First deer rifle

[NukeBOMB88]

I am looking to get into deer hunting as I have been seeing many , many deer on our out paddock and want to deal with them before they eat any more pasture , I had a look on my LGS web sight and they have a few rifles for sale at what looks like a great price . These are the rifles that I was looking at :

Mossberg Mavrick 270Win Syn/Blued With 3-9 x 40 Scope $595.00

Mossberg Mavrick 30-06Sprg Syn/Blued With 3-9x40 Scope $595.00

Mossberg Mavrick 308Win Syn/Blued With 3-9x40 Scope $595.00

Stevens 200 243Win Syn/Blued With 3-9x40 Scope $595.00

Stevens 200 30-06Sprg Camo/Blued With 3-9x40 Scope $595.00

Out of these rifles what would be best for the fallow/red/sambar deer that I see on the out paddock?
Thanks , Henry.

[Westy]

Both the 30-06 and the 308 will handle any job including deer but the 270 is a whole other thing !!!! 308 is easy to load for and quite cheap to feed as well !!Go shoot them all and see what's for you !!!IMHO

[yoshie]

I'd try and get a hold of all those cals in similar stocked rifles and see what you think of the recoil. a 308 will do the job nicely and will be easy to trade if you ever upgrade. The 30-06 is just more of a good thing, the 270 will let you shoot out further than the 308 he you think you'll ever need it. The recoil is the deciding factor, the 30-06 is bigger, the 270 snappier. if you find the 308 too much consider a 243

[bigfellascott]

I'd try and get a hold of all those cals in similar stocked rifles and see what you think of the recoil. a 308 will do the job nicely and will be easy to trade if you ever upgrade. The 30-06 is just more of a good thing, the 270 will let you shoot out further than the 308 he you think you'll ever need it. The recoil is the deciding factor, the 30-06 is bigger, the 270 snappier. if you find the 308 too much consider a 243

You can't use a 243 on Sambar can you? I'd go the 308 if it was me, milder to shoot than the 30-06 and should be easier to get factory ammo for.

[handofcod]

I'd be looking at Howa before Mossberg, just personally. And Tikka too but there's a bit of a price bump over Howa.

270, 308 or 30-06 are fine calibers, just make sure you acclimatise yourself to the recoil and be honest with yourself about your accuracy.

[North East]

Tikka T3 Lite .30-06...hits very hard.

Kick a bit but you should to be to handle it.

[North East]

You can't use a 243 on Sambar can you? I'd go the 308 if it was me, milder to shoot than the 30-06 and should be easier to get factory ammo for.

You can't use a .243 on Sambar deer...too gutless.

[FuzzyM]

.308 for a nice balanced cartridge with good availability.
Not that I have fired one

[North East]

.308 for a nice balanced cartridge with good availability.
Not that I have fired one

Well fire one then....personally I prefer a .30-06. More bang for the buck.

[NukeBOMB88]

Both the 30-06 and the 308 will handle any job including deer but the 270 is a whole other thing !!!! 308 is easy to load for and quite cheap to feed as well !!Go shoot them all and see what's for you !!!IMHO

I wish it was an option for me to shoot all these calibres to get a feel for them but I dont have any friends who have them so it's a no go on that idea unfortunately

I'd try and get a hold of all those cals in similar stocked rifles and see what you think of the recoil. a 308 will do the job nicely and will be easy to trade if you ever upgrade. The 30-06 is just more of a good thing, the 270 will let you shoot out further than the 308 he you think you'll ever need it. The recoil is the deciding factor, the 30-06 is bigger, the 270 snappier. if you find the 308 too much consider a 243

I don't mind what the recoil is to be honest , I've been shooting 12g for so long that I don't feel it all that much anymore

I'd be looking at Howa before Mossberg, just personally. And Tikka too but there's a bit of a price bump over Howa.

270, 308 or 30-06 are fine calibers, just make sure you acclimatise yourself to the recoil and be honest with yourself about your accuracy.

Yeah mate howa do make a damn fine rifle to be sure, I just think I might go with something different cause I have a howa in .223 and also I think they are a little bit more expensive ( around $900 ?)


I did a bit of research on Mossberg rifles on YouTube and a lot of people seem to think they are a bit lower quality than many other rifles . I also looked up the Stevens 200 and they seem to be the go so maybe I should go with the Stevens 200 .30-06 ?

[North East]

A .30-06 is about the most popular Sambar deer caliber around in Oz. Doesn't clobber you...too much.

Try it....and use an Aimpoint Hunter 1X red dot scope.

[NukeBOMB88]

A .30-06 is about the most popular Sambar deer caliber around in Oz. Doesn't clobber you...to much.

Try it....and use an Aimpoint Hunter 1X red dot scope.

Yeah mate I might have a look at one of those scopes because most if the deer I see are 100m ish but I'll see how I go with a 3-9x40 scope first I think

[Oldbloke]

A .30-06 is about the most popular Sambar deer caliber around in Oz. Doesn't clobber you...to much.

Try it....and use an Aimpoint Hunter 1X red dot scope.

3006 must be the most popular deer cal in vic and 308 I think would come second. I have a 3006 with a 3 to 9 x 40. Very happy with it. Scope choice depends on your hunting environment and style. Ps 3006 handles the heavier projectiles a little better, but could be down loaded a little if you wanted.

[NukeBOMB88]

Yeah the bigger projectiles is certainly another plus to the .30-06 , gives you a bit more versatility

[rsj223]

A .30-06 is about the most popular Sambar deer caliber around in Oz. Doesn't clobber you...to much.

Try it....and use an Aimpoint Hunter 1X red dot scope.

Are you saying the 30-06 can have less recoil than 308?

[FuzzyM]

On a side note, can't wait to get my .303 so I can be one of the thirty cal boys
One more payment to go

[North East]

Are you saying the 30-06 can have less recoil than 308?

With a brake on it has...but otherwise it hasn't.

Either way it hits a lot harder than a .308.

[VICHunter]

You can't use a 243 on Sambar can you? I'd go the 308 if it was me, milder to shoot than the 30-06 and should be easier to get factory ammo for.

Not here, nope.

.243 80gr pill for Chital, Fallow, Hog.

.270 130gr pill for Red, Sambar, Rusa.

Those are minimums.

[bigfellascott]

Not here, nope.

.243 80gr pill for Chital, Fallow, Hog.

.270 130gr pill for Red, Sambar, Rusa.

Those are minimums.

Thanks for that mate, I had a feeling it was something along those lines.

[VICHunter]

No problem.

[aekpani]

I have Tikka .300 WSM for deer job
Devastating!!

[Oldbloke]

My advice is go for a popular cal. 3006, 308, or 270. All good & legal for all specis in vic and ammo cost is reasonable, mainly because they are popular. Rifle, dont buy a racing car if you need one to go shopping in town. Some people spend a small fortune on a rifle and only fire the odd shot. With modern production these days even most of the cheaper rifles shoot fine if you reload. And they will certainly out last you given some basic care. They may not look much thats all. Horses for courses.

[VICHunter]

I have Tikka .300 WSM for deer job
Devastating!!

That will definitely do it.

Not knocking and if that's what people wan't go for it.

Arguable about going with one for a first time hunter though.

[hiyoh]

With modern production these days even most of the cheaper rifles shoot fine if you reload. And they will certainly out last you given some basic care. They may not look much thats all. Horses for courses.

Ruger seems to be proving that with their latest.

Very affordable rifles that shoot well enough.

[1290]

You can't use a 243 on Sambar can you? I'd go the 308 if it was me, milder to shoot than the 30-06 and should be easier to get factory ammo for.

Not here, nope.

.243 80gr pill for Chital, Fallow, Hog.

.270 130gr pill for Red, Sambar, Rusa.

Those are minimums.

It can be a bit confusing, the 0.270" is the calibre not the chambering (270WIN.) as a min.... now that the cartridge length minimum is no longer stated, its open so technically you could use a 310cadet...not that you would.

You can now also therefore use the pistol chamberings like 44RemMag and 357Mag in lever if you desire
You can also use a shotty with slugs, provided its at least 20g and has sights or scope (not beads)

Whatever you choose, make sure you've got enough 'gun', you can find the ammo (or the components to load) and you can competently shoot it! To do that shoot it, a lot, before going bush.

To gauge recoil, its a factor of rifle mass, projectile mass, proj velocity and propellant load.....the 30-06 based round burn more propellant and therefore recoil all other things equal will be more than the 308win family. Example; 270win/130gr produces about 10% MORE free recoil than a 308win/168gr both max loads.

[VICHunter]

It can be a bit confusing, the 0.270" is the calibre not the chambering (270WIN.) as a min.... now that the cartridge length minimum is no longer stated, its open so technically you could use a 310cadet...not that you would.

Confusing...... It's stupid, to be frank.

As you indicated and know, there are plenty of smaller high velocity calibres that are more effective than larger calibre older/slower/smaller cartridge. It's a poor and inaccurate system for deciding the minimums.

You seen figures for the new 26 Nosler?

140gr pill @ 3,300 FPS. Hits like a train with the velocity but is "too small" for deer hunting here

[VICHunter]

For Red, Sambar and Rusa hunting I should say.

[AusC]

Save myself retyping it.... Supporting bit of info here with tables comparing the .243 vs .270 and where the .243 can potentially have more energy on target than the large calibre bullet in that particular cartridge.

.243 vs .270 velocity and energy comparison.

[cala90]

Yeah mate howa do make a damn fine rifle to be sure, I just think I might go with something different cause I have a howa in .223 and also I think they are a little bit more expensive ( around $900 ?)

I know this doesn't include a scope in the price but I think it's pretty good value for money. http://www.gunemporium.com.au/Howa-Spor ... luted.html

I picked up a Fluted 223 from there last week for $599.

[Xerox]

Bloody good value for a straight shooter like the Howa.