Most versatile cartridge for a new shooter

[Bonibags]

Thanks for such a great response guys. I will be booking my safety course for October and hopefully have my application submitted in the new year. I have a lot to think about as far as what I'd like to hunt is concerned. I would like to hunt pigs and dear, but I'll check out each of links included above thanks Gwion.

[scoobs]

everyone says only 1 gun. then they end up with 1 of each gun. same thing yeah? ill also say 243, or maybe even 7mm08?

[in2anity]

Suprised more folks aren't pushing the 223 - bloody fantastic all-rounder and pretty cheap to run (for a centerfire). Very cheap if you roll your own. Of course a 22lr is the no-brainer to practice up on though - absolutely love my 22 get a 22 IMO

[Oldbloke]

Yeah, the 223.is fantastic.

[duncan61]

Powder costs about the same as projectiles so there is bit of saving.My .222 loads are under 50 cents .243 about 85 cents and 7mm is around $2

[duncan61]

I scored packets of 100 Remington 50gn PSP for $17.95

[COLLECTOR 1]

Simple question and a simple answer....... a half decent 223.

Collector 1

[GLS_1956]

Your most versatile cartridge is going to be a shotgun cartridge, the 12 gauge in particular. In rifle cartridges I'll say the 308 Winchester or the 30/06 comes next, however they will be way overkill on small, really small, game.

Of the three cartridges you listed in your post, I'd go for the 243 Winchester. But I encourage you to get a good 22LR rifle as well.

[scotty87]

Most versatile calibre to a new shooter would have to be .223 in 1 in 9 twist. Cheap factory ammo for learning to shoot at different ranges and capable of taking game up to medium size pigs and smaller deer spcies. Neglible recoil, cheap and varied factory ammo, cheap and wide selection of projectile and component choice for reloading.

You'll own way more than one gun.

[Daddybang]

Due to my financial capabilities not quite matching my firearms ambitions I only had one rifle for several years. .a model 70 featherweight classic in .243. Great range of factory ammo available for different applications but as others have correctly stated if you have little or no experience get a .22lr to learn the basics.

[yoshie]

You could get a combination rifle with a 12 gauge and 223 barrels.

[straightshooter]

Hi There

I'm about to start the process of getting a rifle license. I was wanting to set my sites (pardon the pun) early on the rifle I would like to get. I am likely only to ever be able to buy one firearm, so herein lies the dilemma.

Once my license app was approved Id like to purchase a secondhand .357 Magnum Marlin or Rossi lever action as this would fire heaver .357 for close shots on larger game without massive recoil and .38 special in lighter loads for lighter game.The other thought was a Marlin 30-30 but this would be too large for rabbits and there are more efficient cartridges like .243 if I was going to go that large.

Your opinions are muchly appreciated

Bonibags
I think your choice of a 357 lever action for a beginner owning only one gun is quite astute. I would be less inclined to a 30.30 but would suggest a 44 magnum may be an even better choice and would choose a Marlin over a Rossi.
If you are concerned about recoil then I can tell you that my son was shooting full power loads from a 44 magnum Marlin when he was 12. I admit we all have different sensitivities to recoil and muzzle blast.
These cartridges are fun to use, quite flexible and cheap to run. If you you ever graduate to handloading and bullet casting then you will have it made. In either you will then be able to produce subsonic (quiet) loads that emulate a 22 or 22 magnum only with more effective terminal ballistics. Alternatively with full power loads you can take most larger game and you would have 10 shots available. Admittedly you would be restricted to about 150 meter ranges and you would be at a severe disadvantage in wide open country so that means you would have to learn effective hunting methods.
Another advantage is the barrels will last 25000 rounds and more if you keep them properly clean, for possibly a lifetime of shooting from just the one gun.

[bigfellascott]

Buy a min 14-18 gun safe, trust me you'll fill it sooner or later. I guess if I only bought one cal it would probably be something along the lines of a 270.

[in2anity]

I have looked at the 223 many many times from a preppers point it is a good caliber to have being NATO and a lot of ammunition for it available in times of trouble. Then I start looking at the price of projectiles and find them very similar to 308 offerings. Where do you see the savings to be made?. Also a good range of projectile weights and purpose's is a consideration to me. Such as sierras Match King, Pro hunter, Game King, blitzer, Varmiter bullet types. Most manufacturers have something similar just need to check bullet weights are available in each range.

223 for example a common twist rate for hunting is 12 only allowing shooting up to 50gn for longer range 80grn all the way down to 8 twist may be required.

A 308 with a 10 twist will do everything from the 110 grain up to 215 perhaps a 1-11 may be better for the lighter but not really be a problem

Dunno where you're getting your info mate - 22 projectiles are much cheaper than 30cal. They are 1/4 to 1/3 the weight! Do the math!

[Gwion]

If I absolutely could only have one gun and had to shoot anything bigger than a fox, it would be a 243win. Loaded down with light bullets or fully charged with heavy bullets. Pretty versatile.

But as it is, I'm happy with my 22lr, 223rem & 7-08 choice to cover just about anything I am likely to target.

[Dunxy]

I cant really add anything useful, but i must say, "only one gun" it doesn't work that way!

This was me earlier in the year:
First i was looking at a 3gun safe, 1 x .22 1 x air rifle and a milsurp says me....but then i found too many milsurps i simply must have!
5 was never an option after this.
I then filled (in my mind) a 10 gun safe pretty quickly!
So i ended up with a 14 gun unit
Don't go cheap new safe, the units with folded sheetmetal doors with no filling or inner skin can be pried very easily, a mate has one (for ammo) and he showed me how easy these are to defeat and INSISTED i not buy crap.The unit i purchased used weighs well in excess of 200kg,fire proof blah blah and cost about the same as a dirt cheap brand new 10 gun safe and the door alone weighs more than one of these cheap 10 gun safes. Ebay/gumtree is your friend! I got a separate decent sized fireproof safe for ammo,mint condition, for $10 of gumtree.
Buy once cry once they say and i agree.