Thread: First centrefire rifle

7mm-08 is great but it is well known as the aucklanders gun because we are smart and know a great cal when we see one....
in all honestly here is a list for what I think is a good 1st deer rifle based on both common ammo and price and also shooting ie recoil
243 win
7mm-08
308
6.5x55 (my pick however I reload which you wont to start with)

in my opinion you shouldn't get any bigger than an 308 size case with the exception of the 6.5 there all lower recoil than the 30-06 size case and honestly the less a gun kicks the better no matter what anyone says..... out of that list my views

243 a little to small as an all-rounder ok for goats and the smaller breeds of deer
7mm-08 great all rounder plenty of power for any game in nz from small to the largest and nice and flat shooting
308 great round but wont do any thing the 7mm-08 cant and not flat shooting
6.5x55 great all-rounder less recoil than 7mm-08 but not as flat shooting (reloaded with right bullets it can be) also 6.5 ammo is slightly harder to get

so all of that said I would go 7mm-08 its honestly the most educated pick as a 1st deer rifle in my opinion

some people will say 270 in fact a lot will but I would suggest against it recoil sucks balls with a 270 its not so much a big hard kick but more of a real sharp fast unpleasant one and ive seen more recoil related injuries (with new non experienced shooters) than any other cal

rant over but hope there's useful info there

6.5 x55 or 25-06 would be my recommendations for first centre fire which would allow you to hunt full range of game in NZ. Both have very mild recoil but would still recommend a suppressor as well, regardless of rifle you buy. You only get one set of ears (that work).

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

7mm-08 is great but it is well known as the aucklanders gun because we are smart and know a great cal when we see one....
in all honestly here is a list for what I think is a good 1st deer rifle based on both common ammo and price and also shooting ie recoil
243 win
7mm-08
308
6.5x55 (my pick however I reload which you wont to start with)

in my opinion you shouldn't get any bigger than an 308 size case with the exception of the 6.5 there all lower recoil than the 30-06 size case and honestly the less a gun kicks the better no matter what anyone says..... out of that list my views

243 a little to small as an all-rounder ok for goats and the smaller breeds of deer
7mm-08 great all rounder plenty of power for any game in nz from small to the largest and nice and flat shooting
308 great round but wont do any thing the 7mm-08 cant and not flat shooting
6.5x55 great all-rounder less recoil than 7mm-08 but not as flat shooting (reloaded with right bullets it can be) also 6.5 ammo is slightly harder to get

so all of that said I would go 7mm-08 its honestly the most educated pick as a 1st deer rifle in my opinion

some people will say 270 in fact a lot will but I would suggest against it recoil sucks balls with a 270 its not so much a big hard kick but more of a real sharp fast unpleasant one and ive seen more recoil related injuries (with new non experienced shooters) than any other cal

rant over but hope there's useful info there

The above has pretty much said it all...as far as caliber choice is concerned.

If you are sensitive to recoil, most are to some degree. I know I am; Reload, or get someone to reload. A .308 loaded soft with a 130 tough projectile will still out perform many like a 243, 223, or possibly even a 6.5mm up close.
I think the main question for me would be 'what rifle do I like?'...

There is a mod 70 7mm08 for sale at the moment. It would do me and it would do you.