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!

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)

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.

I usually only get that question when people ask about my mil-surp or "assault-type" rifles. [&:]

As for hunting, I likethe classic three:

Why? Because they've worked and worked well since my grandpa was in diapers. His Springfield is one of those "from my cold, dead hands" guns.

Ditto!

Tom

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.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.Carry on.

cost......................(on sale)
availability
effectiveness/versatility
nastailga/factor
recoil............(not too much, please)
just cuz

early

I agree with ELKampMaster, except I'd take a .35 Whelen on the 30-06, just because

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.