First, welcome to the forum. I think you'll like it here. Now down to business. I am not in the position to recommend a caliber for boar because I have not hunted them before but my guess would be that anything in the 270, 308 30-06 range should be a good starting place. As for what rifle to buy, your logic seems sound with the rifle and scope costing about the same. You could look at second hand rifles if you are on a budget but you should be able to set yourself up nicely on the $1000 you mentioned. I won't suggest a type of rifle because I am not familiar with your hunting situation but you can't go wrong with a bolt, lever, or pump action rifle. I'm not a huge semi fan but that is an option as well.

Thanks, Chester (if that's your real name)...

Yeah, I waas just using the $1000 figure as a round number. I may end up borrowing a rifle from a friend and buying a scope myself. I figured most rifles (in good condition) are probably more accurate than I am, so I'd be better off improving my sighting for better marksmanship.

I've heard that .30-06 is pretty much the way to go...as a novice, it's still tough for me to believe that such a small bullet could penetrate something like a boar, but I'll take it on faith.

Is barrel length a major consideration when choosing a hunting rifle? I've heard that most successful boar kills are around the 40-yard distance, if that matters.

Hi Zim,
Welcome to the forum.
A agree with chestergolf, any of those calbers would work on a boar, no problem.
My question for you to ponder is, are you planning on hunting anything else with that rifle? At ranges of only 40 yards, you would be much better off getting a low powered scope or going with open sights. On the other hand, if you are going to hunt deer/elk/moose/etc. in the future that could be at long ranges, then maybe a good 3x9 scope may be in order and you may want to lean away from the .308 in favor of the flatter shooting .270 or 30-06.
Good luck!

Thanks for the input.

At present, my sights are set (so to speak) on boar hunting. It's only a couple of hours from my home, they're plentiful and can be hunted year-round, and many private property owners welcome hunters since the boars can be so destructive. Deer hunting doesn't appeal to me, and elk and moose are a long ways away from the SF Bay Area, so that's not in the near future.

Still, I'd like to have a rifle that's reasonably versatile. Is a .30-06 big enough for elk? Originally, I was thinking of going with a bigger rifle (like a .357) just to make doubly sure I have enough killing power. Is that a bad idea?

I've hunted the California boar at the Hunter Ligget reservation and up around Redding/Yreka.
I would not recommend a 357mag unless your hunting behind dogs and have big gazoombas. I've seen some hogs that are every bit of 350 to 400 lbs.
If it's strictly for boar. A 44mag or a 444 Marlin would be a better choice. Go with a peep sight.
If you have a desire to someday hunt something else with the rifle. A 30-06 will handle anything you would hunt in these lower 48. Topped with a good quality 2x-7x 32 scope. you'd be ready for a hunt.

OK...help out a newbie here. Not that I don't believe you, but...why is a .357 a poor choice? If it's too heavy a shot, wouldn't a .44 be even "worse"? I'm still trying to figure out the relationship between caliber and "heaviness" of shot.

I don't have any of the technical info handy at the moment.
Off the cuff. A 44mag will throw about a 100gr greater bullet weight and deliver about 1 and a half times the energy at any given distance, as the 357mag.
A 444 marlin will throw the same bullet as a 44mag with about twice the energy as a 357mag.
A 30-06 (a rifle round) is a horse of a different color, when compared to a pistol round, such as a 357mag. Bullet structure and velocity more than compensate for diameter, in such a senario.
I'm not saying that a 357mag wouldn't drop a big boar. I'm simply stating that I have no desire to be some critters hot lunch and the energy delivered by a 357mag would be pushing the limits with those big hogs and their built in armor.

OK...so, if I understand you, it's a matter of velocity vs. size. The .44 has enough size to be safe, and the .30-06 has enough velocity, but the .357 is sort of stuck in between. Is that the gist of it?

If so, I'll just go with a .30-06...I think the rifles in that size are easier to come by, probably easier to handle, and ammo is probably less expensive, too (which will matter if I'm going to do lots of practicing).

Thanks for the input...

I left out.
Welcome to the forum.

There isn't much that a 30-06 with a 180gr bullet, of good structure, can't do. What it is capable of. It does with authority.

You'll see a lot of rifles, in the field, that shoot the 270 winchesters, 308 winchesters and 30-06 springfields. Because, they are very capable and generally accepted as, all around cartridges.
Factory loads are easily found, over the counter, of just about any store that sells packaged rounds.

Thanks for the additional information.

In browsing various sites for evaluating rifles, I've found that the Remington 700 CDL (LH; I'm one of them) appeals to me. It seems uncomplicated and dependable. And it comes in 30-06 or something called 300 Ultra Mag, among others. Any comments on this as a selection? I know I'll also have to get a scope, but I was prepared for this from the start.

Also...is gunbroker.com a decent way to buy a gun? Any others?

Thanks...