So I have hunted plenty of fox squirrel and rabbits using the .22lr.

And I am thinking about graduating up to hunting deer. I'm looking for a solid accurate bolt action rifle and cartridge for the job. Later on, I might move up to moose and bears and such. But that's farther down the line. For me, hunting is about getting groceries. I prefer the meat.

What's a good cartridge that is good on deer, but might also be able to carry me up to larger game, if that's even a thing? Don't get me wrong, I still plan on doing a ton of my own homework on the topic. But sometimes it's nice to get the info straight from the horse's mouth. I'm well built and am not recoil sensitive in the slightest. But I also don't want to ruin good meat on smaller deer.

Actual rifle recommendations would also be appreciated. Looking for something light and handy with a crisp trigger. I used to shoot olives off toothpicks at 9 meters with a .22lr from the sitting.

The 30-06 is pretty much the standard for a do all American cartridge.

Not the 6.5 Creedmoor? Not the .308? My understanding is t hat the 30-06 is an outdated cartridge with newer and more modern options.

Pretty sure the deer didn't get that message. 30-06 is still a fine all around hunting cartridge. If you want meat on the table, 270, 308, 30-06 are all going to do that well. I would think something like a 7mm Magnum would work as well, plus give you a little more range if you are thinking about long shots at elk.

For just getting started hunting larger game, don't overthink it. Most of your shots at deer are going to be around 100-200 yards. Pick a caliber, make sure the cartridge/bullet you use has enough speed at whatever distance you are shooting at to deliver a lethal impact, and then practice to ensure you can actually place the shot in the vital area.

Yeah, initially, I have no plans on taking "sniper shots" on big game past 2-300 meters. Right now, my main goal is to be able to hunt white tail deer within 200 meters. Iive on the East coast, so alot more lush vegetation. Long range shots are not something I anticipate.

which side of VA?

I used to hunt in the Altavista area,  Jetersville, and Charlotte Co,  
30.06 and .308 were the mainstays,  as well as 30-30

surely some folks  got all wild and wooley and used an old .270..


but all kilt deer dead at 200+/- yards,  most shots were 1/2 that or less,

What would be a good rifle to consider? I'm looking for a well built modern design. Would a picatinny top be better than the old fashioined drilled and tapped scope mounts? What about free floated barrel? I used to have a Savage bolt action rifle that I regret selling, and was a good shooter.

I'm actually moving to Georgia soon.

I'd go with 30-06 as well.

Tikka 30-06 options:
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-lite-stainless
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-hunter
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-hunter-stainless-fluted-barrel

30.06 will kill anything on this continent, ammo is widely varied and available (in normal times). The days of a specific caliber being significantly outperformed in a given area (not that 06 ever was) are really over when you can get purpose specific ammo.

I've killed moose, caribou, deer, rabbits, etc and I would use a 30-06.

Some of that stuff doesn't like to die unless you make it.

Won't get any better than this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

there are tons of options, I'd look at Savage (for the accu-trigger), ruger has always worked for me also

I prefer my Weatherby in 270win, but 30-06 is the mainstay. My cousin and his father both use a Sig bolt rifle in 30-06.

What’s this “meters” stuff?

We don’t measure in euro-yards here.

Pick something .277 or larger that’s head stamp makes your pants tingle. I size that since that’s the KY minimum for elk and bear

FPNI

300 Blk
30-40 Krag
30-06

Being somewhat old and no longer getting a
thrill from heavy recoil
I like the 6.5x55. The Swedish Mauser should
handle anything in the lower 48 states except
Elk, Moose and Bears
For those I would suggest something that starts in the
300 mag range and gets bigger

Having shot Kansas whitetail with 308, 30.06, 8mm,
303, 7.65x64r, I can say they will all get the job done

Pick whatever suits your fancy

This in a Tikka, Bergara or Winchester.

.30-06 is a good choice. Which rifle can vary depending on your budget.

Well, you titled the thread 'Good all-around hunting cartridge,' and the old '06 has been killing stuff without issue since, well, ... 1906.

Bullet selection is unsurpassed, and the '06 is a very forgiving cartridge to reload for unless you're a complete fool.  You can basically dial-in a load for whatever species you want to hunt.

From squirrels and turkeys to varmints and bears. 110gn HPs to 220gn or 230gn bruin-snot pounders.

I’m a 6.5 fanboy, but if I was going to hunt bear or moose I’d probably want a bigger rifle.

For other deer, it’s great, though.  IMO it’s better than .308 at  anything (though I have one of those, too).  My .308 is my shorter barreled subsonic shooter (my creed probably doesn’t do that as well).

Go with the cartridge that you plan on being able to practice and become good with. 3006 and 308 will do the job just fine. They are also normally easy to find. These day are not normal for ammo. This is an article from Alaska's wildlife department that sum it up.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.firearms

It is not that compared to many other calibers the 30-06 is "better" . Many other calibers do some things better . The thing about 30-06 is that it is flexible. In normal times ammo availability with many different bullet weights and types is very very good.

If you are trying to buy one gun/caliber that works quite well on anything from woodchucks to moose 30-06 is always a good , common sense choice.

Another way to go about this choice is to get more of a medium caliber like one of the 6.5s or 308 or even 243 to cover you for most anything up to deer . Many of these will serve you well and have less recoil than 30-06.
If you reach a point where you have the time/money to go after moose , elk or big northern bears you then will likely want something like 300wm or 338 something more of a heavyweight than the 30-06.

They still sell 30-06 at my local hardware store. It's tough to beat. And as long as you use some kind of expanding bullet, and make a good shot, the deer will drop right there.

The 30-06 is the round that all others are measured by in the US. It's pretty hard to beat for versatility. I am a fan of the 270 Win. I've taken everything from prairie dogs to griz with the 270. The 30-06 will take any game on the North American continent. Can't really say that about the 6.5CM. It is a fine target round, but I wouldn't want to use it on elk, or other large animals. Just doesn't have the terminal ballistics/energy.

.25-06 is a fine deer cartridge in a 110-120gr bullet, and and absolute zipper of a flat shooter for smaller stuff like chucks and prairie dogs, yotes or even a turbo goat (pronghorn antelope) in the 87-90gr bullet range.

I find the idea that any rifle round is obsolete laughable. Most of the calibers that have been around for a long time have endured for a reason.

My favorite is 7x57 not that I'd recommend anyone buying one, ammo is hard to find at times and if the moron in the White House does something to internet sales I'd be kinda screwed. But it, like the 06 has been killing stuff worldwide for a long time. The 30-06 is a good choice because depending on it's loadings you can use it to take anything from pronghorns to African plains game.

I love 25-06.

308 for me, plenty of power and it's common and cheap. 30-06 has too much kick for my liking, but it's a solid hunting round no doubt.

.275 Rigby

From rabbits to elephants..
Kills everything with style.

Jack O'Connor himself confessed that although he was paid to promote the .270 he would rather hunt with the .275 any day.

And who can arguably say it is underpowered considering that the most successful ivory hunter of all time - Karamojo Bell - took over a thousand with one shot kills.

This

At the risk of being apropos of nuthin' important, ....

...  but unless you intend to hunt Africa, the next logical step up in power from the .30-06   - if you really needed it   - would be to a cartridge in the .35-class, like the .35 Whelen (an '06 necked up to .358, and also called the 'Poor Man's Magnum'), or maybe the old and near-extinct .350 Remington Magnum.

The .35W requires a long-action and is easily had by re-barreling an existing '06 rifle. Problem is, ammo is unobtainable unless you make it with forming dies from '06 brass. Not tough to do, but that makes it a reloading proposition long term, but the Whelen will kill anything that needs killing up to, and including, the big AK bears, and can do it with big fat .358 slugs weighing from 200gns  ---->250gns  ---->300gns.

The .350RM put the .35 Whelen's ballistics into a short-action round (2.800 max COAL). So, in theory, you could enjoy the benefit of Whelen ballistics from the platform of a nice light, handy 18"-20" carbine. Although pricey in today's fast-moving Pre-Owned Market, you can still find used-but-decent-condition Remmy M600 and M660 carbines in that chambering.

But again, like the Whelen, factory .350RM ammo is virtually non-existent other than maybe finding a 20-rd box of NOS ammo for $200 on GunJoker. . If you could actually find .350RM brass, reloading becomes an easy and straight-forward exercise, but only Nosler and Norma were making new brass in small batches in recent years, at least until the current 'troubles' killed off that supply.

Too bad and very sad. While admittedly 'niche' cartridges today, both of these .35-cal/.358 cartridges kill as well and maybe better than the .300-magnums. They also made defaulting to the harder-recoiling 375-class of medium bore magnums for North American game unnecessary, whether the old H&H or, now, the Ruger.

30-06 will handle any game in North America.  30-30 has probable killed more deer then the rest combined.  308 and 270 also just fine.

All the smaller calibers from .24 - .29 are ok also. Heck even bigger then .30 are fine although may be overkill.

Here in Va.  I hunt with a 6.8 spc,  I find that the 30-06 shoots thru these tiny deer.  Unless you are in the mountains in the western part of state.

Even a 12 gauge shotgun is a major deer killer.

Deer are not hard to kill, bullet placement is far more important then size of bullet.

Buddies Dad in PA. has hunted with a 220 swift for 60+ years and never had an issue.

I would go 30-06, 270, or 308. Any of them will do you well to well beyond 200 yards, and you should be able to find ammo for any of them just about anywhere in non-panic years.

270, 308, .30-06 are all fine calibers. More than enough for deer, and if you get a chance at elk or whatever out west they'll work great for them too.

If you like ar15 rifles try a 6.8. It's absolute poison on eastern whitetails and great for other critters as well.

Generally speaking you can't go wrong with almost any mainstream hunting cartridge these days. Have fun, eat meat.

Same here...LOVE the 6.5x55mm Swede.  I have two of them.  A Remington 700 Classic and a Kimber 1896 Swedish Mauser.

Other hunting gun is a Remington 700 Classic in .300 Win Mag.  

.375 H&H.

This or 308

Just about any average gun at your local shop will do, modern design, old design doesn’t matter your not trying to shoot groups at 500 yards.  Pick what you like, DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON YOUR OPTIC, learn your gun and enjoy.

I’d recommend a scope in the 2-10, 3-15 range to allow a large field of view

It’s tough to be the 30-06 as a North American hunting cartridge. My grandfather hunted everything from grizzly bears to blacktail deer to antelope with one.

That said, bullet design has made quantum leaps in the last decade and while a 6.5/ .264 bullet would be at the bottom of the list for moose and elk, there are folks that do it every year. OP, first bolt gun, look to a .308WIN or .270WIN. If you get a taste for moose you’ll want something larger but both the cartridges kick (perceived) less and can take everything smaller with ease.

The Bob round.


The .257 Roberts, also known as .257 Bob is a medium-powered cartridge that uses the 7×57 as its parent case.
It has been described as the best compromise between the low recoil and flat trajectory of smaller calibers such as the 5 mm and 6 mm, and the higher energy but harder recoil of larger popular hunting calibers, such as the 7 mm family and the popular .30-06

257 Roberts is considered by many to be as closest thing to an ideal hunting cartridge as has ever been produced. No matter if you're hunting varmints, predators, antelope, mule deer or whitetails, elk or caribou — a 50-grain bullet at 3,800 fps or a 120-grainer at close to 3,000 fps will get the jobs done.

Federal loads a 140-grain GameKing at 2700 fps and a 120-grain Ballistic Tip at 2950 fps.

Along with the .275 Rigby, this round stands as one of the premier all purpose hunting carriages for North American wild game and is a pleasure to shoot.



You asked about which rifle you should buy. That has more to do with what your personal preference is.
A rail for mounting a scope is only useful if you need to change optics often.
With most hunting rifles you mount it and be done with it.
Synthetic or wood stocks are again all about what you plan on doing.  I wouldn't throw my beautiful walnut stock on the ground or in the mud but I would care less if it were plastic or fiberglass ect. If you are planning on being out in the rain a lot then wood will swell.

The standard by which all other bolt guns are measured is the controlled round feed mauser design. Every bolt gun today is manufactured based off the design but the cost to produce it is more so they cut corners to offer cheaper variants.
It's why a CRF model 70 or newer types cost so much even today. A push feed action is cheaper to produce and the model 700 has gained a huge following because of its simplicity and accuracy.

It all boils down to what you like, what you need, and what you can afford.
I don't think anyone would argue that a Ruger #1 is a bad choice for a hunting rifle but will it do everything you want it to?
If you want a common easy to find cartridge that will do the job and a rifle you can trust...
Just get a model 70 or model 700 in 30-06 and no one will ever argue that you chose poorly.
Buy one in 7×57 or .257 Roberts and they will know you did your homework.
Run around the east coast hunting deer with a 300 win mag and well.. we have names for those types of ppl.

Hunting is a tradition. All the fancy new names and brands around today will come and go as they always do. They ones I've mentioned have been around over 100 years with good reason. And they will be remembered for 100 more.

.308 vs. .30-06... The difference between a .308 and a .30-06 comes down to a small bit of velocity.  Despite the religious wars fought over them... anything you wouldn't do with one, you shouldn't do with the other, either.

what size for the medium game... 6.5 creedmore is fine for everything up to elk.  7mm-08 is essentially the same thing with a bigger bullet.  Despite the creedmoor hype, IMHO the 7mm-08 is better for hunting due to more KE.  That being said, modern bullets perform pretty well, I know a guy that's used a .25-06 for everything up to, and including elk, for 30 years, and has never had a problem with it.

Now, the big game...if you MUST have moose and bear with the, you probably want .308/.30-06 at a minimum.  Not just to be humane to the animal, but when you're hunting an animal that can kill YOU, you want to be extra-sure that sucker drops quick.  

.257 Roberts is a fine cartridge. I killed a good number of whitetail with one. IMO 6.5 Creed (which is generally easier to find these days) is as good or better in the same niche.

You've been given several good recommendations on 30-06 and 7mm.

AKA 7x57mm Mauser

I now prefer the 7mm/08, tho I've hunted for years with a 7mm Mauser.

   If I had topick one I choose 308 Win.

The 6.5cm will fit your needs quite well.