5 Best Hunting Rifle Cartridges for New Hunters
In this episode of the Sideburn Hunter we discuss my 5 recommendations for hunting rifle cartridges for the new big game hunter.
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1. 6.5 Creedmoor
2. 270 Winchester
3. 308 Winchester
4. 30-06 Springfield
5. 300 Winchester Magnum
Honorable Mention: 300 Winchester Short Magnum (300 WSM)
No, the names do not necessarily match the true bullet diameter. Who cares?
6.5mm = 6.72mm or .2644″
270 = .277″
308 = .308″
30-06 = .308″
300 = .308″
Great video, all good caliber choices for anyone really. Your voice is very relaxing to listen to
The .308 Winchester due to manageable recoil, very good barrel life, and the huge variety of readily available factory loads from 110 grains to 220 grains. A 400 yard elk rifle with the right load, such as Hornady’s 308 Win 165 gr SST Superformance (2,077 fps / 1,574 ft lbs).
I don’t get how some act like a bow and arrow is good idea on cape buffalo but then go say you can’t take a cape buffalo with a 300 Winchester Magnum. The 300 Winchester works on all buffalo. A 7 mm magnum I guarantee can take down all buffalo to shot placement. The people who act as caliber experts now days I wont go to for advice. I know for a fact people use to use high grain 30 06 loads on cape buffalo. I read a magazine back in early 2000 s were it said hunters took them down in 3 or 4 shots at the most. I guess everyone thinks.
Can’t go wrong with the 270
Any list that includes the 6.5 Needmoor is a 💩list.
What this guy talks about is fine and dandy. When it comes down to it choosing the right caliber is personal preference. No matter what gun/caliber you choose make sure you harvest the animal ethically. Also practice, practice, practice shooting your gun. Don’t go out and buy the calibers for whatever gun because someone puts a video online. Ask many people at ranges, gun stores, hunting stores what calibers they recommend. Also, buy a great reputable, reliable and accurate gun. Not the caliber but the gun must be accurate. Spend your hard earned money on a great gun. I can use a trap door rifle 45/70 if I practiced at 300 yards.
(noting that a new hunter is not necessarily a new shooter) maybe i’d recommend a 300 win mag or 300 wsm to a new hunter depending on shooting experience, but I certainly not a new shooter.
As if you have a list of "beginner" cartridges and leave out the 7mm08 or .243, or even the 3030…but yet you include a not one but two 300 win mag chamberings ? What kind of wacky list is this ??
ONE MILLION VIEWS!?!? Your kicking butt man, keep up the great content and you will see alot more! 🎉
I like the 30-06 Springfield and the 300 Win mag
I started moose hunting with a group a few years ago. We are always successful and usually harvest 2 a season – it is split between 4 families. I use my 308 win up to 300 yards and my 300 win mag up to 600 yards. I have never wounded and lost an animal. I reload 165/168gr in the 308 and 180gr in the magnum. Stay safe and happy shooting.
So for a new shoter there not going to like the 300 win mag and not the 306 the 243 and 7mm08 should be here not the 300 win and 3006
I wish he made more videos 😮
Hello sideburn
I went hunting in the Czech Republic in the 90s with a Ruger No. 1 with Mannlicher stock and 20" barrel and caliber 7x57mm. I shot a roe buck there at 180 m. 7×57 is a good hunting cartridge. I also had a pre-war Mauser in 7×57 (1937) and an FN Mauser in 9.3×62 caliber. I am a German from Franconia and now live in Thailand.
6.5 creed is not a good elk cartridge
I’d use a 7mm mag WAY before a 6.5 Creedmoor on something like moose.
I wouldn’t recommend a 300 win mag for a new hunter cause they are expensive and can develop bad habits with flinching as it’s a hard hitting rd
30-06. Got my first one when I was 15. And although I have bought a couple of more powerful cartridges since I will never go without a 30-06 in my gun cabinet. It’s just too versatile.
I own a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in .270 Winchester and the only ammo I use these days is the Hornady Superformance SST 130 grain. With a 24" barrel, that ammo produces 3200 fps and is one of the flattest-trajectory calibers you can get, that even outperforms the 6.5 Creedmore in bullet-drop. The two reasons why famed Outdoor Life writer Jack O’Connor liked the .270 Winchester so much was he understood you don’t need to create a bigger wound and cause more damage, you just need more accuracy and Jack considered the 130g .270 Winchester to be the realistic threshold of how small a bullet can be yet still be effective enough to hunt anything, anywhere AND reason Number 2, the SIGNIFICANTLY reduced recoil compared to the shoulder-slamming, larger calibers. 👍
308 is perfect for moose ,elk, and bears of all sizes.
Don’t agree with some of your recommendations.
1. .300 Winch is NOT for new shooters.
2. If a 30/06 will kill moose, then so will a .308.
3. You completely skipped the best new hunter caliber. The 7/08 Remington
My first woods, or “brush gun”, was a marlin 357 (at 15 yrs old). My first long-range rifle, at 18 yrs old, was a Weatherby mark v in 7mm weatherby mag. Both works great in the habitat I used them.
The video, as it states, is for beginners. Simply the best cartridge is the one that YOU can shoot best with. As long as it meets the standards for velocity and bullet diameter established by local regulations. Do you own research based on availability of ammunition, rifle style, and the shooting distances involved.
6.5 wound more
300 win mag and the skinny jeans 6.5 do not belong in the list …
you confuse bore diameter with bullet diameter
What no 7mm Rem Mag or better the 7mm-08? In fact no 7mms at all but two interchangeable 30 calibers, 30-06 and 308. The 300 W Mag is questionable for new hunters as would be the 7mm Mag as recoil is excessive for newbies. My ‘lucky’ deer rifle is an 1950s vintage Sav M 99EG in 300 Sav. but for some unknown reason I also acquired a Win FW in 7mm-08 for a bit better accuracy and better placement at unknown distances. Not bad picks but you’re talking newbies here.
At 4:18, you said the .300 WM is a derivative of the .300 H&H. I’m assuming you meant .375? Other than a couple of minor slips, it’s a great video — solid, basic information, and candid discussions about "you’re not ready yet" kinds of issues. I love the emphasis on getting closer over going bigger. The industry places so much emphasis now on "long range hunting", which in a way is an oxymoron.
Overall, great video.
6.5 creed dont have enough shock factor, 270 can be found anywhere and will drop anything in deer variety, 308 has a good following but lacks flatness in the shot, 30-06 will do the job but significant kick without moderator, 300 Win Mag fine for everything except the recoil sensitive shooter, my choice for heavy deer is the 270
Great Great VDO – I’m definitely like minded. One mistake Sir, .300 Win Mag’s parent case is the .375 H&H Magnum. You have a new subscriber.
Great choices unless you live in a place where you can’t use bottleneck calibers.
6.5 creedmoor is over rated
You are blocked. I sword if you said the need more your blocked and out of the gate I know your a blowhard so bye bye!
I just picked up a 6.8 western
Back when I was a kid, I used a borrowed rifle. Then, when I started making my own money, I saved up for a rifle/scope that could be built out as I could afford it. I chose a common cartridge that was cheap to shoot. .270 win. Saved up for a great scope. Saved up for a sweet stock. Met some dudes at the range who taught me reloading. Bought dies and components. Dialed my set-up in to .78 inch with 5 shots at 100 yards. Took hundreds of critters and punched a ton of paper with great fun.
You guys talking about beginners getting rifles chambered for cartridges that cost $60+ a box is a horrible thing to teach a rookie. Good ballistics can be had for a whole lot less.
I take a newbie to the ammo isle first. Research drop-in stocks, scopes before looking at some semi custom $2K rifle that he’s just going to loss at the pawnshop when he gets laid off. I’ve only known one newbie that dropped $3k at the gun shop for his first set-up, but he was in his mid thirties. Most of us are under twenty one and have to carpool to go hunting.
Thank you very much and best regards from Germany
7mm-08 Remington…
It outperforms both the 6.5CM and the 308WIN and is very versatile with low recoil.
300 wm is a bigger bullet?? Really?? Might want to do your homework lad. It’s a bigger casing not a bigger bullet. Also a 308 has been the go to for moose for some 100yrs in Canada. The 300 win mag is over kill on everything in North America, 7mm rem mag is a better choice than the 300 win mag
I use a 300wsm it’s ausom
I heard "sideburn hunter" so "Caleb from Brownells has entered the chat".
Yes I realize that .270 is actually a .277 bullet diameter. That’s what I had in my notes, but I didn’t catch my error. Thanks
I just picked up a 6.8 western
One thing that never gets mentioned is if you must use copper bullets where you hunt. If you’re new to hunting, and have to use copper bullets, look for a light recoiling super fast round. Copper bullets are so so in my opinion when moving slower. A 25-06, 257wby, 7 mag would all be good choices with copper.
243 the best
Sorry but 308 and 270 can definitely take down a moose
80 years and the argument still rages on . Shoot what caliber you like for the game you seek to hunt ,get proficient in using it and make your shots as accurate as you can.
If you can’t afford a box of 60 $ you shouldn’t be hunting
300 win mag for beginners if you don’t want them to hunt again
Nice explanation! Thank you!