looking for a good all around rifle or big game

[Darek78]

ok i'm new to hunting and am looking to choose a good rifle i've heard a 30.06 is comparable to a .243 just with less kick. any suggestions ? i'm kinda open to anything at this point let me know...

[mossback91]

30-06 is prolly the best all around in my opinion concerning price of ammo and availibility of ammo. Prolly easy to find a used one at a Gun/pawn shop with a scope on it for a good price. They dont kick at all really. Ive used one since I was 10 or so. Gun can take down elk and deer both with ease.

[rainshadow1]

The 30-06 will kick more than the 243 mostly because of bullet weight, but it's not bad. It's just a rifle. You expect some recoil. Nothing to focus on or stress over. The '06 is a great all around choice because of the availability of ammo off the shelf, and the versatility. (You can shoot bullets from 110g to 220g.) There's also lots of guns around if you're looking at the used market. I don't think it's the best preforming big game round on the list, but it's excellent none the less. If you don't handload, and are looking for versatility, it's very hard to beat.

[KillBilly]

ok i'm new to hunting and am looking to choose a good rifle i've heard a 30.06 is comparable to a .243 just with less kick. any suggestions ? i'm kinda open to anything at this point let me know...

Coasthunterjay has a good 30-06 for sale as we speak. You might get in touch with him if you are interested.

[PacificNWhunter]

I'm partial to the .300 mag, it's has great range and knock down power and there are plenty of quality over the counter loads out there. I know the 30-06 is a very popular gun and don't think you will go wrong purchasing one.

[Red Dawg]

ya bro go with the 06. You wont regret it.

[MountainWalk]

i would by a 30'06. but get one from a pawnshop and get a cheaper one. who knows, you may not dig hunting as much as you thought. one is as good as another really for just plain old deer hunting. wouldnt really worry about brands. 165's would be a good all around bullet.

[Ray]

If the choice was mine I would get a .270 or .30-06

[TheHunt]

338 RUM.   There is no measurement of dead.  Either it is or it is not. 

338 had lots of bullet sizes to pick from.

[Red Dawg]

oh my lord. that gun is huge.

[257 Wby Mag]

338 RUM.   There is no measurement of dead.  Either it is or it is not. 

338 had lots of bullet sizes to pick from.

 I like you more and more all the time Jim, can't kill em to dead.. That being said, I think you know what I would pic for bucks and such.......

[WDFW-SUX]

It depends on what you want to hunt and if you wany to own more than one gun.

If you plan on hunting deer and elk mostly with a black bear now and then a 7mm or 30 06 is perfect if just deer a 270 is great if only elk and moose a 338 is good.

Lots of rifles will do it all a 7mm 3006 300 mag will kill everthing in north america a 338 will do it better but has more recoil

First big game rifle I vote 270

[bucklucky]

My vote....308 Norma magnum!!

[mossback91]

.416 barrett if we are gonna play this game.

[MountainWalk]

im pretty sure he said he was new to hunting. i dont think he wants all that kick. i shoot a 338 for deer elk and bear, and love it and agree with the dead is dead idea, but still thats too much gun for a guy new to shooting a rifle.

30'6.. and for other gear, its just like your first rifle. dont go out and buy top of the line stuff. find out if you even like getting cold, wet, windchapped, soggied on, sleep deprived. who knows, you may or may not like, and if you dont, you wont be out all that money on gear. if after you like the first season or two, then go hog wild. sorry for being so dang windy.

[bucklucky]

Cant go wrong with a 30-06. The 06 doesnt kick hard at all. My wife shoots my norma and 300 mag with no problems and those are sissy guns

[Coasthunterjay]

Killbilly was correct if you are interested i do have an 06 for sale. very nice, less than 50 rounds through it. Stainless barrel, synthetic light weight stock. With drop out floor. Overall great setup!

If you are at all interested PM me and we can talk....

I am a big 270 fan personnaly myself which is the reason why i am getting rid of the 30-06 for my little bro. But a 30-06 has been an overall dependable gun for ages!

The 30-06 compared to a .243 is a hands down race. The 30-06 is bigger and well known for its stoping power. Great brush gun. Great upto 200 yards with no problems, can go farther If you shoot that way, but with practice. and Its more versitle....

with a .243 i wouldnt feel safe hunting bear or large elk with and any bigger. with a 30-06 i would feel safe hunting anything with it. And if you are a new hunter you are going to need to find a gun that can do everything, not just small game. you want a gun that you can use for a long time for alot of different things. Shoot you can use a -06 for small crop Whitetail and then turn around and go up to big mountain elk, and if really wanted to you could load up for big bears....and also beable to shoot yotes if your willing to waste about a 1.00 to 1.50 a bullet at a small piesce of fuzz..........

If you are comparing a 30-06 to a 243 for overall starter rifle....go with the 30-06!

And as a beginner remember this.......

Get equipment that you can use for several different kinds of situations......

[bobcat]

The 30-06 has no less range than the 270. It's plenty good out to 400 yards. The shooter may not be, but the cartridge is.

[Red Dawg]

agree, the 06 is a very accuate rifle.

[Sagedawg]

  on the '06

[couesbitten]

My first rifle was an '06, and my son is shooting the same. You can't go wrong with one for all the reasons already stated. But, I've just gotta ask, what do people mean by "great brush gun"? Do they really mean what I think they do, and do people really believe that kinda stuff?  Thanks, Scott

[NORRISKI2]

30-06, .270, .280, & 7MM rem mag. Why not buy them all

[ICEMAN]

.300 RUM.

Go big or go home!

[bucklucky]

.300 RUM.

Go big or go home!

Why not a 50 cal then!

[ICEMAN]

Ok, you sold me!

[bucklucky]

I think I sold myself too!

[Darek78]

bucklucky....that little icon was awesome man that totally made me laugh....you called that one right on...

[bucklucky]

I saw that little guy a while back and knew there would be a future for him, I finally got to use him!!

[Curly]

ok i'm new to hunting and am looking to choose a good rifle i've heard a 30.06 is comparable to a .243 just with less kick. any suggestions ? i'm kinda open to anything at this point let me know...

There really is NO comparison between the .243 and 30-06. 

[Intruder]

.243 & 30-06 are apples and oranges.

For an all around big game rifle the 30-06 is argueably 1 of if not the best.  You can hunt any game in N. America and most in Africa.  Tough to beat... although I don't own 1 anymore I've killed a pile of critters w/ 1.