Thread: Selection of caliber for new shooter(s)

Awesome, I'll give it a go.

Still enjoying this thread. My FAL application has been submitted now I got the gun safe installed and I do the safety course early May. A friend will allow me the indefinite use of his CZ BRNO in .22 so that will be a good start before I plonk any more money down. Good to hear I should be able to go after rabbit once I can shoot straight!

Interesting. I went through all posts and in order of 'popularity' it went 243 then 7mm08 then 308.
Even so, based on other research, I'm kinda leaning toward 308 and the only thing that gives me pause is the potential limited range for ethical shots; depending who is answering the question, seems to be somewhere from 200m -300m.
So my next question is; here in the Canterbury hills, what is a typical real-world distance for getting onto a deer?
(to be fair, it may be answered elsewhere, and I'm about to search, but asking anywhere in case I can't find the answer in the time I have available!)
Cheers

My friend has a Tikka T3 308 and he regularly takes deer out to 700yds with his. He is a very good shot, spends lots of time working up accurate loads and practicing out to 1000yds.
As a new shooter there is nothing stopping you shooting out to 300ish yds. I’ve kept a record of all my shots since 2007 and my average shot is around 300yds in Canterbury.
Your ability to shoot deer at ranges at 300 yds will be more reliant on finding an accurate load, having a good scope and rangefinder, learning how to use them and regular practice.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....highlight=deer

@jpreou

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....highlight=deer

@jpreou

Cheers @mickeyDuck, I did find that earlier but thanks for the direct link.
Looks like the vast majority under 300 and that seems to fit everything I've read about the 308.
Thanks

Originally Posted by stug

My friend has a Tikka T3 308 and he regularly takes deer out to 700yds with his. He is a very good shot, spends lots of time working up accurate loads and practicing out to 1000yds.
As a new shooter there is nothing stopping you shooting out to 300ish yds. I’ve kept a record of all my shots since 2007 and my average shot is around 300yds in Canterbury.
Your ability to shoot deer at ranges at 300 yds will be more reliant on finding an accurate load, having a good scope and rangefinder, learning how to use them and regular practice.

Cheers for the info. I'm still starting out, obviously, waiting for my FAL application completion and I intend to spend a lot of time on .22 before moving onwards and upwards, but yes, I will be spending a lot of range time understanding how everything all works together. Another reason why I'm leaning toward 308 >> the ammo is cheaper than most others it seems and that will allow for plenty of practice.
Cheers

Years back, 1980’s or ‘90’s in Rod and Rifle Graeme Henry wrote about the 308 being a great rifle for a new shooter, if you could hand load. Choose a lighter projectile and load down for the newer shooter, and as their ability improves gradually change the load to a higher power load.
I did this with my daughters, I used a 130 gr projectile to start with, both took deer with it, now I’ve loaded up a 150gr full power load for them to use.

Originally Posted by jpreou

Interesting. I went through all posts and in order of 'popularity' it went 243 then 7mm08 then 308.
Even so, based on other research, I'm kinda leaning toward 308 and the only thing that gives me pause is the potential limited range for ethical shots; depending who is answering the question, seems to be somewhere from 200m -300m.
So my next question is; here in the Canterbury hills, what is a typical real-world distance for getting onto a deer?
(to be fair, it may be answered elsewhere, and I'm about to search, but asking anywhere in case I can't find the answer in the time I have available!)
Cheers

95% of the time you can get yourself within 300 yards, as long as you learn how to read wind and animal behaviour it will be very doable. I can count on 1 hand the deer i have had to take over 300 yards and thats mostly in Otago open tussock country. I think Tahr are a different story due to the terrain they live in, getting close can be much more difficult. As a new shooter practice a lot and limit yourself to 300m and you will be fine. 308 be ideal, although 708 will have slightly less recoil which may suit you better. Good luck, and have fun!

Originally Posted by stug

Years back, 1980’s or ‘90’s in Rod and Rifle Graeme Henry wrote about the 308 being a great rifle for a new shooter, if you could hand load. Choose a lighter projectile and load down for the newer shooter, and as their ability improves gradually change the load to a higher power load.
I did this with my daughters, I used a 130 gr projectile to start with, both took deer with it, now I’ve loaded up a 150gr full power load for them to use.

Greeting,
This was, and still is very good advice. The important bit is the ability to handload. My first attempts at reduced loads were in 1981 and continue today. Initially attempts were made to turn my .308 (only centrefire at the time) into a do anything rifle but these were abandoned due to the need to re zero for each load. Later a load was developed that shot to point of aim at 100 yards with the rifle zeroed for 200 yards with my full power load. More recently, with more rifles in the cupboard, light practice loads and short range target loads have been used. It is hard to go past 4895 and its near clones in the .308. Over the years surplus 4895, IMR4895, AR2201, AR2206 and AR2206H have been used for reduced loads with the last being easily the best. 38 grains of AR2206H behind the 150 grain Hornady produced 2,350 fps and 32 grains behind the Frontier 155 grain plated for 1,950 fps have been favourites.
Regards Grandpamac.