Coyote/deer caliber

[follow maggie]

I'm gettin my brother into hunting this coming year, starting with coyote.  I'm. Going to get him a rifle and don't really know what caliber to go with. I want to get him something he can use for deer, also, since he doesn't have much money to buy another rifle with.  He lives in a small town about an hour from Billings, so ammo needs to be readily available. Any recommendations on a good caliber with these requirements?
-coyote
-deer
-readily available ammo

[huntnphool]

7mm-08

[BullMagnet76]

6.5 Creedmoor, I just bought a Savage Long Range Hunter,  I am using it for the same purpose.  Sportsmans Warehouse keeps a good supply of ammo for around $32 a box.  The creedmoor is a flat shooter, I am getting a 1000 yards out of mine and Im dang happy with it. 

[carpsniperg2]

7mm-08

[tbotts]

Any of the following would work and ammo is readily available:

243 / 308 / 7mm-08 / 25-06 / 260(not sure about ammo availability) / 6.8

Of these choices, for your stated purposes,  I would choose a 243.  Powerful enough for deer and will certainly work on coyotes.   Ammo will be available.

       
   

[JimmyHoffa]

.308 win

[kodiak 907]

257 Roberts

[Karl Blanchard]

Ruger American in 25-06.  Can be had for three and a half bills and will shoot plenty accurate.  Shoot light bullets at laser speeds for coyotes or loaded up to 120gr pills for deer and elk.

[Karl Blanchard]

.243 is another great choice and my personal preference for coyotes and definitely enough gun for deer but its nice to have a bit more punch on those thick bodied Montana muleys.

[bobcat]

243 or 270.

I'd probably go with the 270, especially since he's in eastern Montana where shots could be long.

[dewandgin]

270 can be used for coyote,wolves, deer and elk when he gets to them

[WA hunter14]

25-06 definately

[Skillet]

You can always kill a varmint with a deer gun, but not necessarily always kill a deer with a varmint gun.
Assuming the need for shells available means no reloading, I really like the 25-06 for this work, with the 7mm-08 a very close second.

[Biggerhammer]

A .243 Winchester with the right twist and bullet combo will trump several of its variants with larger neck diameters.

[fastdam]

If he is going to be hunting grizzly country i would go with a 30-06 or a 7mm Rem Mag........if not then a .243 or 25-06

[splitshot]

   25-06 in tikka!  get a nice strap and you are ready to go.   mike w

[HawkCreek]

.243 or .308 the 7mm-08 is another good one but ammo isn't as widely available in as many different bullets or weights.

.270 or .30-06 if he wants a long action.

[Dan-o]

7MM-08

[higunner]

.25-06

[Emptyhanded]

.243 would be perfect, but nothing wrong with the 7-08 or 25-06 either!


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[b23]

I'm gettin my brother into hunting this coming year, starting with coyote.  I'm. Going to get him a rifle and don't really know what caliber to go with. I want to get him something he can use for deer, also, since he doesn't have much money to buy another rifle with.  He lives in a small town about an hour from Billings, so ammo needs to be readily available. Any recommendations on a good caliber with these requirements?
-coyote
-deer
-readily available ammo

Based on your criteria I'd say 270 Win. or 30-06.  Both will have ammo that will be available at just about any place that sells it and both will give you a good amount of flexibility from coyotes to elk.

[Firedogg]

 I'd go with the .270 or .308, but only because I am familiar with both of those I have not had a chance to really see what the .243 does.  I'm guessing the coyote hunting is not for hides for sale, so I would not worry about skinning him and gutting him in one action with the .308.

[jasnt]

A .243 Winchester with the right twist and bullet combo will trump several of its variants with larger neck diameters.

I use a 243 for just about everything......well except turkey

[700xcr]

243win. would make a good deer and varmint rifle. Less recoil and pleasant to shoot. Bullet weight range from 58grs. to 108grs. I believe.

[Jingles]

If you go with the 270 might as well step up to the 30-06. The both shoot the same sized case and with the 06 you can bump up the bullet weigh over the 270. IMO If I could only have 1, I'd opt for the 243.
The 243 you can drop down to a 60 gr HP if you reload Sierra or all the way up to 107 Gr HPBT sierra and I am sure there are other weighs avail with other manufacturers
270 90 gr hp to 150 gr SBT or 150 Gr RN ( Sierra)
30-06 110 gr - 220 gr there are also some Winchester? varminters available

[coachcw]

30-378   130s for yotes  215 lrbs  for deer. No turrets needed  4x12 Vx3.

[jasnt]

30-378   130s for yotes  215 lrbs  for deer. No turrets needed  4x12 Vx3.

may wanna try the 110vmax in that combo

[Biggerhammer]

30-378   130s for yotes  215 lrbs  for deer. No turrets needed  4x12 Vx3.

may wanna try the 110vmax in that combo

Oh, the 110gr  .30 cal V-Max's. Really messy from a .300 Win Mag, always thought it was odd that the 7mm V-Max is heavier (120gr) than the .30 cal version ( 110gr).

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

You could get a .338 or a 7mm mag and cover a lot of game animals?

[mountainman]

30-378   130s for yotes  215 lrbs  for deer. No turrets needed  4x12 Vx3.

may wanna try the 110vmax in that combo

how about 160's out of s 338-378 Weatherby..does to coyote what the Swift does to prairie dogs..

[C-Money]

7mm-08 would be perfect! Plenty of gun for North America, and soft recoil. Crushing performance on big game.

[follow maggie]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Really helped me out.

[fastdam]

So did you make a decision?

[follow maggie]

I think I'm down to 7mm-08 or 25-06. It seems like they have a good combination of shooting flat, carrying a punch to put down a deer and can get ammo where my brother lives without much hassle.

[huntnphool]

I think I'm down to 7mm-08 or 25-06. It seems like they have a good combination of shooting flat, carrying a punch to put down a deer and can get ammo where my brother lives without much hassle.

You can find 7mm bullets from 100gr-180gr, makes for a pretty versatile option.

[Skillet]

    But he's not a reloader - it's all about what's on the shelf. 

[WSU]

.243

[Bob33]

I think I'm down to 7mm-08 or 25-06. It seems like they have a good combination of shooting flat, carrying a punch to put down a deer and can get ammo where my brother lives without much hassle.

I own both, and either would be a great choice. Between the two, for "coyote/deer" I would choose the 25-06 simply because it's a bit flatter shooting. I believe you will find factory ammo choices good for both.

[follow maggie]

I called a couple stored over there and they both said the 25-06 and 7mm-08 are good rounds for that area and can get them anytime.  It'll probably On my way! Down to what I can get a better deal on the rifle. He doesn't reload and can't afford to get the equipment to start up, so ammo has to come off the shelf for him.