[izaak78]

I am looking to get me my first hunting rifle, which I will use for deer, hog hunting. I am not looking to break the bank in anything expensive; I just want your opinion because I do not have any experience, first I have been told the Marlin 336 in 30-30 is the best deer rifle, I also incline to the mossberg ATR in .270 or .30-06, please share your experience because I want to purchase the best overall rifle (price,reliable,acurate) and the best caliber. Any info woud be appreciated

 

[Rich Z]

A .308 should do the job. Perhaps even a .243. But there are really one heck of a lot of options available.

 

[neolithic hunter]

a 30/06 will do everything you could want a deer rifle to do. from pigs to elk it will kill them all and do it efficiently. it has the most power you can get without a belted case or over sized case. the recoil is very manageable, it shoots reasonably flat, has enough retained energy at long rang, and loading components and load data are all over the place. the reason it is still the best selling cartridge around is it's overall versatility.

 

[jasper]

Watcha been shootin' for fun so far?

Ya like levers or bolts? Or maybe a semi even....

Like recoil? 30-30 - - little bit of recoil

.270 - - bit more than 30-30

.308 - - more than .270

30-06 - - bit more than .308

'Course it depends some on the load and bbl length etc. etc.....

Shorter bbls are good for brush and swamps, heavy cover tends to hang up those few extra inches, and not many shots over 100 yds in that kinda terrain here in New England.
I like .308 and '06 bolts for the open field stuff...

The best part is trying all your buddies stuff , most folks I've met at the ranges around here are happy to let ya try a couple shots on their favorite hunting tool....Have fun!!

 

[izaak78]

I have decided to get a 30-06

Well my research and all your opinions have help me make my decision on getting a 30-06 caliber rifle and I will be posting pitures of what I get, thanks to all of you.

 

[7of7]

Weatherby's do have an accuracy guarentee, however, they are made by Howa for Weatherby, (at least the Vanguard series)

 

[cutter]

I have had great satisfaction in my Savage 110 chambered in .30-06. It isn't in a class with the Weatherby, but it is a relatively inexpensive rifle that gives good results.

 

[RIKA]

I carry a Marlin 45-70 Guide gun. Its overkill for anything in the continental US but I like it. For all around use in a bolt rifle the .308 and 30-06 can't be beat.

RIKA

 

[cutter]

Oh, I don't know RIKA. I think .45-70 would be just about right for things like bison and elk. It occurs to me that .45-70 would be a good choice with wild boar and bear too. I wouldn't want to have to shoot either one of those monsters twice. It might be the last need I would never fulfill.

 

[7of7]

a 45-70... next on my list of guns to get..
Only problem is my safe,.... it isn't big enough.... I'd rather spend the money on a new gun than a new safe....

 

[cutter]

So, buy the new gun and a safe door. I believe Ft. Knox still makes vault doors. Then all you have to do is to build the bunker room in which to install the vault door. Gimme a break 7of7. I'm trying to be helpful here.

BTW Issaz78, it is our pleasure to help. While the .30-06 may or may not be the best choice for any specific sort of game animal, it is the best choice for most every sort of game. I still wouldn't recommend it for squirrel, rabbit,or birds; but above those it is an adequate round for use on any land mammal in North America. I think you made a good choice and hope you have a lifetime of enjoyment from your new gun.

 

[arebindixie]

My reply is Johnny Come Lately. The .30-06 and .270 are excellent all around cartridges (the same can be said for the .303 British, 7.62x54R, 6.5x55, 7x57, 8x57, 6.5-06, 6.5-08, 7-08, and a host of others). I like Rika's choice in the Guide Gun. With Garrett Hammerheads (http://www.garrettcartridges.com/), it'll kill anything. An important factor to consider is that .30-06 and .270 ammo is available almost anywhere cartridges are sold.

That being said, I'd lean towards the venerable old .30-30 as a first rifle for deer and hogs for the following reasons:

1. It performs well at moderate ranges (150 yards).
2. It doesn't kick very much.
3. Used Winchester 94s and Marlin 336s are relatively inexpensive.
4. Lever actions are relatively light, pleasant to carry, and offer quick follow-up shots.
5. Open sights are sufficient (a good scope can cost nearly as much as a lower end bolt action rifle).
6. Ammo is widely available and still relatively cheap (around $12 a box at present).
7. If you take up reloading, cast bullets work well with this caliber.

BTW, the .45-70 meets all of these criteria except recoil (which isn't bad with 405 gr. factory loads), inexpensive used rifles, and ammo cost and availability.

 

[millcrick]

a 30/06 will do everything you could want a deer rifle to do. from pigs to elk it will kill them all and do it efficiently. it has the most power you can get without a belted case or over sized case. the recoil is very manageable, it shoots reasonably flat, has enough retained energy at long rang, and loading components and load data are all over the place. the reason it is still the best selling cartridge around is it's overall versatility.

Ah very miss-lead you are the 30-06 is not the most powerful not belted oversized cartridge.

many wildcats are much more powerful one that comes to mind is the 35 Whelen. 200gr .358 dia bullet set inside a necked up 30-06 cartridge.
nearly same ballistics as a .338win mag but with out the price or recoil.

I use it on everything from Whitetail to Bull Moose.

 

[DaRkWoLf]

Ah very miss-lead you are the 30-06 is not the most powerful not belted oversized cartridge.

many wildcats are much more powerful one that comes to mind is the 35 Whelen. 200gr .358 dia bullet set inside a necked up 30-06 cartridge.
nearly same ballistics as a .338win mag but with out the price or recoil.

I use it on everything from Whitetail to Bull Moose.

The 30-06, within SAAMI and factory specs, will exceed the ballistics of a 35 Whelen in terms of energy after 250 yards with 200gr spitzers of the same manufacture, and will tolerate wind better at all distances. The .308 bullet will also have all the benefits its higher sectional density brings.

The 30-06 also has the versatility of being a capable long distance target rifle.

Both are good hunting rounds though.

 

[millcrick]

The 30-06, within SAAMI and factory specs, will exceed the ballistics of a 35 Whelen in terms of energy after 250 yards with 200gr spitzers of the same manufacture, and will tolerate wind better at all distances. The .308 bullet will also have all the benefits its higher sectional density brings.

The 30-06 also has the versatility of being a capable long distance target rifle.

Both are good hunting rounds though.

To hell it will.
The 30-06 at 500 yds has 758ft/lbs of energy with an 80+ in drop i would not shoot an antelope at that distance with that little power.
250yds - 4-6 inches and 1600 ft/lbs of energy

The 35 whelen at 500 yds with the same 200gr soft point bullet has 1182ft/lbs of energy with only 53 inches of drop.
250yds -3-4 inches and 1958ft lbs of energy

 

[DaRkWoLf]

To hell it will.
The 30-06 at 500 yds has 758ft/lbs of energy with an 80+ in drop i would not shoot an antelope at that distance with that little power.
250yds - 4-6 inches and 1600 ft/lbs of energy

The 35 whelen at 500 yds with the same 200gr soft point bullet has 1182ft/lbs of energy with only 53 inches of drop.
250yds -3-4 inches and 1958ft lbs of energy

Using conservative numbers, a 30-06 with a 200gr Spitzer (G1 BC .550, which is low, and will theoretically go up as the bullet slows under Mach 2) launched at 2550 fps will still have over 1400 ft-lb at 500 yards, and should have roughly 64" of drop if the weapon was zeroed at 100 yards. At 250 yards we're looking at 2100 ft-lb of energy.

Perhaps you are thinking of a 30-06 loaded with 150 grainers? What data are you using?

 

[7of7]

Using the same bullet, the Barnes TSX 200 grain.. loaded to Barnes specs, 200 yd zero...
Energy:
the 30.06 energy at 500 yds 1235 fpe, at 615 yds 998 fpe
the 35 Whelen energy 500 yds 997 fpe, at 615 yds 732 fpe
Velocity
the 30.06 velocity: muzzle 2556 FPS at 500 yds is 1688 FPS, at 615 yds is 1499 FPS
the 35 Whelen velocity: muzzle 2822 FPS at 500 yds is 1499 FPS at 615 yds is 1284 fps
Total drop
the 30.06 total drop at 500 yds 89.29 inches, at 615 yds 145.95 inches
the 35 Whelen total drop 500 yds 85.1 inches, at 615 yds 146.7 inches

You decide...This is an apples to apples comparison... Same bullet weight, same manufacturer, max suggested load.
I will stay with my 30.06... I can have lighter bullets, and a more comfortable recoil....

 

[millcrick]

the whelen or the 30-06 do not have a total drop of 100+ inches factory loads is what i use every ballsitcs table i can find for 35 whelen 200gr soft point has a total drop of 55 inches at 500 yds.

with barnes bullets it is slightly more


Bullet Type & Weight Drop/Velocity/Energy


200 Yards 300 Yards 400 Yards 500 Yards

200 Gr. SP +0.00 / 2279 / 2306 ..... -8.67 / 2045 / 1857.... -25.70 / 1829 / 1485 .... -53.16 / 1632 / 1182
200 Gr. Barnes +0.00 / 2279 / 2306 ..... -8.67 / 2045 / 1857 ... -25.70 / 1829 / 1485 .... -53.16 / 1632 / 1182
225 Gr. Swift +0.00 / 2196 / 2409..... -9.50 / 2012 / 2022 ... -27.63 / 1838 / 1688... -56.04 / 1677 / 1405
225 Gr. Nosler p +0.00 / 2107 / 2219......-10.41 / 1928 / 1857... -30.14 / 1760 / 1548 ... -61.19 / 1606 / 1288
225 Gr. Nosler BT +0.00 / 2100 / 2202.... -10.49 / 1917 / 1836 ... -30.40 / 1747 / 1524.... -61.81 / 1590 / 1263
250 Gr. SP +0.00 / 2032 / 2291.... -11.27 / 1863 / 1927 ... -32.53 / 1706 / 1615... -65.86 / 1561 / 1353
250 Gr. Speer GS +0.00 / 2073 / 2385 ... -10.63 / 1848 / 1895... -31.48 / 1642 / 1497.... -65.32 / 1460 / 1183
250 Gr. Swift A-F +0.00 / 2174 / 2623.... -9.71 / 1997 / 2214..... -28.21 / 1831 / 1861... -57.05 / 1676 / 1559
250 Gr. Barnes X +0.00 / 2202 / 2690.... -9.48 / 2028 / 2282..... -27.46 / 1864 / 1928 ... -55.40 / 1710 / 1623
250 Gr. Nosler P +0.00 / 2193 / 2668.... -9.56 / 2019 / 2263..... -27.70 / 1856 / 1911 ... -55.89 / 1703 / 1609

 

[7of7]

The total drop is the total drop of the bullet when fired from a level barrel.
I think factory loads are normally referenced to a 100 yd zero.
I also edited my previous post adding in the muzzle velocity.

 

[neolithic hunter]

Ah very miss-lead you are the 30-06 is not the most powerful not belted oversized cartridge.

many wildcats are much more powerful one that comes to mind is the 35 Whelen. 200gr .358 dia bullet set inside a necked up 30-06 cartridge.
nearly same ballistics as a .338win mag but with out the price or recoil.

I use it on everything from Whitetail to Bull Moose.

guy were talking about a new shooter are we not?

so that said, the 30/06 is really the only all around cartridge ever designed. all of the ones mentioned will kill game. but the 06 will do things the others wont. as an example in the 70's i went on a 30 day hunt in Idaho and Wyoming. i could have take any number of rifles with me but i picked an 06 for one reason. i was going to kill elk, mule deer, white tail and antelope all on the same hunt. i didn't want to have to worry about taking a bunch of different kinds of ammo with me. i used a 180 gr BTSP at 2800 fps. it had plenty of energy to kill elk at 250-300 yrds and shot flat enough to kill antelope at 600 yrds. now i could have done the same thing with a 7 mag, 6.5/06, 6.5x55, 338 win, 358 norma, ect., ect., ect. but if i had lost my hand loads i couldn't buy replacement ammo for any of them at your local po-dunk little store out in the back woods of america. on top of that all i had to do was site my rifle in at 250 yrds, and i was good for all of the game mentioned, no other sighting adjustments necessary. so all, and all the good old 06 got its reputation as americas all around cartridge because it is.

as for the 35 whelen being the end all. it won't do anything that the 06 can't do. but it does all of them at shorter ranges.