**Newbie Alert** Looking For Help Selecting Proper Caliber

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wildernessguy

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This is sort of a hybrid post I suppose, as I am looking to purchase my first long range rifle that I can also use for hunting, as well as target shooting. Parameters are rather simple.....

Needs to be large enough to take down game as large as moose, yet small enough to be a smooth shooter. Smallest game would be white tail deer. As I do not currently reload, easily accessible factory bulk ammo is a must. I am thinking something in the neighborhood of a .308 should suffice, however with a tac driver, would one normally downsize slightly? Would I need to go as large as .338?

My budget is roughly $2000 and can be stretched to $2500 if need be, minus optic.

Any suggestions? Thank you and have a very merry Christmas!!!!
 
There isn't really a wrong answer provided you don't don't go smaller than a 6.5 or choose more cartridge than you can shoot well. The .338 Lapua, .338 RUM, or the .338-378 Weatherby are all fine cartridges with plenty of long range horse power, but you can't use that potential if you can't hit the target. A .308 fills the bill nicely, even though my preference would lean towards the .30/06, and yes it is possible to have a very accurate .30/06.

Put a little cash aside so you can begin to handlaod. No one can afford the volume of factory ammunition necessary to achieve and maintain the level of proficiency necessary to exploit the advantage a precision rifle has over a normal hunting rifle. A fully capable handloading set up with everything you need to produce high quality ammunition can be had for a very modest investment, possibly less than $300, a third of which is the cost of a good powder scale. From that point on you can slowly add to the basic set up as your budget and interest allows.
 
300 WM, get the best stock you can get that will fit you, the 300 will fight the wind better than a 308 or 30-06 and will fallout of supersonic father than both as well
 
Boomer said:
Put a little cash aside so you can begin to handlaod. No one can afford the volume of factory ammunition necessary to achieve and maintain the level of proficiency necessary to exploit the advantage a precision rifle has over a normal hunting rifle. A fully capable handloading set up with everything you need to produce high quality ammunition can be had for a very modest investment, possibly less than $300, a third of which is the cost of a good powder scale. From that point on you can slowly add to the basic set up as your budget and interest allows.
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Amen. This is the smartest idea. Put aside a few bills from that $2500 budget, and get yourself a proper loading setup. Then you won't be hamstrung by factory ammo, and can produce bulk ammo for less money. You'll still have $2000 for the rifle, which is more than enough.

I would suggest something that can get good velocity from high-BC bullets like the VLD, A-Max, SMK, etc. A rifle like the .260 Rem, 7mm-08 (this would be my pick, since moose at long range are on the menu), 6.5x55, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mmWSM, etc. It's a compromise between ballistic capability and recoil/muzzle blast/powder consumption/recoil (did I say recoil?). Based on what you described, I would settle on the 7mm-08, and then load up the 162gr A-Max or 168gr VLD.

As for rifles, if you want a heavier rifle, a Remington Sendero, Savage 12, Sako TRG, Tikka T3 Tactical, Kimber Tactical, Cooper, or something similar would fit the bill. If you want a lighter-weight rifle, then a Kimber Montana, Tikka T3, Sako 85 Finnlight, etc would work great for LR hunting/target practice.

Are you looking for a heavy, sit-in-one-place rifle, or a lightweight hiking rifle, or something in between?
 
Oh boy..... This looks like it will be a more difficult decision than I thought. I am thankful that I am getting so much great feedback to get me many steps closer. As for optics, I was thinking a good bang for the buck may be the Sightron from Mystic, and any chance to throw my cash in Jerry's direction is a good thing in my books as he is one clasy dude in my books. I have yet to find even a questionable review on these for the value, I assume a few here have used them?

Regarding weight..... I have no trouble at all lugging around a heavier rifle if it will result in a more rock steady shot. So no real issues with weight really. I've lugged alot of gear through the bush at times, and i chalk it up to a much neede workout! :)
 
Boomer said:
There isn't really a wrong answer provided you don't don't go smaller than a 6.5 or choose more cartridge than you can shoot well. The .338 Lapua, .338 RUM, or the .338-378 Weatherby are all fine cartridges with plenty of long range horse power, but you can't use that potential if you can't hit the target. A .308 fills the bill nicely, even though my preference would lean towards the .30/06, and yes it is possible to have a very accurate .30/06.

Put a little cash aside so you can begin to handlaod. No one can afford the volume of factory ammunition necessary to achieve and maintain the level of proficiency necessary to exploit the advantage a precision rifle has over a normal hunting rifle. A fully capable handloading set up with everything you need to produce high quality ammunition can be had for a very modest investment, possibly less than $300, a third of which is the cost of a good powder scale. From that point on you can slowly add to the basic set up as your budget and interest allows.
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Is the 30-06 known to buck like a mule? Or does it depend more on the rifle itself? The old rifle I used to borrow the odd time gave me the infamous "scope ring" in my forehead years ago, and I hate to admit it, however I still have that scar all these years later. I combined youth with inexperience back then, and wound up with the dreaded battle scar. Knocked me out cold for a few seconds. Maybe I just need to get back on the horse as it was mostly my fault althought that thing had some real punch to it.

I will definitely get into reloading. Months ago I started a thread regarding a reload clinic here in MB. There was alot of interest in putting something together but it wound up fizzling out. I think I would learn better hands on than vidoes, etc although that may just be my only option. Thanks!
 
260

well this one is also interesting.... I have seen a number of these for sale in the EE and it would appear that they are a super flat shooter. I had wondered if one were able to properly place a shot ( I am certainly not there yet ), that one could hit the vitals and leave minimal damage to the meat. Although that was just an idea, good to I see I am not too far off. Must be learning something.
 
300 wm

375 RUM said:
300 WM, get the best stock you can get that will fit you, the 300 will fight the wind better than a 308 or 30-06 and will fallout of supersonic father than both as well
Click to expand...

This caliber is new to me. Renewed my PAL a little over a year ago, after a 8-10 year absence. I have read many posts about the 300 recently, however nobody I used to shoot with had these back then so I never got a chance to shoot it. This is one I need to have a closer look at in the "bigger is better" category. Geeze, this will take a while.....:p
 
.308

This one is another I have never personally shot, although some my old hunting buddies used to consider the .308 the gold standard years ago. I am sure that is no longer the case, but looks like it still holds it's own with the best of them for versitility.
 
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