Is .243 big enough???
- Thread starter Dagben77
- Start date
Dagben77
Well-Known Member
OK, sorry to keep moving the goal posts, but I have looked at the ballistics of a lot of calibres now and I quite like the look of the 270! Is this too much?!? It has the energy of a 308 but is flatter faster etc. I was quite tempted with a 260 but feel quite limited on make as there are only a handful of manufacture in this chambering.
I may even treat myself to a new Tikka T3 Lite. Just don't tell the missus.
If you think I'm being stupid by looking at this cal, tell me! I don't get easily offended.
Incoming!!!!!!!
I may even treat myself to a new Tikka T3 Lite. Just don't tell the missus.
If you think I'm being stupid by looking at this cal, tell me! I don't get easily offended.
Incoming!!!!!!!
AN DU RU FOX
Well-Known Member
hi dagben im the same theres one going cheap as well 270 that is but, im not putting a vari in yet till i try one,
Hi DagbenOK, sorry to keep moving the goal posts, but I have looked at the ballistics of a lot of calibres now and I quite like the look of the 270! Is this too much?!? It has the energy of a 308 but is flatter faster etc. I was quite tempted with a 260 but feel quite limited on make as there are only a handful of manufacture in this chambering.
I may even treat myself to a new Tikka T3 Lite. Just don't tell the missus.
If you think I'm being stupid by looking at this cal, tell me! I don't get easily offended.
if your location is B45 as in postcode you're only 1/2 hour from me, I've 243s and a 270 if you want to pop over you can see what you think, the 270 is a T3 lite if that helps!!!
Crumpy
Dagben77
Well-Known Member
Dagben77
Well-Known Member
Crumpy, that would be great!
I warn you, I like to talk
I'll PM you and hopefully we can arrange something. I assume you're West Mercia. I've actually got Rob Vick (FEO) popping round tomorrow about my SGC so I will be bending his ear also.
Speak to you soon.
surely you mean the trajectory is the same but different
tackb
Well-Known Member
even the same calibre from different rifles will have differences , in fact if you want to be really pedantic there will be elevation differences from the same box of ammo , what i'm trying to say is if you buy a 270 because it is 'flat' then your kidding yourself.
Offroad Gary
Well-Known Member
when it comes to the larger deer, perhaps the question shouldnt be "is the .243 big enough?", perhaps it should be...
"are you big enough?"
"are you big enough?"
stevenedwards
Well-Known Member
If a .243 was big enough it would be self evident and not require debate. 
Glen of Imaal
Well-Known Member
Seems very simple to me. I shoot deer with .243. Deer die. I butcher, then eat them. Yum, yum!
Glen of Imaal
Well-Known Member
I do cook them as well!
tackb
Well-Known Member
but not overcook I hope...............
I'm quite sure there are plenty of .243 owners living in blissful ignorance of the fact that their particular rifle and ammo combination is not actually deer legal.
E.g. if you read reviews by Bruce Potts he tests the rifles with a variety of factory and handloads, and it is quite common for him to discover that some combinations in .243 do not make the necessary muzzle energy.
I.e. 1700 fpe for England/Wales, or 1750 fpe with 100 grain bullet for Scotland.
Shorter barreled (e.g. 20") rifles in particular.
E.g. see Tikka T3 Lite combo rifle review | Shooting times where a Tikka T3 Lite was found wanting with many loads. None of the factory ammo or handloads met the Scottish requirement.
Similar, but slightly better results: Steyr Classic Mountain .243 rifle review | Rifles | Shooting UK
Also Gun reviews: Tikka T3 .243 Win laminate rifle | Rifles | Shooting UK
These were just the first three hits I found on Google.
ISTR that he often finds Prvi Partisan ammo to be particularly weak.
I doubt that deer notice the difference much, but there is no doubt that .243 is the legal bare minimum for large deer, and in some cases will actually be under the legal energy requirement, particularly if using factory ammo, or reloads without chrono testing.
One UK company makes a 16 inch barreled .243 specifically advertised for woodland stalking. I would be very interested to know whether it is capable of meeting the legal requirements for large deer even with handloads, nevermind off the shelf ammo.
E.g. if you read reviews by Bruce Potts he tests the rifles with a variety of factory and handloads, and it is quite common for him to discover that some combinations in .243 do not make the necessary muzzle energy.
I.e. 1700 fpe for England/Wales, or 1750 fpe with 100 grain bullet for Scotland.
Shorter barreled (e.g. 20") rifles in particular.
E.g. see Tikka T3 Lite combo rifle review | Shooting times where a Tikka T3 Lite was found wanting with many loads. None of the factory ammo or handloads met the Scottish requirement.
Similar, but slightly better results: Steyr Classic Mountain .243 rifle review | Rifles | Shooting UK
Also Gun reviews: Tikka T3 .243 Win laminate rifle | Rifles | Shooting UK
These were just the first three hits I found on Google.
ISTR that he often finds Prvi Partisan ammo to be particularly weak.
I doubt that deer notice the difference much, but there is no doubt that .243 is the legal bare minimum for large deer, and in some cases will actually be under the legal energy requirement, particularly if using factory ammo, or reloads without chrono testing.
One UK company makes a 16 inch barreled .243 specifically advertised for woodland stalking. I would be very interested to know whether it is capable of meeting the legal requirements for large deer even with handloads, nevermind off the shelf ammo.
Glen of Imaal
Well-Known Member
55 grain bullet from a .22-250 is legal for large deer in the Republic so no problem with the .243 on that score for me. I appreciate that legislation in UK makes the .243 a marginal round for large deer. It does work though! As does the .270, .308 etc. The object of the exercise is a clean, humane kill. The .243 achieves this. I have used it for over 16 years and if I thought it was not up to the task I would of changed. It is a personal choice. I don't really understand why people get so worked up about it...
I also agree that you could say it is questionable on the legal M.E for deer in scotland and UK - but have we actually ever seen this being tested and if it was would the results be able to prove that the actual round fired was not legal even if they test all your other ammo and it it marginal.
Having read about the large stags being controlled in NZ with 222's i don't think there's any question if a 243 is up to the job (other than the ME)
Regards,
Gixer
Having read about the large stags being controlled in NZ with 222's i don't think there's any question if a 243 is up to the job (other than the ME)
Regards,
Gixer
When Bell arguably the most successful big game hunter of all time retired, his weapon of choice for stags on his Scottish estate was .220 swift,if .220 swift was good enough for Bell .243 will be good enough for me.
tackb
Well-Known Member
I understand a lot of lesser shots than bell got stomped by heffalumps trying to emulate his exploits?
True but I don't have any heffalumps so I won't worry, however I do have an open invitation from a client to go to Germany and shoot Elephants , when I remarked that they had no Elephants in Germany, he said he has as many Elephants on his hunting area, as I had effing stags on my hill
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