New to hunting.

This is the forum to visit to introduce yourself, ask basic questions regarding this community, the AZS.org site or general questions that you feel might be something that someone who is new to this site or firearms might ask. You will not be flamed or attacked in this forum for your questions.
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1Nut1DER
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New to hunting.

#1

Post by 1Nut1DER »

Hello All,

I’m sure I’ll be getting a bunch of razing on here but, I’m about to start hunting and was looking for a good caliber to start with. I’m planning on going Elk and Deer. I’ve done some research but everything I find is unhelpful.


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ReaperOfMars
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Re: New to hunting.

#2

Post by ReaperOfMars »

Welcome to the forum.

I hear 22LR is pretty good. 🤣

Hopefully someone on here has an answer of value.

-r
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1Nut1DER
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Re: New to hunting.

#3

Post by 1Nut1DER »

Lol .22LR… Thanks for the input bud. I might look into .22Mag
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Re: New to hunting.

#4

Post by ReaperOfMars »

It’ll kill your dog just fine, ask the AFT.
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Re: New to hunting.

#5

Post by 1Nut1DER »

Hahaha. I think we need to be friends.
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Ballistic Therapy
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Re: New to hunting.

#6

Post by Ballistic Therapy »

I would suggest a good quality 30.06.
It will kill anything in North America.
I have killed more deer and elk with a 30.06 than any other caliber.
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Re: New to hunting.

#7

Post by 428cj »

Yes, a 30.06 is a good round. Also the 308 is also very good.
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Re: New to hunting.

#8

Post by Gatsby »

Welcome. There's a pretty fair discussion on this in the Outdoors forum:
https://www.arizonashooting.org/forum/v ... =21&t=7280

There's a lot of us that use .30-06 still, and in my case I use commercial Core Lokt 150's. I reload for everything else (including '06) except for that beautiful Ruger No. 1
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Re: New to hunting.

#9

Post by Doc »

Sub’d for all the overkill and underkill suggestions.


Can’t wait till you guys fight about nothing. Lol
Last edited by Doc on February 19th, 2022, 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New to hunting.

#10

Post by AZ_Five56 »

For a single round that will cover all big game, I will usually suggest 300 win mag first. 30-06 and 308 are two options that oftentimes have better ammo availability these days, and they'll probably be a little cheaper to shoot.

You mentioned that you were interested in hunting deer and elk, but what range do you feel comfortable making an ethical shot? That might help better determine an appropriate round for you.
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Re: New to hunting.

#11

Post by G34 »

7 Saum for big game
243 for small.
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Re: New to hunting.

#12

Post by TheAccountant »

A 308 will work just fine at distances you should be shooting from as a beginner. There are enough people out there wounding animals with big magnums they can’t shoot.
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Re: New to hunting.

#13

Post by AZ_Five56 »

TheAccountant wrote: February 19th, 2022, 11:40 am A 308 will work just fine at distances you should be shooting from as a beginner. There are enough people out there wounding animals with big magnums they can’t shoot.
This is why I wanted to know how far they felt comfortable shooting. If you're hunting elk under 300 yards, 308 is more than enough. The ammo is usually easier to source, and it's going to be a lighter rifle with a short action.
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Re: New to hunting.

#14

Post by TheAccountant »

AZ_Five56 wrote: February 19th, 2022, 11:53 am
TheAccountant wrote: February 19th, 2022, 11:40 am A 308 will work just fine at distances you should be shooting from as a beginner. There are enough people out there wounding animals with big magnums they can’t shoot.
This is why I wanted to know how far they felt comfortable shooting. If you're hunting elk under 300 yards, 308 is more than enough. The ammo is usually easier to source, and it's going to be a lighter rifle with a short action.
I don’t really care what the OP’s self-assessed comfort level is. There’s enough game that goes unrecovered in a bush with three legs or gut shot because people think a cartridge with “magnum” in the name means they can take 750 yard shots. If you have to ask what cartridge you should be using because you’ve never hunted before, then you shouldn’t be attempting to take game at more than a couple hundred yards. It’s not a knock on OP at all, we were all there at one point, but there should be a realistic understanding of limitations. A magnum for a beginner hunter will likely do more harm than good.
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Re: New to hunting.

#15

Post by Doc »

This thread isn’t disappointing. LOL
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