hi im a new shooter/hunter and looking for a caliber to choose. i have my heart set on a tikka t3 stainless. i was thinking of .243 .270 .308 or 7mm mag.
where i live now there is alot of deer and coyotes. i might go moose or elk hunting if i get the draw. so i dont know if i need high end power. but would it hurt to get one just in case. on the other hand thats quite a bit for deer and coyotes. i was thinking .308 but i hear the bullets tend to drop fast. can anyone help a rookie out???
.308 is a great all around caliber. Shoots flat enough to get out there and you can load it down heavy enough to take on any CXP2 and CXP3 (with good shot placement) sized game. The recoil is moderate also and the ammo is readily available. Other cartrages along the same line are .270 and 30-06. Outside of these three it's like picking your favorite flavor of tootse pop. You want more punch and can take more recoil go up towards the magnums. You want less recoil and flat trajectory go down to a 25-06 or 7mm-08. Also, realize that once you get out of .308, .270, and 30-06 land the price, variety, and availbility of of the ammo goes down.
My vote goes to the 7mm Rem Mag. You can load some 120's or 140's for deer sized game. You can load some 100's for the ultimate coyote killer. And then some 160's or even 175's for Moose, elk, or bear. Ammo is available just as much as the others. I little more recoil then the .270 and .308. But I don't think they kick any worse then the 30-06. For an all around do anything caliber, you just can't go wrong.
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.308 is a great all around caliber. Shoots flat enough to get out there and you can load it down heavy enough to take on any CXP2 and CXP3 (with good shot placement) sized game. The recoil is moderate also and the ammo is readily available. Other cartrages along the same line are .270 and 30-06. Outside of these three it's like picking your favorite flavor of tootse pop. You want more punch and can take more recoil go up towards the magnums. You want less recoil and flat trajectory go down to a 25-06 or 7mm-08. Also, realize that once you get out of .308, .270, and 30-06 land the price, variety, and availbility of of the ammo goes down.
i was thinking .308 but i hear the bullets tend to drop fast.
Most 1000 yard matches are won with a .308. You will have no problems shooting long range with a .308. Most people can't shoot as far as their rifle will let them shoot. You very seldom need to shoot over 100 yards.
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If Moose/Elk are on your agenda, then I'd get the .270 or .308. More likely the .308. If this is a first rifle, I'd stay away from the 7 Mag, as it has a tendency to be a little louder and kick a little harder than the others on your list. I don't particularly care for recoil, so I avoid as much as possible...
If it was just coyotes and deer, I would probably opt for the .243. Hey, you're going to end up addicted to this stuff. Why not get a .243 for Coyotes/Deer, a .308 for Deer/Moose, and a .338 Federal for Elk/Bears.... You can never have too many guns.
First gun I would suggest a 30'06 - largest range available for all types of game and most broad use. Your next 21 guns can be tailored for specific applications.
caliber choice
