chaim
Member
OK, I'm narrowing down which bolt rifle I want. Now I need to start thinking about caliber.
I am not a hunter and I probably never will be (to be able to eat meat it must have been killed in a very specific manner for it to be kosher and shooting it doesn't qualify and I don't see myself hunting just for sport).
I am not very experienced with shooting rifles so at first it will be at close distances. I do have a .22lr bolt-rifle so this won't be my only practice. However, cost is a little bit of an issue so I can get more real practice.
Eventually, I'd like to get into some pretty long distance target shooting and since I'll soon be a poor graduate student I'd like to get a rifle and caliber to start with that can handle that so I don't need to try to buy something while my funds are extremely limited (unless I really want something additional, but it needs to be an option, not a necessity).
I want a caliber that can handle some fairly long ranges (500-700yds) with readily available ammo and not specially made ammo or homebrews. Thus it can't be too light (no .223s). Since I don't hunt, a fairly flat tradjectory is important for long range accuracy (when I finally get there) but the amount of stopping power left isn't that much of an issue (though again, I don't really want a .223 for this). I do want something heavier since I am a beginner at this kind of shooting, it seems that would take some of the guesswork out of long range shooting.
Mainly I'm considering:
-22-250 (probably too light, though more powerful than .223)
-the new .223WSSM (though availability will probably be a problem)
-.243
-.308
-.270
-7mm (not sure which one, but one of the more garden variety 7mms)
-7mm Remington Magnum
-30-06
I want:
-reasonable ammo cost ($10-12/box seems ok).
-easy availability (since I don't know for sure where I'll be for grad school it needs to be something with easy availability even if I end up in an area with only one or two stores where I can buy ammo).
-relatively light recoil (I need to be able to practice enough to get good, my definition of "relatively light" is no more than my Win 94 in 30-30 or a Mossberg 500 with reduced recoil personal defense 12ga loads).
-relatively flat tradjectory or powerful enough for fairly reasonable long range accuracy.
I am leaning towards:
-.270; flat tradjectory, available everywhere, similiar power to the 30-06
-.308; similar ballistics to 30-06 in a shorter action, easy to find, relatively cheap factory ammo and cheap surplus stuff is out there
-.243; Factory ammo seems a tad less than either of the above, it has a good reputation, it should be relatively mild recoiling and have enough range for what I want. It is easy to find around here (though I don't know if that is a regional thing)
Of course, all that I'm considering are strong options and none have been ruled out (among those) or ruled definately in yet (though my leanings are for the above).
Which caliber would be most appropriate for my needs and wants?
I am not a hunter and I probably never will be (to be able to eat meat it must have been killed in a very specific manner for it to be kosher and shooting it doesn't qualify and I don't see myself hunting just for sport).
I am not very experienced with shooting rifles so at first it will be at close distances. I do have a .22lr bolt-rifle so this won't be my only practice. However, cost is a little bit of an issue so I can get more real practice.
Eventually, I'd like to get into some pretty long distance target shooting and since I'll soon be a poor graduate student I'd like to get a rifle and caliber to start with that can handle that so I don't need to try to buy something while my funds are extremely limited (unless I really want something additional, but it needs to be an option, not a necessity).
I want a caliber that can handle some fairly long ranges (500-700yds) with readily available ammo and not specially made ammo or homebrews. Thus it can't be too light (no .223s). Since I don't hunt, a fairly flat tradjectory is important for long range accuracy (when I finally get there) but the amount of stopping power left isn't that much of an issue (though again, I don't really want a .223 for this). I do want something heavier since I am a beginner at this kind of shooting, it seems that would take some of the guesswork out of long range shooting.
Mainly I'm considering:
-22-250 (probably too light, though more powerful than .223)
-the new .223WSSM (though availability will probably be a problem)
-.243
-.308
-.270
-7mm (not sure which one, but one of the more garden variety 7mms)
-7mm Remington Magnum
-30-06
I want:
-reasonable ammo cost ($10-12/box seems ok).
-easy availability (since I don't know for sure where I'll be for grad school it needs to be something with easy availability even if I end up in an area with only one or two stores where I can buy ammo).
-relatively light recoil (I need to be able to practice enough to get good, my definition of "relatively light" is no more than my Win 94 in 30-30 or a Mossberg 500 with reduced recoil personal defense 12ga loads).
-relatively flat tradjectory or powerful enough for fairly reasonable long range accuracy.
I am leaning towards:
-.270; flat tradjectory, available everywhere, similiar power to the 30-06
-.308; similar ballistics to 30-06 in a shorter action, easy to find, relatively cheap factory ammo and cheap surplus stuff is out there
-.243; Factory ammo seems a tad less than either of the above, it has a good reputation, it should be relatively mild recoiling and have enough range for what I want. It is easy to find around here (though I don't know if that is a regional thing)
Of course, all that I'm considering are strong options and none have been ruled out (among those) or ruled definately in yet (though my leanings are for the above).
Which caliber would be most appropriate for my needs and wants?