Help deciding on a caliber?

[stevebla]

.223 & .22lr

[k1dude]

Did anyone mention .223 yet?

[JackEllis]

This doesn't directly address your question but...

My practice is for hunting so I typically shoot standing and sitting from a tripod, though I need to get more practice from the prone position. I get bored shooting paper, so I have a variety of targets, including small (3-6") gongs for bigger calibers and a variety of reactive targets for .22lr. Hitting used shotgun hulls at 35 yards is pretty entertaining and it teaches you to hold the rifle still. I have not graduated to snuffing out the birthday candle without hitting the candle just yet. I'm also experimenting with plastic bottles wrapped in yellow packing tape and filled with black insulating foam so the hits are easier to see through a scope (they come home and get put in the trash when they're too beat up to reuse).

[eric n]

How much do you plan to shoot?What are your accuracy goals?
What type of rest?
Reload?
How much do you want to spend?

[RNE228]

Given the limited info available, 223.

Consider though, that as folks have mentioned that 223 is cheap, target grade ammo is still more expensive vs plinker grade ammo

Think about what you want to shoot too; the longer heavier bullets that are out now days like a different barrel twist than the older classic lightweight or varmint weight bullets...

[riftol]

Get a .223.

It's perfect for what you want your first bolt-action rifle to do.

[RandyD]

If you aren't shooting beyond 300 yards and you don't plan on hunting it's hard to beat .223. It's a lot cheaper than other calibers. You can buy it anywhere and everywhere that ammo is sold and you can shoot it all day long without fatiguing your shoulder.

I have rifles in over a dozen different calibers. I shoot .223 more often than any of the other caliber.

Now if cost and availability weren't an issue I'd say 30-40 Krag is one of my personal faves.

Based on the goals that you stated, I would also recommend the .223. The ammo is cheap, plentiful, and accurate to 300 yards. Since you are not hunting, power is not a factor. Also, the .223 is a light recoiling rifle.

[russ69]

A 223 bolt gun gets boring pretty fast, my first centerfire was a 243 and I still like them. It's a do everything cartridge and can reach far beyond a 223.

[ar15barrels]

Do you reload?

[killshot44]

Buy: cheap Rem 700 in .308 - add scope of your choice (@least12X)
Buy: prefit barrel in 6R w/8 twist
Buy: 200 6BR cases and 1,000 6mm 105gr Bullets and CCIS-450 primers
Buy: 8lb of RL15 or Varget
Buy: simple single-stage press, bushing dies and the other stuff (or shoot factory Lapua if you’re lazy.

Go: shoot 1/4moa groups all day, print “Smiley Faces” on targets a’ la Lethal Weapon and piss off your friends with .223s/308s.

[LynnJr]

And Savage sells this gun ready to go.

[Squidward]

I'm going out on a limb here by suggesting a bolt action .22 LR. All of the above suggestions are true but if "distance within 300 yards" means mostly 100 to 150 yards then a .22 LR will provide more challenge at a far cheaper price for both gun and ammo.

If you find that bolt actions are too low-speed, high-drag for your taste then you're not out allot of money.

[MissiontoMars]

I think .308 might be the way to go for this one. Just so many options as far as bullet choice and you didn't mention that you reload, so I think .308 will probably offer you the widest selection of factory loads to choose from and try in your particular rifle.

Plus, it's fairly inexpensive.

Also, all major manufacturers offer their rifles in .308, pretty much, so you are free to choose whichever rifle fits your body type and budget.

[k1dude]

And Savage sells this gun ready to go.

Same with Ruger.

[sigstroker]

I'm going out on a limb here by suggesting a bolt action .22 LR. All of the above suggestions are true but if "distance within 300 yards" means mostly 100 to 150 yards then a .22 LR will provide more challenge at a far cheaper price for both gun and ammo.

If you find that bolt actions are too low-speed, high-drag for your taste then you're not out allot of money.

.22 Magnum maybe, or .17 HMR.

The bad thing is that rimfire bolt guns usually feel like toys. Cheaply made toys. Besides, you can get Rugers, Savages, Howas, and others in the low 300's.