Which Caliber?

[jcisbig]

Hey all,

I'm looking at buying a rifle sometime. I've already got a .22 rifle, but I'm wanting something with more power for hunting, but don't want to blow my wallet on ammunition. My primary purpose for the rifle would be target shooting and hunting practice, but I would like the rifle to be able to take medium sized game like deer. Any suggestions on a caliber that would still be cost effective to shoot but powerful enough for light hunting? Thanks!

[Lycanthrope]

For your usage the .308 is pretty much perfect.

[Xringshooter]

More info maybe please. Are you mainly going to target shoot with little hunting? Target shooting now with more hunting later? Only worried about hunting deer, not anything else? Many factors to consider. You are going to get multiple answers.

Lycan is not wrong, the .308 is good for both and .308 ammo is fairly cheap and you can reload it.

Mainly going deer hunting? Can't go wrong with a .30-30 and ammo is cheap.

.270 also a good all around caliber for both and can (like the .308) be loaded for varmit through big game.

You're going to hear from the .30-06 gang also, or the 7mm folks, or the .243 people, or the .264 advocates.

No matter which way you decide, have fun and be safe.

[Agent Ronin]

You're going to hear from the .30-06 gang also, or the 7mm folks, or the .243 people, or the .264 advocates.

No matter which way you decide, have fun and be safe.

Hehe, I like the 30-06 just because of selection. If you don't handload nothing can beat the variety of factory 30-06 loads available. From varmint to moose it can do it all. But the .308 and .270 are also very good deer rounds to consider.

[brian]

x2 on the 3006.

[1911shooter]

.300 wsm all the power you need for anything in the lower 48.

[Koli01]

I would say 30-06 also. Easy to find a rifle in such caliber. Ammo is easy to find and loaded with all kinds of bullets. Will kill just about anything you want.

[aubie515]

I'd go with a SA in .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester. The recoil is light on both calibers, if you don't reload there are tons of factory ammo choices. I wouldn't go to any WSM as it is not needed for whitetail in PA. Not to mention that factory ammo for WSM is expensive.

The .243 will kill ground hogs to whitetail and has plenty of factory ammo to choose from. I like 75gr Vmax for ground hogs and anything over 100gr for whitetail.

For 308 you can go as light as 110gr for ground hogs and 150gr and up for whitetail. Enjoy and think about rifle selection as well as caliber.

For the $400 price range
Howa - Good trigger, good action, and accurate.
Savage - Good adjustable trigger, accurate, but action and factory stock sucks.

$500 price range
Tikka T3 Lite - Awesome action, adjustable trigger, good accuracy.

$600
Steyr Prohunter - Smooth action, accurate, nice trigger, kewl looking spiral barrel.

[TwistedCopper]

Get yourself a lever action .30-.30. Winchester model 94 or a Marlin if you want a scope. Cheap & readily available ammo, reliable as hell, and a great deer gun for any terrain, especially thick woods/brush. Oh, and a really fun plinker too.

My second choice would be a 30-06

[91xlt]

All good advice so far, follow any of it and you will do fine.

Now onto my $.02 on this, if mostly target w/ some hunting .308, if mostly hunting w/ some target .30-06

But again any of the advice given will make you a happy shooter.