Hello, Novice here. All advice welcome

[big bang]

Hi all, I’ve been shooting and fishing for as long as I can remember. That said, all of my shooting to date has been either birds or rabbits and limited to shotguns, 22LR, and air rifles. I have recently become infatuated with deer stalking but am relatively inexperienced, so go easy on me. I recently did my DSC1 (waiting for the result) and am going through the application process to get my first FAC. I live in the south east (UK), where there are huge fallow herds, and many many muntjac, so I’m hoping to get involved in helping to manage those numbers (although permissions are as rare as hens teeth where I live, despite the number of deer). I’m hoping to get some advice from this community on a number of issues - first one being best calibre. I’m torn between .270 and (don’t beat me up) a 6.5 CM. I want something that’ll manage non lead well as the writing is apparently on the wall for lead, so I don’t want to start using it and then have to morn its passing… rather just never know what I’d be missing and kick off with non lead. Anyway, am sure no one will read this ‘short’ introduction but glad to be inducted in the SD.

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site. Nice intro and sound reasoning, good luck on your journey.

BC.

 

[VSS]

Welcome!
The answer is .270

 

[big bang]

Welcome!
The answer is .270

Thanks, I’m strongly leaning in that direction. I’ve only shot a .308 in terms of big (ish) boy guns, which was no issue at all, but was wondering about the recoil of .270… have read that it can make people twitch a bit, particularly without a mod (am well aware of the multitude of variables relating to recoil, so difficult to opine blah blah). I’d request a mod for whatever calibre I go for anyway, so assuming the kick would be akin to the 308??

 

[VSS]

Thanks, I’m strongly leaning in that direction. I’ve only shot a .308 in terms of big (ish) boy guns, which was no issue at all, but was wondering about the recoil of .270… have read that it can make people twitch a bit, particularly without a mod (am well aware of the multitude of variables relating to recoil, so difficult to opine blah blah). I’d request a mod for whatever calibre I go for anyway, so assuming the kick would be akin to the 308??

.308 has slightly more recoil than .270
.270 is more fun to shoot

 

[big bang]

That’s it then! FEO seemed unfazed when I asked about the .270 as my first calibre, so I’ll run with it. Thanks VSS

 

[VSS]

That’s it then! FEO seemed unfazed when I asked about the .270 as my first calibre, so I’ll run with it. Thanks VSS

To be honest, with a name like "big bang", it's the obvious choice

 

[ofbiro]

Welcome big bang! Besides .270 and 6 mm CM there are more cartridges than you can imagine. Before focalising on the caliber to use, try to find the rifle more suitable to you. Foe example, would you prefer a detachable magazine (easily loaded /unloaded a, easily lost) or a fixed one, would you like a safety locking the bolt or not a.s.o.

 

[Mike1979]

Welcome to the site. Get a 6.5 Creedmoor I have nothing against .270s but we have moved on from living in caves

 

[tackb]

welcome to the site , whilst the 270 is a classic it's entirely unnecessary for uk deer , if i was you i'd go for the creed or a 308 , ammo is varied and plentiful and the most important thing is to shoot , way more important than having a certain calibre so anything that allows you to practice more (low recoil , cheap plentiful ammo etc) is an advantage

 

[big bang]

Welcome big bang! Besides .270 and 6 mm CM there are more cartridges than you can imagine. Before focalising on the caliber to use, try to find the rifle more suitable to you. Foe example, would you prefer a detachable magazine (easily loaded /unloaded a, easily lost) or a fixed one, would you like a safety locking the bolt or not a.s.o.

Thanks ofbiro. I went to the stalking show this year and held a number of different rifles. I have to say, I hadn’t considered the mag issue, so definitely something I’ll bear in mind as I mull over this (very exciting) decision.

I’ve kind of fallen for the Sauer 505, which is a bit punchy on price but I’m not expecting to chop and change much, so I might as well get what I want off the bat. Aside from the aesthetics, I really like the safety features (cocking system in particular) on the 505. I believe this also has a mag that needs to be depressed into the rifle before the release button allows it to be removed. Guess this would help with the issue you highlighted but not as fail safe as a fixed mag.

What is the advantage, if any, of a thumb hole stock? I know this isn’t a beauty contest (having already mentioned aesthetics once) but I like the look, it’s just whether there are any tangible benefits, or disadvantages of this style. It comes at a premium and want to spend as much as I can on the scope. Excuse the pun but I have my eye on a Swarovski Z6i Mk2 2.5-15 x 56 or a Zeiss Conquest V6 2.5-15x 56. Thoughts?

Decisions are nowhere near finalised, so any steer these big decisions would be very welcome.

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex

 

[big bang]

Welcome big bang! Besides .270 and 6 mm CM there are more cartridges than you can imagine. Before focalising on the caliber to use, try to find the rifle more suitable to you. Foe example, would you prefer a detachable magazine (easily loaded /unloaded a, easily lost) or a fixed one, would you like a safety locking the bolt or not a.s.o.

Thanks ofbiro

 

[big bang]

Welcome from Essex

Thanks T.eddie - I’m also hailing from Essex-dom

 

[ofbiro]

Thumbhole stocks have the disadvantage of being more expensive and, maybe, of hitting noisily the sill of the high seat. On the other hand they enable a steadier grip than traditional stocks.

 

[VSS]

Welcome to the site. Get a 6.5 Creedmoor I have nothing against .270s but we have moved on from living in caves

I don't believe you. Your profile says Powys

 

[Essexsussex]

Wish I’d timed this to chip in with VSS. 270 is of course Thor’s choice. But you wouldn’t go wrong even with a 243. Easy to shoot, fallow no worries at all, plenty of lead free that works fine whatever people say. Pretty much the same applies to 6.5cm, etc etc. get a calibre you like the sound of down on your application and get on with shooting.

I can only think of one person who has never changed and will never change their first rifle (my brother) but you’ll probably end up with a spare or something that has some features you hadn’t though of, so don’t get too stressed choosing a rifle as long as the idea of it makes you smile. They all more or less work!!

My final bit of advice, which i rarely take myself, is don’t use the time not shooting to over complicate your plan to harvest deer. Once you’ve got a rifle and it shoots fine, get about and shoot it.

 

[old 30-06]

Once you have bought your rifle (whichever one you decide upon) then you need to put an optic on the top. Save yourself an awful lot of money and heartache, and buy the one you really, really want to start with. I have lots of "inbetweeners" still sitting here before I arrived at where I should have started.

 

[big bang]

Once you have bought your rifle (whichever one you decide upon) then you need to put an optic on the top. Save yourself an awful lot of money and heartache, and buy the one you really, really want to start with. I have lots of "inbetweeners" still sitting here before I arrived at where I should have started.

Sage advice! I’ll show this thread to my wife. Jokes aside, I was trying to talk myself out of the Swaro z6i / Zeiss v6 but I fear that I must heed your advice .

Is a 56mm objective lens necessary / advisable? I’m assuming I’ll be there for the hour before sun rise and the hour after sunset.

 

[VSS]

Sage advice! I’ll show this thread to my wife. Jokes aside, I was trying to talk myself out of the Swaro z6i / Zeiss v6 but I fear that I must heed your advice .

Is a 56mm objective lens necessary / advisable? I’m assuming I’ll be there for the hour before sun rise and the hour after sunset.

No, 56mm isn't necessary.
50mm is about the maximum that's useful.
Anything above that is largely a sales gimmick to appeal to the "bigger must be better" mentality that many buyers have.