243 still viable?

New Avon Arms
K

Kersnow

Well-Known Member
Probably been asked before, so apologies!

Hopefully should hear about my application soon which makes me wonder if a 243 for Roe mainly, maybe CWD and Muntjac on the odd occasion and rare possibility of Fallow is still a realistic choice.
Have no desire to try for reds.

Have looked on Youtube and looked at on line articles and am confused.

Any thoughts given the impending change to non lead projectiles? TIA
 
I have stopped Roe, Fallow and an occasional Red with mine without issue. I am now using 80.5 gr Yew Tree which so far has been excellent with fox and roe. The superb accuracy gives confidence
 
My thinking is that monolithic bullets give the 243 a new lease of life. The challenge with the 243 has bern its high velocity and failure to penetrate on big deer if you put a bullet in the shoulder. Monolithics overcome giving both penetration and knockdown.

As for Scottish challenge of 100gn minimum @Edinburgh Rifles is trialing a 100gn VRG3 Peregrine. It’s a dumpy looking roundnose type bullet and I have tried them in my Heym 243 (1 in about 10.2” twist). They shoot accurately and hit hard out to normal stalking ranges.

In England you have plenty of 75 to 90gn non toxic options that work well on all deer.

So if you have a 243 keep on using it - no need to change. If I was buying new, or having it rebarreled I would though possibly get a faster twist to stabilise long heaving bullets.
 
243’s are used for white tail, caribou, black bear… I wouldn’t hesitate to use them on anything smaller. As mentioned, shot placement is key, but then again it always is.
 
All of this .243 will die when lead gets banned makes me laugh. .243 is one of the most popular uk calibres out the and if people think that bullet manufactures are going to just stop making ammo for it just because its not going to be the easiest to find a non toxic solution for even just for the uk market must be mad.
 
sir-lamp-alot said:
All of this .243 will die when lead gets banned makes me laugh. .243 is one of the most popular uk calibres out the and if people think that bullet manufactures are going to just stop making ammo for it just because its not going to be the easiest to find a non toxic solution for even just for the uk market must be mad.
Click to expand...
Probably swimming against the tide here, but its only the most popular round because FEO's think its the "safest" rifle for beginners. Basically they want to give out the smallest calibre they can and restrict our choice as much as possible. As a deer stalking round it's always been marginal and should be the reserve of accurate shots who are self disciplined enough not to take chancy shots - certainly not novices.

When for the sake of .5 mm you could be shooting a light recoiling 6.5 delivering considerably more energy with great chance of a humane kill, I really fail to see the attraction of what is basically a varminting round.
 
Siggy said:
Probably swimming against the tide here, but its only the most popular round because FEO's think its the "safest" rifle for beginners. Basically they want to give out the smallest calibre they can and restrict our choice as much as possible. As a deer stalking round it's always been marginal and should be the reserve of accurate shots who are self disciplined enough not to take chancy shots - certainly not novices.

When for the sake of .5 mm you could be shooting a light recoiling 6.5 delivering considerably more energy with great chance of a humane kill, I really fail to see the attraction of what is basically a varminting round.
Click to expand...
My .243 with a 95gn head puts a clean hole through 10mm plate @ 200 yards how much energy do you need as I have yet to see any deer with 10mm plate around the H/L area.

Recoil is in the mind as you only fire 2>4 rounds in a stalk unless you are missing with your 6.5 lol
Shoot a slab of cartridges in 4/5 hrs on a days pigeon shooting then talk abt recoil
 
I dont see there being an issue, as stated its shooting copper just fine.

I had mine built in a 1'8 twist and throated out to take seat bullets further out of the case... meaning enough powder behind a 100grn copper bullet to be legal in scotland
 
Siggy said:
Probably swimming against the tide here, but its only the most popular round because FEO's think its the "safest" rifle for beginners. Basically they want to give out the smallest calibre they can and restrict our choice as much as possible. As a deer stalking round it's always been marginal and should be the reserve of accurate shots who are self disciplined enough not to take chancy shots - certainly not novices.

When for the sake of .5 mm you could be shooting a light recoiling 6.5 delivering considerably more energy with great chance of a humane kill, I really fail to see the attraction of what is basically a varminting round.
Click to expand...

Utter nonsense.
 
Siggy said:
FEO's think its the "safest" rifle for beginners. Basically they want to give out the smallest calibre they can and restrict our choice as much as possible.
Click to expand...
Do FEO’s really think that? I refuse to believe that they fail to recognise that if your so-called “Beginner” negligently discharges a round or fails to ensure a safe backstop that, all things being equal, the outcome will be of life preserving difference if the projectile is 6mm rather than 6.5mm.

K
 
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