Help with best caliber to buy

[Gizo]

i have just recently got my licence, I own a 12g for sporting clays, and a .22 cz .
I am looking at getting a centrefire
I am thinking Of three options either a .243 , .270 or a .308
I want something for medium game, deer, pigs, goats.
I will also do a bit of target as well.
I am leaning towRds either .243 or .270
Could I please get reasons for choice?

Thanks

Tim

[huccl]

Keep in mind legalities for hunting deer.

.243 is only legal for Fallow, Hog and Chital.

If you want to hunt Sambar and Reds you need .270 or larger, like the .308.

[duncan61]

.243 is very common and will do medium game and target

[bladeracer]

i have just recently got my licence, I own a 12g for sporting clays, and a .22 cz .
I am looking at getting a centrefire
I am thinking Of three options either a .243 , .270 or a .308
I want something for medium game, deer, pigs, goats.
I will also do a bit of target as well.
I am leaning towRds either .243 or .270
Could I please get reasons for choice?

Thanks

Tim

If you reload, then .243.
If you want to take the bigger deer then .308.
Not a fan of .270, long actions are not necessary these days, even magnums come in short actions now.
Have you looked at 7mm-08?

[Gwion]

7mm-08.

Why? Because...

[Gwion]

hehe...

No, seriously. Go a 308 if you want but the 7mm-08 will load 100gn bullets for varminting goats and small deer but will handle up to 175gn bullets (with the right twist rate) for larger deer, etc. They also shoot flatter than both the 270 and 308 with less recoil and muzzle blast (read BANG; all else being equal). It's all personal choice, and there are plenty of choices out there.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... ester.html
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... +NATO.html
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... ngton.html

[Gamerancher]

Good question to start the arguments so here's some petrol to get the blaze going.
.243W and .270W both burn way too much powder and make a lot of noise for mediocre results.
.308W will do what you want and you'll be able to buy factory ammo just about anywhere, ranging from cheap sh!t to premium grade target and hunting rounds.
If you're planning on reloading, the 7mm-08 is a good trade off. Legal for deer, not to much gun for smaller to medium game with lighter bullets and more than adequate for any sort of target shooting you may want to have a go at. Has the benefit of reduced recoil compared to the .308 as well.

[Oldbloke]

270 or a .308 or 3006
Unless your specifically targeting sambar, I would go the 308.

[AusTac]

308 for sure

[Chronos]

Keep in mind legalities for hunting deer.

.243 is only legal for Fallow, Hog and Chital.

If you want to hunt Sambar and Reds you need .270 or larger, like the .308.

He lives in NSW, no caliber restrictions on deer

Chronos

[Oldbloke]

"He lives in NSW, no caliber restrictions on deer" Yep, I noticed that too, but he trips over the border? Anyway, 308 fixes all that.

[Gun-nut]

You can buy .308 almost anywhere and it would be my choice based on the availability of a wide variety of ammunition for it. But it really comes down to the specifics of what you want it for. As was stated above, if you decide to hunt deer in Vic for example, you'll need larger than .243 for certain types of deer.

[WayneO]

Drop all 3 off your list and get yourself a 6.5 x 55 Sweed. It has next to no recoil, its a very accurate caliber and shoots rings around the calibers on your list at long range and its different so you dont have the same old caliber that everyone else has.

[Geech]

I can't add any real world experience, but I recently went through the process of researching the 3 calibres you're looking at for pretty much the same purposes. I ended up deciding to go for the 7mm-08. All of the research I did led me to believe it was a great balance of ballistic performance for the amount of recoil. The only downside I came up with was the cost/availability of ammo, but I would like to get into hand loading anyway so this wasn't a huge concern. I'm waiting for my PTA to be finalised before I pick up my rifle - but everything on paper made the 7-08 stand out for me

[Mitch]

7mm-08, or 6.5x55

243 may be a bit under gunned, 270 is nice, 308 is over-rated to me.

[juststarting]

308

[bigfellascott]

Don't over think it - they will all work just decide what you want to hunt and go from there - I kept it simple and went 308 for deer and pigs as ammo and reloading components are readily available - I don't care about ballistic charts or any of that crap, I know the 308 gets the job done on the game I intended hunting and that's all that mattered to me.

[superdave]

.308/7mm08 for all the reasons listed above.

And later, if you feel like you want to complete your selection of things to mallet furry creatures with, a.223.

It will sit between .22 and .308 and give you the ability to use the most appropriate tool for the job.

[Oldbloke]

Don't over think it - they will all work just decide what you want to hunt and go from there - I kept it simple and went 308 for deer and pigs as ammo and reloading components are readily available - I don't care about ballistic charts or any of that crap, I know the 308 gets the job done on the game I intended hunting and that's all that mattered to me.

+1 "ammo and reloading components are readily available " and cheap

[WayneO]

Don't over think it - they will all work just decide what you want to hunt and go from there - I kept it simple and went 308 for deer and pigs as ammo and reloading components are readily available - I don't care about ballistic charts or any of that crap, I know the 308 gets the job done on the game I intended hunting and that's all that mattered to me.

very well said.

[Jeff303]

Meh. 308s are like arseholes.
If you want to reload get a 30-06 or go the 270. Top alrounder , even if it is bit vicous on smaller stuff . 25-06 bit light for big deer but good for everything else

[AndyZ]

I am going thru the same thought process. 7mm 08 and .308 are on my radar. Also 7mm RemMag any body have any experience/comments on that calibre

[bladeracer]

I am going thru the same thought process. 7mm 08 and .308 are on my radar. Also 7mm RemMag any body have any experience/comments on that calibre

A mate of mine in Perth had a 7mmRemMag.
Long-action, belted brass, about 40% more powder to get 150-300fps more velocity than the short-action 7mm-08.
Looking at ADI it seems to prefer some powders that you might not find useful in other cartridges.

[RoginaJack]

My 2cents worth - .243W or 7-08...

[Gizo]

Thanks for all the advice

[in2anity]

Don't over think it - they will all work just decide what you want to hunt and go from there - I kept it simple and went 308 for deer and pigs as ammo and reloading components are readily available - I don't care about ballistic charts or any of that crap, I know the 308 gets the job done on the game I intended hunting and that's all that mattered to me.

+1

[Oldbloke]

If you look at the ballistic charts, at say 250 yards there is sfa difference in projectile drop.

[hunting99]

bigfellascott wrote:
Don't over think it - they will all work just decide what you want to hunt and go from there - I kept it simple and went 308 for deer and pigs as ammo and reloading components are readily available - I don't care about ballistic charts or any of that crap, I know the 308 gets the job done on the game I intended hunting and that's all that mattered to me.

+1

[Oldbloke]

The 7mm mag, kicks like a mule. 3006 is significanty milder.

[Member-Deleted]

.270 cant go wrong.