My First Rifle... need a little insight!

Winchested

Winchested

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Well I went to the local gun shop to fondle a few guns today, now I am sold on a lever action but do not know what caliber to get.

Looking at Browning BLR pistol grips and 81's. I want an all around gun that most likely wont be scoped and will shoot good to 100-150 yards (my max sight with glasses)

Now the shop owner told me a .270 is a lot of gun for deer and that I should get a .243 or a 30-30 for deer and then a second gun for varmint 22-250.

-.243 win- max around 100 grain bullets, definitely a great deer and varmint performer

-.270 win- 110- 160 grain bullets according to some research usable from varmint to the largest antlered game (moose).

Both cartridges cost about the same amount of money to buy factory loads.

Now help me with this statement by the store owner ".270 win is too much gun for deer and too little for moose, generally you should have a dedicated moose gun, why don't you buy a .243 or .22-250 and a 30-30."

We do not have a rifle season in WMU 90B for deer and .273 is max gun for this neck of the woods.

I have never really shot much rifle and will be doing a lot of target practice before I shoot and animal but I do really only want 1 rifle that is a lever action (I love the feel of the BLR series rifles- never shot one) but I want to be able to hunt varmint to moose. So is the .270 win capable of taking moose ethically and will the .270 ruin my deer meat and punch to big a hole through it or with 100-120 grain bullets be just right on deer?

Thanks for any insight.

*Recoil is not a worry I am 5' 11" 200 lbs and shoot a lot of 12 gauge.
 
Wow - tough call. This should get the bees nest buzzing!!!

I understand the caliber restriction. I have both and used both on varmints and deer - not moose.

With the right bullet, the 270 will be fine for moose. Shot placement is everything no matter what you're hunting.

The 243 is excellent on deer. Don't let anyone tell you that 243 isn't big enough for deer sized game. Maybe even for moose depending on species and how far you're shooting. Never hunted moose so can't say for sure.

This will most likely be a personal decision for you. How much do you think you will hunt moose and or deer with it? For varmints, both will be great!

Another thing to consider is the cartridge/action length. Do you want a long or short action?

If you haven't shot rifles much, try out a 22lr to get you started. They're fun and cheap to shoot. Good way to practice for your centerfire rifle and hunting trips.

Good luck - SD
 
I already have a few 22 long rifle guns have shot them quite a bit but never really hunted with them.

Thanks guys even from the few examples you have given me I think the .270 is going to be my best bet. Now to be on the lookout for a used BLR. Before I buy I will hit the range and pay a few bucks to give both a try sometime in the new year. I am thinking of a birthday present for myself that I can slowly pay off.
 
a 270 will work for moose. Its not like the are armor plated. What did people use 50 years ago? I use a 308 as a kill all round. And the kick isnt bad at all.
buy what you want, and enjoy.
 
I would recommend a 270 WSM - you are covered from moose on down to deer. I use a 308 Win for deer and at close range it is not overkill. The 270 WSM would give you that same performance but at a bit better range and a good selection of bullets. The problem with the 243 is that for deer you will already be at the top end of the weight spectrum (100-105 grains) with a 270 WSM you could go 1/3 higher in bullet weight which is important for thick skinned/boned animals like moose but still use lighter bullets for deer. The WSM would give you a nice short action to cycle on the BLR and I would point out that the 270WSM is starting to pick up a following.
 
If you love a lever action and do most of your shooting close range with iron sights, don't rule out my favorite - the 30-30. It is the most common used lever gun by far, making it relatively easy to find a good used one to start with. If you start handloading it can be very versatile. I use 125 gr. sierra bullets for very nice varmint loads. The factory 150 gr. are just fine for deer. Most will tell you it isn't enough gun for moose, but I honestly don't think anything in North America is really safe within a hundred yards of a 94 Winchester in the right hands. :)

Oops, just re-read your post, and if you can't go to .30 cal. then just disregard this whole ramble! Lol
 
You need to visit a different gun store.
I would be looking at the 308 win caliber.
If you load your own ammo or plan on it,
there are some lighter bullet weights for shooting
varmits.
My old man used to say, Little gun shoot little stuff,
Big gun shoot little and big stuff.
I don't think you would be dissappointed the the BLR in 308.
Happy hunting.
 
Winchested said:
...

Now the shop owner told me a .270 is a lot of gun for deer and that I should get a .243 or a 30-30 for deer and then a second gun for varmint 22-250.

...

Now help me with this statement by the store owner ".270 win is too much gun for deer and too little for moose, generally you should have a dedicated moose gun, why don't you buy a .243 or .22-250 and a 30-30."

...
Click to expand...

The shop owner is trying sell more guns, against your interest.

The notion that .270Winchester is "too little for moose" and you should use a .30-30 instead is stupid. A properly placed .270 bullet is just as deadly to a moose as .30-30 is.

The .270 is also not too much for deer. You will be trying to shoot it in the heart and lungs, and when you get that right you won`t be punching through a lot of the meat anyway.

The problem with trying to use just one calibre for varmints, deer and moose isn't finding something that does both deer and moose, but finding something that stretches from varmints to moose. And the answer to that is better to have overkill on the varmints (.270) than risk not enough on moose (.243).
 
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Out of the 2 choices a 270 is the way to go. It has much more power than a 243. The meat damage with 150 gr bullets is not a lot. I own 2 243s but they are my coyote guns, not deer. get a 270 and lots of ammo, save your brass (I like to buy only 1 brand of ammo & all the same lot if possible). Don't be afraid to ask some of the shooters at you club for help when you are shooting. Good luck Aj
 
I would suggest that the .270 will be fine but be sure to use a premium bullet on bullwinkle and bambi. A poor bullet will expode on impact at high velocities, therefore not penatrating properly and ruining meat. A poor bullet may leave your moose limping around with a blown up shoulder and your deer dead but with no shoulders. The use of the right bullet will expand and penetrate hopefully leading to a clean kill with little meat damaged.

For varmints, the .270 will work great with the lighter bullets but it may heat up quickly if your taking shots rapidly. It also may get tough on your shoulder after awhile. For a couple of coyotes it will be fine, maybe better than fine but for 100 gophers it won't be very good. Too bad of the caliber restriction, the 7mm-08, or .308 might have been a good fit, .25-06 would be a good one too but not available in the BLR (I don't think).
 
Winchested said:
Well I went to the local gun shop to fondle a few guns today, now I am sold on a lever action but do not know what caliber to get.

Looking at Browning BLR pistol grips and 81's. I want an all around gun that most likely wont be scoped and will shoot good to 100-150 yards (my max sight with glasses)

Now the shop owner told me a .270 is a lot of gun for deer and that I should get a .243 or a 30-30 for deer and then a second gun for varmint 22-250.

-.243 win- max around 100 grain bullets, definitely a great deer and varmint performer

-.270 win- 110- 160 grain bullets according to some research usable from varmint to the largest antlered game (moose).

Both cartridges cost about the same amount of money to buy factory loads.

Now help me with this statement by the store owner ".270 win is too much gun for deer and too little for moose, generally you should have a dedicated moose gun, why don't you buy a .243 or .22-250 and a 30-30."

We do not have a rifle season in WMU 90B for deer and .273 is max gun for this neck of the woods.

I have never really shot much rifle and will be doing a lot of target practice before I shoot and animal but I do really only want 1 rifle that is a lever action (I love the feel of the BLR series rifles- never shot one) but I want to be able to hunt varmint to moose. So is the .270 win capable of taking moose ethically and will the .270 ruin my deer meat and punch to big a hole through it or with 100-120 grain bullets be just right on deer?

Thanks for any insight.

*Recoil is not a worry I am 5' 11" 200 lbs and shoot a lot of 12 gauge.
Click to expand...

The storeowner is a idiot, the 270 is excellent for deer and moose.
 
TheTooner said:
The shop owner is trying sell more guns, against your interest.

The notion that .270Winchester is `too little for moose`` and you should use a .30-30 instead is stupid. A properly placed .270 bullet is just as deadly to a moose as .30-30 is.

The .270 is also not too much for deer. You will be trying to shoot it in the heart and lungs, and when you get that right you won`t be punching through a lot of the meat anyway.

The problem with trying to use just one calibre for varmints, deer and moose isn`t finding something that does both deer and moose, but finding something that stretches from varmints to moose. And the answer to that is better to have overkill on the varmints (.270) than risk not enough on moose (.243).
Click to expand...

I agree
 
TheTooner said:
The shop owner is trying sell more guns, against your interest.

The notion that .270Winchester is "too little for moose" and you should use a .30-30 instead is stupid. A properly placed .270 bullet is just as deadly to a moose as .30-30 is.

The .270 is also not too much for deer. You will be trying to shoot it in the heart and lungs, and when you get that right you won`t be punching through a lot of the meat anyway.

The problem with trying to use just one calibre for varmints, deer and moose isn't finding something that does both deer and moose, but finding something that stretches from varmints to moose. And the answer to that is better to have overkill on the varmints (.270) than risk not enough on moose (.243).
Click to expand...

X2

The 270 is quite versatile....and one hell of a deer Cartridge.
 
I've shot lots of deer and a moose with the .270. Its an ideal all around cartridge.

Properly loaded, I wouldn't be afraid to hunt anything with it.
That being said, I typically take something with a bit more punch for deer.
I've found more energy puts them down faster.
 
If there is no rifle deer season in your area why are you worried about getting a rifle for deer hunting?

The 270 is fine for moose and deer, but a bit much for varmints in my opinion.
 
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