5 Best Hunting Rifle Cartridges for New Hunters 

The .270 is derived from necked down .30-03 and the .30-06 is derived from a shortened .30-03.

@@nmende00 The 30-06 came from the 8x57JS, the US took 8x57 JS case increased the neck, then neck it down from .323-.308. That is why the 30-06 & the 8x57 JS have the same case head size.

@@VitoBb1978 There was an interim design called the .03-03 which had a 65mm long case and evolved to become the 30-06 and 270 win.

I like all of them but one the 6.5. I would replace with the faster and flatter shooting 25.06.

@@VitoBb1978 "The 30-06 came from the 8x57JS" Actually Vito, it's based on the 7x57. The military was so impressed with its performance during the Spanish-American war, that they started a program to develop a cartridge to replace the .30-40 then in service. Truth be told, the .30-40 is an amazing round and all they had to do was ditch the weak Krag rifles and standardize the '95 Winchester, which could handle the higher pressure version that the Army used for a short time.

Exactly

I agree. There are so many pros and very few cons. Especially if you reload.

I wouldn't say small game, I shot a squirrel with a 180 grain ballistic tip and it kind of exploded 😂😂

@@BadAssBassFishermen LOL did you expected otherwise ?

You can easily take most everything across the globe with that round. Especially with the diversity of the bullets today that are sent downrange. The only thing that I would use bigger calibers for are the big and/or dangerous game. IE... Cape Buffalo, Elephant(the big five). And, if it was the very large aggressive bears. That's only because you don't want something running around angry after getting shot. That could be bad for your health...lol

I just ordered my first real hunting rifle in 308 cause it can do everything in north America, cost less to shoot, and has so many options.

How does the .308 go against Grizzly bears or kodiak bears. Can you use the .308 for deer to the biggest bear?

@@GeneralGiffel 308 is underpowered for grizzly it is not recommended but that is JUST short of hurting a grizzly effectively so a 30-06 could be closer but i'd suggest starting at 300 win mag or higher if you want something for all north american game including grizzly there are small enough bullets for deer and big enough bullets for grizzly and bison the only downside is barrel life really, though to be fair a 308 WILL kill a grizzly it's just shot placement and bullet type i would be highly concerned about a close range encounter with a brown or grizzly bear it will not go down in one shot if you can't hit the head or sever the spine.

Try federal terminal accent. Best bullet I've used. I've tried em all. These terminal accent are the best performance

💯

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Shot placement so true, nowadays I use a 204 most would say way to small. Only if you can’t continuously hit a nickel at 100 yards, Then you better use something more like a 30-06, I don’t like wasting meat so only neck or head shots, with my 204 out to 150 yards

It’s all about shot placement

Yes, I was taught to never take a shot unless I could tell someone just where I would hit the animal before I shot.

Yes but not every shot will be perfect, you will mess up. Thats why people dont use 22s for deer. I do agree that shot placement is very important though but u will mess up at some point

Accuracy is everything. Hit the nail right on the head.

@@tuckerschwab5331 I use 22 for whitetail. Well, 5.56 in my AR. Many I know do. But we are all very proficient in accuracy.

@@ageckomiller yes but, you cant tell me that after more than 10 years of hunting that you have never made a bad shot.

I agree man, just got to play with a friends 25-06 awhile back and it's an awesome round. To bad I dont reload because that round has potential

Take of the 243 for a new hunter as well for big game.

Indeed. I’d even say 30-06 at full strength is overkill for most lower 48 hunting and certainly not “beginner” caliber.

I've had experienced shooters complain about my .300 Win Mags hurting. Who in da fuq would give it to a beginner?

To light bro. 100 grn.

Thank you master kenobi

Well you can but would haveto really work at it ! ;)

Yup, and it is quite common. Availability of ammo is a huge factor.

The .30-'06 is never a mistake.

Is 308 FMJ better or hollow

AreaShooter, AMEN!!!!!

I'd want something less heavy. I don't like bullet drop, 270

You can say that again

Is it reliable for something bigger?

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.340 Weatherby.... in a lightweight rifle ....with no muzzle brake! :)

I totally agree. Not many people can handle a 300 win mag, the recoil is simply too much. The 7MM is way better than the 30-06 for distance shooting and just a little heavier.

Good luck finding most of those.

I have shot the same 7mm mag for over 30 years. Still my go to gun.

@@stevendonnalammar4422 reloading has never been an issue for me.

30 cal is .308

That's why he said "For beginner" hunters. If you pick up a 300 WIN MAG, pretty much any factory cartridge is ready to bag moose. Avid hunters can handload even 243 to take moose. Ethically

Your write very important point about bullet choice….

@@evanburdick8503 Actually, no. A beginner can't normally hit an animal at 300 yds period. Most beginners have a hard time making an acceptable shot on live game at 100 yds. Put a 300 win mag in their hands to start off with and they will quickly develop a flinch so bad that they'll never be able to make a shot past 75 yds or so. 308 isn't a pip squeak in the recoil department, so this is still an issue, but not nearly as bad as with the 300 win mag.

@@nospam3409 With a solid piece of glass (Anywhere between 12-20 power), you have to try to miss with a 300WM at 300yrds. The drop is only like 5". For hunting big game, 180gr is go to, so unless its super windy out in the fields, you dont usually have to worry about windage either. Mind you, I'm referring to big game hunting at longer range. So usually prone with a rifle rest. Shooting offhand is a talent I'd only let intermediate and advanced hunters try at 300yrds

@@evanburdick8503 That's not really my point. I've been rather successful at NRA Highpower, Collegiate small bore, 3D Archery, and some local bowling pin matches. I've taken plenty of prairie dog pups at 150 to 200 yds from a standing position, and 400 yds is a gimme shot from prone. I run a 6.5 Grendel upper for deer and it wears a 4.5-27x50 optic with a FFP Christmas tree reticle. My farthest kill so far with it is a prairiedog at 600 yds. I'm pretty confident that know what it takes to hit game animals at 300 yds. The issue isn't the rifle, cartridge, or the glass. The issue is the clown behind the trigger. Some people, like you and I, are born with an inherent level of focus, perception to detail, and high level of individual muscle control and we learn to shoot extremely well extremely quickly. That's not the case for the vast majority of people, hunters or not. For most people, if you start them off with anything that generates an appreciable amount of recoil (ie more than a 223 bolt gun), they will develop a flinch that takes a significant a.out of dedicated and structured training to overcome. A 300 win mag certainly falls in that category. Heck, so does the 308 for that matter. Unfortunately, regardless of caliber, cartridge, rifle, or glass, most beginners struggle to make good hits at 100 yds. Once someone has learned decent trigger control, how to manage a little recoil, and how to shoot from a few different field positions, then I'd say your assessment of the 300 is spot on. 👌

A very good selection.

.30-'06 is unmatched for versatility as a rifle cartridge, especially to the handloader.

@brian bowes You can take a single pellet of no. 0 buckshot sized to. 309 and seat it over 2.5 grains of bullseye with a kapock filler for squirrels and rabbits, and although not legal the 240 grain Woodleigh, driven at 2300 fps at the muzzle will cleanly take elephants with head shots.

@brian bowes It doesn't take much. Just enough to sort of make a wad to keep the powder close to the flash hole. You do have to be careful not to knock the ammo around and to keep it upright so you don't dislodge it.

@brian bowes Can't disagree with anything you're saying, but the only reason I'd buy a 30-06 is if I could only have one rifle. Otherwise, there is a better round for pretty much everything in North America.

Agreed. Some hunters just want to hunt in the backyard and not collect every gun on earth.

25-06 is almost forgotten today...prairie dogs to yes...elk! Not fur friendly. Will make a canoe out of a fur bearing predator. Recoil tolerable. Powder pig it's loud. Legal for elk. In most states. Mine has killed numerous elk. With an 87 gr. PSP. It's accurate. A 220 Swift humanely kills big game animals on account of it's accuracy. But not legal in some states. The Swift and the 25 as well as the 7 mm Rem. Mag have been my go to's...the 7 is tolerable with 145 gr. Speer PSP...and it too is...bad ass!

@@curlyyoder I had a teacher a lifetime ago who had a chance to hunt moose in Alaska. His choice of rifle? 25-06. One shot to the neck and he bagged his moose. Some would question or argue the choice and the shot placement, but the results speak for themselves. He knew his rifle and his capabilities, something that far outweighs caliber.

I think the 30.06, the .270 and the .308 are the cartridges that are most likely to be inherited since they have been around a long time. I could totally see the 30-30 on this list as well.

@@JamesgnuoY1 and 243…

I’m surprised the .243 wasn’t in this.

Several factors indeed. Stature does matter.

Love my browning bar 25/06 now,and have killed 7 nice elk with it to now.using 100 grain soft point ammo!!!!!

243 is all thats needed for dear.

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Did you write down serial numbers?

@@Gingerjoe27 unfortunately I did not. I never thought I needed to. I never thought they would have been stolen. My situation is a live and learn lesson I guess. 😞

I chose 308 for my first real hunting rifle. It can do everything I would ever want to do and cost a lot less to shoot than almost any centerfire rifle. I'm excited about getting into hand loading to have several rounds for different game and terrain. Cheers

I have 2 of the .300 Savages... inherited them both... and never shoot them..... only because I started with a .308 essentially the same cartridge.... I run my surplus .308 brass through my .300 Savage dies and trim to make .300 Savage ammo. I also use the surplus .308 and neck down for my .243 All in all I would agree with this video.... as with a number of the comments.... the .300 wing may be a bit much for new shooters.... however both my son and his friend (new hunters) have used it.... and liked it.

brian bowes yea if you shoot alot, i may fire 5 shots a year or less

243 only good for Antelope and smaller game. 7mm 08 great round.

@@blaynemacpherson8519 243 will take down anything up to mule deer with no problem

Denny Davis Maybe in the lower 48. Nothing but known as a coyote killer up here.

243 is the perfect deer rifle out to 200 yards. If you can't kill with a 243 you shouldn't be deer hunting.

Ed Williams If one are shooting the tiny deer in Texas or New Mexico or Arizona and the deer weight in at 200 on the hoof. Yes the 243 is a good caliber BUT for an overall perfect deer gun far far far from it. When deer are weighting at 350-500 lbs. there are much more effective rounds. At those sizes they absorb the bullet when shot in the boiler room and walk/run away with no blood trail sometimes most times where I’m from they are not seen against. So saying that where I’m from the 243 is not a recommended deer caliber. I will never recommend the 243 as a deer caliber. There are so many more better rounds for youth ladies and first time hunters then the 243.

HURRAH!

If you were ever able to hunt your elk you would be very happy with your .270.

Russell Keeling j

Do you hand load ? If so try loading up Barnes tsx great bullet , I have a 24 inch barreled 243 with 85 grain tsx load worked up doing 3150 at the muzzle ( am over max charge but we worked it up slowly and no pressure signs plus still getting 6 loadings out of hornady brass) taken white tail and bigger mule deer, 115 yards on a 130 pound white tail bullet went clean through In between the ribs entrance and exit wound top qaurter inch of the heart and both lungs bullet turned lungs and heart to consistency of unset jello and just about seperated the lungs at impact, deer was dead befor it hit the ground

@@dakkadakka9189 Yes, we reload. We tend toward Nosler bullets and have good luck with them. We use the 95 gr Ballistic tip for deer and the 55 gr Ballistic tip for everything else. We shoot them out of a Rem 788 and a DPMS LR-243.

@@CPUDOCTHE1 nice I have my tsx for hunting and use 87 vmax for just shooting as the Barnes are twice the price , luckily for me velocity are really close and my tsx hits just a half inch higher then my vmax at 100 yards with it zeroed for the vmax so I don't have to change zero, how's the dpms treated ya ?

I’d like to know where you found 300 Wby for $40 . Last time I purchased them got anywhere near that was back in 1996. Now days you are looking at $60 plus’s depending on the bullet used. Even at $30/ box of 20 I started to reload them just as I did all my other calibers.

Not to mention far more "shootable" than the .300

@@mikeford963 7mm mag can get pretty stout especially if your shooting prone with a practical weight hunting rifle but definitely easier then 300

@@dakkadakka9189 I have an older Ruger M77. With hand loads, it's about the same as a 30-06

@@mikeford963 in 7 mag? Nice what are you running for bullets ?

@@dakkadakka9189 175grn ELD-x. With 58.5/58.6grns of IMR Enduron 4955.

Less recoil and slightly flatter trajectory.

Which should be a huge consideration on a list like this. 7 Mag is still too much IMO, good for someone's 2nd or 3rd centerfire.

7mm Rem Mag with 150 gr bullet (optimum weight for the caliber) will reach out and get the job done well. Load it with the Nosler Ballistic Tip and you won't be disappointed!

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Colby774 Wrong . 7mm Rem Mag and 7mm Wby Mag are the best.

Jim Truscott screw you and the metric system

I to carry rem .270 hard to do anything better

PCH SLEDS LLC can’t go wrong with the 30.06. It’s certainly got a wide variety of available loads. Everything from light weight with light powder loads for smaller game, all the way up to 220 grain for large game like elk, moose, and grizzly bears. Great article by Chuck Hawks here. www.chuckhawks.com/200-220_30-06_loads.html

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30-06

I have a 243 and it has never let me down, I'm hoping to try a 7mm-08 this coming season. I usually hunt where I won't be making more than a 150 yard shot so I expect the 7mm-08 to knock them out of their socks.

The same thing happens to me as I live in a shitty country... it's called Argentina... 308 brass is scarce, expensive, and even of poor quality. I have obtained from cheap and even free l brass of 270 and 06/30. I no longer have magnums because I can't afford them, but if today I would have to suggest 3 rifles, it would be 223 (to use it unnoticed with a 221 fireball, 243 and 270 load. However, I have a specialized 22/270 rifle that is taking away the use of my 270 which has been stored in my gun rack.

.30-30 is nice for southern white tail for sure. Since getting into 6.5 grendel for areas in AL with the potential to go beyond 150, I dropped a red dot on a .30-30 and it’s light and fast targeting inside of 100.

A pellet gun is enough for southern deer lol I'm not poking fun, it's just a fact. But, they are cagy as hell!!

In the state I hunt in, that wouldn’t be legal. I could go down to a .357 or .44 mag rifle and be just fine with every shot I’ve ever taken, but I’d have to get a new gun and a new caliber. With proper ammo selection, I could even run a .223 and be just fine, but even if I hunt with an AR, I run a different upper with a bigger caliber just as a bit more insurance.

@@MrRdvs87 The 30-30 with 170 grain soft point core-lokts, when sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards (same as dead on at 150,) is point and shoot anywhere up to 180 yards or so. At 200, it's 4.6 inches low of POA, and it has just under a thousand ft lbs of energy. More modern loads (levkrultion etc) improve on that. The 30-30 is legit for whitetail out to 200.

I seldom have any shots much more than 70 yards, but am aware that if I had to, I could stretch a .30-30 out to 150-200.

Thank you. Keep it simple folks. What ammo can you buy at the local hardware store...

The Sideburn Hunter..again I’ll agree. I’ve never been one to follow “trends” or ‘new’ latest and greatest anything really. Hybrid or ‘wildcat’ bullets have NEVER been an interest whatsoever. Cartridges & loads tried & proven that have been around since WWI & II, with the exception of the ‘AR’ platform were and are my main interests. The ‘newer’ cartridges for the AR for me would be the .300 BLK & the 6.8 SPC (LWRCI- specific). Reloading for 9mm, 40 S&W, 38 SPL/357 and .223/5.56 to the 308 Win..if I ONLY concentrated on these specific loads, I’d be happy. That doesn’t mean there aren’t GREAT NEW ones out there either. The .224 Valkyrie and the here-to-stay 6.5 CM is a fantastic flat-shooting 1,000+ yard round

People keep forgetting that in most cases .308 is within 100 FPS of .30-06. It has a little more oomph but not much. .308 will take a moose. I know ppl who use it to do that.

Is that a .308?

I used to shoot 30-06 for hunting until I shot a friends 308 . That was about 30 years ago and still stuck with the 308 .

@@cbwelch4 Only in factory loads. If you hand load, the 30-06 starts to pull ahead. -06 can also handle the 200+ gr bullets. You can download a 30-06 to be a .308, but a .308 can’t do the few things 30-06 can.

@@cbwelch4 Actually it is about 200 feet per second, but you are close enough.

@Dude Lebowski you don't need a 300 win mag get a 7/08 and hand load less recoil and better performing then 308

@@dakkadakka9189 Depends on what you're hunting. Hard to beat a 7mm-08 for deer, but I wouldn't hunt larger game with it. A 308 loaded hot with a large bonded or solid bullet can provide a little more use if you're hunting more than deer.

@@greymooose1000 with real hunting bullet like tsx or gmx id have no problem at any reasonable range using my dad's 7/08 on moose though if you want a real thumper.friend had an old remington in 35 whelen

@@dakkadakka9189 Never though of getting GMX's for it. I may have to try that for my wife, as she now hunts with my old 7mm-08. And yeah, I wish my 35 Whelen was a bolt action, rather than single shot, because then I'd use it for moose and bear over my 300wsm.

@@greymooose1000 ya I have heard really good reports on gmx from friends that hunt with em but I'm getting 3/4 inch groups or less out to 200 yards and are with in a half inch of my vmaxs with the same zero so I don't wanna try any thing else especially not after seeing what that little bullet does on impact , 35 whelen is a great caliber heavy bullet and great velocities, my friends is a remington 700 in 35 whelen with irons and a 2-7x33 luepold he's getting 2650 with 250 grainers and handloads

It's one of the worst rounds available, but put it in the right place, and it does fantastic!

Jeaux Burreaux what do you mean “worst round available “ it’s a great round

@@jumpy5064 I would say that it does ok when using the correct bullet weight and good shot placement. Its popularity is based on timing and marketing, rather than performance. Due to the twist rate of the 270, it cannot fire heavier bullets and maintain stability, giving it one of the worst sectional densities on the market (lowest penetration capability per bullet weight) It also has one of the worst ballistic coefficients among hunting rifle cartridges, meaning it is one of the worst in air/wind resistance, so it is inefficient at long range per its powder charge. Also, with any 30-06 parent casing, it's not particularly well suited for ladies and youth like a 308 parent casing OR long distance use as seen in magnum casings. It does ok, but anyone serious about performance wouldn't touch one.

@@greymooose1000 I have killed many white tail deer with my 270 from 25 to 250 yards, and it's always preformed very well. It has been around for a long time, and is very popular, that speaks volumes.

@@CARLPHILLY Look, it's not a ball and cap musket. It's a well made, high powered rifle that has a great selection of bullets for deer. But, when compared to others, it does not perform quite as well and it's limited in terms of flexibility in its casing class.

@@graynotescartridgebox he's thinking 338 Federal.

Or just go with a regular .308 only. No newcomer should be hunting griz/browns. .308 will handle everything from yotes to elk (I consider moose a bit easier to kill than elk). Basically everything in North America other than brown bear. If you can afford a brown bear hunt, and have the abilities, you can afford a .338Win, .375 H&H, 416... or can probably find one to borrow if needed.

A standard .308 Win rifle for an all-around general purpose rifle is PERFECTLY fine. NO reloading, etc is really needed...MUCH LESS barrel swapping...

Can’t swamp the new people with too much. Remember they have to understand ballistics and wind and how to range. Small steps before reloading. I started with pistol and revolver ammo. Rifle is a new ball game.

Buy your gun and ammunition online 🇺🇸🇺🇸 ChrisParkerfirearms.com Got certified FFL and ship to all states.. ammunition available are: 9mm, 5.56, 223, 45acp, 65creedmor, 22lr, 380,and more .. Dm us if interested and purchase up your ammo online

If you get the '06, it will do anything the .270 will, except it won't shoot quite as flat. It also handles much heavier bullets than the .270, and that's where the '06 really shines.

Both great performers inside 150, maybe 200 yards. Both rounds also love cast bullets because they operate at modest velocities.

Buy your gun and ammunition online 🇺🇸🇺🇸 ChrisParkerfirearms.com Got certified FFL and ship to all states.. ammunition available are: 9mm, 5.56, 223, 45acp, 65creedmor, 22lr, 380,and more .. Dm us if interested and purchase up your ammo online

I would love to get a 260, but ammo is really hard to find. I just don't understand how 6.5 creedmoor ever got so popular when the 260 is clearly a superior round.

Proper eye relief no problem

@@jeffscuderi8662 Actually, the problem is that often times many shooters don't know that they don't have the requisite amount of eye relief, until they pull the trigger...especially newbs, but not exclusively. Seen a lot of old timers get kicked in the face with a scoped 30.06, 7Mag, you name it. Give 'em a 300 Win Mag and let 'em have at it. Then when he's bleeding like a stuck pig, explain eye relief to him...[laffin'😁]

@@bustabass9025 mine has a 6x42 Leupold and it has about 4.5in eye relief so it's perfect

@@jeffscuderi8662 👍...then you're good to go! Should never see you in the Redi-Care getting your nose stitched back together. Happened to my buddy, on a Wyoming hunting trip, and believe me, it's not a pretty sight.