Medium game caliber for the recoil sensitive?

domyalex

domyalex

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Another caliber thread...

So, I'm new to the sport and would like to start hunting in BC (Lower Mainland).
YES, I have searched! I have read tons of threads on CGN, HBC, TFL, THR, Cabelas... the more I read the more confused I get...

I'm basically looking for a medium game (deer/bear, mayyyybe up to moose) caliber for hunting in my area that won't kick me into tomorrow's land.

Main considerations:
- I'm quite, uh, "skinny" (5"11', 145lbs), so recoil is definitely an issue. Actually THE main issue.
- Ammo price/availability is important
- For now I don't reload (will eventually do, but not for now)

From what I have read:
- 6.5x55 and 7mm-08 sound *very* sweet, but they seem to be handloaders' rounds.
- 243: overbore, expensive and on the lighter side
- 25-06: on paper it seems quite good. Not sure about price.
- 260: many consider it a "lady" caliber.. <sigh>
- 30-30: love the lever action rifles, cheap ammo, limited range but then again I'm in BC's Lower Mainland. Could be a problem if I decide to go mountain sheep/goat hunting maybe?
- 270 / 308: apparently can't really go wrong with either. 308 has the advantage for practicing with milsurp?
- 30-06: the holy grail, but for a feather weight newbie like me it could be too much?

I visited Reliable today, explained my situation and 30 seconds later I was holding a .270 X-bolt. Felt pretty nice, but then again, I'm no expert.

Please... help...!
 
get a 270, with a quality 130 gr bullet it can take any game in BC near and far, with mild recoil. Lots of factory rifles and ammo options to choose from too
 
there is quite a bit of 7mm08 factory ammo out there now and it's gettign more popular everytime I'm looking.

It's become my favourite cartridge for hunting. I don't like recoil either.
I'm 200 plus and was in the military but I don't like having to reglue my fillings and have my retina checked after every range session.

The 6.5 swede or the 308 are also perfectly adequate for almost all hunting in Canada. 308 does give you more options for shooting a lot of cheap FMJ; it's not as plentiful and cheap as it used to be right now.
 
308 or 7mm-08 would be about perfect and ammo is pretty readily available. 6.5x55 or 7x57 would also be excellent choices, but harder to find ammo in small (out of the way) locales. 270 and 30-06 are great choices as well but with the 30-06 and 180 grain bullets you take a step up in recoil, though it is still pretty mild. Ammo for all the above rifles should be available in most places. Maybe not the gas bar in Spuzzum or the Co-op in Tsay Kay, but I bet you'd still find 4 of 6 in most places.

I've not handled the X Bolt but the guys at Reliable are completely trustworthy and good guys. You'd noty be ill-served with a 270.
 
Not a handloader; get a 270 and never look back. when you start handloading the 270 is a great place to start.............and end for that matter.
No, I'm not a 270 man; I prefer the 30-06, but for the recoil sensitive, the 270 is the way to go.
Mike
 
.270 would be my vote for you. You can buy premium 130 grain bullets that will kill anything you listed handily. You can also buy 150 grainers for bigger stuff. Its quite versatile, pretty flat shooting (if you eventually hunt sheep), and the recoil is decent.
Not too sure about the X-Bolt, but they look pretty nice to me. I'd say go for it, .270 has been killing effectively for many years.
 
30-06 all the way for versatility.
You're not reloading (yet) and there is no other cartridge that is so common as 30-06 so finding ammo will never be an issue and the price will be the lowest of any similiar caliber. An example is that Remington (just picking a manufacturer) loads about 19 factory choices (ranging from 125grs to 220 grs) for the 30-06 and 9 choices for the 270 (100-150 grs).
I've never found too much difference between the kick of the 30-06 and the 270 for it to be an issue. The kick of the 30-06 is quite mild (I shoot mostly 300RUM so you can take that comment with a grain of salt).
Ballistically the 270 and 30-06 are quite similiar (given the same bullet), 30-06 is a slightly flatter trajectory (based on a 150gr bullet) which would be better for the longer ranges.
Oh by the way (I know a lot of guys are going to hate this tid-bit), when the 270 was originally marketed, it was advertised as a "woman's gun". Doesn't make it any less effective in the right hands though.
Oh, just for the record, of the 30-06 and 270 i have, I favour the 270 more.
It hugs me better.
 
Were you to pick either one (270 or 30-06, you couldn't go wrong but the key is to go with one that fits you the best, the one you are most comfortable getting behind.
After that, it's all just practice.
 
I have a Husky 270 and use a 130gr bullet .This will take care of anything you want to hunt. Not much for recoil.

Straight Shooting

Budweiser2
 
30/06 all the way. I also agree that it doesnt kick all that much (especially compared to 338 lapua) 150gr for deer 165 for bear 180 for moose that simple. 308 will get the job done just as well. haha and I bought my wife a 270 last year shes 5'2 125lbs and now she wants someting bigger
Cheers
 
Quote by domyalex: "So, I'm new to the sport and would like to start hunting in BC (Lower Mainland).
YES, I have searched! I have read tons of threads on CGN, HBC, TFL, THR, Cabelas... the more I read the more confused I get...

I just look at the title and know this posting will get legs of its own and go on, and on, and maybe on.
Therefore, If you are confused now, you will be confused with a capital C, after yo have read it all.
 
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