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Rifle Caliber Recommendation

Old 12-29-2018, 04:04 PM
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Spike
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Default Rifle Caliber Recommendation

I'm looking to go whitetail hunting in PA and NC next year and am currently in the process of deciding on a new rifle to get specifically for hunting. I have decided on the Tikka T3x Lite but I'm having a hard time deciding on the caliber to go with. I was hoping I could get some guidance between the 270 Win, 7mm-08, and 6.5 creedmoor. I was originally going for the 270 but started considering the other two for their reduced recoil. Any advice would be appreciate, thanks.
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Old 12-29-2018, 04:56 PM
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all three are great deer calibers
I prefer the 7mm08, own a few from bone stock to full custom built rifles, so this caliber gets my vote
but honesty any of these calibers with a decent bullet and one that shoots well in what ever rifle you have will do you fine at REASONABLE ranges and with i your SKILL SET! not just what things say on paper!
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Old 12-29-2018, 05:30 PM
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I grew up with a 30-06, used a 270 for a while and have since gone to a 280. Personally I like the 280 the best. It shoots as flat as the 270 and hits pretty much as hard as the 30-06. The best part is it takes a wide range of bullet weights and my hand loads shoot to 5/8 inch at 100 yards. The only downside is the ammo is harder to find if you don’t load them yourself. Not impossible, but not as available as the other 2.
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Old 12-29-2018, 07:08 PM
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Given the three options, I don't think there's a bad choice.

Of those listed, for a deer rifle only, I'd be reaching for a 7mm-08.

-Jake
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Old 12-30-2018, 05:55 AM
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I would go with the 7mm-08 myself, but I'm biased. I already have 3 - 243's in the house. And they are just a little smaller than a 7mm-08.
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Old 12-30-2018, 06:08 AM
  #6  
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All are great rounds for whitetails. You might want to consider the 30-06. There's a much wider range of bullets available so if at some point in time you were to hunt something other than whitetails, you'd have a wide selection of ammo to choose from. You can hunt anything in North American with a 30-06 except probably for Grizzly or Polar Bears!!

If recoil is an issue, the 6.5 or 7mm-08. Of course there are always muzzle brakes and suppressors if you'd rather go with a larger caliber... These days the 6.5 Creedmoor is getting a lot of attention....Very large assortment of factory ammo available for it and the ballistics are hard to argue. I don't own one. I've shot a .270 and an old 30-06 for many years, but with a torn rotator cuff I'm considering downsizing..

Don't discount a .257 Roberts or .243 also...both will kill any whitetail anywhere. Just hit 'em where you aim and they'll go down.
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Old 12-30-2018, 07:07 AM
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deer won't know the difference!
RR
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Old 12-30-2018, 09:36 AM
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As RR said, "deer won't know the difference!" If I had to pick one of the three you listed, I would take the 7MM-08.
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Old 12-31-2018, 02:57 AM
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I shoot an .30-06 and a 270 shoot flatter and is all the bullet you need for whitetails. 130 - 150 grain is more than enough. I shot hornady SST this year and thought it did a hell of a lot of damage. I have seen 220 grain core-lokts do similar damage
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Old 12-31-2018, 03:37 AM
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I'd go with a .243.
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