Thread: Good caliber to start hunting with?

Goddam 36 posts before I saw this, bugger, I love 'Wot calibre' threads.
Are you 100% about this 308 business mate

tell us how much you wish to spend on a scope and that will enable us to have some fun, sorry, I mean give you some good advice

Originally Posted by TyrinnS

223?
303
308
30-06

To hunt what?

goats?
shellfish?

If you are starting out I'd suggest you go a light caliber, a 223 and a light gun like an AR15, but that is $2k. Otherwise a decent bolt action like a CZ at about $1200.

That caliber will be good to practice with, light to carry and fairly cheap to run. Plan on using 1000 rounds or about $800 in ammo practicing.

Make sure the A7 has the upgraded stock, the first ones were too fragile around the front sling swivel and would break with bipod use, I am fairly sure they upgraded the stock to fix this teething problem??

As for scope what kind of country do you intend to hunt?
A VX6 2-12 or 3-18 would cover pretty much any scenario in any of NZs islands

Nothing wrong with a A7 .308! My friends 7mm-08 A7 printed clovers at 100 with the first reloads he made. Only thing is the stock thing VC mentioned but the new stocks should be alright?

I reckon TyrinnS made a great choice for a first hunting rifle - so many options for a scope and they will all do the job - just buy the best you can afford and you will have a great rifle

I love my remmington 7mm-08. Just my 2c worth.

300 RUM. that will have you sorted for all game in NZ

Congrats on passing the first obstacle. By going with an A7 in 308 you have chosen a rifle you feel comfortable with and a calibre that will humanely drop anything you shoot
Are you bush hunting or tops shooting?

I remember wondering why there was such an attitude of calibre not matering when I made my thread like this. Now I understand, haha.

308 is a good choice - the same way I eventually went. Spend as much as you can on a scope. The old, "spend as much on the scope as the rifle cost," is a good guide. You won't regret it. You will regret buying $400 pieces of crap unless you limit yourself to quite close range. The scope's more important than the rifle if anything.

Originally Posted by MattyP

I remember wondering why there was such an attitude of calibre not matering when I made my thread like this. Now I understand, haha.

308 is a good choice - the same way I eventually went. Spend as much as you can on a scope. The old, "spend as much on the scope as the rifle cost," is a good guide. You won't regret it. You will regret buying $400 pieces of crap unless you limit yourself to quite close range. The scope's more important than the rifle if anything.

There are a couple of very good, reliable scopes around for under the 400 mark. They may not be fancy, but they sure as hell work

Originally Posted by Nick-D

There are a couple of very good, reliable scopes around for under the 400 mark. They may not be fancy, but they sure as hell work

What are the nikko diamond scopes like for entry level centrefire?

I use a 243 in the UK and shoot Foxes, muntjac, Roe and Fallow with it and it does the job well, But Im not sure Id want to shoot a big Red stag in the roar with it. If I were in your shoes I think Id go 308...

Originally Posted by hawkfish

I use a 243 in the UK and shoot Foxes, muntjac, Roe and Fallow with it and it does the job well, But Im not sure Id want to shoot a big Red stag in the roar with it. If I were in your shoes I think Id go 308...

Not sure why people say such nonsence. A 243 will bowl a very big stag anytime over no problem, esp in the roar bush stalking where the distance shooting is going to be shortish.Its a proven fact that if you about to shoot a 140-150kg stag with a 243 the bestplace to aim for is the shoulder and its yours. Why, because the best perforance out of a 243 round is where it hits bone and thats a fact. Behind the shoulder on a big stag still will kill it but it could run quite a long way before it drops hence some people lose it. Neck shot will kill it on spot but a big stag can have a big blown up neck and room for error not hitting it right in the spot hence again can drop one then its up and off. Middle of the shoulder its dead and wont go far at all if anywhere. 243 is way under rated in the roar. Last roar i shot 4 good stags, biggest 140kg plus, another one at least 120kg all one shot kills and the most anyone of the stags went was 50m which i shot in the chest. A 243 is awesome out to 200m and for roar hunting thats whats coming with me, even thou a have just got a 308 for longer ranges. Still, a 308 is even better at longer ranges but a 243 will do anything a 308 will do with 0 200 m with shotplacement. Aim at that shoulder young man!!

Originally Posted by deer243

Not sure why people say such nonsence. ........and thats a fact.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's nonsense. As you pointed out, good shot placement with a .243 is sufficient. The problem can arise when a new hunter and some not so new too, get buck fever and may not place the shot in the best spot, especially on a big Red stag like we get here in our local pine forests. Some of these stags can go over 170kgs dressed and you don't want them running 50m. A heavier cartridge such as the .308 30/06 etc with a suitable bullet gives a little more leeway as regards shot placement.