[mattybock]

i'd go with a simple caliber that's to be had everywhere. The US big 3 are;
30-30, light for elk.
308 winchester, nice all around.
30-06, pretty much all game can be taken with this round, save for thick skinned meanies like cape buffalo.

Go with 30-06 if you can afford the guns that fire it.

If cash if tight, and it always is today, go with a sporty mosin nagant ($120 gun + $70 new stock = $190 fine rifle) in 7.65x54R, which is just fine for everything in the US. Because the mosin, 30-30, 308, and 30-06 bullets all of are the diameter, reloading is very open to you with this cartridge, and practice ammo of the surplus type is dirt cheap.

[jman69]

I have many rifles and have taken game with many calibers. All in all, the 30-06 would be hard to beat, and the ammo is far cheaper than anything that says "magnum". Price a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06. They feel great and will shoot with anything out there. They also have a real nice trigger.

[ineverFTF]

Jman are you talkng about the older vangaurds? The new ones have a crappy synthetic stock and feel waxy/slippery

[Rockjeep94]

Thanks for the info everyone. I think ill find a 30-06. Sounds like everyone likes it.

[lbwar15]

I bought my Winchester 70 in 30-06 for a little over $300.

[303tom]

Originally Posted by Rockjeep94

Thanks for the info everyone. I think ill find a 30-06. Sounds like everyone likes it.

Good choice, now go look at Savage..............

[jman69]

Originally Posted by ineverFTF

Jman are you talkng about the older vangaurds? The new ones have a crappy synthetic stock and feel waxy/slippery

Yeah the stocks could be better but there's rubber where your hands are so they're pretty manageable. At less than $400 tax and all its a pretty good deal.

[ineverFTF]

Originally Posted by jman69

Yeah the stocks could be better but there's rubber where your hands are so they're pretty manageable. At less than $400 tax and all its a pretty good deal.

Eh to each his own

[lilrichthedragon]

Originally Posted by mattybock

i'd go with a simple caliber that's to be had everywhere. The US big 3 are;
30-30, light for elk.
308 winchester, nice all around.
30-06, pretty much all game can be taken with this round, save for thick skinned meanies like cape buffalo.

Go with 30-06 if you can afford the guns that fire it.

If cash if tight, and it always is today, go with a sporty mosin nagant ($120 gun + $70 new stock = $190 fine rifle) in 7.65x54R, which is just fine for everything in the US. Because the mosin, 30-30, 308, and 30-06 bullets all of are the diameter, reloading is very open to you with this cartridge, and practice ammo of the surplus type is dirt cheap.

I have to second that. I own a 91/30 mosin and I love that gun. the bullets are cheap and are perfect against deer it boar. I payed I think 104 dollars for my mosin and the only thing I've done to it was replace the rear site with a scope

[WebleyFosbery38]

Im a fan of having choices, hard to pick just one cal for anything cept Elephant! If your new, try a few, old not new, nothing wrong with a Shotgun or 2 and a few barrels and a 30-30 or 06. Both can be gotten rather inexpensively and then you can broaden your horizons as you wish. For less than $600, you could have 3 nice pieces, you just have to keep your eyes open for real deals, and just like a car, when in doubt, ask a Mechanic (Gunsmith) to check it out. Get the bare bones and you can build on it custom as you wish, thats where the real money comes in and its often money better spent. Buying used optics can be more risky than a used weapon that's been cared for. Just like a used car, you save huge money.

I have never bought a brand new weapon and Ive never lacked for it. Many critters have fallen to my old Ithaca's, Mossberg and Wards Western. My Remingtons have done their share of whacking themselves.

Gun shows are a great way of picking what your looking for, they offer all sorts of options you can dry fit and play with before you decide. Then start the real Hunt for you new (or Used) Hunting Weapon (or Weapons).

Happy hunting!