243 still viable?

[Dave_45]

If by some mad happening, we were all limited to 243 calibre for deer, there would be just as many deer shot and in the larder as there is at the moment.

It's a brilliant round with the right bullet choice.


However I'd happily give my tickets away if I had to use the loooooooooobbbbber oh 8 forever more....

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Wonder how many .243 naysayers actually own one?

A read of this should but the issue to rest: Enough gun? The .243 Winchester - Hard Yards Hunting

It's an open secret that the 'calibre' issue in the Scottish Deer Laws was based off data gleaned from ammunition boxes and reloading manuals by the Deer Commission...

Feel sorry for the person who had to write it all up! If computers were a thing back then it would have been a quick scan or two along with copy-paste, would be done in under a day, then away to the Gunsmith's Bar!

The motivation for the minimum calibre law in the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959 was to allow land owners a suitable instrument for prosecuting poachers.
the rest was instrumental

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1959-02-03/debates/7b0bc6e4-c94a-44d4-b06f-e92d8cd0d797/Deer(Scotland)BillLords

Deer (Scotland) Act, 1959 (Hansard, 17 June 1964)

Deer (Scotland) Act, 1959 (Hansard, 17 June 1964)

api.parliament.uk

Deer (Firearms Etc) (Scotland) Order 1985 - Hansard - UK Parliament

Hansard record of the item : 'Deer (Firearms Etc) (Scotland) Order 1985' on Wednesday 10 July 1985.

hansard.parliament.uk

 

[Klenchblaize]

So after 6 pages of opinion is there greater clarity in if the 243 remains fit for purpose as we head towards the second quarter of the 21st Century?

K

 

[Tim.243]

So after 6 pages of opinion is there greater clarity in if the 243 remains fit for purpose as we head towards the second quarter of the 21st Century?

K

Was there ever doubt? Only from the camp who buy into that .5 of a mm makes a difference.
Most of that .5mm camp have joined up reading what is in the blurb, put some years of .243 under their belts shooting foxes to reds and they would be...

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

So after 6 pages of opinion is there greater clarity in if the 243 remains fit for purpose as we head towards the second quarter of the 21st Century?

K

I think the findings are clear the .243 is a calibre for beginners but only to be used by pros on all 6 species of uk deer but its no good at all on cwd, roe, muntjac , fallow, red or sika. You can how ever use it on foxes as it totally flattens them with absoulte authority but a recent pole has said its now not the best calibre for foxes and should be abandoned. And as for its future non toxic ammo will be avalible in a variety of weight and types that will all work supurbly but a recent internet update has now confirmed that none of these new rounds will actually work which all in all tells us should deffinatly not not continue with the .243 ever

 

[User00033]

That pretty much sums it up.

I’m glad the tide of anti-243, non-experience based, armchair opinion has been battered into submission. It’s about bloody time.

As has been pointed out regularly (again a few posts earlier by @Island), British .243 Winchester owners shouldn’t have anything to worry about. If and when legislation is changed then there will be a commensurate alteration of regulations to enable shooters to continue using their existing rifles with slightly lighter bullets.

In the extremely unlikely event of that happening, then it would be challenged. If a regulation change makes thousands of rifles obsolete overnight then there would be an interesting case for recompense.

Initial reports of the performance of projectiles like the 80.5gr @Yew Tree Fieldsports are so overwhelmingly positive that all I can see coming in the future are more success stories. One of the best ways to develop confidence in new products is to use informative promotional videos of use in the field. Some well filmed and edited videos showing the rifle and cartridge, discussion about the projectile construction, a variety of shots at different ranges on the common game species, an analysis of the wounding and carcass quality… it’s not that hard to do and takes the discussion to a completely different level than shooting water tanks and waving hand bags from armchairs.

 

[muddy42]

To the original question, yes 243 still viable. I have been through what is a common journey - started with 243, thought I needed a bigger gun, realised I didn’t (and got better as shooting and started reloading) so rediscovered the 243 laserbeam.

More pleasant to shoot and as a result better real life accuracy.

Regarding the Scottish 100gr question, i am pretty sure the law will be changed. I was speaking to a fairly senior guy at SNH recently (now called Nat Scot or whatever) who will be oart of the decision to change the rules. He has applied for his first rifle, living very much in red deer country, for 243.

 

[ChesterP]

Agree with the above and simply don't understand just why this topic keeps raising its head. It seems a topic which generates it's own critical mass! the right bullet choice and accurate placement are what matter, and with some shooters doing well at 1000 yds shooting .243, then inherent accuracy has never been an issue, at all. The whole myth seems to surround the fact some estates "prefer" to see heavier rounds on the hill, allegedly, but I have yet to come across any real stalker who would turn their nose up at a .243. I wonder how much of this myth is based upon shooters who can't shoot straight? Going up a calibre won't ever change that outcome. Practice makes perfect.

Dodgy, I'm sure, will attest to the humble .223 being the rifle of choice for many South of the Equator for large deer!

 

[baguio]

I have yet to come across any real stalker who would turn their nose up at a .243.

What IYO is a real stalker?

 

[Tim.243]

What IYO is a real stalker?

Any with a 6.5

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

What IYO is a real stalker?

Anyone who shots a .243

 

[ChesterP]

What IYO is a real stalker?

someone who actually stalks deer rather than someone who just types on stalking forums with an interest in shooting but has yet to experience stalking or rarely shoots.

 

[Magnificent 7]

someone who actually stalks deer rather than someone who just types on stalking forums with an interest in shooting but has yet to experience stalking or rarely shoots.

That’s around ninety percent of these lot on here then lol

 

[welshwarrior]

If you’d asked me 6-12 months ago I’d have agreed the 243 has had its day and is no longer any use to a deer stalker. However I’ve now found the good value lightly used 243 and I’d like to thank all those talking the calibre down as it helped me get a better deal.

 

[baguio]

someone who actually stalks deer rather than someone who just types on stalking forums with an interest in shooting but has yet to experience stalking or rarely shoots.

Which one of those are you BTW?

 

[Kersnow]

Thanks for all of the input, will stick to applying for a 243 when my application is processed.

 

[Jagare]

I had a .243 and if you believe some on here it should have been totally unsuitable for killing deer. It was a, horror of horrors, a ruger #1 plus it was the international model so a stutzen and to cap it all it was .243. Leaving aside all these perceived handicaps I managed to kill fallow deer cleanly with it. When I started stalking 50 + years ago there were those who talked the same bollocks about the .243. Yet back then it still managed to kill deer. I only sold it because here in Sweden its a class 2 weapon so I had no need for it. Class 2 can be used on roe but not on larger hoofed game. same as .30-30

 

[ChesterP]

Which one of those are you BTW?

I spend more time stalking and shooting that I do on forums! Have not logged on until recently for a long time. I pop in every now and then to see what the craic is

tbh, I enjoy the banter on here and some of the discussions, but would far rather be out with the rifle and the dog.

 

[kenbro]

@Siggy

As I mentioned abt the M/S plate, an old fox target @ 200 yds
10mm over the plain dur bar ( not the thin fur of a red /fallow)
95gn .243

Every one who comes to the house and sees it says ###k me

@paul o'

@SA shooter

View attachment 261654

Funny lookin’ Dur bar Tim.

 

[HandB]

I have a 1980s Tikka M55 in .243 standard twist with a badly burned barrel that still shoots 90gr Sierra Gamekings at about 3050fps with 44gr RS62. I would happily use it as is with lead or copper bullets in the 80gr to 95 or 100gr range with similar loadings, as I bet any of them would have decent terminal effectiveness. So I can't really see what the issue about .243 obsolescence is: it's a powerful, accurate, usable centrefire rifle cartridge, always has been, always will be.