what is the best caliber for a lower recoil, easy to get ammo for,deer rifle.

[hardek]

I am looking for some sane advise on a new to me caliber. I want a lighter recoil, bolt action. It has to be easy to find ammo for. It must come in numerous rifles. I have a 30.06 and a 6.5x55 so these are off the list. I also have a 8x57 so it is off too. I think it is between 243, 260,7x57,270,280,etc...
Oh no magnums allowed. And it must be reloadable. Thank you.
pls. No 303 either been there done that.

 

[freezer filler]

270 if it's a dedicated deer rifle, 243 if you might wanna use it for yotes

 

[brybenn]

243
25/06
270
They will all make nice deer rifles
I prefer the 25/06 my self

 

[kamlooky]

Ya missed the 7mm-08

 

[Prairie Plinker]

+1 for 7mm-08!

.270 gets honourable mention.

 

[CreamySmooth]

6.5 Creedmoor is now extremely viable for what you want.

 

[carverk]

lots of guys in northern bc hunt moose and deer with a 243 and its the second most common caliber to find n gun shops after 30-06
so 243 is very practical and versatile caliber I would not hunt coyotes with one but, wolfs, deer, goat, sheep,and antelope you cant go wrong

 

[Johnn Peterson]

My choice, 7x57 and hopefully one or both recent purchases to get a workout here on the 'Island' this fall.



Top, a Ruger Hawkeye RSI and below, a Zastava, both 7x57.

 

[TheTooner]

... It has to be easy to find ammo for. ... I think it is between 243, 260,7x57,270,280,etc...
... .

Those cartridges will all be good for deer. If you go to a shop that sells ammo but doesn't stock all of those, the ones it will have are probably .243Win and .270Win.

 

[Kilo Charlie]

Ya missed the 7mm-08

Yup!

 

[Ardent]

.243 without a question in my eyes if recoil is in the first three words of the rifle acquisition brief. Also one of the most common cartridges on earth, and does fantastic double duty of varmints. Rather underrated and under appreciated little cartridge that kills deer sized game stone dead, even decent on black bears. Easy to find ammo and light recoil spells only .243.

 

[hoytcanon]

Any of the .308 family will fit your criteria nicely... choose your bore size... .243 if you're a cheerleader... .260 if you're a jock... 7mm-08 if you wanna hang with the kool kidz... .308 if you're a bookworm... .338 Fed if your only friends are the Dungeons & Dragons Club, .358 Win if you eat lunch with the janitor...


Ammo availability aside... but, if you only shop at Canadian Tire, you better be a cheerleader or bookworm.

 

[Brian46]

308, End of discussion.

 

[sgt.rock]

.30-30 , more end of discussion

 

[kman300]

243 with 80gr ttsx is what you are looking for.

 

[Hitzy]

.243....

 

[dugasgunner]

For my part i use 8X57 from deer to moose. Works beautifully for both. 6.5X55, 270 and 243 will work great also. If you reloade i would go 8X57 or 6.5X55 since you can work a great load. If not 243 or 270 for availability. Thers so many available calibers that would fit your bill...

 

[dead meat]

243 win meets all our criteria.

 

[korky]

7mm-08,.260 rem. up to and including moose and .243 on the small end if deer is your biggest target

 

[sgt.rock]

25-06 rem (almost NO felt recoil, but drops moose just fine.............ask me how I know)
if you don't like "old school" like the .30-30