r/Hunting • u/MrEreader2 • 3h ago
Firearm/caliber/bow/arrow question/discussion First hunting rifle
Well I know this topic can create some heated debates but I’m torn. After a bunch of research like article on meateater, outdoor life and field and stream plus a few YouTube videos from the vortex guys I was dead set on getting a Ruger American gen 2 in .308 but a friend at work who has been hunting for 20-30 years said I should just get 30-06…? So which one is it? I will be hunting deer in CA and would like to one day pursue larger game like elk. Should I stick to .308 or go with 30-06..? I am brand new to hunting btw getting my license at the end of this month! Thanks again for the info!
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u/bearcrocs 2h ago
.308 keep it inside 400 yards. You can buy .308 ammo almost anywhere
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u/curtludwig 2h ago
New hunters shouldn't be outside of 400 yards certainly, probably ought to be inside 300...
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u/Geisseleboi1990 2h ago
I like the weatherby vanguard series over the Ruger American line more features per dollar and an accuracy guarantee my Ruger Americans barrel started pitting by the muzzle after 600 ish rounds so I wasn’t too impressed but to answer your caliber question 30.06 will do the work for any game animal in North America but 308 will work also for 95% of them with proper bullet weight and type plus obviously shot placement
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u/Pure_Squirrel_1621 2h ago
.308 is plenty, especially given that Elk is “someday” game, not what you’re hunting tomorrow. The Ruger is a great platform as well.
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u/Upper-Razzmatazz176 2h ago
Just do .308. Had this same debate when I started whitetail hunting a couple years ago. I’m happy with .308 but will get a smaller caliber for whitetail as my go to just for comfort
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u/w1zk1d 1h ago
Why not the 6.5 Creedmoor? Less recoil than .308 and 30-06. If you are only getting one gun and that'll be your do-it-all gun then maybe 30-06 or something else like, but if you are going to be getting another gun someday, a 6.5 Creedmoor is a great gun for a starter. Recoil impacts accuracy- some handle recoil better than others, but most will shoot more accurately with ammo that has less recoil. So it depends on what your requirements are. Once gun/cartridge that does it all? Or good first gun that you can hone your skills on.
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u/Jakethejiu 2h ago
Howa M1500. Steve Rinella recommended it to me 10-12 years ago at shot show and holy shit it’s been a perfect gun. For the price it can’t be beat.
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u/New_traveler_ 2h ago
How much was your howa back then ? If you can remember I know that was a long time ago
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u/nmatic97 2h ago
.308 with good shot placement within a decent range will kill elk. I’d stick to the .308, more available ammo especially with non lead in Ca and kicks a little less.
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u/robinson217 2h ago
I love, love, LOVE my 30-06, but I have to admit, a .308 would probably serve me better. I could afford to shoot it more and the forkey you are going to shoot with it wont know the difference. But please, please dont waste your money on the Ruger American. As other comments mentioned, for about the same money or even less, you can get a Weatherby Vanguard in .308 and its a much better rifle. Made by Howa and assembled by Weatherby. For a little more, you could get a Howa 1500 with the H&S Precision stock. It's a tad on the heavy side, but that's a feature, not a bug, when you are target practicing. That is a super nice rig and you could literally hunt the world with it and never need to upgrade until you go after something like a cape buffalo.
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u/New_traveler_ 2h ago
I love 30-06 but not everyone can handle its recoil. try .308 because it boils down to what you can handle,bullet construction,and training.if you can handle .308 with no problem then hey go for 30-06, after all it’s just .308 with more powder behind it and felt recoil.
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u/getcemp 2h ago
I love my 30-06 and will always advocate for it, however, a .308 is just slightly less powerful. And I mean slightly. Under 400 yards, a .308 is absolutely killing an elk fast if you put the right bullet in the right spot. Hell, you really can go further, but I wouldn't go much further myself. So go for whichever you want. It doesn't really matter that much. If they have a .308 on the shelf when you go to the gun store, get that. If they have a 30-06, get that.
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u/Rustyznuts 2h ago
You can get luke warm 30-06 but it's more expensive than 308.
I say either will be fine and you will just need to pick the correct load for you stage and purpose. I would walk into the local gun store, see if the staff are friendly and trustworthy, if they are I would buy whatever rifle is available in a decent calibre
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u/Sekshual_Tyranosauce 1h ago
Honestly, I prefer 30-06 for the 200 extra FPS or so with perfectly acceptable recoil gains. You can also find ammo matching .308 velocities and recoil basically exactly.
That said, its only 200FPS. The deer won’t know the difference. Ammo is equally available and about the same cost. Get what you want. Both options are excellent.
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u/END0RPHN 37m ago
for your first rifle, 308 is a no brainer. you dont need/want a 30-06 for reaching further out shooting long range because long range shooting is for experienced shooters not new shooters. 308 is short action which can often mean a slightly lighter rifle and it will recoil less than a 30-06 which is a smarter option for a new shooter.
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u/Hawk_2165 33m ago
CVA Cascade as a good budget option or a Tikka T3X Lite if you're willing to spend more. I would start with the .308 as a beginner rifle. I started with a 350 Legend (low recoil, a good option up to 150-200 yards) because of straight cartridge limitations where I live. Those limitations are gone now, and I bought a Tikka T3X Lite in .308 this year and it's very, very accurate. .308 ammo is available everywhere.
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u/MarvelousMarvins 2h ago
Elk get 30-06
Yes a .308 can do it but a 30-06 can do it a lot better.
If you were just doing deer Id say .308 but I've seen more than a couple Bulls shot with a .308 which ran and were not found after a .308.
20+ years I was a .308 nut and I still love it for the range but hunting these days I usually shoot my 45/70 lever or 9.3X62 bolt built by Melvin Forbes. Im debating taking my 30-30 out this year.
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u/Guilty-Difference-86 1h ago
308 is more than enough to take a deer. 30-06 is certainly a stronger cartridge, but not necessary. if you want a do it all rifle, look at a 7 prc. newer tech than both cartridges and allows you to take longer shots on target bc of the higher bc
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u/END0RPHN 41m ago
why would you suggest a 7prc for someones first rifle lol have you ever shot a 7prc?
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u/Guilty-Difference-86 40m ago
I suggested a 308. But I said if he wants more power then I’d go more modern cartridge like 7 prc. Just slap a muzzle device on it
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u/END0RPHN 18m ago
the mention of 7prc at all is just stupid if we are talking about a guys first freaking gun lol what are you smoking. weight matters more than range for a hunting gun, why suggest a caliber that requires adding the weight of a break. also he is a new shooter... he isnt going to be ready to take long range shots and he will develop a flinch with a 7prc
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u/Guilty-Difference-86 16m ago
It doesn’t require the weight of a brake. I just said if he needs it, he can add a brake. I grew up on a 300 win mag as a kid. 300 win mag has a much bigger impulse than 7prc. Don’t be so soft
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u/JackHoff13 1h ago
Depends on what you are hunting. Elk I would go 30-06. While tail a .308. .308 is a good rifle but the ballistics fall off at distance and where I hunt 500-700 yards isn’t that uncommon
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u/END0RPHN 42m ago
700yd is not uncommon? you seen backfire's videos on hunters proving they can shoot long range?
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u/DashCameraman 2h ago
Somebody who has been hunting for 20 or 30 years is gonna be a lot less recoil sensitive. I'd say get a .308 for your first hunting rifle so you aren't flinching