Opinions Please?

I live and hunt in Manitoba Canada and am about to purchase my first Hi-Power rifle. I've hunted fowl for years and have taken plenty of whitetails with my shotguns and muzzleloaders.

I'm looking for opinions on a good deer calibre. Bang for buck I'm thinking a 30-30 or .243. I don't really want to jump into the big dollars of a 30-06 or .308 just yet. I'm a pretty good shot with a slug at 150yds so I figure I can adjust to a slower projectiled rifle. What is the accuracy vs killing power difference between the 30-30 and the .243? Would either be decent for moose if a second rifle isn't available to me in time? Thanks in advance for any input.

: whitetails with my shotguns and muzzleloaders.

: I'm looking for opinions on a good deer calibre. Bang for buck I'm thinking : a 30-30 or .243. I don't really want to jump into the big dollars of a : 30-06 or .308 just yet. I'm a pretty good shot with a slug at 150yds so I : figure I can adjust to a slower projectiled rifle. What is the accuracy vs : killing power difference between the 30-30 and the .243? Would either be : decent for moose if a second rifle isn't available to me in time? : Thanks in advance for any input.

'IF' you're talking new guns, the caliber doesn't affect the price much. So not buying a .30-06 or .308 over a .243 due to cost is not valid. You're going to be charged for the cost of the rifle much more than the cost of the caliber. OTOH, the Winchester 94, in .30-30 is much cheaper to manufacture, so that would be a lot less than a quality bolt action, but I personally don't think I'd use either a .30-30 or a .243 on a moose. They tend to get nasty when you only wound them.

samg

the fact that you want to hunt moose takes the .243 out of the picture IMO. if you hunt heavy timber the 30/30 would do it close range. i would use the Starfire Ammo, they use the Barnes X Bullet. they cost more but will work better on an animal of that size. i think a Marlin 336 would be the best choice because the solid top is better for mounting a scope. i wouldnt take anything but a lung shot on a moose with a 30/30.

i think a better choice would be a 30/06. the cost difference between different caliber guns wont be that big new or used. 30/06 has a larger choice of bullet weights, is good short and long range, and the bullets can be had for just a couple dollars more per box than a 30/30.

I would stay away from the 30-30 unless you will not be taking long distance shots (over 200 meters). The long range trajectory for a 30-30 is rotten due to the shell size for powder. Bullet drop is tremendous. My personal preference is a .270. I think (just opinion) a .243 is a too little for moose so as an all around gun I pick the .270. If I were to already have a gun for moose or did not plan on hunting moose then the .243 is perfect. You will get plenty of knock down for a deer and have super long distance trajectory.

If you have used shotgun slugs you are obviously not recoil shy and if there is a chance of moose on your hunt your choice is an easy one, the 30/06. The 30/30 and 243 would both be a very poor choice for what you want. The 30/06 will do everything you want and then some. David.

What do you think of the .308? I know they're similar in versatility and velocity. Personal choice?

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll wait for a good deal on a 30-06 or ..308.

These guys are right I would't go hunting moose with a 243,or a 30-30. Both are good calibers but not big game clibers. As far as price goes, it depends on the brand. I have a Remington 243 BDL that costs twice as much as my Savage 300 win-mag. But if I was going for moose I would have to choose the win-mag. Just because the caliber is bigger does't mean the price is bigger. I would go to the closest gun dealer and get some price checks.

Here in New Zealand the .308 is one of the most popular rifles for deer. I have just finished building a .308 based on a 1912 Steyer '98 Mauser, 19 inch barrel, Butler Creek synthetic stock and fixed 4 power scope. I am very pleased with its performance at the range and eagerly look forward to hunting with it. However, if I was in America, I would go for a 30/06 unless I very particularly wanted a short action rifle of the lightest weight I could comfortably fire. The 30/06 will do everything a 308 will and then quite a good bit more. The 30/06 is still the king of the thirty calibre rifles and none of the johnny come lately magnums etc. are ever going to knock it off its perch - in my very humble opinion. Regards,

good choice on waiting. Good luck

My opinion to the .308 is that it is a good caliber for alot of different game. I beleive the military used it for so long because of it's consistancy down range. My personal large caliber is the 300 WIN-MAG,it shoots flatter and delivers more energy. A fairly new caliber that has a pretty good energy and trajectory is the 7MM STW, though right now I believe the only bullets available are 140