go and buy it remember that in our area you cannot hunt deer with a rifle anyways! Shotgun only in Southern Ontario! So unless you plan on taking trips up North than I'd say get a .223 for targets and yotes and get yourself a shotgun later on if you don't already have one!
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really? the RO at my range said anything under 270WIN was ok in our area... i have my hunting course tomorrow at silverdale. i'll make a point to verify. i do have a shotgun already, so worst case scenario, i use slugs and get a 223 as you said. Next year ill just have to get something larger for moose and elk up north. oh no!

thanks for the catch bud!
 
.243 Ammo is "cheap enough" to give you a good reason to savor every shot :) Good to 350 yards with light bullets and good enough for deer and maybe a small bear with the heavies. Long range shooting (600+ yards) with the VLDs is also possible depending on the rifle. A Stevens 200 or Savage Edge will make a great first rifle in any caliber. If you plan on any long range target practise, you'll be best spending more money on optics than the rifle.

Especially if you are interested in reloading .243 is a hands down winner for "all around". If you think you might want to try a moose, buy a .270

A simple reloading kit for pretty much any standard caliber will only cost around $100 including a manual. Ammo prices will drop to 50c/round even for the big 270. Lots of reloading data online now adays from powder manufacturers so you don't have to buy lots of books.
 
I would go with a stevens in .243

You can get a stevens 200 short action in .243. They are inexpensive and excellent. I think Al simmons in hamilton has packages with scope for cheap.
 
thanks. i was indeed deliberating between the stevens 200, savage edge, savage 11fcxp3 and weatherby vanguard. all 4 come in packages with scope and are quite decent in price. i know ill have to switch out the scope eventually (especially for the longer range target practice im interested in), but i dont think i want to spend a whole bunch of money on my "learning" gun when in a year or two ill be buying more purpose specific guns. all i need is something accurate and dependable to learn the sport...
 
ibloom said:
thanks. i was indeed deliberating between the stevens 200, savage edge, savage 11fcxp3 and weatherby vanguard. all 4 come in packages with scope and are quite decent in price. i know ill have to switch out the scope eventually (especially for the longer range target practice im interested in), but i dont think i want to spend a whole bunch of money on my "learning" gun when in a year or two ill be buying more purpose specific guns. all i need is something accurate and dependable to learn the sport...
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You just gave yourself excellent advice. As a beginner shooter, you probably won't notice the difference between any of the above listed rifles. You have effectively listed them in order of quality IMHO, though I think the savage rifles will give you more bang for the buck. The vanguard is a very nice rifle and comes with a nice scope, but I would reserve that kind of expense until you really know what you want - unless money is no object. Use the savings to buy ammo! You'll get more out of extra target practise than a better rifle.
 
thebigslide said:
You just gave yourself excellent advice. As a beginner shooter, you probably won't notice the difference between any of the above listed rifles. You have effectively listed them in order of quality IMHO, though I think the savage rifles will give you more bang for the buck. The vanguard is a very nice rifle and comes with a nice scope, but I would reserve that kind of expense until you really know what you want - unless money is no object. Use the savings to buy ammo! You'll get more out of extra target practise than a better rifle.
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to be honest, the weatherby is on there only because i LOVE the lines on it. i'm leaning most towards the Edge though. i've been reading lots of good reviews not just as a good gun in general, but also for new shooters on a budget.
 
ibloom said:
really? the RO at my range said anything under 270WIN was ok in our area... i have my hunting course tomorrow at silverdale. i'll make a point to verify. i do have a shotgun already, so worst case scenario, i use slugs and get a 223 as you said. Next year ill just have to get something larger for moose and elk up north. oh no!

thanks for the catch bud!
Click to expand...

Well since I shoot at Silverdale, and also hunt both here, and up North in Parry Sound you can take my word for it! You can use anything up to .270 for coyotes but the Deer season here, and in most Southern Ontario WMU's is Shotgun, or Muzzleloader only. I was just out at Silverdale sighting in my shotgun today! If you are interested I may be going out Monday next week and can bring my Stevens 200 in .223. It shoots very well! MOA all day, and can do much better with handloads!
 
A buddy at my work, a couple of weeks ago bought one of those Savage combo's that were on sale in .243. I saw an add for the one he bought and it was already bore sighted out of the box. He got it for deer and yotes.

He took it to the range the weekend he bought it and put a target up at 100yds. Took five shots and got a grouping about the size or just under that of a tooney. Not bad I'd say!


Savage in a 243 would be very good, I think!
 
I would go for .308.

It's a wonderful caliber with many possibilities. It is easy to find anywhere ammunition is sold and is chambered in many rifles.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Well since I shoot at Silverdale, and also hunt both here, and up North in Parry Sound you can take my word for it! You can use anything up to .270 for coyotes but the Deer season here, and in most Southern Ontario WMU's is Shotgun, or Muzzleloader only. I was just out at Silverdale sighting in my shotgun today! If you are interested I may be going out Monday next week and can bring my Stevens 200 in .223. It shoots very well! MOA all day, and can do much better with handloads!
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ah man i wish i got this ealier! i dont have a computer at home... unfortunately im back at work in toronto for the next couple of weeks now. thanks a lot for the offer though, thats very generous!!
ps: i passed my hunters course (not very challenging really), and you are absolutely correct; up to 270 for yotes, and shotgun for deer. i stand corrected.

thanks again for all the support
 
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