hunting caliber
i have never been hunting , but i plan on taking my son soon. i am not familiar with rifle calibers, or their capablities. i am planning on hunting deer, turkey's, and maybe bears. can you guys suggest a good rifle bullet that can handle all of these game? i am hoping for a good bullet caliber that is versitile, and common. i would like to avoid a cal that does not have many choices to chose from(i.e.,weight in grains,manufacturers,etc.) thanks in advance guys!!
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can't hardly go wrong with a 30-06 can handle all you mentioned, unless your bears are of the Brown or Kodiak persuasion.
glen e nuinez0 -
The 3006 is a very good choice you can get bullets from 110gr to 220gr.Its suitable for Varmit to Elk Hunting.
Best!!!
Rugster
Toujours Pret0 -
How old is your son? The 308 Winchester would fill the same niche as the 30-06 but with a little less recoil. Same bullet weights available with the exception of the 220 grain in factory loads. If reloading, no problem with all those bullet weights.
AlleninAlaska
http://www.outdoor-o-rama.com
He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
-- Thomas Paine0 -
he is 9yr,i have been wondering about the .308,correct me if im wrong,but from what i have seen the .308 has been applied to more tactical situations (sharpshooter's, etc.)i didnt relise it was a hunting load too. my main concern is stopping power. i dont want to find out to late that the rifle i chose is not capable of one shot kills.
another thing is i would like to purchase one of those lever action old winchester type rifle's, iv'e noticed marlin has some nice one's but they are all in strange caliber's that iv'e never heard of (.444,etc.)winchester has some in 30-30, but i am not familiar with that cal either.
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Edited by - pabloescobar on 09/22/2002 23:13:30 quote:
Edited by - pabloescobar on 09/22/2002 23:14:330 -
The 30-06 has the advantage of working well with heavier bullets.
Turkeys are usually hunted with a shotgun. Check with your state rules to see what they allow.
I've read that the 30-30 has taken more game in North America than any other caliber. It's been around for over 100 years. I'm not sure what I can compare it with that you will be familiar with, but it's a mild recoil and certainly capable of taking deer or black bear. I often still use a Win 94 in 30-30 for whitetail deer. Reloading books have ballastic data available on virtually every cartridge you could imagine - some even have short writeups by people who use them for various game. You might be able to get some idea of the relative merits of various cartridges by looking at a reloading manual. Maybe your local library has them available.
I'm a believer in starting out with a rifle cartridge you can shoot often and develop solid skills with before moving up to the bigger hunting cartridges. A 22 caliber rifle would be great for you and your son to begin shooting with and it's inexpensive.
Do you live in a state where your 9 year old can hunt? Here in Idaho you have to be 12 to hunt.0 -
Any rifle is capable of a one shot kill if you have good bullet placement. Going bigger is not the answer. I use the 270 with a 130 gr. nosler ballistic tip for mule deer and elk with excellant results. I get one shot kills with the bullet placed in the neck. The 30-06 is also a great gun.
Guncontrol-The ability to hit what your aiming at.0 -
If you like lever guns, .30-30 will do the job in timbered country, but .35 Remington will do it better. It has about the same recoil, but has more knockdown power.
However, first things first. Since you and your son are both beginners, I'd suggest that before even buying a gun, you (and your son) attend an NRA Hunter's Safety course.
As an added bonus to learning to hunt safely, you can ask your instructor for his opinions on the caliber and type of rifle that's most suitable for the game you're hunting in your area.0 -
In case it makes sense to you, I have a NIB Marlin lever in the 30-30. Also, Rem. Model 788 Carbine (short barrel) in the .308 calibre. Either would make a fine starter gun! And would kill anything you pointed it at. Remember,it is all about where you put what you throw, not how much you throw. Email: gwvr@cowboystate.net 0 -
It seems to me that you are putting the cart a bit before the horse. I certainly want to welcome you to the hunting/shooting fraturnity, but I want you to be safe. I would suggest the logical first step is enrolling you and your son in the hunter safety course in your state. He may be required to take it to get a permit anyway. I would also suggest a couple of books to help bring you up to speed. The first is Jim CArmichael's Book of the Rifle by Jim Carmichael. You can likely find it for a few bucks by doing a search for The Book of the Rifle at: http://whipper.abebooks.com/abep/il.dll?ph=1
The second book is the 9th edition of Cartridges of the World, by Frank Barnes. Try Amazon.com or a good local bookstore.
If you can hook up with another hunter in your area who is experienced and safe, that would be a help and and add to your fun. Best of Luck!
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
Edited by - He Dog on 09/23/2002 13:08:420 -
thanks guys, you all make alot of sense, and have very vaild points . i think i will begin with a hunter's safety course, thanks again! quote:
a man's got to know his limitations-d.harry0
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