BoilerUP
Member
A Limbsaver would make the recoil argument moot...
All around varmint/deer caliber?
- Thread starter Leonard23
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41magsnub
Member
<--- Has cleanly killed a lot of big Eastern Montana mule deer/white tail/antelope/coyotes/prairie dogs with a .243.
sarduy
Member
30-06
brandon_mcg
Member
the .243 is a good caliber for deer and smaller varmint in my opinion.
BrocLuno
Member
To answer CrazyBushMan - .22 is against the law for deer in many places. Even 22-250 won't do 
Leonard - you live in NorCal - mostly small coastal deer. .243 is fine
Leonard - you live in NorCal - mostly small coastal deer. .243 is fine
Leonard, I'm going to be brutally frank. A larger caliber will NOT compensate for a poorly or "off alittle" buck fevered shot, period. These posts have given you very sage advise. I'll throw mine out too. Take a look at the 7mm-08. It is based on the .308 as is the .243. However, the 7mm-08 does give you a very wide range of bullet choice from 110 grain for varmit up to 175 grain for elk. The recoil is akin to the .243. Two other bits of advice. Never EVER count the money you spend on a hobby and never sell/trade your 1st gun or any other gun you may own. Best of luck to ya.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
if legal, .22-250, if not 7mm-08.
Tomcat47
Member
Marlin 30-30
The 30-30 is still my pick when it comes to this.
I can use all the way down to a Federal 125 hollow point for deer, etc.
And my favorite varmint cartridge is a 30-30 Accelerator!
If you have not tried them.....try them!
The 30-30 is still my pick when it comes to this.
I can use all the way down to a Federal 125 hollow point for deer, etc.
And my favorite varmint cartridge is a 30-30 Accelerator!
If you have not tried them.....try them!
GuysModel94
Member
Tomcat47 you are right about those lever rifle's, I own a Marlin Texan (straight lever) and two Model 94's; i think every rifleman should own at least one.
Tomcat47
Member
I have not had an issue with inaccuracy in the accelerator! I did dial my scope in to them due to there trajectory is flatter than the typical 30-30 round.
Get a box and try them! I usually only have to do a vertical adjustment and go right back to where I had it.... good to go!
They are fast and flat.... good 200 yard varminter by any stretch of the matter!
Get a box and try them! I usually only have to do a vertical adjustment and go right back to where I had it.... good to go!
They are fast and flat.... good 200 yard varminter by any stretch of the matter!
My 12 YO son went through this. His choice was the .30-06, Rem 700 ADL w/ blk syn stock. Found it in a pawn shop for $325.
CMP keeps me in loaded ammo for my M1 Garand. So, the empties get reloaded for his hunting rifle. Plus, he uses my M2 ball for some "practice."
BTW....finding a nice used .308 was difficult in his price range.
YMWV.
Aloha, Mark
PS......for varmits......http://reloadammo.com/sabot.htm
or
http://www.eabco.com/reload02.html
Not to mention the 10/22 or the AR15 to go to.
CMP keeps me in loaded ammo for my M1 Garand. So, the empties get reloaded for his hunting rifle. Plus, he uses my M2 ball for some "practice."
BTW....finding a nice used .308 was difficult in his price range.
YMWV.
Aloha, Mark
PS......for varmits......http://reloadammo.com/sabot.htm
or
http://www.eabco.com/reload02.html
Not to mention the 10/22 or the AR15 to go to.
Last edited:
A_Matthew
Member
What a coincidence, I have a Marlin XL7 in 30-06! As far as the gun goes, it's a nice rifle and you'll have no regrets buying it.
Now for the caliber. In your case, the deer should be medium to small size, and any one of those calibers will take down a deer. Since this is your first rifle, I suggest a 25-06. When I first bought my rifle, (2 years ago) I developed quite a flinch. Of course, I was only 12 years old at the time. Now, at 14, I can shoot it quite comfortably and hold a 1 1/2" group at 80yds. So kick is definitely not a problem with the 25-06. It is a little bigger than the .243, but is probably not going to cause you to flinch like a .270 (or 30-06) might. It also leaves a little room to grow into.
Good luck with your rifle! Matthew
Now for the caliber. In your case, the deer should be medium to small size, and any one of those calibers will take down a deer. Since this is your first rifle, I suggest a 25-06. When I first bought my rifle, (2 years ago) I developed quite a flinch. Of course, I was only 12 years old at the time. Now, at 14, I can shoot it quite comfortably and hold a 1 1/2" group at 80yds. So kick is definitely not a problem with the 25-06. It is a little bigger than the .243, but is probably not going to cause you to flinch like a .270 (or 30-06) might. It also leaves a little room to grow into.
Good luck with your rifle! Matthew
There is nothing like the .25-06, I've owned one for 33 years now. And if I could do it all over again (and I have) it would still be the .25-06 Rem.
A long time ago I purchased a Rem 700 VS. At the time I was sold on either a 270 or 243 as choice of cartridge. I remember the 270 was not available and after seeing the 243 I wasn't thrilled with it. The clerk told me the closest thing to a 270 would be the 25-06. Reluctantly I ordered the rifle in 25-06 Rem.
This was one of the few times I made a good decision in life. The 06 with 87 gr bullets is one of the hardest hitting varmint cartridges you'll ever see, at distances you can't believe. When I have this rifle in my hands if I can see a ground hog it's in mortal danger.
Deer? Jump up to 100 or 120 gr bullets and the 06 becomes a dual purpose cartridge. Mine has gone deer hunting and bear hunting with me.
About 3 years ago the rifle finally got to the point that it needed a new barrel. I took the rifle to one of the bench rest builders in my area and ordered a Krieger match barrel. The salesman asked me what caliber? The choice was easy, 25-06 of course.
Ammo availability? In 1978 when I bought mine I had to buy ammo from gun stores or make my own. I opted for making my own. Here we are 33 years later and I see Walmart now carries ammo in 25-06.
A long time ago I purchased a Rem 700 VS. At the time I was sold on either a 270 or 243 as choice of cartridge. I remember the 270 was not available and after seeing the 243 I wasn't thrilled with it. The clerk told me the closest thing to a 270 would be the 25-06. Reluctantly I ordered the rifle in 25-06 Rem.
This was one of the few times I made a good decision in life. The 06 with 87 gr bullets is one of the hardest hitting varmint cartridges you'll ever see, at distances you can't believe. When I have this rifle in my hands if I can see a ground hog it's in mortal danger.
Deer? Jump up to 100 or 120 gr bullets and the 06 becomes a dual purpose cartridge. Mine has gone deer hunting and bear hunting with me.
About 3 years ago the rifle finally got to the point that it needed a new barrel. I took the rifle to one of the bench rest builders in my area and ordered a Krieger match barrel. The salesman asked me what caliber? The choice was easy, 25-06 of course.
Ammo availability? In 1978 when I bought mine I had to buy ammo from gun stores or make my own. I opted for making my own. Here we are 33 years later and I see Walmart now carries ammo in 25-06.
Joemyxplyx
Member
Leonard23 asked
OK, an 8lb rifle, weight w/scope, in .270 shooting a 130grain bullet at 3100fps will generate about 20 foot/lbs of recoil energy.
An 8lb 12 gauge shotgun shooting 1 1/8oz of high brass at 1300fps will generate 19 foot/lbs of recoil energy.
Both recoils are stout enough that I'd use a good recoil pad on either one. Both kick about the same as a trapdoor 45/70 with a 500 grain bullet going 1300fps.
OTOH a 3" 2oz 12 gauge turkey load going 1300fps generates 58 foot/lbs of recoil energy. More than a .375 H&H magnum. If you can shoot that with no problem, then don't worry about a mere .270
OK, an 8lb rifle, weight w/scope, in .270 shooting a 130grain bullet at 3100fps will generate about 20 foot/lbs of recoil energy.
An 8lb 12 gauge shotgun shooting 1 1/8oz of high brass at 1300fps will generate 19 foot/lbs of recoil energy.
Both recoils are stout enough that I'd use a good recoil pad on either one. Both kick about the same as a trapdoor 45/70 with a 500 grain bullet going 1300fps.
OTOH a 3" 2oz 12 gauge turkey load going 1300fps generates 58 foot/lbs of recoil energy. More than a .375 H&H magnum. If you can shoot that with no problem, then don't worry about a mere .270
HarcyPervin
Member
haha Leonard, it seems like if you keep going with this you'll never find the one that you want. The best advice I can give you is find someone with a gun in these calibers and find out for yourself. At 14 you're still young and have a lot of growing to do and also a lot of experience to gain (I'm only 23 so don't feel like I'm talking down to you) As far as caliber selection goes, pick the gun that will cleanly and ethically kill the largest game you intend on hunting with that gun. If you're not going on any elk hunts anytime soon, any of these guns will be fine. That being said, if you're hunting in brush and want to have some weight to make sure that you're going to hit what you aim at, the .270 is probably your best bet.
I'd also suggest sticking with something simple, like the .243 or the .270. Spending a few extra bucks on ammo might not be a big deal right now, but when you're a broke college student as I was, it really makes it easier to take your rifle out to the range when you can find ammo anywhere and don't have to sacrifice a ton of money.
A good recoil pad on on a .270 or even a 30-06 will make the recoil seem mild compared to most turkey loads you've been shooting out of a 12 ga.
Find your gun, and get out there and shoot the hell out of it. If you practice and become a good shot with a .223, you'll still kill more deer than a lot of guys who are out shooting a .300 wsm and never practice with it because they can't stand to shoot it
I'd also suggest sticking with something simple, like the .243 or the .270. Spending a few extra bucks on ammo might not be a big deal right now, but when you're a broke college student as I was, it really makes it easier to take your rifle out to the range when you can find ammo anywhere and don't have to sacrifice a ton of money.
A good recoil pad on on a .270 or even a 30-06 will make the recoil seem mild compared to most turkey loads you've been shooting out of a 12 ga.
Find your gun, and get out there and shoot the hell out of it. If you practice and become a good shot with a .223, you'll still kill more deer than a lot of guys who are out shooting a .300 wsm and never practice with it because they can't stand to shoot it
As soon as the words "all around" are used the question cannot be answered. Nothing is all around and anything that tries to be will be a compromise best at nothing.
You want a varmint rifle then buy one. You want a deer rifle then buy one. Takes two rifles to do the best job on both. Sorry.
You want a varmint rifle then buy one. You want a deer rifle then buy one. Takes two rifles to do the best job on both. Sorry.
txhoghunter
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I have a .270 WSM....and it DOES NOT get my vote. Yes, it is a great round for deer, but it is NOT a varmint gun. Ammunition, IMHO, is way too expensive for that job. If I could go back to when it was purchased I would have stuck with a .308.
For what you are looking at, my opinion is that you can't go wrong with a .308, .270 (not the short mag), or .243
If you can, find someone who has them, shoot them, and get whichever one you like more.
For what you are looking at, my opinion is that you can't go wrong with a .308, .270 (not the short mag), or .243
If you can, find someone who has them, shoot them, and get whichever one you like more.
If you are recoil sensitive, try pumping irons to build the pectoralis muscles. Dumbbells for the biceps and you are set to take the heaviest of recoils up to magnum calibers. Thats just my take on it.
I ve been shooting a lot of surplus rifles like Yugo M 48s 8mm mausers and Mosin nagant M 91/30, both have steel buttplates. Everyone knows they kick real hard with no help from a modern rubber buttpads. If you shoot a lot of these rifles, you get immune to heavy recoil. NOw shooting a bolt rifle of any gun is not as bad as i cannot take it.
I ve been shooting a lot of surplus rifles like Yugo M 48s 8mm mausers and Mosin nagant M 91/30, both have steel buttplates. Everyone knows they kick real hard with no help from a modern rubber buttpads. If you shoot a lot of these rifles, you get immune to heavy recoil. NOw shooting a bolt rifle of any gun is not as bad as i cannot take it.
notasfancy
Member
Hi I am new here but I just wanted to say that the .308 never failed me for deer and other bigger tasks. But I know there are other great calibers derived from the same case. 30'06 is another classic. Cost in both is maneable. .243 win is also popular but don't expect enough punch for a bigger job.
Thank you.
Thank you.
CaliCoastie
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- Jun 24, 2010
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- 497
well ill throw in my two cents, on the guns listed go with the 243(no i dont own one), i would lean that way for a few reasons. Price, availabilty, accuracy, and recoil. you will need to shoot a lot to get familar and comfortable with the rifle, so there is price. if you buy ammo having alot of stores that carry the ammo around means you can shop around to get the best price. you need to get practice and dial the accuracy(mainly just finding what your gun likes to shoot). and recoil, yes everyone is different in how they process recoil, but i have never heard "man i cant feel the recoil on that gun, boy that suxs, now pass the 338 lapua"
If you want something bigger look at the 308, if you know someone in your family that reloads take a look at 7mm-08. best of luck with your choice and remember the xs/xl7 series uses win m70 scope mounts. ( i have a xs7 in 7mm-08, and love it)
If you want something bigger look at the 308, if you know someone in your family that reloads take a look at 7mm-08. best of luck with your choice and remember the xs/xl7 series uses win m70 scope mounts. ( i have a xs7 in 7mm-08, and love it)
UniversalFrost
Member
.243 Winchester
Good for everything from foxes up to caribou sized animals... Plus the Barnes TSX bullets are devastating on deer and antelope.....
I have lots of other guns in chamberings like 22-250, 6.5x55, 270, 308, etc... but I always reach for one of my .243s when I go out in the field.
Good for everything from foxes up to caribou sized animals... Plus the Barnes TSX bullets are devastating on deer and antelope.....
I have lots of other guns in chamberings like 22-250, 6.5x55, 270, 308, etc... but I always reach for one of my .243s when I go out in the field.
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