What's a good caliber?

[mwagner]

I'm looking for my first high power rifle, and a place around where I live has a nice 7mm rem mag. What I was wondering tho, is there a better caliber that's not super expensive and not chambered in the same chambers ar-15s are, because those aren't very easy to get right now.

 

[jayhawk]

7mm rem mag is an awesome cartridge. The one that immediately comes to mind that compares is the 300 WSM. 7mm shoots a little flatter and the 300 carries a ton of energy, but both are quite capable.

 

[Mgderf]

Where do we start?

Look at Savage Axis rifles
Look at Howa 1500 (Vanguard)

As for calibers? OMG!
Let's see,
.204 Ruger
.222 Rem
.243
.25-06
30/30
.300Win Mag
and the list goes on, and on, and on...

Best question is, what do you want to do with it? What do you want it to do?

 

[BlueEagle]

Yeah, the deciding factor is it's purpose. Is it target shooting? Long range shooting? Home defense? Alien invasion stopper?

Tell us what you want it for, and then we'll tell you where you should be looking.

 

[HavokCycle]

Yeah, the deciding factor is it's purpose. Is it target shooting? Long range shooting? Home defense? Alien invasion stopper?

Tell us what you want it for, and then we'll tell you where you should be looking.

7mm while an awesome cartridge, isnt practical when you put the above thoughts in. i stick with .308. effective round, cheapish compared to other hi-po cartridges. i dont know prices offhand for 7mm or 30-06 or 243 win or whatever hunting round someone would choose. i DO know however, if youre looking for an economical round to load in a rifle, be it defense or hunting, .308 is the way to go.

 

[mwagner]

Mainly just for coyote and other varmint and some distance shooting

 

[HavokCycle]

Mainly just for coyote and other varmint and some distance shooting

if by distance shooting you mean plinking, id stay away from things like 7mm, 243, 270, etc. stick with 30-06 and 308.

 

[Redskinsfan]

Mainly just for coyote and other varmint and some distance shooting

I would got with a .223 then. The ammo used to be easily available and will again soon, I hope.

 

[Glockowner]

If coyotes and varmints are your goal, get a 22-250. Super flat shooting coyote exploder.

 

[mwagner]

I have thought about .308 but the only down fall is that every gun shop within 100 miles is sold out or is sold out by mid afternoon the day they get some in.

 

[Osobuco]

300 Win MAG - YEEEEEEEHAAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mgderf]

Mainly just for coyote and other varmint and some distance shooting

Well then, just for fun kind of thing?

You need a Mosin Nagant
7.62x54R surplus ammo is EVERYWHERE, and is some of the least expensive on the market today.
The Nagant is FAR from the most accurate, but it'll take a coyote, or other varmint at 300+ yards if you do your part.

The Mosin Nagant is a bolt action so it's cheap. Not as cheap today as it was this same time last year, but

You will never be sorry you bought your first Mosin Nagant. Well, I better take that back. They tend to try to breed...

 

[mwagner]

My dad has a mosin and that thing is a canon

 

[jayhawk]

If coyotes and varmints are your goal, get a 22-250. Super flat shooting coyote exploder.

If you're looking to avoid .223 and .308 and want a varmint/paper cartridge, the 22-250 would sure fit the bill.

 

[eshorter2001]

just get a rem700 in 30-06 gun will be cheap and ammo is easy to find, u can even find old mil surplus ammo for cheap

 

[Bottlefed]

6.5 x55

 

[tyme2climb]

If you're just plinking and popping 'yotes, then a .223 is ideal-if you think prices and demand will go back down-if not, .243 is real sweet, readily available, and will be up to the task if you ever decide to hunt deer (outside of Indiana of course). I like .222 Remington, but it's for sentimental reasons (GGG-Grandpa's Groundhog Getter) and I reload.

 

[solution_zero]

.243 Win is always available, and plenty good enough for coyotes.

 

[MG77]

I have read quite a few articles and many have said a .308 is large enough to take any size game in North America, so if your not going to varmint hunt a ton and there is an outside shot you might head out west after a mule deer or elk a 308 could be a multi-task gun, that's way more gun than you need for a yote but could serve a couple purposes by changing the grain weight of the bullet/round.

If your shooting just yotes 223 is cheapest, 22-250 shoots the flatest little more expensive, .243 is also a great round, little heavier, little more expensive but darn good round. Depends on your property/shots but all 3 I think in Indiana would be a great choices. Don't be afraid to spend a little money on a scope, IMO that is where most guys fall short on their first rifle purchase.

 

[DMBFan]

I have a 300 Win Mag and love it. Very fun to shoot long distances. However, I am very interested in getting a 308. Can't go wrong with high power.