.243 calibre for fox control

[foxhunter]

Because I don't like it?

I've shot deer with all sorts from .223 to .375H&H - nothing has ever consistently done more damage to a carcass than a .243. Just my personal experience over a wide range of bullets. It's too fast.

I've shot hundreds of roe with my .243 and dont have any problem with meat damage

 

[njc110381]

I've shot hundreds of roe with my .243 and dont have any problem with meat damage

Fair enough. What else have you compared it to?

 

[Nick703]

I’ve got a 243 and 223 both have drone pros on them,both are point and shoot to 300y on a calm night ,runners are very rare if ever with either,both can and do sometimes make a mess,the 243 is lightweight so for those awkward shots from the vehicle window you’ve got to hold on to it,223 is easier to shoot on the awkward shots as recoil is minimal,the 243 makes more noise so is obviously the best option

 

[25 Sharps]

All centre fire rifles will kill fox, some bullets kill better than others with all calibers.
I have had 223, 22-250, and 243, when watching what happens after you have shot the fox what i have found is the fox will often riddle on the ground for a few seconds with the 223, a little less with my 22-250, and nine times out of ten just drop motionless with the 243 using home loaded Hornady 58g v-max doing around 3750 fps.
IMO the 58g hornady v-max kill better than the nosler 70g bt, but this might come at the price of shorter barrel life.
I wanted my 243 for maximum point and shoot range on fox with the best knock down power and IMO that is what i have got.
For anyone that's buying a new rifle, the same make of rifles are the same price irrespective of caliber so buy what you want.
Another consideration can be when shooting foxes around near by housing where noise can be a problem, my 22-250 is a LOT quieter than my 243.

Dave (warbucks)

You need to load you’re 22-250 hotter then, or get a better mod on the .243. .

243 with a 58 and 22-250 with a 55 are basically the same thing if loaded to the same velocity with the .22 just winning on ballistics (longer thinner bullet for similar weight)

 

[sako85708]

I shoot 55gr in 22-250 and 70gr in 243 both loaded 90% , both are Sako rifles fitted with Wildcat evo's and the 22-250 is a lot quieter and without doubt does a lot more damage on foxes. The 22-250 is now my go to Fox rifle every time. I tried 55gr,58gr and 60gr bullets but my 243 Sako didn't like them

 

[Finch]

I shoot 55gr in 22-250 and 70gr in 243 both loaded 90% , both are Sako rifles fitted with Wildcat evo's and the 22-250 is a lot quieter and without doubt does a lot more damage on foxes. The 22-250 is now my go to Fox rifle every time. I tried 55gr,58gr and 60gr bullets but my 243 Sako didn't like them

Which Sako is it? My 75 in .243 tack-drives 58 grn Hornady Superformance. Terminal effects are catastrophic and inarguable. Different twist?

PS, not trying to get into a .243/.22-250 show-down. I love the .22-250. Allowed myself to get talked into the .243 over a .22-250 by both my FEO and the gun shop, as it would also be England deer-legal. But really I don't need it for deer as I prefer my .308 on all species, and I think in retrospect, a .22-250 is somehow more special to shoot. But TBF to the .243, it has superior down range ballistics and I've found it devastating on foxes.

 

[sako85708]

Which Sako is it? My 75 tack drives 58 grn Superformance. Different twist?

Sako 85 black which I think is 1 in 9

 

[Finch]

I think you're right. 75 in .243 had a stock twist of 1:10 as far as I know. Surprised it would make a huge difference though. My 75 is a 23" barrel.

 

[sako85708]

I think you're right. 75 in .243 had a stock twist of 1:10 as far as I know. Surprised it would make a huge difference though. My 75 is a 23" barrel.

I have had a look again, and it seems that the rifle has a 1 in 10 twist but is only 20". What I did find was when I tested heavy bullets to take to Scotland on the hinds, it was great with 100gr and the best was 105gr ??

 

[Finch]

I have had a look again, and it seems that the rifle has a 1 in 10 twist but is only 20". What I did find was when I tested heavy bullets to take to Scotland on the hinds, it was great with 100gr and the best was 105gr ??

That might make sense. If you have to spin light bullets fast to stabilise them, it follows there's likely to be a minimum barrel length needed in which to get that spin up to speed.
Don't know. Only a hypothesis.