Houseplant Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 As per title. It'll primarily be a goat gun, with the very occasional deer stalking trip, maybe once a year. Just started doing some reading and trying to decide between .243 and .270. Any thoughts? Note that I'm not in the UK and don't have to suffer issues with FAC limitations. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggone Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 My lad does a fair bit of goat shooting on hill ground, and although he has bigger and smaller calibres he always takes his 270 with a swaro z6i bt scope, and of course a good range finder with inclinometer. He has shot them out to 450 yds with this set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Thanks. Local advice seems to be the bigger the better in terms of calibre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old06 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 I also like the 270 and have a lot of respect for it but may I suggest a 25-06 Remington or the 7-08 Remington they kill beyond expatiation my longest shot is with the 25-06 475 yds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 What deer. How far? Are you planning on eating those goats? Personally I hate goat meat. If I ever shot one it would be dog meat I am pretty sure 223 or the like could be just fine on goat but if we are talking 20 stone plus deer at over 2- 300 yards that is going underguned even for odd ones Some just think bigger has to be better but it's not always. Without further info I should say 243 win with various bullet changes 260 Rem or 6.5 x 55 will both kill any deer on the planet at decent ranges and like the 243 have smaller bullet options suited to goat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14Supersport04 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) I can recal someone saying that .308 is good for goats. It would be good for deer and also boar aswell. Atb supersport Edit- where abouts in the country are you shooting the goats, i have only ever seen them in wales? Edited February 23, 2016 by 14Supersport04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 I also like the 270 and have a lot of respect for it but may I suggest a 25-06 Remington or the 7-08 Remington they kill beyond expatiation my longest shot is with the 25-06 475 yds Agreed, the 25-06 has a strange quality to it, I've read lots about its performance and its tendencies, in practice it's true, for some reason it's like a bolt of lightening. It's bc and sd do strange things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 .243 for goats ,.308 for big reds or sika .if you only want 1 rifle .308 will do both and ammo is readily available worldwide .atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 I can recal someone saying that .308 is good for goats. It would be good for deer and also boar aswell. Atb supersport Edit- where abouts in the country are you shooting the goats, i have only ever seen them in wales? He has moved from Exeter to NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 270 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 .300wsm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 .243 or a 270 if your not the best with a rifle out to 200 yrds . Either will do a very fine job . Goats no harder to dispatch than a average roe . In a lot of cases easyer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted February 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks for the replies, some food for thought there and differences of opinion. I've only just got my head around .22LR versus .17HMR for rabbit shooting! Not planning on buying a centrefire anytime soon, just starting to think about what I will need. Re: location - New Zealand, goats in the far north where I live, deer in the rest of the country. Re: deer species and range - highly variable, but obviously, I'll work within the limitations of the calibre that I end up with and my own skills of course. Re: goat meat - I've heard it said that when you select a domestic animal for slaughter, you don't choose the oldest and the smelliest. same applies to wild goats, kids are meant to be very good to eat, whereas old billy goats need to be left alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe soapy Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks for the replies, some food for thought there and differences of opinion. I've only just got my head around .22LR versus .17HMR for rabbit shooting! Not planning on buying a centrefire anytime soon, just starting to think about what I will need. Re: location - New Zealand, goats in the far north where I live, deer in the rest of the country. Re: deer species and range - highly variable, but obviously, I'll work within the limitations of the calibre that I end up with and my own skills of course. Re: goat meat - I've heard it said that when you select a domestic animal for slaughter, you don't choose the oldest and the smelliest. same applies to wild goats, kids are meant to be very good to eat, whereas old billy goats need to be left alone. If you that close, dont suppose it'll be calibre fussy.. by the way, tell him that applies to women as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 A lad I met who go`s to Ireland goat shooting seemed a fan of the 270 for his goat and deer. ATB Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Did you notice if there is much 6.5 55 ammunition available there as that is a nice calibre to shoot and might fit the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 As per title. It'll primarily be a goat gun, with the very occasional deer stalking trip, maybe once a year. Just started doing some reading and trying to decide between .243 and .270. Any thoughts? Note that I'm not in the UK and don't have to suffer issues with FAC limitations. Thanks. Just make sure the goat hasn't got 6 legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Hi Pretty sure in days gone by the .222Rem was used by Government deer/goat cullers at sensible ranges........ L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Having been lucky enough to see some of the vistas and potential ranges involved, a 300 win mag would be my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Shot all mine with .243 but if shooting regular and at range a .308............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Hi Pretty sure in days gone by the .222Rem was used by Government deer/goat cullers at sensible ranges........ L It is they use horrid chemicals and such now I think goes on the plants deer eat plants n die - horrid 222 223 22-250 still popular as is 243 7-08 likewise .243 will certainly drop Sika and reds just fine. Down to the right bullet, it will also do it at range. Ask those who tell you it won't how many they have actually shot with one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 I go to Wonika (can spell it still) and for both goats and deer I use a 308 win. The deer are no different to highland stalking here in my experience. The goats can be a little longer range. 270, 6.5x55, 260, 308, 30-06 300wm will all do the job if you can shoot them well and get ammo for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 .270, shot both goats and deer with it, some goats out to quite long ranges up in Scotland, other lad I go with uses .243 for the same stuff and does as well as me on them, [ or I do as well as him on them ]. Atb Scobydog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 To resurrect my own thread. I've knocked down a few goats with a borrowed .270. Despite my apprehension, I can't say that recoil was an issue for me. I'm certainly leaning towards the heavier end. As they like saying here, overkill is underrated. Not sure where that came from! Even a big old billy goat falls down straight away with the .270. I can see the logic of not wanting to track down shot animals in dense bush. Also, I really only want to buy one centrefire. Thinking 6.5x55, .270 or .308 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 What about a 7 x 64, everything a 270 should be. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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