Beginner Hunter Caliber Question

[LynnJr]

Finally! Someone actually gets it! I sure hope a person with admittedly almost no rifle experience AND still decides that after a couple boxes of ammo in a medium bore rifle he's ready to hunt is hunting in your other guys' area and not mine!!!

I hope the first time hunter using a 223 is in your area and not mine. I don't want to see a bunch of crippled bucks in my area.

[Rockdog]

I have come full circle, and now I am leaning towards a 270 or 30-06. I believe I am a big enough guy to handle the recoil. I am not overly concerned with ammo cost, and I think I want to learn on what I will be hunting with. I plan on taking a rifle safety course, practice (anyone in the south bay area have a favorite range?) and once I feel more comfortable, begin to learn to hunt. Maybe within a year or two, I will be able to fill my freezer.

Thank you all for the feedback.

Rocky

[sigstroker]

You can always ease into it by getting a rifle with a muzzle brake or threaded barrel. Once you feel comfortable with it, you can take it off to make it easier on your ears.

[FishnHunt]

Invest in limb saver airtech recoil pads.
my tikkas have them and I can shoot couple boxes no problem.
I suggested it to a friend who has a Rem 700, 06 and he couldn't believe it.
You can't go wrong with either one. I load for both, but the 06 has TONS of options to choose from. I think 168s in the 06 give you best of both worlds if you don't re load.

[Rockdog]

Invest in limb saver airtech recoil pads.
my tikkas have them and I can shoot couple boxes no problem.
I suggested it to a friend who has a Rem 700, 06 and he couldn't believe it.
You can't go wrong with either one. I load for both, but the 06 has TONS of options to choose from. I think 168s in the 06 give you best of both worlds if you don't re load.

Good advice, at some point I would like to reload, but I have a few other goals to achieve first.

[TMB 1]

Go to an Appleseed and learn to shoot a rifle properly. You do not need a scope. I laugh at the deer hunters around here who think they need a scope to hit a deer at 75 yards.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2084_36_758/products_id/97086/Mossberg+PATRIOT+22+3006+WAL

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2084_36_57_981/products_id/95793/Remington+25793+700+BDL+4%2B1+30-06SPRG+22+1%3A10

Both of these come with sights if you want to follow tomrkba's advice. Plus sights good to have for back up if your scope ever breaks.


One plus for 30-06 is if you ever get an M1 Garand, uses same ammo.

[ChuckDizzle]

I hope the first time hunter using a 223 is in your area and not mine. I don't want to see a bunch of crippled bucks in my area.

.223 is fine for deer. It's been proven over and over again

[Bisley]

I hope the first time hunter using a 223 is in your area and not mine. I don't want to see a bunch of crippled bucks in my area.

Never suggested a .223 for deer, if you care to look back I have consistently said a 17 and rabbits/squirrels to until one actually know what they're doing. Too much natural logic I guess?

[sigstroker]

.223 is fine for deer. It's been proven over and over again

Note that you should use heavy bullets, which brings a twist rate requirement with them. Some Remingtons are 1 in 12, and you should have 1 in 9 or faster for heavier than 55 gr bullets.

[LynnJr]

The 223 is a terrible California deer rifle. Limited range + a lack of energy.
And the OP wants to hunt not practice for 3 years so all suggestions on a rifle are for hunting.
Your advice is so bad you now want him to shoot in a archery class then take up a 22 long rifle weekly league then hunt rabbits and squirrels for years before attempting a guided pig hunt.
Worst advice ever.
So all you 12 year olds taking a hunter safety course please stop. After another 10 years of trading you can then start hunting deer pigs and elk with your 223.
Very sad.

RockDog
I actually hunt and I actually own guns. If you want to do some shooting I am 2 hours north of you in Santa Rosa. Any Sunday it isn't raining and all my gear shoots great. I bring the guns and ammo you do the shooting and post a 5 shot group on this post and it's all free of charge!!!
Your first ever group will most likely be smaller than any group ever shot by most of those posting here.

[XVIga_Rob]

[Rockdog]

I am sure this will be a simple question.

But, would you all recommend, a wood or synthetic stock

[FishnHunt]

Lynn no is talking about 223 for elk. so get that out of your head.
The more some people shoot the more they realize that you don't need a 338 lapua to hunt big game.
i'd like to see this sub moa rifle.
XVIga is right. take the guy up on shooting and trying out rifles. save you lots of time and money.

Stainless synthetic for the win

[XVIga_Rob]

Lynn no is talking about 223 for elk. so get that out of your head.
The more some people shoot the more they realize that you don't need a 338 lapua to hunt big game.
i'd like to see this sub moa rifle.
XVIga is right. take the guy up on shooting and trying out rifles. save you lots of time and money.

Stainless synthetic for the win

This, if possible. After a 2nd good ‘character mark’ on my high gloss walnut stocked 06’, I started looking for a new synthetic stocked rifle. Got a smoking deal on a nice .270 and have not looked back.

[TMB 1]

I am sure this will be a simple question.

But, would you all recommend, a wood or synthetic stock

I'd take wood over most of the synthetic stocks that come on rifles like the Remington 783, Ruger American, Tikka Lite, Mossberg Patriot and Savage.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...ynthetic+Brown If I got something with synthetic stock, it would be something like this.