1st Deer Calibre Rifle - Advice
- Thread starter blaserf3
- Start date
If it is your first rifle, then all you know is that you don't know a lot of things as to how this new sport will work out for you.
You shouldn't be shooting long distances, so you don't need a powerful cartridge and long range rifle.
You don't know where all you might hunt, or what size and species of deer, so you need something flexible enough to take roe to reds.
That means something not too heavy and not too light to hold steady. You need something which will permit you to enjoy rambling the hills all day, or to sit in a freezing, damp high seat squinting for a deer at first or last light.
Would you buy a high end sports car or 4x4 for your first car? I hope not. Same for your rifle and scope. Don't worry about making a big mistake, because you cannot do that if you buy something common and reasonable, perhaps second hand from a friend or dealer who will steer you right - because you can resell it for what you paid.
Your first deer rifle is for the purpose of learning what you want to buy next, to fit the style of hunting you have gotten into and enjoy. That's all.
So Remington, Howa, Tikka, Parker Hale, BSA, Winchester bolt action, with a solid 4x, 6x or 3-9x40 variable which costs far less than the rifle, chambered in something between 6.5x55 and .308 Winchester, for which you can find ammunition locally at reasonable prices.
You shouldn't be shooting long distances, so you don't need a powerful cartridge and long range rifle.
You don't know where all you might hunt, or what size and species of deer, so you need something flexible enough to take roe to reds.
That means something not too heavy and not too light to hold steady. You need something which will permit you to enjoy rambling the hills all day, or to sit in a freezing, damp high seat squinting for a deer at first or last light.
Would you buy a high end sports car or 4x4 for your first car? I hope not. Same for your rifle and scope. Don't worry about making a big mistake, because you cannot do that if you buy something common and reasonable, perhaps second hand from a friend or dealer who will steer you right - because you can resell it for what you paid.
Your first deer rifle is for the purpose of learning what you want to buy next, to fit the style of hunting you have gotten into and enjoy. That's all.
So Remington, Howa, Tikka, Parker Hale, BSA, Winchester bolt action, with a solid 4x, 6x or 3-9x40 variable which costs far less than the rifle, chambered in something between 6.5x55 and .308 Winchester, for which you can find ammunition locally at reasonable prices.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
Probably the best quote on any new rifle thread ever. I've had a few rifles before what I have now and I have learnt things from all of them, mainly stock shape, weight, size, length etc. Every one of them would have killed every deer I have shot without an issue and the cartridge was largely irrelevant to the actual outcome. Get something that is relatively cheap and you can easily and reliably obtain ammo for and use it.
Get a 243, anything bigger is for guys with small dicks
It's also a cheaper option than a 6.5x55, if you get one of these you'll have the extra cost of a dog to find all your runners
Here we go again
From reading these threads from the UK I thought that the local police firearms officer basically put a limit on what a new licence holder could buy, something along those lines? Or is it variable depending on the individual officer, the constabulary, the circumstances of the applicant? As a new applicant I would work with the firearms officer to settle on an appropriate calibre and cartridge to ensure everyone was on the same page before the forms were finalised. Maybe that’s a ridiculous suggestion, I don’t know.
Blaserf3, if you select a first rifle that isn’t one of the following, I’d be surprised and want to know why.
243, 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 308
Good luck.
Blaserf3, if you select a first rifle that isn’t one of the following, I’d be surprised and want to know why.
243, 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 308
Good luck.
Good Post that, if I was getting my first rifle again, I'd go with your choices and add the .25-06.
big ears
Well-Known Member
What he said!!
you only need one calibre for GB. It’s the 6.5x55 loaded with 140gr bullets. Mild recoil, superb accuracy. I have other calibre but it’s the swede that I reach for again and again.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Markfox
Well-Known Member
As said it’s a minefield
I wouldn’t go for a 308 if you didn’t like a 270
I personally don’t like to shoot 308 as I just don’t like the way they transmit the recoil
but I will happily shoot my 7x64 all day
I think if your recoil sensitive a 243, 6.5x55 or 7x64 Brennecke will tick the box nicely and I think you’d enjoy them as the recoil is lighter and if you go for a slightly heavier rifle and with a mod it’ll also improve felt recoil
my other half will happily shoot any one of the 3 above calibres with no complaints and she’s quite little so recoil must be low
I wouldn’t go for a 308 if you didn’t like a 270
I personally don’t like to shoot 308 as I just don’t like the way they transmit the recoil
but I will happily shoot my 7x64 all day
I think if your recoil sensitive a 243, 6.5x55 or 7x64 Brennecke will tick the box nicely and I think you’d enjoy them as the recoil is lighter and if you go for a slightly heavier rifle and with a mod it’ll also improve felt recoil
my other half will happily shoot any one of the 3 above calibres with no complaints and she’s quite little so recoil must be low
some good advice here.
I have a .243 (roe/fox/everyday rifle) and a .30-06 for reds on the hill. If I had to have one I would get a .25-06. Somewhere in between, nice for a bit or range and available ammo. I would also consider a .270 with 100g factory rounds but appreciate your comments on recoil. I would have to insist on a nice quality light weight mod in any situation.
One bit of advice i would give you is that different rifles makes give different recoil feel. So before you dismiss .270 maybe worth shooting more than one make for comparison, both with a mod. An example is my T3 Hunter .30-06. Its a wood rifle, very light an nimble which is what i want for climbing hills, but it kicks, 2 sets of 3 shot groups and im done when practicing.
enjoy your shopping!
I have a .243 (roe/fox/everyday rifle) and a .30-06 for reds on the hill. If I had to have one I would get a .25-06. Somewhere in between, nice for a bit or range and available ammo. I would also consider a .270 with 100g factory rounds but appreciate your comments on recoil. I would have to insist on a nice quality light weight mod in any situation.
One bit of advice i would give you is that different rifles makes give different recoil feel. So before you dismiss .270 maybe worth shooting more than one make for comparison, both with a mod. An example is my T3 Hunter .30-06. Its a wood rifle, very light an nimble which is what i want for climbing hills, but it kicks, 2 sets of 3 shot groups and im done when practicing.
enjoy your shopping!
For knock down and mild manners 7x57, For similar ballistics and sweet shooting 6.55 Swede,For the ability to use a choice of heavy weighted bullets 308. The fitment of a sound moderator will improve your confidence in what ever you choose when shooting. I speak with experience of the 7X57 and the 6.55,which is my stalking companion. I say these, as you want in the main,to shoot our larger species of deer.
BC.
BC.
easy, you want to give your dog more experience in tracking
My personal favourites are 7x57, 30-06 hands down, and I’ve had just about all ‘notmal’ calibres.
If there was better ammo availability and quality in 7x57 widely available at reasonable prices (Norma are near £60 for 20 here), AND there were more used quality rifles at reasonable prices, I would say start there and never look back!
i ignore my other favourite 30-06 as you mention wanting mild recoil.
finding a really good rifle is most important, as Ed said, any calibre will kill deer on this island...however, from experience, for red deer and especially if you have chances for sika, really, do go above 243. Not only from a knock down effect perspective, but 100g ammo doesn’t always perform well in many 243’s unless barrel length and twist rates are favourable.
secondly, picking that good reliable rifle, then needs to be matched with access to affordable quality ammunition in your area, or you will quickly regret your rifle decision!
It’s not a rifle I would choose again, but I suggested the 308 as there are many quality rifles on the 2nd hand market, affordable quality ammo is easy to find, and bullet weights in the +/-160g range will be very good on any of the deer species you mention.
it was widely said that your first rifle is just a learning rifle from which you pick your next, but might as well make it a clever decision so you don’t feel rushed to replace it.
dont know what your budget is, but Sako and tikka are very good both used and 2nd hand.
If i was on a medium budget, I’d opt for that or buy a new CZ. If I’m a low budget, I’d buy a good but used cz/Brno or Parker hale or sedgemore.
why not 6.5x55? Imho, ammo quality in the 140g class is lacking in most shops, and at anything other than quality 140g, ideally reloaded, terminal performance is poor at best, and for the beginner can leave you with some bad experiences of dead running game. I speak of the 6.5 not with anger or negativity, but with caution
If there was better ammo availability and quality in 7x57 widely available at reasonable prices (Norma are near £60 for 20 here), AND there were more used quality rifles at reasonable prices, I would say start there and never look back!
i ignore my other favourite 30-06 as you mention wanting mild recoil.
finding a really good rifle is most important, as Ed said, any calibre will kill deer on this island...however, from experience, for red deer and especially if you have chances for sika, really, do go above 243. Not only from a knock down effect perspective, but 100g ammo doesn’t always perform well in many 243’s unless barrel length and twist rates are favourable.
secondly, picking that good reliable rifle, then needs to be matched with access to affordable quality ammunition in your area, or you will quickly regret your rifle decision!
It’s not a rifle I would choose again, but I suggested the 308 as there are many quality rifles on the 2nd hand market, affordable quality ammo is easy to find, and bullet weights in the +/-160g range will be very good on any of the deer species you mention.
it was widely said that your first rifle is just a learning rifle from which you pick your next, but might as well make it a clever decision so you don’t feel rushed to replace it.
dont know what your budget is, but Sako and tikka are very good both used and 2nd hand.
If i was on a medium budget, I’d opt for that or buy a new CZ. If I’m a low budget, I’d buy a good but used cz/Brno or Parker hale or sedgemore.
why not 6.5x55? Imho, ammo quality in the 140g class is lacking in most shops, and at anything other than quality 140g, ideally reloaded, terminal performance is poor at best, and for the beginner can leave you with some bad experiences of dead running game. I speak of the 6.5 not with anger or negativity, but with caution
Read this and ignore the others. Get a .243 or .308. Make the decision based on the size of your deer.
I always thought it would be a sensible option for your first FAC application if you could specify a sensible range of calibres, or something like 'deer legal, calibre TBC'. When I applied I had previously shot .243, .308 and 6.5x55 and would have been happy with any of them. But to be honest funds were limited and the determining factor was always going to be what turned up as a good deal on Gun Trader! Having to make a choice I plumped for .308 and then waited for a good deal on a T3 but I could just have easily have picked up a .243 or 6.5x55 if I hadn't had to commit to one or the other up front. Besides giving those with limited budgets more flexibility it would also allow the purchaser to prioritise the things like fit and suitability that are getting highlighted here and are probably much more important than an arbitrary calibre choice.
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