first deer calibre rifle

[chris .222]

im booked in for my dsc1 in august so will be looking for a new rifle shortly after that a friend of mine has a 6.5 x 55 and another friend has a 30 06 what would be a good calibre for my first deer rifle bearing in mind i intend to keep it for a long time ?

 

[Ade C]

not very helpfull i'm affaid but... anything legal they all knock them over!. i'm at a very similar point (just sorting my variation). only thing i can say is try as many calibres as you can before you decide.

i eventually decided that the calibres with greater recoil were not for me. so opted for a 25-06 if that helps

dont rush!!!

 

[WestCoastStalker]

im booked in for my dsc1 in august so will be looking for a new rifle shortly after that a friend of mine has a 6.5 x 55 and another friend has a 30 06 what would be a good calibre for my first deer rifle bearing in mind i intend to keep it for a long time ?

.270

You won't need to think about buying another deer rifle again

 

[6.5/284matt]

Your going to get a 101 opinions on this one so here's mine.
You won't go far wrong with a 6.5x55, exellant calibre and will do everything from muntys up to reds.

Cheers Matt.

 

[Brithunter]

The old tried and tested 270 Winchester is one heck of a cartridge. The drawback as I see is lack on non expanding bullets for practice. So perhaps the 7x64 Brenneke would be better as there are plenty of non expanding bullets in 7mm.

 

[shaun868s]

I agree with westcoaststalker 270 all the way u wont go wrong had one for 30 years never failed me

 

[Highlander]

Both calibres are very good, I have and used both extensively over the years, also use 7mm-08 and 6.5x284 again superb calibres, and would not change. But your question has a couple of other considerations. Do you want a rifle a rifle that is both easy to get factory ammo anywhere, with plenty of manufacturer options? Easy to learn how to reload well. Well capable of anything in the UK? Not too exotic, hence good resale value if you decide to change. A rifle that you can easily compliment as and when you want to expand. Can take most places in the world, and within reason never be too far out of place. Ok a couple of countries frown on military calibres.

If you can shoot your friends 30-06 well, then go with that. But if you plan to stay in UK, and do not wish to use anything heavier than 165grains go with a good old 308, and that can be said with no bias on my part, because if I was to sell all my rifles, and have only one I would keep the 30-06 as this gives me more options when abroad.

Good luck withe the DSC 1, and enjoy choosing. Bet you don't finish with only one rifle!!!

ATB

HL

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

6.5 / 270 / 7mm, any decent cartridge in those calibres will get it done.

 

[User00003]

go into your local shop, try to handle a few that are in your budget, if you can, shoot those, and pick the one that feels like it's your best friend, ideally in a calibre of .243 to 30-06, then tell the FLO that you've picked a good one that you can handle and feel comfortable shooting, and that is relevant to your needs for X?YZ reason. any semi-intelligent FLO would authorise what you have chosen.

 

[Saugmann]

I'd say any medium sized calibre from 6.5 up to around .30-06 will do the job well.

I currently shoot a 6.5x55 which is really pleasant to shoot. However, in case you don't plan to reload it might be worth going with a less exotic calibre to have easy access to factory ammo. The .308 would be hard to beat in that regard.

At the end of the day it's all about bullet placement so make sure you get a rifle and a scope that works well and that you are comfortable with. Then spend a lot of time on the range and dry firing.


All the best,

Christian

 

[webley22]

While the 6.5x55 isnt the wonder caliber some say it is it's a pretty good allrounder for the UK.

Pros
easily avaliable ammo & rifles
wide range of bullets (althought only really 120 & 140 in factory ammo)
Enough stopping power for everything but not too harsh on small stuff.
not overly fast so doesnt smash stuff too bad
quiet & easy to shoot with a moderator.

Cons
military caliber (eg shooting in France)
not laser flat like a 25-06 or 270 with factory ammo

i've just come back from having a few shots. Federal 140gn zeroed about 1 high @ 100yds are about 3 inch low @ 200yds but not really an issue if you know your rifle/ range. Some will argue that its not flat enough but in the real world its literally a case of aiming around the spine on a roe to allow for the drop into H/L area.

Another + of the 6.5 is that its also easier to get approved for duel fox/deer but you can also argue easily to have a 22CF as well for fox &small deer.

 

[wraith]

243 or 7mm rem mag covers every thing in my book recoil is no more in the 7mm rem mag than the 3006 but 7mm will blow the 3006 away at distance its faster flatter and kicks ass reload for it though 90pound for 110rounds using h4831 66g nosler 12og magnum primers if you can live with that get one you will not be disapointed

 

[mike t3]

without any thinking i would say the 270 is the way forward, nothing seams to move far when hit.

 

[Mr Lewis]

Either 270 or 25-06

The 270 is not the savage beast people make it out to be my young lad even shoots 270!

 

[PointBlank]

I will have to say that even though I love my 6.5x55 I do sometimes wish I had gone for a 270 just because of its universal acceptance.

My whole aim was to have one centrefire rifle to do most jobs and put the best optics on it I could afford, which the swede does but then I started thinking about it might be interesting to try some boar or perhaps take it to europe.......

 

[norma 308]

i have a 6.5 and a 308 after carefull consideration if i had to use just one rifle it would have to be the 308 ,i have shot big reds,fallow,roe,and muntjac with it and really it takes some beating.
good luck

 

[SussexFallow]

270 or 308

 

[chris .222]

thanks for all your opinions i might want to also shoot boar in the uk and france at some point

 

[Offroad Gary]

boar aside, and considering where you live i would choose a 25-06 (i have one, amongst others). its the perfect calibre for sub 300y shots on fox up to fallow. a 6.5 (i have one too), whatever cartridge tends to be a bit loopy unless you go 6.5x284 which is a bit specialist and somewhat of a barrell burner. 30 cal, whilst effective, is too much for roe and munty in my opinion, and quite oftten pops the gut even with a well placed h/l shot and is not the best for nightime fox work if you ever intend to do that.

use the estate rifle when you go for boar, it will be set up properly and not be a compromise.

i think that if i was advised to get a 25-06 as my first rifle, i'd still have it now and not had all the fun and dissapointment of trying all the other calibres.

 

[ian 243]

+one 308