Beginner Hunter Caliber Question

[Rockdog]

I would suggest you do the following:

Purchase either a .22lr or a .223, either of which can be had for a very reasonable price and both of which are cheap to shoot. Use them to practice shooting a rifle from the same positions you would use in the field - prone, sitting from sticks, kneeling from sticks, standing from sticks. .22lr can be had for as little as 4cents per round and acceptable .223 ammo for under 40 cents, whereas practice ammunition for the .30-06 and .270 starts at 60 cents and goes up from there.

Both the .270 and the .30-06 have taken just about every game species found in North America. I'm partial to the '06 because I have one but I wouldn't hesitate to use a .270 for pigs, deer or elk.

I'm a low volume shooter and I still go through about 200-250 rounds of .22lr per month. The cost difference between 5 cent .22lr and 60 cent .30-06 ammunition on say 2500 practice rounds per year come to over $1k, so a rifle that's cheap to shoot will pay for itself pretty quickly.

Does the lack of recoil from the 22lr mess with your shot once you go back to the 06?

[Rockdog]

Rock dog, where do you live?

Our hunting club is putting on a 2 day hog hunting on January.
We are located in the Long Beach.

The class is in conjunction with the fish and game advanced hunter ex progrM.

I am in the San Jose area, Long Beach is a little far for me, but I do appreciate the invite.

[TMB 1]

Does the lack of recoil from the 22lr mess with your shot once you go back to the 06?

If recoil messes with your shot, you either need a cartridge with less recoil or a heavier rifle so it will have less recoil.

[LynnJr]

For a rifle that covers plinking to elk hunting get a Remington 700 in 30-06 and it will be with you for a lifetime.
I see posters comparing the 270 to the 30-06 and think you need to compare like bullet weights to like bullet weights when making comparisons.
Problem is they don't make 130 or 140 grain 30 caliber factory ammo nor do they make 55,180,190,200,210 or 220 grain 270 factory ammo.
When shooting factory ammo the 270 runs bullets weighing 110-165 grains.
The 30-06 runs factory bullets weighing 55-220 grains.
Ammo is easy to get for either cartridge and a flip of the coin is just as good as anything given your choices as they are very similar for typical type ammo.
If you ever get into reloading 30 caliber is huge.

[Dirtlaw]

Rock dog, where do you live?

Our hunting club is putting on a 2 day hog hunting on January.
We are located in the Long Beach.

The class is in conjunction with the fish and game advanced hunter ex progrM.

Ram Shooter... Awesome!!! I won't be free for about 6 months. So when is the closest event??? SIGN ME UP !!! I'm in OC. Too far to join your club?

[Rockdog]

What would be the smallest caliber round you would fill comfortable hunting boar with?

[MJB]

6.5

It really depends on distance and bullet Construction.

[edgerly779]

FYO The hog hut is not in Long Beach unless at longshore mens bar.

[RNE228]

If I could only have one gun to hunt with, it would be a bolt action in 30-06.
- you can hunt anything in the lower 48 with it
- you can find it ANYWHERE
- there are all kinds of loads for it; target to varmint to heavy hitters
- it is reasonably priced
- it is easy to reload if you ever go down that path.

I started hunting some years back with a Rem700, 30-06, and 3-9x40 scope. Took nice Wyoming antelope at longer range, as well as mule deer.

There are boatloads of great cartridges out there; hard to dis any of them. A lot would work for your purpose just fine. Personally I like 308, and 300 Savage in an old Savage 99 lever gun.

I have had a friend forget his ammo... Out in central Wyoming. 30-06 was easy to find...

Would recommend a 22lr though. Nice to learn on, plink, understand NPOA, etc.

[Dirtlaw]

Long Beach

FYO The hog hut is not in Long Beach unless at longshore mens bar.

(Smiley) But there is training, information and contacts?

[therealnickb]

Does the lack of recoil from the 22lr mess with your shot once you go back to the 06?

If you are using a sloppy technique, yes. The point of a light recoil rifle is lots of comfortable practice. But, you have to practice using solid technique or it will only hurt your shooting.

[Dirtlaw]

I don't know about the bar, but my Kimber Ascent just arrived today and that does have me excited. So light it's amazing. I have one of their 308 police tactical jobs and it seems to weigh a ton.

[TMB 1]

What would be the smallest caliber round you would fill comfortable hunting boar with?

243 Winchester

[FishnHunt]

223 will take a pig down. Especially the TSX .
Rock dog what kind of rifle have you shot?

[ChuckDizzle]

223 will take a pig down. Especially the TSX .
Rock dog what kind of rifle have you shot?

I hope to try the TSX this spring, I used the Razorback XT last time and while it did the job I wanted a little more accuracy.