Starting shooting - info and equipment required

[Sc0uT]

G'day lads,

Need some info around start-up and minimum equipment required as I am new to rifle ownership in Australia. Left South Africa 14 years ago and lets just say things were a 'little' different around gun ownership. I have read all I need to know around licensing, so this is just equipment I am researching.

I am going to spend around $1200 on a 2nd hand .243 rifle/scope combo. Should be good for Sambar/Rusa/Fallow/Red, right?

What should I look out for, regarding 2nd hand gear? Any things I should be aware of when private purchasing/shop purchase? Probably a multitude of resources out there, I don't mind you pointing me to some reading material.

I have plenty of hunting spots, far away from human habitation, but as I live in the city (Canberra), can i claim feral removal as a reason for rifle ownership? I can get letters from the landowners to back up the claim, but will it be accepted?

I prefer not to reload my own as I have a habit of cock'ing small things up. Does the cost really get out of hand if you don't? Is there any other alternative?

By my comments above, you will probably work out I am a noob at this, but you don't know unless you ask.

Frankly, the internet is scared of guns and their connotations, so it can be a bit time consuming searching this stuff out. Rather get the low-down from you lot.

Cheers
Doug

[1sikxt]

I'm pretty sure you need a 270 and above for samba

[Sc0uT]

Cheers. Would different ammo overcome that issue?

[1sikxt]

I'm pretty sure it's a minimum of 130gr out of a 270

[Aster]

G'day lads,

Need some info around start-up and minimum equipment required as I am new to rifle ownership in Australia. Left South Africa 14 years ago and lets just say things were a 'little' different around gun ownership. I have read all I need to know around licensing, so this is just equipment I am researching.

Welcome to the forum mate, and welcome back to shooting.

I am going to spend around $1200 on a 2nd hand .243 rifle/scope combo. Should be good for Sambar/Rusa/Fallow/Red, right?

You're talking seriously different deer there. A good size Fallow might be 80kg. A big Sambar deer can be 500kg. That's a whole lot more skin, bone and muscle to get through to hit something vital...

As for what calibre is suitable. You'll get lots of different opinions on this depending on who you ask.

I know this will ruffle a few feathers, but some people will tell your a .22 is all you need for deer, and that it's all about shot placement blah blah blah. Personally I reckon that's BS. Unless you're the terminator and can do a perfect head shot every time at any distance you need (IMHO) a calibre that will humanly put down a deer with a shot to the chest which is what most people can consistently do.

For Fallow a .243 with heavy pills is fine IMO. For the bigger guys like Sambar and Rusa, I'd say you want something like a .270, 7mm-08 or .308.

There are minimum legal calibres in some states too. The info 1sikxt is for Victoria (.243 w/ 80gr pills for fallow/chital/hog deer and .270 w/ 130gr pills for red/rusa/sambar) and I believe NSW share the same laws? ACT may have some similar which is something you should check.

What should I look out for, regarding 2nd hand gear? Any things I should be aware of when private purchasing/shop purchase? Probably a multitude of resources out there, I don't mind you pointing me to some reading material.

Just to make sure you don't get something that's shot out that someone is trying to flog. A lot of people will post photos of their groups along with the rifle when they list them on used guns. Stuff like that is good.

I have plenty of hunting spots, far away from human habitation, but as I live in the city (Canberra), can I claim feral removal as a reason for rifle ownership? I can get letters from the landowners to back up the claim, but will it be accepted?

You don't have to specify the exact location of everywhere you will be shooting. Just the purpose. If you have to dry 2 minutes or 2 hours it's all the same.

I prefer not to reload my own as I have a habit of cock'ing small things up. Does the cost really get out of hand if you don't? Is there any other alternative?

For the kind of calibre's we're talking about it's about $1.40 per shot for factory ammo, or about 80c per shot for hand loads. Whether reloading is worth it or not depends on how much you shoot and that's up to you.

By my comments above, you will probably work out I am a noob at this, but you don't know unless you ask.

Don't be afraid to ask. It's all good.

[Sloth]

Send this guy a PM as he live in the ACT as well

His name is Kipper

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=92

[Sc0uT]

Outstanding gents. So maybe an all round rifle would be a better choice, i will research the 270 and 7mm. I will look into reloading and try not to blow the man-shed up.

[1sikxt]

Maybe check out a 30-06 or 308 also

[Hercl]

Maybe check out a 30-06 or 308 also

30-06 is a fine deer calibre, but I'm thinking recoil is a factor since OP was initially looking at a .243?

Just thinking out loud anyway...

[1sikxt]

Maybe check out a 30-06 or 308 also

30-06 is a fine deer calibre, but I'm thinking recoil is a factor since OP was initially looking at a .243?

Just thinking out loud anyway...

That's true but from what iv found 270 & 30-06 have similar recoil

[Lorgar]

So maybe an all round rifle would be a better choice, I will research the 270 and 7mm.

7mm-08 is one of my favourite calibres.

Shooting something like a 140gr pill in 7mm-08 gives excellent ballistics, is quite recoil friendly, and still has serious power on the receiving end.

A shot to head or anywhere in the boiler room and any of those deer are going down.

For a particularly big Sambar some will that that's on the lower end of the scale in terms of effectiveness, but with a decent shot it will still do the job no worries.

[Member-Deleted]

Not many head shooters I've noticed on this forum. The 243 will take every species with ease in nsw. Yes the minimum requirement is 243 for deer In nsw & 270 in Mexico but if your after the whole beast then head shots are the way to go. It really doesn't matter what you use. Sambar are taken in nsw as well if that's your choice. Parker hale make great 243 & with a stout 100g solid it will take everything your about to shoot at. Good luck with it

[Kater]

...but if your after the whole beast then head shots are the way to go.

I don't think there's that much to be lost by a chest shot, as long as you're not using some cannon which is going to blow out kilos of meat.

At longer ranges or for less steady hands, I just reckon through the heart area is a much easier shot and there's not much to loose around the bottom half of the ribs there?

IMHO anyway...