Ideal calibre for sport/target shooting for my Sons

[BeeMaa]

But they’re nearly grown men currently shooting their dad’s 7x64 brenneke competently enough to be invited into competitive shooting?

And y0u are telling me that YOU wouldn't benefit from more practice with a 22lr?

Proper habits and skills are developed at a much more tolerable recoil and noise level.
Which makes moving up in caliber easier and cheaper.
Proper muscle memory is more important to shooting than most think.

 

[sgt_zim]

I'm also in agreement on one of the .264 caliber rifles - 6.5x55 SE, 6.5 CM, or 260 Remington.

For target shooting, Hornady makes 3 bullets (that I know of off the top of my head) which would serve very well for long distance shooing. They're inexpensive and have insanely high ballistic coefficients.

And there are loads of hunting bullets available for all 3, from the 120 gr Barnes (@Shootist43 's preference) up to the 160 gr Woodleigh Weldcore (my preference). The one downer to 6.5CM and 260 Rem - not all of the rifles and magazines chambered for them are big enough to accommodate the very long-for-caliber bullets weighing 155-160 grains. The 6.5x55 will handle them all.

But you could do a lot worse than a 6.5CM or 260 Rem hunting with 140 gr Swift A Frames, Nosler Partitions, Woodleigh Weldcores, Speer Grand Slam, Barnes TSX or TTSX, and a number of others.

 

[Shootist43]

Although I have loaded some 120 Gr. Barnes for my 9 year old grandson, I prefer the 140 Gr Nosler(s) or Norma's 156 Gr. Oryx.

 

[Dr Ray]

To start with hue about the 223 and when they have the confidence and ability, then upgrade to say 308.
Long range target shooting is a great way to get the experience and confidence.
Many manufacturers make both right and left hand rifles.

 

[paul rood]

Dear All ,
Advice , if I may ,please . My sons , aged 16 (5'7") and 13 (5')have been asked to take up sport/target shooting . We recently joined a local hunting and shooting club where we go once a month to practice . Having seen how the boys shoot , with my 7 x 64 , the experienced members want the boys to go competitive . Note , one son shoots right and the other left .
Here's where I need some advice please . The debate is around the calibre , in the main , 223 and 243 . Further mention is made of mini stocks and short stocks , further the type of stock (normal to Boyd AT one ) bull barrels and semi bull barrels , lengths , silencers etc .
I am an ordinary hunter and certainly don't have the knowledge of any of the above . It would appear that it would probably be best for each of them that they get teir own rifle as opposed to sharing !!!
We have also been advised to start reloading !
Thanking all in advance for any advice , it will be much appreciated .

I am an ordinary hunter as well. Of the claibres you mentioned, I think the 243 is the best. At least for hunting. You can take most big game with it. I would not really use it on an Elk or Moose or Bear, but for deer etc it is a fine gun. Accuracy is the key with this round. The new Savage rifles are reasonable in price and very accurate. Good luck.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Dear All ,
Advice , if I may ,please . My sons , aged 16 (5'7") and 13 (5')have been asked to take up sport/target shooting . We recently joined a local hunting and shooting club where we go once a month to practice . Having seen how the boys shoot , with my 7 x 64 , the experienced members want the boys to go competitive . Note , one son shoots right and the other left .
Here's where I need some advice please . The debate is around the calibre , in the main , 223 and 243 . Further mention is made of mini stocks and short stocks , further the type of stock (normal to Boyd AT one ) bull barrels and semi bull barrels , lengths , silencers etc .
I am an ordinary hunter and certainly don't have the knowledge of any of the above . It would appear that it would probably be best for each of them that they get teir own rifle as opposed to sharing !!!
We have also been advised to start reloading !
Thanking all in advance for any advice , it will be much appreciated .

SWARA
A caliber that will cover both target and hunting that is gaining popularity here in OZ is the 6.5 credemore. I have had nothing to do with this caliber but the people I know that use it love it.
My 6 foot 15 year old son has a bog standard Howa .308 that he uses for both target and hunting. It is capable of 0.3 inch 3 shot groups a 100 yards off the bench in his hands and recently hunted in Namibia with it for plains game including Hartman zebra and Oryx.
For his PG hunt he mainly used a handload of 50 gn cfe223 behind a 150grain accubond or a 140grain outer edge, both outstanding game bullets.
My vote is the 308