Search for the appropriate calibre
- Thread starter canoetrpr
- Start date
out of those 3, the short action gets my vote.Personally, I'd go smaller to a .243
Plentiful cheap ammo (crappy Tire - $18/box, $5ish/box less than the calibres you mentioned), basically no recoil, flat shooting, great dear/coyote gun. If you buy a quality gun, it's also of a size/calibre that you could start off kids/wife/etc. on.
If you ever go for moose then buy/borrow a bigger gun.
Everyone talks recoil, but noone ever mentions noise. If you're in a populated area, the .243 is more of a "crack" and the .30 calibres are more of a "boom".
Me.
Plentiful cheap ammo (crappy Tire - $18/box, $5ish/box less than the calibres you mentioned), basically no recoil, flat shooting, great dear/coyote gun. If you buy a quality gun, it's also of a size/calibre that you could start off kids/wife/etc. on.
If you ever go for moose then buy/borrow a bigger gun.
Everyone talks recoil, but noone ever mentions noise. If you're in a populated area, the .243 is more of a "crack" and the .30 calibres are more of a "boom".
Me.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
.308 hands down. everyone should own at least one.
yeah its 'vanilla', but its a good all-round cartridge, and cheap ammo can be found for plinking. later on you can pick up a .223 for smaller varmints
as for which gun? if i could go back in time i would tell myself to pick a Ruger M77 as a first gun. excellent mauser-style controlled-round feed action with a fixed extractor, beefy safe safety, great value and no fussing about with scope mounting solutions: they come with solid quick-release ringmounts already.
yeah its 'vanilla', but its a good all-round cartridge, and cheap ammo can be found for plinking. later on you can pick up a .223 for smaller varmints
as for which gun? if i could go back in time i would tell myself to pick a Ruger M77 as a first gun. excellent mauser-style controlled-round feed action with a fixed extractor, beefy safe safety, great value and no fussing about with scope mounting solutions: they come with solid quick-release ringmounts already.
Will you use this rifle in the rain/snow? Synthetic/stainless vs. wood/blued. Will you be loading/unloading often? Detachable mag vs. hinged floor plate. If it needs to be 270 to shoot on your property then the caliber is clear. I use a Savage 116 w/detachable mag, accutrigger/accustock. I'm happy with it. Make sure the mag is seated all the way in. Going to another caliber to get a short action to save 1/2" of length is a very small consideration.
To be honest I doubt I will be using it in the rain/snow but I don't really know. Only just applied for my PAL and never owned a firearm before. My gut was to go with wood/stainless just because I like the look of a nice wood rifle and figured stainless would require least upkeep? Is this even true?
Seems like if I have any intention of using it on my property then .270 is the max I can go to.
Blued isn't an ordeal to keep up. Dry the rifle, run a rag through the barrel, a very light coating of oil and you're done.
I'll just throw out there that you may want to look at Thompson Center Icons or possibly the Weatherby series 2. As a new shooter I would suggest these brands because the rifles come with guaranteed accuracy - something in my opinion all rifles should come with in this day and age.
Not sure where you live, but a Saturday spent at a well stocked gun shop or two will be great for 'hefting' potential new acquisitions. There will be some rifles that 'fit' you better than others. Another great idea is to hook up with some buddies who have different rifles and calibers and try them out, or better yet join the local gun range and mix with the members. Welcome to the learning curve!
I'll just throw out there that you may want to look at Thompson Center Icons or possibly the Weatherby series 2. As a new shooter I would suggest these brands because the rifles come with guaranteed accuracy - something in my opinion all rifles should come with in this day and age.
Not sure where you live, but a Saturday spent at a well stocked gun shop or two will be great for 'hefting' potential new acquisitions. There will be some rifles that 'fit' you better than others. Another great idea is to hook up with some buddies who have different rifles and calibers and try them out, or better yet join the local gun range and mix with the members. Welcome to the learning curve!
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
The .270 has good ballistics, plenty of power, and mild recoil. It's perfect for a new shooter if he's an adult male. My little boy has a .17HMR and for his first big game rifle
I'll probably get him a .243, and for a small framed woman a .243 would be a good deer rifle choice, but any man will be fine with the mild recoil of a .270. If he's not, he should stick to plinking with rimfires or take up knitting.
I'll probably get him a .243, and for a small framed woman a .243 would be a good deer rifle choice, but any man will be fine with the mild recoil of a .270. If he's not, he should stick to plinking with rimfires or take up knitting.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
We have to remember that the OP has a caliber restriction where he is at.
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
And that calibre restriction is .275 calibre or smaller, so the .270 is perfect...
