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First rifle ... what's the best all around caliber
- Thread starter PetreTG
- Start date
Welcome to the forum.
May I suggest that you shop around and pick the one that you like best.
I would suggest that you give the new Ruger M77 Hawkeyes a close look. The 30-06 Springfield cartridge is universal for hunting.
"What cartridge to get? Get a 30--06, load the 180 gr bullet and sight it in for 200 yds. Thats all you need to know about big game rifles and cartridges."
May I suggest that you shop around and pick the one that you like best.
I would suggest that you give the new Ruger M77 Hawkeyes a close look. The 30-06 Springfield cartridge is universal for hunting.
"What cartridge to get? Get a 30--06, load the 180 gr bullet and sight it in for 200 yds. Thats all you need to know about big game rifles and cartridges."
wakerider017
New member
What do you plan on hunting?
.30-06 very popular with hunters. Can take down just about anything in N. America, plus the ammo is plentiful and pretty cheap.
Popular rifles:
Remington 700
Savage (11 or 10 series)
Browning A-bolt
Sako
Tikka
.30-06 very popular with hunters. Can take down just about anything in N. America, plus the ammo is plentiful and pretty cheap.
Popular rifles:
Remington 700
Savage (11 or 10 series)
Browning A-bolt
Sako
Tikka
If this is your first rifle you should get a .22. The low ammo cost and lack of recoil, along with its usefulness as a small game round, make it the perfect caliber with which to hone your rife skills. You should get the action type (single shot, bolt, semi, lever) that you will get for centerfire. With your budget you can get a very nice 22 and center fire rifle and put a nice scope on both of them.
My vote is the .308 for your centerfire. It does all the 30-06 does in a shorter action.
If you like lever-guns Browning makes the BLR in both the calibers recommended so far.
If you like bolt guns take a look at CZ. Their rimfire and centerfire rifles are some of the best bang for your buck guns going today (rimfire especially). If you want to stay with US made I would check out Savage, I like that Accutrigger.
Good luck, please let us know what you decide.
My vote is the .308 for your centerfire. It does all the 30-06 does in a shorter action.
If you like lever-guns Browning makes the BLR in both the calibers recommended so far.
If you like bolt guns take a look at CZ. Their rimfire and centerfire rifles are some of the best bang for your buck guns going today (rimfire especially). If you want to stay with US made I would check out Savage, I like that Accutrigger.
Good luck, please let us know what you decide.
billindenver
New member
First rifle experience, get a used 22lr, they are available everywhere for next to nothing.
As a hunting rifle though, the 30-06 is plenty of gun for anything from varmint to big game. The ammo is cheap and available in every walmart and hunting town gas station.
As to the rifle. My vote is strongly for the Tikka t3 lite....or the wood version if that is your desire. That leaves plenty of cash in your budget for a good scope, sling and limbsaver recoil pad.
Bill
As a hunting rifle though, the 30-06 is plenty of gun for anything from varmint to big game. The ammo is cheap and available in every walmart and hunting town gas station.
As to the rifle. My vote is strongly for the Tikka t3 lite....or the wood version if that is your desire. That leaves plenty of cash in your budget for a good scope, sling and limbsaver recoil pad.
Bill
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Hunting rifle and chambering
There's no best, of course, but a good argument can be made for .270 win first, and .30-'06 close second, .308 close third. Depends on a lot of factors personal to your situation.
Rifles with that budget - I'd look at upper end Remington 700s, Browning A-bolts, or a closeout Steyr from CDNN - Steyr, yes, that's what I'd do with that budget:
www.cdnninvestments.com
There's no best, of course, but a good argument can be made for .270 win first, and .30-'06 close second, .308 close third. Depends on a lot of factors personal to your situation.
Rifles with that budget - I'd look at upper end Remington 700s, Browning A-bolts, or a closeout Steyr from CDNN - Steyr, yes, that's what I'd do with that budget:
www.cdnninvestments.com
As a hunting rifle though, the 30-06 is plenty of gun for anything from varmint to big game. The ammo is cheap and available in every Wallmart and hunting town gas station.
Now there is true insight. Something we seem to forget about. I was raised in Houston TX and I can get pretty much anything my little heart desires just because a city of this size makes it worth while to invest the money in inventory, someone will be along to buy it. But once upon a time I lived in Blue River Oregon where if you blinked at the wrong moment you would miss the town. They had a much more select selection of ammunition.
Actually this is one of the reasons I have always opted for the .308. It’s a NATO round and as such it has the support, backing, need, whatever you want to call it of several governments, ours included, thus insuring its continued availability.
Actually this is one of the reasons I have always opted for the .308. It’s a NATO round and as such it has the support, backing, need, whatever you want to call it of several governments, ours included, thus insuring its continued availability.
+1
All of my rifles are 7.62mm x 51 / .308 ~ I have a .22 that I've never fired...
PetreTG, take a look at the Steyr SSG PIV - it may run a little more $, but it looks like a nice GP rifle.
okiewita40
New member
I think everyone should own and learn on a .22 rifle. As far as Centerfire rifles go. I would suggest a savage or stevens reguardless of your budget. Either will be more accurate out the box than most of us will ever hope to be. As far as caliber I would go with a .308
wakerider017
New member
To the guys recommending a 22lr...
The original poster asked for the "best all around caliber for hunting."
This is DEFINITELY not the 22lr. In most states rimfire is illegal to hunt medium/large game with.
22lr's are cool to learn on punching paper or shooting small animals, and the ammo is dirt cheap, but they are not something you want to bring on a deer hunt.
The original poster asked for the "best all around caliber for hunting."
This is DEFINITELY not the 22lr. In most states rimfire is illegal to hunt medium/large game with.
22lr's are cool to learn on punching paper or shooting small animals, and the ammo is dirt cheap, but they are not something you want to bring on a deer hunt.
For target shooting at around 200 yards I would suggest the .223, cheap ammo, everywhere available, low power, accurate.
If you like a caliber that takes a punch take the .308, its good for shooting out to 500-700 yards and it is in the mid-range power-wise. Its the caliber of choice in most countrys as ''sniper'' cartridge in the military like NATO. Its not so cheap like the .223 but also not very expensive. You can find this ammo everywhere.
If you want a very famous caliber that is a tad more powerful than the .308 than take the .30-06. It shoots slightly heavier projectiles as fast as the standart .308. Dont even ask about ammo availability, its also everyhwere! There is .30-06 ammo that is cheaper than .308. but also has poor quality. So the ammo price is on par with .308.
Nearly all important rifles are chambered in that three calibers.
I personally would go with the .308, its THE perfect all-around caliber today.
But as always: First rent a rifle in the caliber of you choice and shoot it. Then, buy!
If you like a caliber that takes a punch take the .308, its good for shooting out to 500-700 yards and it is in the mid-range power-wise. Its the caliber of choice in most countrys as ''sniper'' cartridge in the military like NATO. Its not so cheap like the .223 but also not very expensive. You can find this ammo everywhere.
If you want a very famous caliber that is a tad more powerful than the .308 than take the .30-06. It shoots slightly heavier projectiles as fast as the standart .308. Dont even ask about ammo availability, its also everyhwere! There is .30-06 ammo that is cheaper than .308. but also has poor quality. So the ammo price is on par with .308.
Nearly all important rifles are chambered in that three calibers.
I personally would go with the .308, its THE perfect all-around caliber today.
But as always: First rent a rifle in the caliber of you choice and shoot it. Then, buy!
This is another big reason to get a .308.Actually this is one of the reasons I have always opted for the .308. It’s a NATO round and as such it has the support, backing, need, whatever you want to call it of several governments, ours included, thus insuring its continued availability.
Elephant_Man
New member
I would NOT go for a 22lr if you intend to use it for hunting. I'd go for a .308 or .30'06 in a Remington 700, CZ, Ruger M77, or Browning A-Bolt.
essexcounty
New member
If starting with a .22 doesn't apeal to you get a sporter weight Savage in.223. You'll always have a use for it. Add a .270r a 30-06 after You become proficient.....Essex
Zombie Steve
New member
Remington 700 BDL in .30-06 ... put on a Leupold VX-III scope, and you'll stay in your price range and have a hunting rifle that your grandkids will appreciate. My 2 cents.
Remember - the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.
Remember - the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.
I agree about learning on the .22 first.
As to the best caliber, it depends on the biggest animal you plan to shoot and how far away that animal will be when you shoot it.
I hunt mostly deer and the occasional elk at ranges never exceeding 300yds. The majority of my shots are under 200yds.
I use the .30-06 and that works just fine. But I wouldn't hesitate using anything from a .243 on up with the .30-06 being the maximum.
For larger game at these distances then I'd start with the .260
For brown bear I'd say the .30-06 is the absolute minimum.
I shoot a Winchester model 70. Given your budget $1-1,500 you could find a very good used model 70 and buy a bunch of .30-06 rounds and a starter reloading set up.
As to the best caliber, it depends on the biggest animal you plan to shoot and how far away that animal will be when you shoot it.
I hunt mostly deer and the occasional elk at ranges never exceeding 300yds. The majority of my shots are under 200yds.
I use the .30-06 and that works just fine. But I wouldn't hesitate using anything from a .243 on up with the .30-06 being the maximum.
For larger game at these distances then I'd start with the .260
For brown bear I'd say the .30-06 is the absolute minimum.
I shoot a Winchester model 70. Given your budget $1-1,500 you could find a very good used model 70 and buy a bunch of .30-06 rounds and a starter reloading set up.
Get a Savage .308 just my thoughts if the US military gave up the 30-06 for the .308 they did it for a reason so I went with the .308.
Is your 1000-1500 for the complete package are just the rifle?
Try the search 308 vs 30-06 has been beat to death. So has the first rifle thing.
Welcome to the site.
Is your 1000-1500 for the complete package are just the rifle?
Try the search 308 vs 30-06 has been beat to death. So has the first rifle thing.
Welcome to the site.
Find out what you will be hunting and where. A 30-06 isn't the best bet for hunting groundhogs or coyotes or bears or bison, but it is a good round for deer and elk and everything in between. Then you pick the rifle and pay attention to barrel length and weight. Once again, you are going to pick a different rifle and barrel for groundhogs than you would for bison or bear or pronghorn sheep. You would pick a different rifle if you are hunting in wooded cover than you would if you are out on the open plains.
Now, if you are just looking for an all around caliber in an all around rifle get yourself a Remington CDL or BDL in .30-06, top it with a 3-9x40 quality scope with quality rings and bases and shoot the heck out of it. Put the remaining money towards ammo.
Now, if you are just looking for an all around caliber in an all around rifle get yourself a Remington CDL or BDL in .30-06, top it with a 3-9x40 quality scope with quality rings and bases and shoot the heck out of it. Put the remaining money towards ammo.