Figuring out calibers

[whistler4991]

Hello everyone,

I've recently posted on here that I'm new to hunting, I know the action of rifle I'm looking for but the caliber I was told to get seems to be coming up impossible to find in firearm and ammo. So with that being said I would like some suggestions on what calibers to look at for hunting varmint to black bear. I was looking for a 257 roberts but that seems to be a caliber that has gone. I'm very recoil sensitive, I have a browning bar mk2 safari in 270 win but I've never shot it since it doesn't have any sights or glass. Does anyone have any suggestions on a caliber to look at? Please give some experience so I can try to get a idea of what its like to shoot. Sadly my local gun stores don't have hunting rifles for rent to try at the range. So I'm going off your lovely stories and wisdom!

Thanks in advance!

[ppruchnicki1]

there're a few .257 roberts for sale on gunbroker from $650 to $5000

[Mkc451]

Hello everyone,

I've recently posted on here that I'm new to hunting, I know the action of rifle I'm looking for but the caliber I was told to get seems to be coming up impossible to find in firearm and ammo. So with that being said I would like some suggestions on what calibers to look at for hunting varmint to black bear. I was looking for a 257 roberts but that seems to be a caliber that has gone. I'm very recoil sensitive, I have a browning bar mk2 safari in 270 win but I've never shot it since it doesn't have any sights or glass. Does anyone have any suggestions on a caliber to look at? Please give some experience so I can try to get a idea of what its like to shoot. Sadly my local gun stores don't have hunting rifles for rent to try at the range. So I'm going off your lovely stories and wisdom!

Thanks in advance!

.257 Roberts is a tad light for black bear, but in today's world, unless you are reloading - ammo will be scarce and expensive. Go w/.243 or 6mm - I would not be adverse to using it on anything up to whitetail/mule deer sized animals. With good placement - maybe bigger. It would not be my choice for elk, moose or black bear. You have the .270, that is just fine for any North American animal. The smaller .243 is good for ground hog and up in the varmints category. Mine works good for ground hogs in the spring time soy bean fields. Out to 500yds w/no problem.

[30thirty06]

You may need to look into getting multiple, more common, calibers instead of a 'one size fits all.'
.225/5.56 is a decent varmint cartridge. 300blk, 30-30, and 7.63x39 will all work for whitetail and black bear (pick your shots though...) at moderate ranges and have reasonably light recoil.
Range matters also - how far away are you trying to reach out and touch something?

Rifle action will impact felt recoil as well. A gas/recoil driven semi-auto will typically be much more comfortable to shoot than a bolt action since a portion of the recoil energy is being harnessed to cycle the action.

[whistler4991]

Hello 30thirty06,

My ranges are going to be anywhere from 25 yards out to probably around 500 (though I probably won't take a shot past 250-300). I'm most likely not going to hunt black bear but would like something in case I do happen to win that lottery or in the case I may need to protect myself or family on the trails (currently carry a Sig P220 in 10mm for defense on trails). My intended game I'm looking at is probably coyote to elk at the most. I like to go through brush off the trails in my families property but they also have the farm that is joined to the brush on their land. So most of the time I plan to be in the thick of it but might have to take a shot on the corn field.

[JohnCea]

Hmm, Well Deer Hunt Zone 3 regulates hunting opportunities in Kentucky and covers 1169917 acres.Check out the public land access and historical weather

[whistler4991]

Hello Mkc451,

I think after careful consideration you are probably right. Luckily I do still own a BAR Mk2 Safari in 270 win for the bear. I hear 243 is good on coyote to deer but what about elk?

[Mkc451]

Hello Mkc451,

I think after careful consideration you are probably right. Luckily I do still own a BAR Mk2 Safari in 270 win for the bear. I hear 243 is good on coyote to deer but what about elk?

There is no doubt you can kill an Elk with a .243 but it would not be my first choice, it's a bit on the small side. Shot placement would be paramount. The .270 however is a perfectly fine ELK gun.

Consider a .243 is putting out about 1650 ft/lbs of energy @ 100yds, where a .270 is putting out 2500 ft/lbs. A combo of .243 rifle & .270 rifle will cover everything from ground hogs to the biggest stuff the North America has to offer.

[whistler4991]

Alright, I just know I'm recoil sensitive and haven't even shot my 270 before. bought it brand new and just never got around to fitting it with a scope or anything. Hopefully its not that bad.

[30thirty06]

270 is pretty easy on the shoulder in general. Plus if you get into reloading you can cook up some even softer shooting loads.

[Garymac]

The 350 Legend has pretty good ballistics would be good for deer, bear and other stuff. It's big enough for elk in the heavier loads but it has less range than a 270, 308, 30-06 etc. The nice thing is that the recoil is very mild. Bullet weights range from 140-180 grain or bigger with handloads.

[30thirty06]

The 350 Legend has pretty good ballistics would be good for deer, bear and other stuff.

Also runs well in the AR-15 platform and is legal to hunt with in southern MI.

[dirtmcgirt76239]

270 is awesome, get a limbsaver recoil pad, and get used to it. 30-06, and .270 can get had in loads for almost all medium and large game, its one of the most versatile rounds out there, you just need to experiment more.

[john.41]

Your semi-auto BAR in .270 should be good for anything you have described, and be easy on the shoulder. Look for quality constructed bullets in the lighter ranges. Buy a quality scope instead of another rifle, something 3x-9x or up to 12x for longer ranges.