Inexpensive, low recoil caliber for Newbie Hunter?

Ok, here is an idea: Get yourself an inexpensive axis or remmy 783 in .223 and a case of ammo. Get practicing and learn what you can. Then, without breaking the bank, when it is time to go hunting, pick yourself up a sport-arized 303 and a box of 20 rounds and fill your freezer. A LOT of game has been taken with the 303 round and rifles can be had for cheap in good condition. There are a lot of folks still using the old 303 out there as they are reliable, accurate and not to heavy once sportered. A few years down the road you will have a nice back-up gun.
 
Throttle_monkey1 said:
How much centerfire rifle shooting have you done OP?

If you have zero experience shooting centerfire rifles, even a 270 or 308 can seem like a lot of recoil (more a combination of the blast, concussion and recoil).

I agree with gatehouse, buy a .223 and an optic and a case of ammo. Shoot that rifle like crazy. Sell it once you have some experience and trigger time, keep the optic. Buy the larger caliber rifle of your choice. You could even do the same with 7.62x39 in a bolt action as the ammo is even cheaper.

There are so many caliber/cartridge options and if you’re reloading any will serve you well. I’ve had and/or have 308, 270, 7mm, a 30-06 & 375 Ruger & 6.5x55. For me 6.5x55 is my go to. There’s nothing wrong with any of them. Also have some trigger time with 6.5cm, 260, 7-08. Would love t get a 280 one day but what’s the point?

They all perform similarly out to 300 (except the 375, stay away from that one as a new shooter).

Pick one and go! None of them will let you down. And if you’re a hand loader, you can get more performance out of some cartridges and stellar accuracy out of all of them.

High quality factory ammo is expensive no matter which one you pick.
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I have only shot a 30-06 a couple times about 10 years ago... so I cautious about too much recoil to start with. That being said, I remember thinking that the recoil was less severe than I thought it would be.

Ended up getting a Vangaurd in 6.5CM. Went cheaper than what I first intended so that I could afford to get all the equipment for hand loading and a nicer scope. Hopefully the 6.5CM will be gentle on the recoil and I will research what kind of load would be good to start off with.

Thanks everyone for all the comments... now to start reading through the reloading forum!
 
Sounds like you've made up your mind but here's my 2c as a new shooter (1.5 yrs) who hunts and has been moving up the recoil charts myself.

- Started with .22 (like you have) - great starting point, cheap plinking. We love our .22s, and I love not going broke every time we go target shoot.
- Got a .243 - 7-9lb recoil, seemed like a lot at first. Flat shooting, good for deer. But expensive if you want to target shoot.
- Got a 7.62x39 - similar recoil to the 243. Was just going to be a toy gun, but after finding the ballistics are very similar to a 30-30 I now have 3x 7.62x39, one each for my 2 boys and 1 for me. They are replacing the .243 as our deer hunting guns this fall, and the kids can target shoot surplus ammo all summer long without breaking the bank.
- Next got a 30-06 - 15 lb recoil. Was going for .308, but a steal of a deal came up on a 30-06. It will be my moose/ elk/ bigger game rifle this year.

Lastly I will say - buy whatever you want, try it out, if you don't love it, sell it. I've found it very easy to sell firearms, especially now that prices have been going up. I have a buddy who reloads, good if you know for sure you will love it, but for me I just buy my factory loads and surplus as I'm not convinced I will be committed to reloading.

And I have kids and just don't have that kind of time. Seems great if you're retired.

PS - how the hell did I end up with 12 guns a year after my PAL? wtf?
 
northerndad said:
Sounds like you've made up your mind but here's my 2c as a new shooter (1.5 yrs) who hunts and has been moving up the recoil charts myself.

- Started with .22 (like you have) - great starting point, cheap plinking. We love our .22s, and I love not going broke every time we go target shoot.
- Got a .243 - 7-9lb recoil, seemed like a lot at first. Flat shooting, good for deer. But expensive if you want to target shoot.
- Got a 7.62x39 - similar recoil to the 243. Was just going to be a toy gun, but after finding the ballistics are very similar to a 30-30 I now have 3x 7.62x39, one each for my 2 boys and 1 for me. They are replacing the .243 as our deer hunting guns this fall, and the kids can target shoot surplus ammo all summer long without breaking the bank.
- Next got a 30-06 - 15 lb recoil. Was going for .308, but a steal of a deal came up on a 30-06. It will be my moose/ elk/ bigger game rifle this year.

Lastly I will say - buy whatever you want, try it out, if you don't love it, sell it. I've found it very easy to sell firearms, especially now that prices have been going up. I have a buddy who reloads, good if you know for sure you will love it, but for me I just buy my factory loads and surplus as I'm not convinced I will be committed to reloading.

And I have kids and just don't have that kind of time. Seems great if you're retired.

PS - how the hell did I end up with 12 guns a year after my PAL? wtf?
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12 is allot... I will let me significant other know that, by contrast 2 in 5 months isn't that many. :)

I have kids as well, but they go to bed early and I am a night owl.

Actually considering picking up an SKS (after reading all the above responses) for cheap plinking with surplus ammo if I find my 6.5 CM is getting too expensive, even with the reloading.

Matt
 
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