Been out of the hunting world for a few years and looking to get back into it. I've had a 30/06, .270, and a .280... I not going to hunt out of Texas... Will be taking deer mainly, pigs here and there and maybe some predators on a rare occasion. With that said, what is the best caliber to go with? I don't reload and won't be starting anytime soon. So I'm looking for a caliber that will be available at academy, cabelas, etc.. I'm thinking 25/06, 308, 270... Something in that range.. But am open to suggestions. I wanna be able to enjoy shooting the rifle and not hate the recoil etc. possibly let my kids use it.. Thanks in advance

.25/06 or .243 will do everything you want with a wide variety of factory ammo.

7mm-08 would work

Truth be told if I'm in the blind I sure miss my 243 my wife claimed, not because of the caliber but because short action short barrel

243, 25-06, 7mm-08. 30-06, 270, 308. Choose your pick lol.

^^^^^That about covers it. For hunting deer and pigs in Texas any of the above will do nicely. If recoil is an issue, may delete 30-06 and possibly 270. They're not bad at all, but a definite step up from the others.

If I had to chose one it would be 7mm-08, wide variety of bullets and pretty easy to find ammo for if you don't reload. Lighter bullets have light recoil.

Go with the .270. I've been shooting a 7-08 all this year . It kills them just as dead as a .270 but costs twice as much to shoot. If I were to just have one rifle it would be the .270. It's easier to find ammo and is half the price. I know the whole forum is in love with the 7-08 which is why I bought one when the opportunity arose. After this season ill probably put it up until the kids are old enough to shoot it. After all it kicks like a little less than my .270 and I have more faith in it than I do in my .243 with a kid shooting it. Anything you buy will kill a deer if you put the bullet in the right spot.

If you gotta ask, it's a 308 Win!

Fixed it.

I don't even have one (yet), but if I had to be tied down to one rifle it would be ahrd pick between 7-08 and 280

I have a Remington 260. It kills everything. Kids can shoot it. Probably not a popular choice. I just like the 6.5mm caliber, and bullet choices.

I have to agree with the 7mm-08, unlike many I have been a fan of it for over 30 ears. Got the first one in 1982 and it is still one of my favorite hunting rifles (Remington 788 in 7mm-08).

A 257 Roberts is also an overlooked good caliber, light recoil and just kills things dead.

6.5 Creedmoor, its my favorite round hands down for many reason, kills out to 731 all on video to prove it,

270 for availability and cost of ammo. I shoot one on a regular basis. I own a 7mm08 and I keep it for kids when they come to hunt. Its a good gun but I think the 270 would still get my vote for one firearm. get a good one and practice practice practice. get good glass.........

FWIW...if you watch the adv's for the big box retailers where the cheapest and therefore most common WTail & Hog hunting ammo will be found, outside of the recent Panic Buying Insanity, there are always the same list of calibers in usually the most common & best selling bullet weights and styles.

In those parameters for the OP's described circumstances here is a List I'd suggest considering in A. & B. groups based on below & above $20 a box as the median:
Group A, @ under $20 in Rem'Chester/Fed basic grade non premium ammo - 30'06, 270, 308, 243 & 30-30. Group B @ + $20 to $30 & same basic non premium ammo same as Group A- 7Rmg, 7-08, 280, 25'06, 7x57, 6.5x55 Swede, 260 & mebbe 257Rbts & 300WMg.

As I advance farther into geezerhood and have become concerned more with recoil rather than shooting past 3-400 yards, I've downsized my closet full of Deer shooters that have averaged 15-25 shooters on hand at one time for as long as I can remember ...unless I got cute and needed some cash to fund a new business venture or something my Fun Money stash would not cover. When I started this downsizing thing I was determined to have some play toy calibers to keep me interested but always would have something that I could buy ammo for anywhere from Nome, to the bait shop in Fraser Colorado (just up the road from Winter Park) or the C store/gas station in Medicine Bow Wyoming to the Zona Rosa's south of the Rio Grande.

Right now I am down to 3 fun guns & a "get ammo anywhere" gun...I'll let ya'll guess which ones are which - a 260, 270, 300WSM & a 9.3x62. Again same song 2nd verse in a go anywhere in any weather to hunt anything & tell you 3 of these are "nice & pretty" wood/blue guns and 1 is an all bidnizz SS/syn. I can hunt anything in the US except Grizz at under 3-400 yards with "The One Gun" ...and have...but there are 2 other calibers of the original cheapest ammo possible anywhere Group A I could do the same thing with successfuly, and have in the past. JMHO & YMMV
Ron

Whichever one you can walk into any mom and pop store and find ammo for... the. 30-30.

How do you like that Wingmaster?

Whichever one you can walk into any mom and pop store and find ammo for... the. 30-30.

How do you like that Wingmaster?

I like it fine. Serves the purpose of what I wanted (a wingmaster that I felt comfortable taking out in the field). I might get screw in chokes put in so I can really use it for anything. Dunno yet though.

Don't leave out 6.5X55 Swede! Awesome rifle caliber! Hard hard hitter!

308

I agree with everything in this post.

Years ago I read somewhere that the most popular caliber for custom rifles was .30-06. I remember being very surprised, as everyone cool was using SuperZappers of some flavor, and nothing was more uncool than the .30-06, except maybe the .30-30.

Fast forward to the present. I've come to realize the advantages of cheap, high quality, readily available ammo and I've also come to realize that **hunting** with that nice rifle is much more enjoyable than taking it out of the safe and oiling it every six months or so.

I'm seriously considering selling off a few of my SuperZappers. Three guesses what I'll probably buy with the cash ...

6.5 creedmoor, they even have the ammo at academy now. Ballistics much better than 308