caliber question

07 December 2010, 19:54

DMB

caliber question

quote:
Originally posted by Lone Cowboy:
oh great board of wisdom...

ok
my wife wants a bolt action hunting rifle.
but we need to pick caliber.
She has an M14 (.308) and can shoot it, but notices the kick and "it kicks my butt"
We had a .308 bolt action at one point, and she felt that kicked a lot (although she has forgotten this)
North American game
probably deer sized or smaller
not moose/grizzly/etc, and of course she could take the M14 with a short mag for that.

thoughts on caliber?
thanks,

Based on what you say about her recoil tolerance above, I would look for a Rem 700 Classic in 300 Savage, or 250-3000. If she could shoot a rifle a friend of yours has in 260 Rem or 7-08 and she how she reacts to recoil from them, and if she doesn't flinch when shooting them, either the 260 or the 7-08 would be perfect for her, and the game you will hunt. You can load either of these rifles to her recoil tastes.

Don

07 December 2010, 22:40

ColeK

Sounds like she would realy like a .257 Roberts.

07 December 2010, 22:55

swampshooter

Deer size or smaller game with little recoil. Fits the .243 perfectly. The 257 Roberts is made in very few rifle models, but the .260 Remington is a modern version of the 257. If you consider the .243 too small then the .260 would be the logical next step up.

11 December 2010, 06:03

k-9 krippler

7x57 gets my vote!

11 December 2010, 08:59

rcamuglia

I see a complete lack of .223 recommendations.

11 December 2010, 09:59

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by rcamuglia:
I see a complete lack of .223 recommendations.

Interesting how many folks recommend the .260 and 6.5 X 55 (ballistic twins).....

Add to that the .243 and .25 calibers and the majority of suggestions is almost completely covered....

Years ago the overwhelming pick was a .30 caliber of some nature....30-30, .300 Savage, .30-06, .308, etc....

Folks have discovered how marvelously effective the smaller calibers are....and easy to shoot.

It makes me wonder what the future of the .270 Winchester has in hold....

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11 December 2010, 10:14

rcamuglia

quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
quote:
Originally posted by rcamuglia:
I see a complete lack of .223 recommendations.

Interesting how many folks recommend the .260 and 6.5 X 55 (ballistic twins).....

Add to that the .243 and .25 calibers and the majority of suggestions is almost completely covered.....

It makes me wonder what the future of the .270 Winchester has in hold....

The 6.5mm rounds are awesome shooters. My experience is mostly with the Creedmoor, very similar to the .260. No recoil, but my rifle has a brake and is pretty heavy.

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot big muleys with it

You may have to bring in HC to comment on the .270!

11 December 2010, 18:06

Shof

quote:
Originally posted by rcamuglia:
I see a complete lack of .223 recommendations.

It's for a very good reason that the .223 caliber hasn't been recommended. It's a great cartridge, but on whitetail sized animals, it's not for inexperienced hunters.

The bullet needs to be placed precisely, and in the excitement of taking a deer, that's hard to do for a beginner.

Which is why I recommended nothing less than a .25 caliber.

11 December 2010, 18:52

Joe-S

I have a mini 14 in 6.8 and the recoil is no more than a 223. My son has killed a grizzly bear with it and I have taken many caribou with it.
Bullets are from 90-110g if you do not reload.
It is a near perfect rifle for mild recoil
joe

11 December 2010, 19:59

Shof

quote:
Originally posted by Joe-S:
I have a mini 14 in 6.8 and the recoil is no more than a 223. My son has killed a grizzly bear with it and I have taken many caribou with it.
Bullets are from 90-110g if you do not reload.
It is a near perfect rifle for mild recoil
joe

But the original poster's wife is looking for a bolt action rifle. I don't recall Mini-14's as being bolt action...

11 December 2010, 22:44

Joe-S

Ruger has 6.8 in thier Hawkeye Compact and that is a bolt action with a 16.5 in barrel and Remington also has it in one the 700 but i can't remember which model
joe

14 December 2010, 01:04

Allan DeGroot

quote:
Originally posted by kudu56:
7mm-08 or a .260 hard to beat. Rifles in 7mm-08 are easier to find and less expensive.

and easier to buy ammo for.

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