How to Choose the Right Caliber for Your Hunt

Whether this is your first foray into hunting or you want to pass the tradition along to the next generation, there is much to consider when purchasing your first hunting rifle on GunBroker.com. Regarding caliber, you want a round that will perform adequately without excessive recoil that could make the rifle unpleasant or difficult to use. There are many calibers to choose from on GunBroker.com, and the best approach is to start with something appropriate for the type of game you are after.

Check out this list and discover which caliber will work best for you. Then, head over to GunBroker.com and explore their user listings for hunting rifles before shopping for your new Sig Sauer P320 or any model that catches your eye.

243 Winchester – Great Option for New Hunting Rifle

For a beginning deer hunter, a 243 rifle is a fantastic choice. The 243 Winchester offers accuracy and low recoil, making it ideal for beginning hunters focused on shot placement. A bolt action provides improved accuracy compared to a lever-action model, for example. Visit GunBroker.com to find a Browning or Remington 243 rifle and take it to your local gunsmith to get the trigger weight adjusted before going to the range and getting acquainted.

30 30 Winchester Hunting Caliber

The 30 30 Winchester is excellent for just about all big game out to roughly 175 yards, but this caliber is often overlooked because of higher-velocity cartridges that offer extended range. However, hunters focused on marksmanship alone can miss opportunities to build other core hunting skills such as navigation, reading sign, and patience. With a 30 30 rifle found on GunBroker.com, you can grow and utilize these fundamental skills to create shot opportunities, then rely on this proven caliber to finish the job.

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204 Ruger

Deer or pronghorn are popular game for your first hunting season, but many new hunters go in a different direction. Varmint hunting is especially valuable in areas where agriculture is essential and crop destruction has consequences. For groundhogs, rock chucks, and ground squirrels, the 204 Ruger offers minimal recoil with velocity to perform efficiently. With various models available on GunBroker.com, the 204 Ruger is right at home on the ranch when there is a need to control smaller predators such as coyotes and bobcats.

270 Winchester

This caliber shoots smoothly and provides relatively little recoil, making it a great choice for a first deer or elk rifle. Compared to the 243 Winchester, the 270 Winchester pushes a heavier bullet slightly slower out of the barrel, but it offers a considerable increase in energy at distance. The trade-off, of course, is greater–yet still quite manageable–recoil. The 270 Win provides a higher ceiling in the type of game one could harvest, including up to elk, while the 243 likely tops out at whitetails and mule deer. GunBroker.com often hosts a variety of user listings for rifles chambered in 270 Win, so you can find your perfect first hunting rifle.

6.5 Creedmore

It has only been around for 15 years, but the 6.5 Creedmore has gained massive popularity, primarily due to its higher ballistic coefficient and massively increased range. Rifles in this caliber can also offer minimal recoil. The 6.5 Creedmore resists wind deflection and is affordable, with many listings available at GunBroker.com. This is a common round for new shooters, and for good reason.

Related Article: Bargain Guns: Best Bolt Action Rifle for the Money

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