Have I gone for the wrong calibre?

There most certainly is!
FS21011_zps75af3815.jpg

wow!
what is that?
​loving the deluxe walnut in a modern shape
 
they're lovely firearms. built with good quality components and materials, using good mauser actions..a 'real' rifle.

also, don't hesitate to research my fellow danes who own Jensen Rifle Company www.jensen-rifle.dk/
 
Dumoulin 243!

Yours for c£8K from Chris Potter Guns.

Cheers

K
Ps: I'm not on commission!

That explains the style then. I got the chance to shoot the 505 Gibbs they built via the Express Rifle association. Sadly that was not so well built and actually broke down on the range during the test firing................................ Not good.
 
Stay with 243. Yr ok for muntjac roe and fallow fox small antelope, springbok impala etc. not very good on reds and similar size animals.
I have a sako finnlight shoots 95 gr nosler hunting ballistic tips sub moa at 100 yds. Drops them every time in.
great light rifle hardly any recoil.
 
nout wrong with the 243 taken plenty of animals with it.

then when you fell you want/need a bigger calibre then its up to you, but bigger does not mean better.

bob.
 
Nothing wrong with the 243 an old keeper friend of mine had 2 rifles a 22 and a 243 avd he said that was all he needs , he killed a lot of foxes and deer with that 243 including some huge park red stags so don't let anyone tell you it won't drop reds . I went for a 7mm simply because I can use it for all deer and boar and take it abroad too bu if all I was planning on shooting was uk deer the 243 would be on my short list
 
My reference to reds was scotland approx 250 yards 243 in my opinion was not good enough, the animal was hit centre mass in engine room it just stood there guy next to me finished it off with a 300 win mag in case it decided to run.
I dont doubt the 243 in park conditions at 100 yards though.
 
I used a .243 for years on the hill in Scotland for hinds and took the odd stag and still use it on Fallow never had a problem with it just use standard soft points don't go for fancy BT ammo

Like some of the other guys said Dead is Dead
 
My first CF was a 243 and I love the calibre and still have the same rifle all though heavily modified. The 70gr Blitzkings has dropped everything its been pointed at including 3 very large fallow bucks, Its great for taking foxes at 100's of yards at night and deer closer in with minimal adjustment in your hold over.

My friend shoots a 308 but it seems when every we go out its as if he is looking for the excuse to only bring my 243 as its so accurate...
 
No doubt some people would say you should get a 6.5x55 or a .270 or whatever their personal favourite is. The bottom line is that all of these will kill deer. Some shoot a bit flatter than others (the 243 is pretty flat), some will shoot a heavier bullet. But at woodland distances, it's irrelevant. Anything from the 243 up wil do just fine. I have rifles in 223, 243, 7mm, 308, 30-06 and .375H&H. I can't say I favour any one over the other, but I use them for different purposes.

My advice is to stick with your plan and get the 243. The 243 is plenty enough rifle for your intended use. It's light recoiling and accurate but in no sense is it a "beginner's gun" or lacking in capability. It's a very capable rifle, suitable for all UK deer species. It's my preferred calibre for red hinds, though I would just as happily use my 7-08 or .30-06, and it will be equally lethal on fallow.

Test a few different ammo brands, stick with 100gr bullets, and see which your rifle likes best. Then stick with that brand, learn the trajectory, learn how to read distances, put in some practice and you'll come home grinning every time.

-JMS
 
I am a little skeptical when it comes to referring to the .243 as a "beginner" caliber. Granted, the hunting we do here in the western US is different from yours, but the hunter who carries a .243 as his full time rifle had best be dammed good with it, and confident in shot placement. These deer are large and won't lie down for a bad shot, or too little bullet. The 243 is a cartridge designed to shoot paper and large rodents. I have always felt it's removal from woodland shooting and the thrust into the light of open ground shooting as a deer cartridge was unfortunate. I see Cabelas and other large chain stores promoting it as the perfect "youth" or "ladies" rifle and I chill. It is probably the last rifle I would put into the hands of an inexperienced shooter. ~Muir
 
Many a 250+ pound Maine or Canadian Whitetail or Mule deer shot with a .243 Winchester or even the .223 Remington with a properly constructed, expanding hunting bullet (Nosler Partition or Accubond, Hornady Interlock, Remington CoreLokt, Swift A-frame).
Those UK Fallow deer are the size of Jack Rabbits and if shot in the right spot with a .243 Winchester wouldn't know what hit them.
Shot placement is everything.
 
Many a 250+ pound Maine or Canadian Whitetail or Mule deer shot with a .243 Winchester or even the .223 Remington with a properly constructed, expanding hunting bullet (Nosler Partition or Accubond, Hornady Interlock, Remington CoreLokt, Swift A-frame).
Those UK Fallow deer are the size of Jack Rabbits
and if shot in the right spot with a .243 Winchester wouldn't know what hit them.
Shot placement is everything.

You sure your not from Texas?:D
 
Many a 250+ pound Maine or Canadian Whitetail or Mule deer shot with a .243 Winchester or even the .223 Remington with a properly constructed, expanding hunting bullet (Nosler Partition or Accubond, Hornady Interlock, Remington CoreLokt, Swift A-frame).
Those UK Fallow deer are the size of Jack Rabbits and if shot in the right spot with a .243 Winchester wouldn't know what hit them.
Shot placement is everything.

You get alot of 250+ pound whitetails in Maine?? :-D
As I said, "...had best be dammed good with it." And even at that, it's still too light for muleys shot over distance. I won't hunt in a party where a 243 is being carried. Invariably, I spend some of my valuable hunting time searching for a deer that's run off after absorbing a 6mm pill. On a US varmint hunting site last fall a guy posted that he shot a Montana mule buck (a decent sized animal) at 325 yards with his trusted 243. Hit it three times in the chest before it finally laid down. I told him he should move back to Pennsylvania and stick to woodchucks.... or get a serious rifle.~Muir
 
You get alot of 250+ pound whitetails in Maine?? :-D
As I said, "...had best be dammed good with it." And even at that, it's still too light for muleys shot over distance. I won't hunt in a party where a 243 is being carried. Invariably, I spend some of my valuable hunting time searching for a deer that's run off after absorbing a 6mm pill. On a US varmint hunting site last fall a guy posted that he shot a Montana mule buck (a decent sized animal) at 325 yards with his trusted 243. Hit it three times in the chest before it finally laid down. I told him he should move back to Pennsylvania and stick to woodchucks.... or get a serious rifle.~Muir


Not a lot of 250 pounders shot in Maine but a few "monsters" are shot every year.
My last Maine deer (6-pointer) was shot from 15 yards with a 6" barrel Smith & Wesson 686 revolver in 357 Mag.
I don't own a .243 Winchester but my favorite deer rifle is a Winchester model 100 semi-auto in .308 Winchester which is the parent cartridge of the .243 Winchester.
Who I would hunt with has more to do with the person rather than a specific caliber.
The .243 Winchester is a very popular deer caliber in the USA & Canada.
 
very good from 55-107 bullets puts all down no probs , bullet choice for you animal and a good bit of glass will see right.
 

Not a lot of 250 pounders shot in Maine but a few "monsters" are shot every year.
My last Maine deer (6-pointer) was shot from 15 yards with a 6" barrel Smith & Wesson 686 revolver in 357 Mag.
I don't own a .243 Winchester but my favorite deer rifle is a Winchester model 100 semi-auto in .308 Winchester which is the parent cartridge of the .243 Winchester.
Who I would hunt with has more to do with the person rather than a specific caliber.
The .243 Winchester is a very popular deer caliber in the USA & Canada.

I have a Model 100 in 308. My dad used it on whitetails for many years.~Muir
 
Back
Top