.243 Advice

[watty85]

Hi,

Fairly new shooter, shot well over 10+ years ago on farms (deer, foxes etc.....) but more with people or handed jobs to do never actually owned a centre fire rifle except my shotguns and air rifles
FAC is pretty much been passed so now able to narrow my selections down. I have a .22 & .243 on it, I had pushed for a 308 or 6.5 but advised to wait until license is through and I have had range time.

So my questions are >

1) Do I buy a cheap .243 and use it for a year or so on the farms and range then stick a variation in for the 308/6.5?
2) If doing the above do id prob be trading/selling the .243?
3) Invest in a solid .243 and when the time comes have a 308/6.5 added on the FAC?
4) What is a good ammo for range use?

Gun choices : Sako S20 or Bergara Crest in .243 (MY .22lr will be a Bergara B14)


My initial thoughts is to invest in a good .243 and keep it > down the line add in a good target | range 308/6.5 that doubles up for stalking use too. I have also heard that you can rebarrel the .243 into a 308?

 

[Zstalker]

My thoughts are you have a nice set up if you get a 308 or 3006 and keep the .243.

22. For small beasties and practice
.243 for long range vermin and all deer (58 to 105grn bullets)
.308 or 3006 for bigger animals/deer (120 - 220grn bullets)

So I would get a decent .243 and keep it as part of a trio.

 

[VSS]

Get a decent 243, but that doesn't mean expensive. There's plenty 2nd hand to choose from, and it's a buyers market. You'll find a good solid workhorse for under £300.
As @Zstalker says above, if you find in a year or two that you want to go bigger then keep the 243 as part of a trio.
(I went .22 - .243 - .270, and am very happy with that, but I did briefly consider 30-06 instead of .270).

 

[Zstalker]

Get a decent 243, but that doesn't mean expensive. There's plenty 2nd hand to choose from, and it's a buyers market. You'll find a good solid workhorse for under £300.
As @Zstalker says above, if you find in a year or two that you want to go bigger then keep the 243 as part of a trio.
(I went .22 - .243 - .270, and am very happy with that, but I did briefly consider 30-06 instead of .270).

And I went .22, .243 and .30-06. But I would have a 270 or 308 just the same.

 

[Essexsussex]

243 is a great round and don’t think otherwise. Started with 243 then to swede but I’ve moved back from swede to 243 because I love the rifle I’ll go back to swede one day it’s also great. 243 Bang dead everything. I might think again for reds but I’ve shot loads of fallow and some red with it and all good.

 

[watty85]

Solid reply’s guys thanks, I think I know the answer but always good to check others views out. The fact everyone’s kinda said get and keep has kinda cemented the plan now.

Do you guys use the 243 on range days or is it purely hunting?? Ideally I’d like to be able to get fuel use out it before another calibre.

Plan is to either use the majority of my funds on optics which leaves a chunk for .22 and a 243.That way upgrading guns I’ve got good optics to transfer over. Or option is a few places local to me do decent finance and kitted out rifles.

Sako S20 in 243, Steiner scope single rail mounts, moderator, bag / strap etc…..

Bergara crest works out cheaper than the sako and hesr they are better rifles.

Is there anything else I should be looking at?

 

[Zstalker]

I'm 99% hunting, I shoot targets but mainly to practice at different ranges and to check zero.

.243 is fine for range days but you will need to chose your main pastime. If mainly target/range you would be better with a heavy barrel so you can shoot a good few rounds in succession. I use a sporter barrel and if you shoot a string of 6 or 7 it's pretty hot so I tend to take a break at that point.

Good idea to spend money on optics and don't scrimp on scope mounts, any movement in your scope mounting will render even the best scope useless.

I use Tikka rifles with synthetic stocks. Not fancy, mid priced and super accurate and easy to customise if you fancy it. You don't cry if you drop it in the mud which important when you are knee deep in a bog.

 

[watty85]

I'm 99% hunting, I shoot targets but mainly to practice at different ranges and to check zero.

.243 is fine for range days but you will need to chose your main pastime. If mainly target/range you would be better with a heavy barrel so you can shoot a good few rounds in succession. I use a sporter barrel and if you shoot a string of 6 or 7 it's pretty hot so I tend to take a break at that point.

Good idea to spend money on optics and don't scrimp on scope mounts, any movement in your scope mounting will render even the best scope useless.

I use Tikka rifles with synthetic stocks. Not fancy, mid priced and super accurate and easy to customise if you fancy it. You don't cry if you drop it in the mud which important when you are knee deep in a bog.

Yeah I think that’s what I’d be doing to start with to be honest. Ranges are booked out in 1/2 and 1hr blocks. 25-200 range.

I’d zero, fire a few rounds of the 243 and then stick to the .22


It’s easier for me to get more range time than hunting time. As my lands a fair few hours away. In time this will change as the kids get older. Plus there’s a few lads I’ve been speaking to about going out with which is super local to me

 

[KimE]

What was far from your hunting area

 

[Domer]

Lots of good priced 2 nd hand TiKia T3‘s and Mauser M12’s out there at the moment. Both are decent quality rifles for hunting, having used both I prefer the M12 but each to their own.

 

[3595wilk]

Agree, a M12 is an extremely well made rifle. I started out with a .243 M12 conditioned for fox and AOLQ and have been tempted to sell it, but it is just a solid workhorse. Will shoot 100 grain lead but settled on 80gr Fox copper monolithics for anything up to Fallow and 75gr Vmax for Reynard.

A lot of panic around the lead ban saw a fair few .243s traded in and would suggest a solid second hand one will last you and then some.

With the recent bullet weight changes in Scotland and the HSE backtracking a good bit, the calibre certainly has a lot of life left in it.

I still have mine and slots nicely between my .222 and .308 - which are both Tikkas.

 

[old keeper]

I've always found the 243 capable of doing everything I've needed it to. Fox, roe, and fallow it dealt with all of these. Mine is a Sako A2, elderly now but it still does the job!

 

[Tim.243]

Hi,

Fairly new shooter, shot well over 10+ years ago on farms (deer, foxes etc.....) but more with people or handed jobs to do never actually owned a centre fire rifle except my shotguns and air rifles
FAC is pretty much been passed so now able to narrow my selections down. I have a .22 & .243 on it, I had pushed for a 308 or 6.5 but advised to wait until license is through and I have had range time.

So my questions are >

1) Do I buy a cheap .243 and use it for a year or so on the farms and range then stick a variation in for the 308/6.5?
2) If doing the above do id prob be trading/selling the .243?
3) Invest in a solid .243 and when the time comes have a 308/6.5 added on the FAC?
4) What is a good ammo for range use?

Gun choices : Sako S20 or Bergara Crest in .243 (MY .22lr will be a Bergara B14)


My initial thoughts is to invest in a good .243 and keep it > down the line add in a good target | range 308/6.5 that doubles up for stalking use too. I have also heard that you can rebarrel the .243 into a 308?

With a cheap .243 you could sell the right action, chop it in for a 1 4 1 when you decide to move up a size,
Other things a 30 cal mod with a popular thread size say 1/2" unf will work on your .243 (had one on my .243 for 12 years)
My .30 cal mod also fitted the .270 as I brought on with the same 1/2" unf thread, if the barrel profile is bigger it is just the case of a different bushing.
Then your mod will be fine for a .308 so saving you a cost and paperwork.
The smart move would be a good scope as you can keep putting it on the next rifle, personally I had a .243 on first grant if I was only to have 1 rifle (have 2) these days it would be a .270 with a .30 mod and a digital scope.

 

[watty85]

What was far from your hunting area

Two are about 2hrs from me which is fine but i need to plan well in advance with family commitments. Another year and this won’t be the case. Currently do this with the air rifle I got every 3 months and then donate stuff with rimfire every second week.

The other one is a day trip with ferry’s , so I tend to do this 1-2 times a year and we go as a family

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi,

Fairly new shooter, shot well over 10+ years ago on farms (deer, foxes etc.....) but more with people or handed jobs to do never actually owned a centre fire rifle except my shotguns and air rifles
FAC is pretty much been passed so now able to narrow my selections down. I have a .22 & .243 on it, I had pushed for a 308 or 6.5 but advised to wait until license is through and I have had range time.

So my questions are >

1) Do I buy a cheap .243 and use it for a year or so on the farms and range then stick a variation in for the 308/6.5?
2) If doing the above do id prob be trading/selling the .243?
3) Invest in a solid .243 and when the time comes have a 308/6.5 added on the FAC?
4) What is a good ammo for range use?

Gun choices : Sako S20 or Bergara Crest in .243 (MY .22lr will be a Bergara B14)


My initial thoughts is to invest in a good .243 and keep it > down the line add in a good target | range 308/6.5 that doubles up for stalking use too. I have also heard that you can rebarrel the .243 into a 308?

Dont start buying and selling at the get go! Get what you want now . FEOs generally know next to nothing , ask them to explain how a 6.5 creed holds a higher risk factor on a safely taken shot ! There is no tangible difference as regards risk , shot in an irresponsible way both will be capable of killing way further than you can see farm stock or a person with the naked eye. Indeed the 6mm creed has better long range performance counting all factors than the 6.5 version . 243 win is a great cartridge btw but you will find some estates still wont let you use it on some large species. Unfortunately both are going off hearsay not personal experience !
If you are forced into the 243, i suggest you get one brand new in the faster twist rates that are coming out to deal with the longer copper bullets

 

[watty85]

Agree, a M12 is an extremely well made rifle. I started out with a .243 M12 conditioned for fox and AOLQ and have been tempted to sell it, but it is just a solid workhorse. Will shoot 100 grain lead but settled on 80gr Fox copper monolithics for anything up to Fallow and 75gr Vmax for Reynard.

A lot of panic around the lead ban saw a fair few .243s traded in and would suggest a solid second hand one will last you and then some.

With the recent bullet weight changes in Scotland and the HSE backtracking a good bit, the calibre certainly has a lot of life left in it.

I still have mine and slots nicely between my .222 and .308 - which are both Tikkas.

My license will have x2 .22 (bolt and semi) , 243 and in time a 308/6.5. I just need to get my dsq1 which is booked for next year.

I thought the local FAO would take a booking and sign off but mentioned his higher ups don’t go for it. So once done I’ll just put a variation in for a larger calibre.


Few guys at my club mentioned I should hold off on the 243 and get a 6.5 which will do it all from range days to hunting

However I think I’d prefer a light weight 243 for hunting plus the majority of plus I think the majority of these guys may be range only

 

[Cyres]

Lots of SH .243 on the market. Get a Wildcat moddy and all you need to do is change baffle stack if you get .308 or 6.5mm.
Stack is £50 SH on here.
I have a varmit Howa .243 in a GRS stock. Its heavy but very accurate. Great for range work. If your young then weight may not worry you.
Decent optics ie Delta Titanium or alike mount on rail with Burris Zee Signature rings.
Decent non slip sling is vital and a set of quad sticks. Limulus will.make you a pair.
D

 

[watty85]

Dont start buying and selling at the get go! Get what you want now . FEOs generally know next to nothing , ask them to explain how a 6.5 creed holds a higher risk factor on a safely taken shot ! There is no tangible difference as regards risk , shot in an irresponsible way both will be capable of killing way further than you can see farm stock or a person with the naked eye. Indeed the 6mm creed has better long range performance counting all factors than the 6.5 version . 243 win is a great cartridge btw but you will find some estates still wont let you use it on some large species. Unfortunately both are going off hearsay not personal experience !
If you are forced into the 243, i suggest you get one brand new in the faster twist rates that are coming out to deal with the longer copper bullets

Yeah the reasoning behind no larger calibre was no deer qualifications and first licence. He was fairly happy but hinted at leaving it out and putting a variation in after doing the courses I’ll have a better idea if I want a 308 or 6.5. I did have the 6.5 down I prickly made the mistake of saying I was still swaying between 6.5 and 308

My counter was

> I have had my sgc and aw1 for years.

> I’ve shot for years including 303/308

> I will have access to 3 long ranges (600-1000) on a pay per use basis.

> The have insurance for land and also booked in marksmanship training and pre dsq course

Overall I’m not that fussed as I think having a .22, 243 and a 308/6.5 is a good spread. It also means I can get more hands on with the 6.5 and 308. Having only shot one of them it was the 6.5 that went in the application on input from friends and forums.

Having time to try them both out will really help. Currently not that Keen on turning up to range days like a lemon with no rifle

This was I can at least shoot the 243 and try others out with somthing to offer in return

 

[watty85]

Dont start buying and selling at the get go! Get what you want now . FEOs generally know next to nothing , ask them to explain how a 6.5 creed holds a higher risk factor on a safely taken shot ! There is no tangible difference as regards risk , shot in an irresponsible way both will be capable of killing way further than you can see farm stock or a person with the naked eye. Indeed the 6mm creed has better long range performance counting all factors than the 6.5 version . 243 win is a great cartridge btw but you will find some estates still wont let you use it on some large species. Unfortunately both are going off hearsay not personal experience !
If you are forced into the 243, i suggest you get one brand new in the faster twist rates that are coming out to deal with the longer copper bullets

Faster twist rate being 1:8? The ones I’m currently looking at is the bergara crest (1:10) and sako s20 (1:8)

All rifles need re barrels right so if I got the bergara which is about £500 cheaper I can re barrel it to suit down the line….. apparently in 308 to if need be so I’ve read

 

[watty85]

Lots of SH .243 on the market. Get a Wildcat moddy and all you need to do is change baffle stack if you get .308 or 6.5mm.
Stack is £50 SH on here.
I have a varmit Howa .243 in a GRS stock. Its heavy but very accurate. Great for range work. If your young then weight may not worry you.
Decent optics ie Delta Titanium or alike mount on rail with Burris Zee Signature rings.
Decent non slip sling is vital and a set of quad sticks. Limulus will.make you a pair.
D

I’ll check them out, good to get brand names etc….

As all I’ve shot is a case of on the day
here you go and if you go. Recently it’s all tikka.

I’ve got some zeiss scopes , Hawke scopes at home I’d plan to use but they are ancient. And they are fixed magnification so maybe not the best. So I’d aim to sell an upgrade.


I’ve always had the mindset to get good optics as this is long term. The ones I have are ok but not great.