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I'm looking at buying a new rifle this winter. I don't have any centerfire rifles yet, can't use them for much where I live (indiana). I'll probably shoot coyotes and things with whatever I buy. Mainly I'm buying it just to have and shoot at the homeplace when me and my buddies shoot. Shooting things like water jugs and melons and stuff.

I don't know what I want, here's pretty much what I've narrowed it down to:
.270 (regular, wssm or mag)
.30-06
.25-06
.243
.308
.300 (win mag or wsm)

Just looking for a good all around rifle, and something that'll really make a mess when it hits a water jug or something :Dplus something that has a pretty decent trajectory. I'll probably just go buy one next week, just pick one when I'm there, but I want to know what everyone thinks. Thanks.

RE: Which Caliber?

Since all you plan to hunt with it is varmints up to coyote and plinking, I'd strongly recommend a .223 Rem. The .223 is plenty "flat-shooting", can be extremely accurate (depending on the rifle), doesn't kick much at all so anyone can tolerate shooting it all day, and the ammo is very inexpensive. Black Hills makes great commercially remanufactured .223 Rem ammo that it very good ammo for little money.

If you are willing to spend a little money, I'd look at one of the AR-15 clones out there. There are many makers of AR's that make rifles that will outshoot all but the best bolt-action rifles, and being semi-autos, they make a great plinking/predator rifles. Look at Rock River Arms, DPMS, and Bushmaster. All make outstanding rifles. I watched a guy take a brand spanking new Rock River Arms varminter out of the shipping box, swab out the bore, load up a mag of Black Hills 55gr .223 and shoot an honest 1/2" 5 shot group at 100 yards after just a few sighters. It made me wonder why I was still stuck on bolt-action varmint rifles.

Mike

RE: Which Caliber?

I have to agree that a 223 would be a great choice foryou. But out of your choices i would pickin thi order 270, 30-06, 308. You can get rounds for them about anywhere and for a decent price. Also they dont have too much recoil like a mAgnum would have and they all will make a major mess of a water jug or watermelon or punkins or whatever else you decide to shoot (im very fond of shooting at cheap cans of soda at long ranges for the explosion you get whan you hit them).

RE: Which Caliber?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: driftrider

Since all you plan to hunt with it is varmints up to coyote and plinking, I'd strongly recommend a .223 Rem. The .223 is plenty "flat-shooting", can be extremely accurate (depending on the rifle), doesn't kick much at all so anyone can tolerate shooting it all day, and the ammo is very inexpensive. Black Hills makes great commercially remanufactured .223 Rem ammo that it very good ammo for little money.

If you are willing to spend a little money, I'd look at one of the AR-15 clones out there. There are many makers of AR's that make rifles that will outshoot all but the best bolt-action rifles, and being semi-autos, they make a great plinking/predator rifles. Look at Rock River Arms, DPMS, and Bushmaster. All make outstanding rifles. I watched a guy take a brand spanking new Rock River Arms varminter out of the shipping box, swab out the bore, load up a mag of Black Hills 55gr .223 and shoot an honest 1/2" 5 shot group at 100 yards after just a few sighters. It made me wonder why I was still stuck on bolt-action varmint rifles.

Mike

I agree a 223rem. would be the best for the use intended for target and varmints.

RE: Which Caliber?

If you only plan to hunt Coyotes, go with a small caliber such as the .223, the 22 Magnum or my personal favorite, the .204 Ruger, but if you do plan on deer hunting, look hard at a .243 or a .270 WSM (i own one and its awesome)

RE: Which Caliber?

Quote:

my personal favorite, the .204 Ruger

I like the way you think but he is looking for something cheap to shoot and a 223 would be alot cheaper for him to shoot. But i have found a 204 to be a great rounds. Next is the new 17 Rem Fireball. I like the oddball cartridges.

RE: Which Caliber?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: sngehl01

I'm looking at buying a new rifle this winter. I don't have any centerfire rifles yet, can't use them for much where I live (indiana). I'll probably shoot coyotes and things with whatever I buy. Mainly I'm buying it just to have and shoot at the homeplace when me and my buddies shoot. Shooting things like water jugs and melons and stuff.

I don't know what I want, here's pretty much what I've narrowed it down to:
.270 (regular, wssm or mag)
.30-06
.25-06
.243
.308
.300 (win mag or wsm)

Just looking for a good all around rifle, and something that'll really make a mess when it hits a water jug or something :Dplus something that has a pretty decent trajectory. I'll probably just go buy one next week, just pick one when I'm there, but I want to know what everyone thinks. Thanks.

IF you are looking for a plinker, I recommend something for which ammo is plentiful and inexpensive. I think a .223 would be ideal for your uses, or perhaps a 7.62X39mm. The .223 is a great coyote round, and the 7.62X39mm is equal to a .30/30 for deer and the like (including coyotes out to 250 yards). My next choice would be a .308, since the military is still using that round, so you can still buy surplus ammo in that caliber. .30/'06 would be my last choice. Stocks of surplus .30/'06 ammo are almost gone.

If you want a .223 or 7.62X39, look closely at the CZ 527 carbine! It only weighs 5 pounds, and is very accurate in either .223 or 7.62X39mm.

RE: Which Caliber?

243.. Just in case you want to go deer hunting..

RE: Which Caliber?