Here we go again...

[caorach]

Will pop into nearest gun room (20 miles) this week to see what ammo they hold, but is it really such a big deal as, apart from zeroing, I can't see me using bucket loads. Would I be able to hold say 200?

You'll use more than you imagine to zero the rifle, and sort out a problem with the scope, and get it back shooting after a good cleaning, and practise a bit and...

Here in the UK shooting is difficult enough with all the red tape so make it as easy on yourself as you can and pick the cartridge that has the best ammo availability in your area as this will save you £££ and hours or days of your life. In the end ammo availability is the only logical reason to choose between the common deer legal cartridges. You might also want to consider availability in more remote areas if you might want to stalk on the hill up north, for example.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Quick tip if you go for the .270? Buy one from South of the border. It's an extremely popular calibre in Scotland, and you might end up with one that's had a lot of rounds through it

 

[Greener Jim]

Will pop into nearest gun room (20 miles) this week to see what ammo they hold, but is it really such a big deal as, apart from zeroing, I can't see me using bucket loads. Would I be able to hold say 200?

I have allowance for 400 on my .458 mate and could have gone higher. Aim high with allowances, worst they'll do is suggest a lower amount. 200 should be an absolute minimum.

 

[Heym SR20]

I would suggest that as most of your stalking will be roe, and most are taken at sub 100 yds, the 270 may have a bit too much velocity causing lots of mess. The 6.5 with a 140gn or 308 with a 150 at muzzle velocity of 2650 -2700 will do the job perfectly on every from roe, foxes all the way up to big reds.

270 is a great round, but it's an open country flat shooting round - ideal for scottish mountains.

 

[nun_hunter]

NH sound like you have a breed of dealer from way back when every pound over the till matters , we had two old school boys in my neck of the woods but both have now passed on .

Funny thing is he never intended to be an RFD just kind of fell into it and obviously took his previous business skills and approach across.

 

[The mighty buck]

i know its not on your list but is there a reason your not looking at a .243? i have one rifle (currently) and its a .243 i shoot roe fallow and reds with it with no issues at all, every shop i go to have a big range of ammo and compared to some other calibres its good value for money. I apologies if you have already crossed it off your list for some reason but thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[slider]

i know its not on your list but is there a reason your not looking at a .243? i have one rifle (currently) and its a .243 i shoot roe fallow and reds with it with no issues at all, every shop i go to have a big range of ammo and compared to some other calibres its good value for money. I apologies if you have already crossed it off your list for some reason but thought it was worth mentioning.

Hi and thanks. I am sure you and other will argue otherwise but many have advised me that while a .243 will certainly kill bigger deer it lacks a bit of "stopping power" and the animal is likely to run a bit further into cover before dropping.

 

[The mighty buck]

i suppose you could argue that point but i have personally never had any issues however i have been shooting for 22 years now so bullet placement etc has become second nature, if this is to be your first rifle then perhaps your right to go for some thing with a bit of stopping power, how ever as others have said it maybe your first rifle but it certainly wont be your last rifle, good luck with it.

 

[finnbear270]

I would suggest that as most of your stalking will be roe, and most are taken at sub 100 yds, the 270 may have a bit too much velocity causing lots of mess. The 6.5 with a 140gn or 308 with a 150 at muzzle velocity of 2650 -2700 will do the job perfectly on every from roe, foxes all the way up to big reds.

270 is a great round, but it's an open country flat shooting round - ideal for scottish mountains.

And a perfect Roe round @ 130 grain with a decent made bullet, no issues with meat damage so far.

 

[iain b]

I would suggest that as most of your stalking will be roe, and most are taken at sub 100 yds, the 270 may have a bit too much velocity causing lots of mess. The 6.5 with a 140gn or 308 with a 150 at muzzle velocity of 2650 -2700 will do the job perfectly on every from roe, foxes all the way up to big reds.

270 is a great round, but it's an open country flat shooting round - ideal for scottish mountains.

this is my two pence worth
as its your first rifle, go for a .308. Two reasons. 1. All RFDs will have it in stock . 2. you need to practice with it and fmj .308 is a lot cheaper than .270 soft point to find and buy. If you get a rifle that likes privi your sorted, cheap and cheerful. Not worth reloading if it shoots well. As to rifles. It all depends on what you you want to spend. I've got a zastava Mauser action in .308. Paid £265 for it second hand.
It came with a timnney trigger (£120) , plastic stock ( sold that on £40 ) leoupold bases ( again sold them on £25.00 ) so I paid £200 for the action & trigger. Now wears a bedded Boyds thumb hole stock (£130), a pictinny rail (£80.00), warne rings (£25 off evil bay) and a Yukon 2-12x56 30mm scope (235.00). So stands me at £410 for a " semi custom" style rifle plus scope.
Shoots 165 Sierra game kings very well. .75" 3 shot group at 100 yards if I do my part. So you don't have to spend £1000s
if your buying new, look at the howa range. Well made and accurate. Don't fall for the " must be a tikka " rubbish. Buy what you feel is best for you.

 

[caorach]

I've got a zastava Mauser action in .308. Paid £265 for it second hand.

A mate bought a Parker Hale in 308 for about the £200 mark and because he really enjoyed such things did a bit of work on the wooden stock doing it up. Ended up with a fantastic looking rifle which shot pretty well for not a lot of cash.

The other side to this is that if you have a reasonable budget and are new to rifles then buying a "decent" new rifle gives some peace of mind and allows you to be pretty sure that any problems you have lie somewhere other than in the rifle.

So, it can be tricky to get a balance and only the person buying the rifle knows how their priorities stack up. However my advice is to spend as little as you can on "stuff" and spend anything you've saved on going stalking. You don't need piles of stuff to go stalking, and much of it can be inexpensive, but the days out and experiences are the important bits.

 

[scrumbag]

Either would be fine, pick on that fits and ammo is stocked for.

 

[slider]

nearest RFD has good range of .308 ammo, reasonable range of .270 and 1 box of 6.5x55.

so...... 6.5 x 55 well and truly ruled out. .308 seems to be the option - what are peoples thought on whether FAO is more likely to grant a .270 or .308 as my first centrefire?

 

[Mungo]

nearest RFD has good range of .308 ammo, reasonable range of .270 and 1 box of 6.5x55.

so...... 6.5 x 55 well and truly ruled out. .308 seems to be the option - what are peoples thought on whether FAO is more likely to grant a .270 or .308 as my first centrefire?

Ideally shouldn't make a difference - but if they're inexperienced (which is currently very likely in Police Scotland), they will see the 3 in .308 and think that it's scary because it's bigger than the 2 in .270.

However, a reasoned conversation will solve any problems.

 

[caorach]

nearest RFD has good range of .308 ammo, reasonable range of .270 and 1 box of 6.5x55.

That's your answer right there.

 

[JockStalk]

Agree that any of the calibres will do the job, get what you can source ammo for, plenty around.

One suggestion - if you can show good reason, also get a .22LR slot. If its your first FAC and you need practice in markmanship, its a lot cheaper with a rimfire. Don't be a twot like me and have to submit a variation a few months later after spending the bairns food money on c/f ammunition

 

[slider]

Had a .22 rim fire up until about 8 years ago. Did a lot of rabbits and probably when through 1000 - 1500 rounds a year until I numbers really thinned down. Sold teh rifle when I gave up farming and relinquished the FAC.