Thread: What Should I Be Looking For

Hi to all
I am a brand new hunter i am in the procces of getting my firearms licence now
what would be a good calibre rifle to be starting with i dont have mega $$
i will be hunting in the kawekas for the time being

Have you shot rifles before? Can you handle a bit of recoil?

270 or 7mm rem mag for a good all rounder - good flat shooting rifles for any animals you should come across and bugger all recoil. Both pretty identical ballistically - the 270 going up a whole 5gn more in the max projectile size, the 7mm rem mag is going to get a little faster ~50-100fps but uses more powder.

Hunter101, that question is like asking how long is a piece of string. My counsel to you would be to not be in too much of a hurry. Connect up with some firearms owners that will allow you to trial a few different calibres before finally choosing on that you feel comfortable with. If you have never shot a rifle before then my suggestion would be to spend time with a .22 under good supervision as that way you will learn safety and develope skills without the apprehension that can come with using a larger calibre first up. The are some good members down your way that will extend a helping hand I am sure.

No i havent shot a rifle but i should be able to take a bit of recoil i am 6ft and 95kg i can take a bit of punishment

A .308 would be good since cheap ammo and you can get them every where but like Rushy said dont rush into it.

thanks guys i am in no rush, i will take things slow and see how i get on

Originally Posted by hunter101

No i havent shot a rifle but i should be able to take a bit of recoil i am 6ft and 95kg i can take a bit of punishment

Hunter101 my recommendation that you start with a .22 is not about any inability on your part to not cope with recoil, it is about easing you into shooting with an experience that is not going to give you any bad vices that will haunt your subconscious (e.g a flinch or closing your eyes type reactions).

Originally Posted by Rushy

Hunter101 my recommendation that you start with a .22 is not about any inability on your part to not cope with recoil, it is about easing you into shooting with an experience that is not going to give you any bad vices that will haunt your subconscious (e.g a flinch or closing your eyes type reactions).

Thanks Rushy i will do that,

"Hunting the the Kawekas for the time being"

Pfffft just the Kawekas eh? I wish that was my backyard! Not Wellington showered in green rain!!

Originally Posted by Jackp.

270 or 7mm rem mag for a good all rounder - good flat shooting rifles for any animals you should come across and bugger all recoil. Both pretty identical ballistically - the 270 going up a whole 5gn more in the max projectile size, the 7mm rem mag is going to get a little faster ~50-100fps but uses more powder.

You high?


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Originally Posted by Dougie

"Hunting the the Kawekas for the time being"

Pfffft just the Kawekas eh? I wish that was my backyard! Not Wellington showered in green rain!!

Plenty of places to hunt around wellington without green stuff

Originally Posted by HGM77

Plenty of places to hunt around wellington without green stuff

I'll give you my number, show me!!

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

You high?


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Yeh for a beginner why not start him off with a 458 Lott?

Forget caliber and brand. If it don't fit it wont shoot. Go into one of your local shops and shoulder a few rifles first. Find one that fits.
Kawekas means Sika and they'll die from a bad fright so you don't need a big boomer. Also, if you can't shoot em from a mile away you might just learn to hunt as well .