new guy looking for an answer

New to the forum, new to deer hunting. i have done lots of research and talked to a few different people. I have narrowed it down (in order of consideration) to .270, a .243, or a .308. plan on hunting alot in hill country area...lots of brush, so not looking to hit one at 300+ yards, prolly the 100 or so range. what do yall think?!

If I'm shooting at Texas deer at ranges of 200 yards or less, then I like a .243. If I had plans of shooting further, or shooting bigger game at some point, and I wanted to use the same rifle, I would go for the .270.

If you want to be a true hunter you need to own one of each caliber along with a 22-250, 300 Winchester magnum, and a couple of AR15's.

Just playing with ya. Welcome to the forum. In reality you can't go wrong with any of those with Hill Country hogs and whitetails.

At that shorter range and considering hill country hunting, I'd say consider the .25-.06, 7MM-.08 or .308. Can't go wrong with either of those and I happen to own all 3 as well and they get the job done on shorter shots..

7mm08 is a bad [censored] little caliber that is often forgot about or frowned upon for some reeason, I own a 7mm08 270 and 308 and my 708 with factory loads is my favorite to shoot but I hunt mainly with my 270 since its the newest one I have built and like to bloody all my guns after i get them together.

I have always had great luck with my .270 on whitetail and mule deer here in Texas. I have also killed a few exotics, lots of hogs, varmits, mule deer in Alberta, and Red Stags in New Zealand with it. .270 will give you lots of bullet weight choices and options to hunt anywhere in the state. All of them are good choices.

.270 is a great all around round. Bullets are easy to find, even at a store in the middle of nowhere. And they are one of the best priced. If you ever think you will do long range shooting (hunting or for fun) .308 is about the easiest round to learn with.

Welcome to the forum and to the greatest sport on the planet. Just my two cents, but I would choose the .308 for the simple reason that if a guy is going to own just one rifle it would make sense to choose the most versitile round. Nothing wrong with any of the rounds you have narrowed down, all are very efficient on deer, no real recoil issues, and plenty of energy out to 250 yards. The reason I would go with the .308 is that you can load it up or down to be a viable round for anything from varmits to elk.

Look carefully into getting 7mm-08
Awesome cartridge

I like a 308 because it is so versatile and is good out to some amazing distances and you will be surprised at what some of your distances measure with a rangefinder. I would go with something with some knockdown power because my experience in the Hill Country is that it is so thick you need them anchored quickly and with so many small acreage wise places, you do not want the deer to go very far after being shot.

id go for a .308 or a 30-06 both cals. are very versatile for all sorts of game.

Use your fists like a real man.

I hunted in the Hill Country for 10 years or so and found the 25-06 to be the best caliber for the deer up there.

a 270 is a good all around gun for big and small game IMO.

The .270 is a great all around gun. It will meet the needs of any game here in Texas and also any chances for hunting elk and mountain Mule deer. It is very flat shooting and hard hitting and will bring down game effectively.

Another vote for the 270..

270 or the 308. 243 is good but will limit you later on down the road on what you could use it for on bigger game. Or buy it first and have a good reason to buy another one later on!

I agree with Greytshot. Go with the 25-06.

I own pretty much one of each from .223 through 300WM but my favorit deer rifle is the 7mm-08.

I love my .270. Great all around gun.

i plan on hunting mainly axis and fallow. 7mm was my original plan, but once i started talking to a few people i know (none of them HAD a 7mm) they told me it would just be over kill, so thats when i started thinking about the rest.

thats what ive always done.....trying something new! lol

I owned a .243, and it did a fine job, never lost a deer. I also own and use a .270. The .270 is my favorite of the two. I just feel it has a little more umph, and puts them down quicker. A lot of people swear by the small calibers, but in my opinion, the .270 is better. I only have limited experience with the .308, so I'm not qualified to comment on that one.

Hey Justimm, if you want to go overkill, you could go with my new favorite...45/70!

.270 is a great caliber, the 130 grain load shoots very flat and is very versitile, (for example a hand load we used shot 2 inch's high at 100yds 6 inch's low at 300yds was a flat shooter so never had to think about hold over or dialing a scope out etc. to 300 yds lethal. We shot over fifty red deer in 6 years many of them big bodied Stags with that rifle and load.
As someone else said you can get ammo anywhere which is a bonus.
Your next question could be make and model of rifle? Winchester model seven has my vote..

Pick the rifle first. All of the calibers mentioned will work well enough. Also, look at your local stores and see what ammo is actually available for sale; that may dictate your choice. I think the .243, .270, .308 and the .30-06 are the most common, but .308 ammo is more prone to panic buying than the others. I also think the .270, .308 and .30-06 are better all around cartridges than the .243, not that the .243 is not effective. While the .30-06 is never the wrong choice, I think it's pretty hard to beat the .270 for Texas hunting, unless you have your heart set on a short action rifle, in which case you're looking at either the 7mm-08 or the .308.

For the .243 fans, please don't hate me. I killed 4 hogs and a deer this year with a .243 WSSM and a 6mm Remington and completely agree the caliber is fully capable with good bullets. I still think for **all around** use, the .270 thru .30-06 cartridges are a better selection.

Have owned 30.06, 7mm mag, 270. Have hunted the mountains for elk, mule deer antelope, all over Texas for whitetail, hogs, etc... My vote is for the 270. When sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards with a 130 Federal Premium round, you can't go wrong. This setup will provide hold on target kill zones out to 250 yards.

.270

Don't confuse a 7mm (mag) with a 7mm-08 - two totally different calibers and guns. I can't imagine anyone saying the 7mm-08 is overkill. The 7mm mag - maybe some would consider that.

The 7mm-08 is soft shooter and is often the first choice for women or children - but that is unfair, it is a great caliber.

The 25-06 is also a great gun, and I caliber I am partial to and has little recoil.

The .308 is also one I own and it very flexible and recoil is less than a .270.

The .270 is also a great gun, my daughter chose that as her first rifle. It also very flexible, but she now prefers to shoot my 25-06 (at least on the range where recoil can build up after shooting multiple rounds).

One thing you might look at is the Tompson Center "Dimension" rifle that is new. You can change barrels and calibers and get a "package" of calibers. For someone just starting out, it can provide a way to cover a range of calibers very effectively - the gun is getting good reviews.

Package 'B' gets you 22-250, 243, 7mm-08, and 308.

I looked at one and was impressed. I thought about getting one, but I already have rifles in the caliber packages so it doesn't get me personally very much.

I'd go with the 270. Every deer I've shot between 100-150 with mine have dropped right in their tracks!!

Another vote for the 7mm-08. Awesome round, inherently accurate, good bullet selection, very manageable recoil.

I would go with a 30 cal. Just my preference for knockdown power. They have proven themselves to me over the years. 30-06, 308,30-30 or my personal fav 300wsm. A lot of people will say its over kill but when shooting at a trophy of a lifetime is there really a such thing as over kill? But all the calibers listed above are good proven calibers for Texas hunting. Good luck. I would put as much research in the make and model of the gun. Sounds like your on the right track for the caliber.

Welcome, Justimm you have just received a lot of opinions. That's what we are known for here, good luck on your choice and happy hunting ahead to ya.
Oh yea, .270 is my goto rifle w/zeiss optics. I own all the calibers you are looking at

270 or 308 are both great all around hunting rounds. I own a 243, but dont ever take it hunting. Even for my kids, I prefer them to use my bigger calibers with some of the Rem reduiced recoil. Lost a deer once as a teenager with my 243 after a careful, well placed vital shot. I never want to have that feeling again, for me or my kids. Lots of opinins here, sure some will disagree.

308 is my personal choice.

If its one or the other: .270. You can build your collection around that. .243, 6mm, 25 calibers, short mags....you can't have enough.

I am by no means an expert, but I think someone above made a good point about the .308. Isn't it more likely to be a tougher round to find during times when people are buying everything in sight?

270 OR 308 you wont go wrong, still have the knock down and reach out and touch as needed.

So should u prefer 270 over 30-06

I would say the 270 for the facts that you can always seem to find ammo for it and it is not real expensive.