Thread: Noob...

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

............................. .............................. ........................ yes.

and the ammo brass, pink painted too? Watch the over spray on the primers.

Dave, not much in the purchase and feeding of 7mm08 and 308. Either will serve you well.

Ballistically 7mm08 is superior, although at typical deer zapping ranges, I don't think you'd notice one way or other.

If you wanted to shoot stuff at a considerable distance, that might change.

As to which brand, read the reviews on the Howa 1500. I bought one and like it, although I found it kicked.

I bought a suppressor for it, and found instantly that it had a very agreeable personality change.

308 is big and ugly enough to reliably kill most anything in NZ, except for a few critters in the zoo.

Ammo is available across the country in a wide range of bullet weights and types. Howa are a great option available in an equally impressive range of options from lightweight to long range chassis rifkes, and come in combos with svope and supressor already attached for less than a bare rifle costs in other brands.

Your choice will boil down to funds and personal preferences though. Enjoy the journey - it's all part of what makes this such an awesome pastime / hobby / obsession!

certainly nothing wrong with howa, or you can pay 50% more for the same gun if it has wetherby engraved on it

Shameless plug, but I have a 308 Howa 1500 for sale over in BST.

Spot X hunting book is good and gives info about each area and the species found there.
ttps://www.spotx.com/hunting

Double check it against current doc website with alarts and changes etc
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...to-do/hunting/

I then use Walking access to find access points that might not be listed. It shows paper roads and doc trails etc aswell.
https://www.wams.org.nz/OutdoorAccess/


Oh i just saw you listed these yourself.
Just be aware The others can be out of date etc. I treat doc as the master and always double check other resources against doc encase of anything changing.


Cant go wrong with 308 as a good all round cartridge. If you are not going to reload and shooting inside 200-300m plenty of good soft point ammo available.
The biggest pro of 308 over 7mm08 is that Belmont do 100 rounds for $115-130 dollars. Its currently on sale for $100. Its loaded with a 150gr hornady soft point.
Other factory ammo start at ~$35 for a box of 20. and goes up from there.

Join NZDA and go on one of their hunts courses.

As I’m new here too, found this tread very helpful also. Thanks guys

The ammo is plain brass, thankyou very much.

I will concede to having used nail polish to seal around the neck of each case to seal the projectile from moisture.

It's just coincidence that I also use the same colour on my nails.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

The ammo is plain brass, thankyou very much.

I will concede to having used nail polish to seal around the neck of each case to seal the projectile from moisture.

It's just coincidence that I also use the same colour on my nails.

I rest my case...relief,closet etc.

More important than what gun to get is being able to move around off track in the bush. First you need map, compass and a GPS/phone app with map loaded.
You should then pick a place to go hunting. Being based in Auckland I recommend somewhere like the Kaimais, Pureora or Clements road.
These places are heavily hunted but have good road and track access. Get in there have a good look around and practice your navigation.
Having a road or track though your hunting area gives you a bit of margin for error. Once you get comfortable in your ability to navigate through the bush you can then start learning how to hunt. Don't expect to shoot a deer on your first trip. It might take 10 trips or more. Persevere and eventual you will get there.

Gday mate

Can always try a motu or whakatane river jet.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Can always try a motu or whakatane river jet.

I'm keen to give one of these a go as well. You done it?

Originally Posted by Nick-D

I'm keen to give one of these a go as well. You done it?

No. I know people who have had great success up there.

You're a bit limited by the river and the pick up spot. But plenty of deer up there. Most of the river would be productive or even the next catchment is not too far a walk.

It is on the cards though.

So, licence appeared in post box New Years day. Assume it was dropped off the last working day of the year - cutting it a bit fine FAL folks.

Popped into Reloaders to pick up a Howa 6.5 CM which my googling told me I wanted and walked out with Bergara B-14 Hunter Extreme 308 that we decided is what I actually need. Came with Leupold VX-Freedom scope (Freedom from any features incl holdover marks in reticle) and DPT suppressor. Actually looks and feels real nice.

Have loaded up on some cheapish FMJ's to go and break both myself and the barrel in - just need to wrangle some time from life to spend a quiet morning on the range. Parents coming over for a visit for two months so not much hunting gonna happen over that time.