Caliber for son's first deer rifle?
#41
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: CENTERAL WYO
Posts: 32

my first deer rifle was an old winchester 30-30 with silver tips. my brother also used it too when he started deer hunting.
I would recomend anything from a .243 to a .270 depending on the size of your kid.
I personally like the .270. I use it to hunt elk here in Wy.
I would recomend anything from a .243 to a .270 depending on the size of your kid.
I personally like the .270. I use it to hunt elk here in Wy.
#42

ORIGINAL: Anthony T.
That statement is simply uncalled for. Why turn this into a caliber battle? We all know a 243 will kill a deer as will about any other rifle. The main thing for a kid is to use a gun that wont get him to flinching. Something like a 243 or 25-06 will accomplish this. But that doesnt mean its inferior to any caliber. Cmon guy, if youre gonna make a statement like that, you're gonna need to prove it to me. That little hole in that 100lb deer isnt doing it for me. Any rifle can make an exit like that, it called, bashing the shoulder bone on exit and fragmenting.
The 243 puts larger calibers to shame. Been doing it with mine for 25+ years

#43

The proof was in the chasing.
The problem you see when your a guide is a whole lot of hunters who have not touched their deer rifle since last year, or they bought a new rifle and had the shop bore sight it then they head out hunting without even firing the gun, or they go to Walmart and buy a box of shells on sale with no idea of what grain of bullet they should use or what grain of bullet thet bought last year. Or they can't tell if a deer is 100 yards or 250 yards.
I had a young guy who kept missing deer.When I ask where he was sighted in for he said he hit a cardboard box 25 yards away and his dad said," Hell thats close enough." I had another hunter shooting a 340 Weatherby Mag. He couldn't pull thje trigger without closing his eyes and jerking the trigger. I started taking them all to the range for a few shots before we ever left camp. That helped a little but nothing but time in the field will cure buck fever.

I had a young guy who kept missing deer.When I ask where he was sighted in for he said he hit a cardboard box 25 yards away and his dad said," Hell thats close enough." I had another hunter shooting a 340 Weatherby Mag. He couldn't pull thje trigger without closing his eyes and jerking the trigger. I started taking them all to the range for a few shots before we ever left camp. That helped a little but nothing but time in the field will cure buck fever.
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Location:
Posts: 128

my suggestion is check your game laws find out what the minimum caliber you can legally shoot is and then go from there. many states you have to shoot a minimum of a .243. good luck to both of you.
#49

ORIGINAL: James B
The proof was in the chasing.
The problem you see when your a guide is a whole lot of hunters who have not touched their deer rifle since last year, or they bought a new rifle and had the shop bore sight it then they head out hunting without even firing the gun, or they go to Walmart and buy a box of shells on sale with no idea of what grain of bullet they should use or what grain of bullet thet bought last year. Or they can't tell if a deer is 100 yards or 250 yards.
I had a young guy who kept missing deer.When I ask where he was sighted in for he said he hit a cardboard box 25 yards away and his dad said," Hell thats close enough." I had another hunter shooting a 340 Weatherby Mag. He couldn't pull thje trigger without closing his eyes and jerking the trigger. I started taking them all to the range for a few shots before we ever left camp. That helped a little but nothing but time in the field will cure buck fever.
The proof was in the chasing.

I had a young guy who kept missing deer.When I ask where he was sighted in for he said he hit a cardboard box 25 yards away and his dad said," Hell thats close enough." I had another hunter shooting a 340 Weatherby Mag. He couldn't pull thje trigger without closing his eyes and jerking the trigger. I started taking them all to the range for a few shots before we ever left camp. That helped a little but nothing but time in the field will cure buck fever.