New to hunting.
- Thread starter 1Nut1DER
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i'd try and hook up with a friend or someone of knowledge and perhaps go on scouting trip, and or a hunt, even if not drawn, learning the basics first hand is a boon to success, seeing how, who and what first hand is always the perscription for personal success.
Pick a caliber and stick with it, practice can win the day, sure ammos cheap, but chasing a wounded animal miles and even worse dragging that sob by hand is a killer, especially if you're and oldie.
lots of info here on calibers, everyones milage will differ, the 06 is the route or the 308, pick one and exercise your right to burn powder and share in the American experience eating game meat.
Rj
Pick a caliber and stick with it, practice can win the day, sure ammos cheap, but chasing a wounded animal miles and even worse dragging that sob by hand is a killer, especially if you're and oldie.
lots of info here on calibers, everyones milage will differ, the 06 is the route or the 308, pick one and exercise your right to burn powder and share in the American experience eating game meat.
Rj
zonie77
Member
Back to your original question, If I was buying a new rifle I would lean towards 308, If I was looking at used rifles I would consider 270, 7mm mag, 308, and 30-06. Any of these will serve you well.
Depending on your budget ammo prices might be a consideration so 308 and 30-06 would probably be cheaper and you can use a cheaper range of ammo for practice, then a premium hunting round for hunting. Make sure you do enough shooting with the actual hunting round because you may have to make some small adjustment to your scope.
Do not cheap out on a scope. You don't have to go $1000 but don't go $39.95. Aside from the optics the adjusting mechanisms make a big difference when you sight it in and with it keeping adjustment and the cheap scopes have crude mechanisms.
https://www.range365.com/308-winchester-762-nato/
Depending on your budget ammo prices might be a consideration so 308 and 30-06 would probably be cheaper and you can use a cheaper range of ammo for practice, then a premium hunting round for hunting. Make sure you do enough shooting with the actual hunting round because you may have to make some small adjustment to your scope.
Do not cheap out on a scope. You don't have to go $1000 but don't go $39.95. Aside from the optics the adjusting mechanisms make a big difference when you sight it in and with it keeping adjustment and the cheap scopes have crude mechanisms.
https://www.range365.com/308-winchester-762-nato/
cool arrow
Member
1Nut1DER said:
There really shouldn't be any.
You are asking good questions in a forum of folks that should have good answers.
I haven't hunted since my teens, and don't hunt game now. All the suggestions here will hold value for more than a few of us, myself included.
Desert Rat
Member
When I started hunting there were not as many calibers then as there is now. I recently bought another rifle and stayed with the same .06 caliber. One reason was due to the variety of bullet weights, you can take down pretty much any game in the US. Second, was the availability of ammo (prior to all the political BS) you could find it from sporting goods to wally world and hardware stores.
I have gotten confident with it out to 400 yards and am working to push it out a bit further with hand loads.
Also, it has generally been a bit less expensive then some of the other calibers.
I have gotten confident with it out to 400 yards and am working to push it out a bit further with hand loads.
Also, it has generally been a bit less expensive then some of the other calibers.
Does the OP own any 308 or 30-06 semi-auto rifles currently? An M1a, HK91 or FAL with a scope will work, don't even need to find a 5 round magazine unless you want to keep the FUDs pacified. Or for that matter a .303 Enfield, 1917 30-06 Enfield or 30-06 Springfield bolt action?
redj
Member
Get a 30.06.
Buy a good gun in 30.06 with a good scope and you will never need anything else to hunt big game in Arizona.
A good pair of binoculars and a knife would come in handy also.
The 30.06 is probably the best all around caliber made.
Buy a good gun in 30.06 with a good scope and you will never need anything else to hunt big game in Arizona.
A good pair of binoculars and a knife would come in handy also.
The 30.06 is probably the best all around caliber made.
kenpoprofessor
Member
1Nut1DER said:
It seems you haven't even read the responses with that post. You might just want to stay home.
Clyde
zonie77
Member
I wouldn't recommend it for a first gun. If someone offers you one cheap it's a reasonable choice but to start 308 & 30-06 perform really well and with premium ammo or hand loads can do some very good things.
Stray Horse
Member
Get a Tikka 270 or 30-06 and zero it for 300 yards. Spend time in the area you want to hunt.
Chiming in late.
First - a question - do you have a buddy who hunts (successfully - taking animals year over year) who is willing to "show you the ropes?" If so - get with them, see what they suggest based on where you guys will hunt. There are lots of variables that can change the cartridge that is "best" for you.
If not - and you are going it alone - a lot of it will depend on how experienced a shooter you are. Assuming that you are not highly experienced, and you want a cartridge that will take game through elk in AZ - and you are more focused on deer than elk, then I'm with the others in suggesting .308 or .30-06 if you have a choice (with preference to .308 due to ammo availability and diversity). If you are going to be more focused on elk than deer - then I'd suggest getting a .300 win mag. .308 is totally capable of taking an elk, but the .300 buys you slightly more room for error with that larger animal.
In either case - I'd tell you that before you press the trigger for the first time on an animal you need to have a healthy understanding of your relative skill and I'd suggest that you set a limit for yourself regarding distance... you don't want to misplace a shot and wound and then lose the animal. If you want to be a hunter - this should matter to you (my 2 cents).
As to your 6.5CM question - it is not the cartridge that I would choose for a first hunting rifle. Not a bad cartridge - just one made for a bit of a different purpose. I'd not hesitate to hunt deer with it - but I'd not suggest it as a good elk cartridge for someone new to the game.
Just my 2 cents...
First - a question - do you have a buddy who hunts (successfully - taking animals year over year) who is willing to "show you the ropes?" If so - get with them, see what they suggest based on where you guys will hunt. There are lots of variables that can change the cartridge that is "best" for you.
If not - and you are going it alone - a lot of it will depend on how experienced a shooter you are. Assuming that you are not highly experienced, and you want a cartridge that will take game through elk in AZ - and you are more focused on deer than elk, then I'm with the others in suggesting .308 or .30-06 if you have a choice (with preference to .308 due to ammo availability and diversity). If you are going to be more focused on elk than deer - then I'd suggest getting a .300 win mag. .308 is totally capable of taking an elk, but the .300 buys you slightly more room for error with that larger animal.
In either case - I'd tell you that before you press the trigger for the first time on an animal you need to have a healthy understanding of your relative skill and I'd suggest that you set a limit for yourself regarding distance... you don't want to misplace a shot and wound and then lose the animal. If you want to be a hunter - this should matter to you (my 2 cents).
As to your 6.5CM question - it is not the cartridge that I would choose for a first hunting rifle. Not a bad cartridge - just one made for a bit of a different purpose. I'd not hesitate to hunt deer with it - but I'd not suggest it as a good elk cartridge for someone new to the game.
Just my 2 cents...
Chris the Mechanic
Member
Howdy. Game and fish hold classes that will help you learn most things you need for hunting. Check their website. As to your question based on my experience. Anything between a 7mm-08 and 7mag is a good deer/elk rifle. (Flat shooters that hit hard) I would suggest you don't buy bottom of the barrel stuff that you will replace later. Buy something mid grade that you can hand down many years from now. Get a good scope. You don't need high power or giant diameter lenses. A 40-44mm scope carries well and will get the job done. A magnification starting somewhere between 2-4 is best for me (nothing like being 30yds from an elk and not knowing which hair you're focused on at 24x) and I haven't needed to use more than 6x for an animal and it was 558yds. Lots of practice under stress will help when the time comes, but be prepared to do what you need to after the shot. You could try a game processor in your area and see if the will teach you a few things. Having 2 good sharp knives and a partner that knows what they're doing would be best, but not a must if you do your homework. Also take a gun safety course if you haven't. You get a free bonus point for the draw and good education.