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Which Caliber?
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).
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RE: Which Caliber?
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 |
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)
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RE: Which Caliber?
my personal favorite, the .204 Ruger |
RE: Which Caliber?
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 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?
.25-06
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RE: Which Caliber?
243.. Just in case you want to go deer hunting..
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RE: Which Caliber?
.270. Good luck.
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RE: Which Caliber?
For the shooting that Indiana has to offer, Yotes, crows, 'chucks, etc. I would defminitely lean towards a smaller gun like a 223, 204 ruger, 22-250....
When I am down there goosin, my truck gun for yotes is a 25-06. |
RE: Which Caliber?
308 or 30-06 you will find ammo for dirt cheap, and they both are very accurate
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RE: Which Caliber?
Another vote for the 25-06.!
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RE: Which Caliber?
ar15 in a 7.62 or 308 if you wont a gun to shoot for fun and they have a great shock and ah effect
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. |
RE: Which Caliber?
a .223 wont do much to a water jg but a 7.62 will do alot also the ammo is alitte cheaper if your not into the 7.62 go with a .223 it is a good rond in a AR i had2 bushmaster ars loved them
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RE: Which Caliber?
What was that?
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RE: Which Caliber?
ORIGINAL: bigtim6656 a .223 wont do much to a water jg but a 7.62 will do alot also the ammo is alitte cheaper if your not into the 7.62 go with a .223 it is a good rond in a AR i had2 bushmaster ars loved them |
RE: Which Caliber?
well let me revase that a 7.62 will do alot more to a jug try food coloring
ORIGINAL: Carpmaster ORIGINAL: bigtim6656 a .223 wont do much to a water jg but a 7.62 will do alot also the ammo is alitte cheaper if your not into the 7.62 go with a .223 it is a good rond in a AR i had2 bushmaster ars loved them |
RE: Which Caliber?
WTF? Food coloring makes the 7.62 more impressive????
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RE: Which Caliber?
ORIGINAL: bigtim6656 a .223 wont do much to a water jg but a 7.62 will do alot also the ammo is alitte cheaper if your not into the 7.62 go with a .223 it is a good rond in a AR i had2 bushmaster ars loved them |
RE: Which Caliber?
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. 223 - great for blowing up water jugs, melons, etc. 22-250 - a little more range than a 223, and a good selection of relatively inexpensive ammo. 243 - my reccomendation if you plan to ever harvest deer with this rifle. This is a great coyote gun, and it will definately destroy targets. Hope this helps some. By the way, what manufacturer of rifles are you looking to buy? Don't forget to top it off with a quality scope, the rifle will only shoot as good as the optics on top of it. |
RE: Which Caliber?
I'd go with the .308 from the rounds you say are in your consideration. But the 223 is the ticket for cheap shooting and as a good round for the purposes of coyote.
If you want something "all around" though as you state, the 308 would be hard to beat. Factory ammo can be had almost anywhere, and ti will hanlde many jobs up to deer and then some. It isn't really a plinker though. |
RE: Which Caliber?
mix the food coloring in the water jug makes for a good splash atleast thats what i was told never tried it
ORIGINAL: Carpmaster WTF? Food coloring makes the 7.62 more impressive???? |
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