That is also an interesting point. I am minded towrite to my Chief Constable and suggest that as the rules make it difficult/impossible to legally use my .243 which the Police licensed for deer management, I should be allowed a variation to add another calibre rifle at no cost.
.243 Non-Toxic Factory Ammo: Struggling for 1700 ft-lbs in a 20" Barrel
Leec6.5
Well-Known Member
Do it then you would have to sell your rifle,for that technically you think is not fit for purpose and to buy a replacement will cost you, or you could just load the bullets and go stalking.
I know what I would do
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Good luck with that letter.
Whilst a short barreled 243 may well struggle to meet the minimum energy muzzle energy requirements of 1,700 ft lbs or 1,750 ft lbs in Scotland, they are still well in excess of 1,000 ft lb min requirement for Roe, CWD and Muntjac.
The change in the REACH law hasn’t made 243’s illegal. A 243 that can’t make 1,700 ft lbs with an 80gn copper bullet, almost certainly won’t it with an 80gn lead bullet either. So your 243 has always been illegal for use on big deer.
In Europe, the minimum for big game is 2,000 joules at 100m, hence the 243 is not a popular hunting cartridge in Europe, and hence limited options in European manufactured ammo. Many of the european manufacturers now load short barreled ammo for likes of the 308, given widespread use of moderators. These uses faster burning powders to give faster acceleration of the bullet down the barrel. Whether this approach works in the 243, I haven’t a clue. But laws of physics with the smaller base area of the 243 compared to the .308, and hence less force for acceleration for the same pressure probably work against the 243.
Would you still be able to satisfy good reason for the .243 or is deer your good reason?
If the latter, they are not going to allow you an additional rifle, they would tell you to change your rifle.
.243 can be used for fox.
Can still use the 243 for target shooting which is on the FAC.
Leec6.5
Well-Known Member
Why just not use the 243?
The issue with 80gr copper is the sectional density - a longer bullet than a lead core, which is harder to stabilise in a 1-10 barrel. My .243 has always been legal for larger deer with 95gr or 100gr bullets.
I have also used the 243 for Roe in Germany. For Red or Fallow there, bullet has to be 6.5mm or larger (or that was the rule when I passed my Jagdschein course).
Not sure why people getting antsy about this.
1. The OP stated problems getting factory ammo to reach 1700 ft lbs - I gave info that it can be done with a home load and a copper 80gr out of a 20" barrel. I did this out of technical curiosity with an interest in ballistics from my military background.
2. I raised the issue that if the Police/Govt are making it harder to employ a 1-10 .243 rifle for deer culling, then there ought to be a 'free' variation for an additional calibre.
3. I don't see any chance that stalkers are going to be investigated about what they used to shoot a deer. So I'm not losing any sleep over this; however, in a public forum I would not encourage anyone to break a law, or suggest I might do so....
1. The OP stated problems getting factory ammo to reach 1700 ft lbs - I gave info that it can be done with a home load and a copper 80gr out of a 20" barrel. I did this out of technical curiosity with an interest in ballistics from my military background.
2. I raised the issue that if the Police/Govt are making it harder to employ a 1-10 .243 rifle for deer culling, then there ought to be a 'free' variation for an additional calibre.
3. I don't see any chance that stalkers are going to be investigated about what they used to shoot a deer. So I'm not losing any sleep over this; however, in a public forum I would not encourage anyone to break a law, or suggest I might do so....
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Experience of most with 80gr copper bullets in 1 in 10” twist rates is that they stabilise just fine a deliver more than acceptable accuracy. Admittedly stability is a function of spin rate, which if you don’t get enough velocity may be an issue.
243s have always been on the margins of energy levels when it comes to bigger deer and have always split opinions. Being a small bore vs powder charge type cartridge they need a decent length barrel to get the velocity required to stabilise the bullet and to get the hydrostatic shock required for quick kills on big game.
In the UK for Roe deer they are just fine. And in Englandshire there is no minimum bullet weight requirement, in Scotland min for Roe is 50gr, 80gr for bigger deer. If the 80gr bullets don’t work in your rifle, drop to a lighter bullet weight.
If one brand doesn’t work try another. 243’s have always been fussy on ammo in my experience. Mine loved the original 100gr RWS load, then they seated the bullet shorter and it wouldn’t group. It never liked Norma 100gr loads. It clover leafs the 80gr Fox bullet.
If you are not happy with your 243 for use on bigger deer, then get a variation for a bigger cartridge abd use the excuse that change to copper, means you need a bigger cartridge for the bigger deer. You may have ti demonstrate that you have access to stalking for the bigger deer.
Steff
Well-Known Member
An effect which may occur and cause deer to drop where they stand but is by no means required to kill them. Most shots, regardless of calibre do not have this effect.
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