Texas Hunting Forum

Caliber Information

Posted By: Bobvilla

Caliber Information - 01/08/15 09:21 PM

I've got the brand/model of deer rifle picked out but I have to make the most difficult decision.....caliber selection. I'd prefer to do my own research and draw my own conclusion instead of take someone's word for it....however what do I look at? I've been told not to look at ballistics. Is that bad advice and if so, what else is there to look at?

If ballistics is the best thing to analyze, I'm thinking the critical data would be velocity, energy, and drop with different bullets at different distances. Anything else? I can't find a chart that has recoil data alongside......

I'll dive into the bullet/ammo selection after I've chosen the caliber, hopefully that's not bass ackwards...
Posted By: ChadTRG42

Re: Caliber Information - 01/08/15 09:27 PM

I always pick what bullet I want to shoot, then figure out how fast I want it, and then decide on the parent case I will use to get those speeds. Caliber choice is like a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota preference. If the rifle you want comes in anything bigger than a 243 size bullet, it will work well for Texas hunting. IMO, BC data doesn't come into play until 400 yards plus.

Rifle recoil: http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp
Posted By: redchevy

Re: Caliber Information - 01/08/15 09:27 PM

Balistics matter if your going to utilize them. If you want to hunt at 500 yards something with a decent amount of initial velocity mass and energy with a good bc bullet is probably something to consider. If your going to shoot deer at a feeder 100 yards away anything from 223 with good ammo through the sky is the limit will provide adequate performance.
Posted By: BOBO the Clown

Re: Caliber Information - 01/08/15 09:39 PM

Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42
I always pick what bullet I want to shoot, then figure out how fast I want it, and then decide on the parent case I will use to get those speeds. Caliber choice is like a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota preference. If the rifle you want comes in anything bigger than a 243 size bullet, it will work well for Texas hunting. IMO, BC data doesn't come into play until 400 yards plus.

Rifle recoil: http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp


We should just make your post a sticky and then move everyone of these threads under it.
Pretty much sums everything thing up

cheers up
Posted By: WileyCoyote

Re: Caliber Information - 01/08/15 11:26 PM

BOBO...OH NO don't do THAT! then we won't be able to spout off all the inanity's we were subjected to by well meaning peer groups of relatives and the rest of the Peanut Gallery banana

I'd only have one other critreria to mention besides what Chad said...Find a rifle brand and model that FITS YOU WELL FIRST...then pick the caliber. You will be surprised at the Gun Co's Marketing Guru's who don't agree with a common caliber list past the basic 4 or 5 choices....and HAVE FUN messing with the Sales Clerks.
Ron
Posted By: Texas Dan

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 12:16 AM

I have always kept diversity in mind when adding a firearm to my collection, both in brand and caliber.

Since you've already decided on a specific model, I would suggest a caliber that's not already in your collection, so long as it satisfies the requirement for what you intend to harvest with it.

And while some pride themselves in going after the less common calibers, I avoid them so that I'm not chasing around trying to find ammo when I need it most.
Posted By: syncerus

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 01:38 AM

Not to sound like a broken record, but if you don't know what you want, then you want a .30-06. There are other choices just as good for Texas hunting, and some are even better under limited circumstances, so this isn't yet another caliber debate. I'm just saying the .30-06 is only very rarely a bad choice.
Posted By: Bullfrog

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 03:11 AM

Like, when you don't wanna get beat up every time. bolt
Posted By: syncerus

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 03:25 AM

Lol. Funny, but a well fitting .30-06 with a quality recoil pad kicks only minimally for an experienced shooter. The original post didn't indicate any special preference for low recoil. Otherwise I would have recommended a .223, of course.
duel
Posted By: txtrophy85

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 03:29 AM

Originally Posted By: syncerus
Lol. Funny, but a well fitting .30-06 with a quality recoil pad kicks only minimally for an experienced shooter. The original post didn't indicate any special preference for low recoil. Otherwise I would have recommended a .223, of course.
duel


Lot better choices for deer hunting than a .30-06
Posted By: Tactical Cowboy

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 03:33 AM

It's easy. .30-06. If that won't fit in your rifle, .223.
Posted By: KJG

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 04:50 AM

a 270 is a hard overall round to beat.
Posted By: redchevy

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 01:40 PM

Originally Posted By: txtrophy85
Originally Posted By: syncerus
Lol. Funny, but a well fitting .30-06 with a quality recoil pad kicks only minimally for an experienced shooter. The original post didn't indicate any special preference for low recoil. Otherwise I would have recommended a .223, of course.
duel


Lot better choices for deer hunting than a .30-06



Like what? And if you say 270 im gonna laugh!
Posted By: bside

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 02:14 PM

It has been

11 0

Days since we had a caliber war involving the .30-06
Posted By: redchevy

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 02:15 PM

Originally Posted By: bside
It has been

11 0

Days since we had a caliber war involving the .30-06


Well that's too long friend!
Posted By: tth_40

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 04:15 PM

I use the .30-06 and .270 Win. interchangeably for the hunting I do. Been playing with 7mm-08 for a while as well. It just depends on the mood I'm in. For the game and performance envelope at the ranges I shoot at, they all work well.

In the 30 years I've been hunting, I very seldom take a shot over 300 yards, and I can count the shots on one hand that I've taken at that distance or more. Most of the shots I am comfortable taking are from 50 to 250 yards.

Everyone's hunting situation and comfort level is different.
Posted By: Nogalus Prairie

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 04:45 PM

Originally Posted By: BOBO the Clown
Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42
I always pick what bullet I want to shoot, then figure out how fast I want it, and then decide on the parent case I will use to get those speeds. Caliber choice is like a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota preference. If the rifle you want comes in anything bigger than a 243 size bullet, it will work well for Texas hunting. IMO, BC data doesn't come into play until 400 yards plus.

Rifle recoil: http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp


We should just make your post a sticky and then move everyone of these threads under it.
Pretty much sums everything thing up

cheers up


Seriously. You should just sticky that as a response to all TX hunting caliber threads. smile
Posted By: J.G.

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 06:06 PM

Originally Posted By: redchevy
Originally Posted By: bside
It has been

11 0

Days since we had a caliber war involving the .30-06


Well that's too long friend!


lol35
Posted By: Toxarch

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 06:50 PM

I'd say figure out what you are shooting at first, then pick the caliber.
Posted By: postoak

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 07:19 PM

Announce what caliber you bought and then when people post that you screwed up and should have gotten such-and-such a caliber, PM each one of them and say you really got their favorite caliber but posted what you did "to keep from upsetting people".
Posted By: oldoak2000

Re: Caliber Information - 01/09/15 07:50 PM

Originally Posted By: gasman777
I've got the brand/model of deer rifle picked out but I have to make the most difficult decision.....caliber selection. I'd prefer to do my own research and draw my own conclusion instead of take someone's word for it....however what do I look at? I've been told not to look at ballistics. Is that bad advice and if so, what else is there to look at?

If ballistics is the best thing to analyze, I'm thinking the critical data would be velocity, energy, and drop with different bullets at different distances. Anything else? I can't find a chart that has recoil data alongside......

I'll dive into the bullet/ammo selection after I've chosen the caliber, hopefully that's not bass ackwards...


Sounds like you've already been doing ok with a .243 at 100 +/- yards, so maybe time to move up a little.
270, 7mm08, 30.06, 308 would all be fine choices for you, with no other input/details provided other than 'deer hunting'.
Reduced-Recoil ammo can be found all these calibers, so you can always start with that if reg-ammo is too much at first, then build up.

If ammo availability is any concern, I have notices that for the last several shortages, 270 always seems to be available everywhere when the shelves are completely empty of all other calibers.
Posted By: Dave Davidson

Re: Caliber Information - 01/10/15 11:06 AM

Here we go again. Hey guys, if I decide to mess around on my Wife, would you recommend a blonde, brunette or redhead?
Posted By: Cast

Re: Caliber Information - 01/10/15 01:41 PM

Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson
Here we go again. Hey guys, if I decide to mess around on my Wife, would you recommend a blonde, brunette or redhead?


I recommend a matched set.
Posted By: Toxarch

Re: Caliber Information - 01/10/15 06:31 PM

Originally Posted By: Cast
Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson
Here we go again. Hey guys, if I decide to mess around on my Wife, would you recommend a blonde, brunette or redhead?


I recommend a matched set.

Agreed. Try all 3.
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