new hunter how many calibers?

I'm not sure that you can avoid pelt damage, if you shoot a coyote with a deer suitable cartridge. A .223 Rem is a good choice for coyotes, and fun at the range.

As far as a deer rifle / cartridge, find some folks whom you know deer hunt. Maybe you can shoot their rifles, before you decide. There are lots of great cartridge choices, and you cannot go wrong with 7mm-08 Rem & .308 Win, in short action, and .270 Win & .30-06 Sprg, in long action. Focus on an action and rifle style, that suits you, personally.

All the best!!
 
Get a 223 rifle.. vanguard, ruger american.. with a warranted (vortex, bushnell, nikon) but cheap end scope with high magnification. good coyote rifle done.

For deer you can just use a shotgun with slugs and also have the ability to take birds.

Now with 2 guys you can take coyotes, birds, and deer.
 
What you have is a very good start. Add a good 223 sporter and a 270, 308 or 30/06 (with good glass) and you're set for most anything.

Not sure why folks say to ditch the SKS. It's a fun/cheap rifle for blasting at the range. Why sell it?

Depends on your definition of "fun at the range"...... personally, if I am shooting an inherantly inaccurate gun, I am not having fun..........
 
Depends on your definition of "fun at the range"...... personally, if I am shooting an inherantly inaccurate gun, I am not having fun..........

Maybe if you can set up a walking range i would into the sks more fun. I never really liked shooting just for the purpose of hearing a bang. If my group is 8 inches im not a happy camper lol. But I could see the fun in a "sks battle range" with some running and shooting. Too bad theres no crown land near me.. SKS will sit with no use for now.
 
I dunno but I shoot everything with a 7mm-08. I don't think having separate guns for everything is really practical.Chances are you will be out looking for one thing and run into something else.

Having a fun cost effective .223 rifle is also cool.
 
Straight out of another post just minutes ago I made:

You would have to own a rimfire, a shotgun and a high powered rifle as the barest minimum. What a 12ga shotgun (from #9 skeet through to buckshot & slugs) can do no other firearm can as adeptly; and a .22LR/mag or a .17mag can shoot and harvest what no other can (and fun & cheap to shoot); a good dedicated coyote rifle is best; and a higher powered rifle is there for deer and larger game.

A magazine fed bolt action or semi-automatic .308Win calibre rifle, back-up irons and a good scope, cheek riser or whatever it takes to make it fit you, and lots of ammo and practice. The same thing could be said of a .223 for coyotes because you can reload for the firearm and still use bulk for target practice.

It is all about having that exact tool for the expected or unexpected job.
 
I know it has dwindled to a small market, almost obsolete now in the world of cartridge fad... but a niche like you mentioned I can't think of anything better than a 250 Savage. Everything up to black bear/deer, without excess recoil, muzzle blast, overbore... I'm surprised this round is not more popular for young hunters, recoil shy, small women and sensible men. ;)
 
I'm going to echo the 223 for coyotes if you want to save pelts(with varmint grenades) and anything in the 6.5mm/0.260 to 30 cal sentiments as they'll all put holes in things adequately(just buy good bullets as bullet construction matters). I'm mostly posting to offer the advice of look at how much you're going to spend....then buy one level higher of firearm. The extra in the beginning stings but you'll likely keep the better firearm for way longer and overall be happier with it in all aspects. In the end this makes it cheaper to buy a nicer gun initially than continually screwing with a lesser firearm or upgrading it in the future and spending the money anyways. The biggest thing with any rifle is that they're all individual and the more experience you have with a single firearm, the better you'll be with it....so buy once for anything you plan to use functionally and get good with it. Cycle out the range toys and gopher guns on a regular basis though...makes life more interesting. ;)
 
Keep in mind that reloading for two cartridges doubles your cost for dies etc., as well as doubling your cost for guns and scopes. A 6.5x284 lets you load anything from 85 grain varmint bullets to 160 grain big game. Will take anything from coyote to moose and elk. So will a 6.5x55 Swede.
 
No junk? Ditch the SKS...

For rifles, your two rifle plan is solid.

For now, get a .223 bolt action from the 7's (M7, M700, M70, M77). Keep it in the "hunter" style as opposed to the "bench/varmint" style... in other words, trim and lighter... a stainless synthetic rifle with 22" barrel would be ideal... top it with a variable scope with some reach, like a 4-12 or 4.5-14... then go get your coyotes.

Later, get yourself another bolt action, maybe walnut/blued for variety in .308 or 7mm-08 or .30/06 etc... and mount a nice compact 2-7, 2.5-8, 3-9 etc... then go get your deer.

Good advice for rifles and scope

side not for the new guy a shotgun and 22 LR both work realy good on coyotes just not the long rang hunting thing if hunting in big fields you will be under gun but if your hunting in the bush it is a difrent story nice thing with a 22 it is handy if a fox or Lynx too
 
1- sell the Sks and use the proceeds to get a lee anniversary kit....... you will thank me later
2- get yourself a good quality .243 or 6.5x55 if you absolutely want dual purpose
3- my advice is dontvgondual purpose....... get a good quality 223 for yotes and save for a deer rifle.... you can use 12 gauge slug in the meantime...... having to get within 100 will make you a better hunter in the long run......
 
Brad gives some pretty good advice above except for selling the SKS.

As for the all-rounders... that can take medium to large game... nothing beats 6,5x55, 7x57 and 30-06... in progressive order of power. All will get the job done.

I also believe 7,62x39 out of a quality bolt gun (CZ527, Howa mini-Mauser, etc.) is extremely handy.

12 gauge is a must. I still prefer the Remington 870 platform.
 
After reading you posts Jay,
Find a good used 223 or 243 and have at it.
Once you find that you are ready to go to a second rifle get yourself a 308.
But most of all shoot, shoot, shoot as much as you can until you are comfortable in all shooting positions.

As I mentioned before a 22RF in the same style of rifle as you CF,s is a good practice tool.

David
 
Keep in mind that reloading for two cartridges doubles your cost for dies etc., as well as doubling your cost for guns and scopes. A 6.5x284 lets you load anything from 85 grain varmint bullets to 160 grain big game. Will take anything from coyote to moose and elk. So will a 6.5x55 Swede.

Stay away from the Swede, although a most excellent cartridge, you'll need deep pockets to feed it. My son received one for free. He found the cost of ammo very steep. Luckily he knows me, he's reloading now.

My vote too goes for the .223/.308
 
Stay away from the Swede, although a most excellent cartridge, you'll need deep pockets to feed it. My son received one for free. He found the cost of ammo very steep. Luckily he knows me, he's reloading now.

My vote too goes for the .223/.308

Certainly the most sensible combo in my opinion........
 
Stay away from the Swede, although a most excellent cartridge, you'll need deep pockets to feed it. My son received one for free. He found the cost of ammo very steep. Luckily he knows me, he's reloading now.
My vote too goes for the .223/.308

Unless you are willing to shoot the military stuff, all preloaded ammo is going to be expensive. Once you are reloading the 6.5x55 SE is going to be just as inexpensive as the rest. Same with the 6.5x284 Norma.
 
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