Have you ever been asked that question?
I am curious as to what criteria y'all consider or require before youchoose what caliber to buy ina huntin rifle.
Ballistic performance?
Knockdown power?
Personal preference? (i.e. I just like the caliber but I'm not sure why)
Ammo availability?
Recoil, or the lack of?
Or others?
Thanks!
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I've been accused of favortism here are my favorites:
Mathews Z7
T/C Encore 209X50
-Leupold 3-9X40
Winchester Super X3
Winchester Model 94 Big Bore 444 Marlin
Winchester Model 70 300 Win Mag.
-Leupold 4-12X40
Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag.
Just about the orderyou listed them except I would move ammo availability down one space to below recoil. (What I can't handload, I can get dome by the Master, i.e. my father)
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Aim small, miss small.
Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.
-Cadet Maxim, US Military Acadamy at West Point
When I chose my first gun (2 years ago), I would say the caliberchoice came town to equal parts balistic performance needed in the area I hunt and recoil. The gun was going to be used by me and my 12 year old daughter.
The next consideration was ammo availability and price.
IMHO, the first thingone shouldconsider is WHATYOU ALREADY HAVE. I believe wholeheartedly in "cartridge spacing" i.e. spreading them out rather than getting a bunch of rifles that are essentially the same thing. For example lets say a 4 gun battery,if you have a 308, a 30-06, a 7mmRemMag, and a 300WinMag you are not near as diverse and capable of "matching tools to the job"as some one who has a 243, a 30-06, a 338WinMag, and a 375H&H.
If it is ones first long guns, then
22LR
12 Gauge
30-06.
Just because.
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Never Go Undergunned, Always Check The Sight In, Perform At Showtime!
Good judgment comes from bad experience! Learn from the mistakes of others; you' ll never live long enough to make them all yourself!
IMHO, the first thingone shouldconsider is WHATYOU ALREADY HAVE. I believe wholeheartedly in "cartridge spacing" i.e. spreading them out rather than getting a bunch of rifles that are essentially the same thing. For example lets say a 4 gun battery,if you have a 308, a 30-06, a 7mmRemMag, and a 300WinMag you are not near as diverse and capable of "matching tools to the job"as some one who has a 243, a 30-06, a 338WinMag, and a 375H&H.
Ditto!
Tom
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I have come to understand that I really enjoy learning things the hard way.
Just a pet peeve of mine and please don't take this too seriously, but I wish people would use the correct terminology. I know what you mean by "caliber" based on what you posted and a lot of peopleuse that wordthe same way.However, the correct terminology is "cartridge". The .30-06, .308, .300 Win mag, .300WSM, .300 Wby, .300 RUM, .300Dakotaand so on and so forth are all the same "caliber".They are different"cartridges", however.
I bought my rifle in 30-06 as my father recommended the caliber. My grandfather always hunted with a 30-06, and I like to stick with tradition.
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NRA Life Member
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"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
--Cesare Beccaria, 1738-1794
Why did you buy "that" caliber?
here are my favorites:
