What Caliber?

[PREACHEROFOZ]

I am buying my first rifle and looking for any advice on caliber selection. I am wanting a rifle that I can use for the broadest range of large game hunting. Right now I am looking at a 30.06 and a 7mm mag. Anyone want to weigh in?

[trust me]

Pick one and you'll be in good shape. Either will do fine.

[jeff-ward]

the .06 is a great all round caliber, but my favorite,s are 300 win mag in my encore does a great job on anything you want to hunt, but my newest favorite for thick or close hunting situations out to 100 yds. is 45-70 in my guide gun LOVE IT.. I find myself shooting this caliber more and more...
these are my favorites.....but you will do well with an .06 huge selection of loads for them......goodluck......jeff

[aceoky]

On game performance is nearly identical, the 7mm Mag shoots somewhat "flatter", but ammo is much more expensive.

The /06 has lasted for so long because it is so versatile. A very hard to beat "all-around" rifle for the one high powered rifle guy or gal. I've hunted with the 30/06 for a long time, and it does what I want when I want it to.

My vote of those two would be the /06, (see my avatar) :)

[C.L.Button]

I agree. With a limiting choice of 1 rifle I would choose the 30-06. Good Luck. :D

[globemountain]

Between the 2, I would pick the .30-06 It is an incredibly versitile cartridge.

[gurn]

I gotta go with a 06. If you dont reload the ammo is cheap. If you do, the bullet selection is second to none. But I sure do like my Marlin 45/70.

[KYhunter79]

Like ace said, the 7mm is a little flatter shooting round but it is also much more expensive. I'd go with the 30-06.

[moreammoplz]

If you think you will go after Elk / Moose or something similar then I would lean to the 7mm. If you mostly want something for Deer, Yotes, and target shooting then go with the 30.06.

30.06 ammo is cheaper, less recoil, will work for most mid sized game and would handle an Elk. With practice you can shoot good groups at 200 or 300 yards.

I shoot the 7mm myself, but I don't shoot more then 10 rounds a year in it. 7mm will have a bit more recoil and is flatter, but most of my shots are less than 150 yards.

You really can't go wrong either way. Spend less money on the gun and more on the optics though. My buddy that I Elk hunted with had a Stainless $700 gun and put a $50 Tasco pronghorn on it an wondered why it wouldn't group very well at 200 yards off sandbags. :confused:

[Hoosier5]

Chose the .30-06, as it will serve your hunting needs.

[Auk1124]

Have no experience with the 7mm mag, but the 06 is a great round that can be reloaded with bullet choices for everything from thick skinned game to coyotes. Probably the most fun caliber to reload I've ever played with. If you are going to do any reloading the 06 will be great. Plus its a heck of a potent round.

[PREACHEROFOZ]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice! Sounds like the .06 is the clear favorite. Now I just have to afford one!

[cephus]

7 mag or '06 wont do you wrong either way. I have a couple of 7mm and 300win mag, I am kind of partial to the belted magnum rounds. BUT. 30-06 ammo will probably be cheaper, although I think the 7mm is more versatile.

[UKturkeyhunter]

I have one of each, and I love them both. You will not be disappointed either way you go. '06 ammo is cheaper, but there is cheaper 7 mag ammo. I would argue with the comments about recoil, though. My .30-06 in a Remington 700 BDL and has significant more recoil than my Ruger 77. I shoot a lighter bullet in 7mm than '06 which is is part, but recoil depends on the gun.

[ceg4uk]

I shoot a .300 win.mag., but if I must choose between the two, I'd buy the .06! Reminds me of a story in Field & Stream talking about with which calibers you could take all of North America's big game animals. I know the .06 was listed. I cannot remember if there were any smaller calibers with which this could be (or was) accomplished.

[iamjustlucky]

Buy the 06. It is a great choice. I have a 270 and a 06 and my biggest problem is deciding the night before which to take. Really, just buy the one which feels better in your hands. If it is not comfortable, it doesn't matter which caliber it is. You will buy then next one soon enough anyway!!!!!

[Jack Ryan]

'06 get's my vote.

[Multidigits]

What about those PCR's Jack. Think you'll be getting one for Ind. hunting?

[C.L.Button]

Multi, What's a PCR ?

[Jack Ryan]

What about those PCR's Jack. Think you'll be getting one for Ind. hunting?

I think I already own just about every weapon currently legal for hunting deer in Indiana except a crossbow.

I don't buy stuff I have no use for.

Well I guess that's not quite true, I have a 45-70 and didn't really have much need for it. I guess ya never know, I can't predict the future.

[Multidigits]

Multi, What's a PCR ?


Pistol cartridge rifle.......debate ongoing in Indiana to allow use for firearms deer. Most prefer it to pass.

[C.L.Button]

Thanks Multi. I hope it passes as well, but I don't want to loose the use of rifle cartridge pistols. I have a Savage Striker I use in Indiana. ;)

[Multidigits]

Pistols aren't the issue.....it's to allow the use of centerfire rifles that use pistol cartridges....such as .44 mag, .45 Long Colt, .357 and so on. there are regulating it on length of the loaded round, and caliber. So, you can use the cowboy rifles and the short range rifles such as the ruger semi-auto 44 and such.

[C.L.Button]

Oh OK. I thought they were trying to do away with RCP's to gain PCR's ? Thanks for the info.

[Hoosier5]

Oh OK. I thought they were trying to do away with RCP's to gain PCR's ? Thanks for the info.

I've heard nothing said about single shot Rifle Cartridge Firing pistols, so not really sure what their thoughts are on this. We are trying to allow the use of short range PCR for Deer here in Indiana.

[C.L.Button]

I'm all for the additions :D

[Jack Ryan]

Oh OK. I thought they were trying to do away with RCP's to gain PCR's ? Thanks for the info.

That was exactly the offer the PCR proponents gleefully made in the begining in order to get their way.

[Multidigits]

Never happened. Indiana's system doesn't work like that for one. Someone makes a proposal and it's discussed, several times and finally acted on--mostly based on public opinion when it's not a management issue. There's never been any barginning and no one is in position to bargin anyway. Some want it, a few don't. Same as any other rule change in Ind. the majority will overcome the minority.

[raven_over_easy]

I recomend the .06, it will server you well.

[Jack Ryan]

Never happened. Indiana's system doesn't work like that for one. Someone makes a proposal and it's discussed, several times and finally acted on--mostly based on public opinion when it's not a management issue. There's never been any barginning and no one is in position to bargin anyway. Some want it, a few don't. Same as any other rule change in Ind. the majority will overcome the minority.

I can't say what was in the proposal. I'm saying several of the most vocal proponents, most of who were not even hunters, were ranting just as hard against the rifle cartridges and banning them as they were argueing for the pistol cartridges and spouting how it was against their second amendment rights to not allow them for deer and accusing people of being anti this and anti that unless they supported the use of their chosen cartridges in rifles for deer season.

We hardly post on the same boards as far as I know multi, I haven't seen your tag line in years so I wouldn't claim to know every thing you have read on line or every one you've talked to, I'm just speaking strictly for the boards in my normal "running grounds" and where I LIVE, INDIANA. You may have a better knowledge of what is going on in INDIANA where you live but this is what I know as a resident of INDIANA.

Pass it or don't pass it, sticks and string or howitzers, I just don't care any more. I live where I hunt and I'm going to out hunt any one who comes to my "backyard" from the city no matter how they suck up or manipulate the rule book with those politics in Indianapolis.

Name your weapons. I don't care. I'll hunt 'em with a frigg'n tomahawk if ya'll want.

[Hoosier5]

Jack,

Lets NOT bring our Indiana (Hoosier) problems concerning they trypes of firearms allowed in Indiana for Deer. The Hunter here in Ky already think Indiana has crazy laws regarding hunting & Equipment

[Jack Ryan]

Jack,

Lets NOT bring our Indiana (Hoosier) problems concerning they trypes of firearms allowed in Indiana for Deer. The Hunter here in Ky already think Indiana has crazy laws regarding hunting & Equipment

I agree with that for sure. I sure don't come all the way to a Kentucky messege board to argue about crazy Indiana laws.

I come here to read and learn about what's going on in KY and how ya'll do it down south.

[Ky Deer Slayer]

If you're not dead set on those two calibers then I would have to tell you to look a a .270. In my opinion it is the best and most verdatile big game cartridge available.

[sweatbee]

270wsm will kill from 0-300 yards aiming dead on. It can handle deer ---elk with no problem.

[Ky Deer Slayer]

Yea the 270 is in my opinion the best caliber there is. Good for long range, up to 300 yards, it will take elk easily, easy to manage reacoil and shoots flat. If you haven't you need to check it out.