If you go with a Steven's 200, they make great rifles for starting a build. Low price and Savage action.

If you won't be taking a shot over 100 yds, caliber choice is less important even still. You may want to go with somthing slower and/or heavier than a .308. Maybe a lever gun in .30-30 or .444 Marlin, .45-70. And you can never go wrong with the .30-06.

WOOHOO!!!!!! We have a winner!!!!

This is my favorite caliber, but they will all work fine.

I think picking a gun that you shoot well is more important than picking a caliber. Dead is dead and either of those calibers will do that.

like what there fella? A 50BMG or a 450 Bushmaster maybe....
I think not.

A .270 was my first.second and third love. A .308 is my current....take your pick. Do you like long or short action? It is a wash.

.17 HMR maybe..? Keith Warren did a bang up job on 'dem hog piggies wit' his...

LOL thats a good one!!!

Well, this will be my first bolt action other than a couple old 22's...sooooo, short action is all I'm used to. lol
I don't care though really. I'll prob just pick up the first good deal in i see in either caliber.

This would be a good one to look at...

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...SS_#Post2281647

Just a suggestion.

...or this..

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...ics#Post2273883

Either will do just fine. I shoot the 308 because I like the heavier bullets. There is just a better selection of availible bullets in 308 caliber.

you are joking right...I have .270 and my buddy 308 in an ar platform and we knock the hell out of that "so Called' armour on a monthly basis. that is the biggest hog wash I have ever heard. but behind the ear is a better place to shoot anyway

I love both rounds!

Seriously? I shoot a 308 win and my largest stacked number is five hogs down at once with it.

sarcasm meters broken guys? happens to me sometimes too.

Honestly, any modern cartridge based on the .308 or .30/06 case with a bullet diameter of .25 to .30 caliber will do what you want.

.308, 7mm/08, 7x57, .260 Remington, 6.5x55 Swedish, 6.5 Creedmore, .257 Roberts are good cartridges fully capable of doing what you’re shooting for. Of course there are the 06 based rounds. The .280, .270, and .25/06 are good rounds as well.

Personally, I like the 6.5mm, and 7mm rounds, but that’s me.

Shootfire boy! Get a full-auto .50 Beowulf and be done with it!

When deciding on a caliber for a purpose built rifle, I try to go "Short action" vs. "Long action" if at all possible, just for the slight edge in inherent accuracy first. This is not to say that "Long action" cartridges are inherently in-accurate. I then look at recoil. Honestly, inside 100yds, there ain't much in Texas that can't be killed with a .223, so the big shoulder howitzers just aren't necessary here....except for Bravado's sake.

For the afformentioned intended purpose, I would choose a .243 and be done with it. But of the two options listed, I would go with the .308 and be champion of the universe.


Chupa

This is also very sound thinking.

Chupa

I ran into the same thing a couple of years ago. Went to buy a rifle thinking .308 and they were out of the model I wanted but they did have the .270 in the same model. Took it and have never thought twice about it. Drops hogs and deer without a problem. I like my .270 for sure.

270

academy had that stevens 200 .270 for sale at $180. it was a sweet deal but i didnt have the money. my father in law got one and we are going to do a wild cat with it.

by the way i have a savage 270 and the first deer i ever shot was at 220 yrds and it fell on the spot. the second deer i shot was at 300 yrds.

I have a .243, 25-06 a 270 and a .308 all will work in Texas without question. Close quarters I use the .243 on deer, out in West Texas nothing can beat the 25-06 for the long range shots. Most of the time my 270 and 308 never leave the safe but both are great guns. Depends on how much meat I feel like taking to the processor LOL. I hand load and some say short action is better accuracy, well that is lunacy because my 25-06 will dance circles around my .243 at 300+ now the 308 at 300+ it is a pretty close race. a .270 is just a good all around bullet. You cannot go wrong with either caliber trust me.

If someone asked me the best caliber at less than 200 yards would be the .243 in 100gr best bullet for Texas. Same can be said for the 7mm-08 or the 6mm lot less damage and plenty of knock down.