.243 or .308?!

[w0rks2much]

Have both, used both.
The .243 has its place on smaller deer but I've experienced too many fallow with no exit and then difficult to track with no blood trail.
On the larger deer (Fallow & Red) I use the .308. (150gn non-toxic). I get an exit and a blood trail.
Just one mans experience.

 

[paulbshooting]

Sold my 243 but in hindsight should have kept it for foxing. 30 cal knock down power is what sold me on the 308. Fine tune the bullet weight and type to suit your quarry. A 150 grain lead cup and core or lighter through my light sako rig is ideal for walk and stalk on munty and roe. Shoot mainly fallow once the season starts and 308 works on those too although recently switched to a win 270 and used that on reds too. 130 grain factory lead ammo is superb. On open fields when ranges can stretch where no stalk closer is possible, plus winter wind and rain, the 270 just does the business.

 

[Heym SR20]

Now that we no longer need to use a 100gn bullet in Scotland all the challenges with non-toxic and 243 Win are now in the past.

There are plenty of good 80 to 90gn non toxic bullets that will perform very well in the 243. I have used the Peregrine 100gn VRG3 in my 243 on one Sika Stag. It punched straight through heart lungs and shoulders and it ran a few yards and collapsed dead. The VRG3 is a flat nosed bullet so BCs not optimal for longer range if that matters. It doesn’t for me - 200 is plenty far enough.

Having seen how Peregrine and Fox bullets perform in 223 at 50 gns and 7mm at 130gn, I have no doubt that an 80 ish grain 243 bullet leaving the muzzle at about 3,000 fps will punch through any British deer causing sufficient damage to effect a quick kill.

Would a bigger bullet be better - perhaps. But given good shot placement there has never been a lot of difference between a 243 and 308.

But with monolithics the challenge’s of bullet blow up and lack of penetration of the 243 are much reduced.

Or put it another way, the difference between a 12mm, 14mm or 16mm permanent wound channel through heart, lungs and major blood vessels (assuming bullets opens to 2x diameter) is not really going to have a significant difference on life expectancy of a deer.

And either side of the permanent wound channel will be the temporary cavity - again a slightly bigger or smaller is not going to make much difference.

If you have a good 243 that you like shooting then just keep shooting it. 308 can have enough recoil that some may struggle to shoot it as well as the 243.

 

[palmer_mike]

Now that we no longer need to use a 100gn bullet in Scotland

Has the law changed?

 

[Tingers]

I've used both, but there's something about a .308. It doesn't matter what's in front of you it will do the job and do it well. I would have reservations with a 243 in certain circumstances.
I also found those who are new and just acquiring their first FAC are better getting a .308 than .243, down the line when you want something else from personal experience it is far easier to justify a smaller calibre than bigger.

 

[Koenig]

.308 is the supreme lazy man’s calibre (I shoot it). It’s does everything in the UK well enough and the bullet weight range allows you to either buy/hand load a wide spectrum of ammo. If you have to have one calibre due to your FEO being rigid over too many deer calibres go .308.

 

[Fabnosh]

I'm still left wondering if the OP has decided yet? Blokes can take a while and 11 years seems only reasonable.......... or is he still awaiting the variation lol?

FN

 

[JTO]

I'm still left wondering if the OP has decided yet? Blokes can take a while and 11 years seems only reasonable.......... or is he still awaiting the variation lol?

FN

8 years since they last logged in!

 

[VSS]

Has the law changed?

From November, I think, the minimum bullet weight in Scotland is being reduced from 100 grains to 85 grains. Or it might be 80 grains. I forget the exact details.

 

[sy247]

.308

 

[mike243]

both

 

[woodlandvenison1]

Go in the middle and have a 6.5 can shoot good lead or copper bullets and weigh range from 90-140gr does every thing then

 

[Corvid8x57]

A 308 in the right spot will drop anything on the planet. Great choice of non toxics & a soft recoiling round

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

If you are buying 1 rifle, then I agree the 6.5 will drop anything and has better bc.
Less recoil than 308.
6.5cm, 6.5x47, 260 and don't forget 6.5x55 a fantastic round.
If 243 , make sure 1 in 8 twist.
if 308 , take your pick.
I'd pick one rifle and get the best I could afford and optics too.

 

[stubear]

Get a .300 win mag and be done with it

 

[Foxyboy43]

I rediscovered this report on the .243 - worth reading but don’t be put off by it’s size! The first 20 something pages say it all.
Personally I will stick with my .6.5x55SE and .308 - nuff said!

https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2023/04/BASC-Technical-Report-on-non-lead-.243-rifle-ammunition-accuracy-and-penetration-small.pdf

 

[cjm1066]

The OP has not been on site since 2015, I guess he has made his choice or is no longer interested.

 

[HonestJohn]

The OP has not been on site since 2015, I guess he has made his choice or is no longer interested.

He probably went 6.5CM

 

[ShootyBang]

My answer to this question is 6.5x55 Swede.

 

[Envillegc1]

Well I am pretty new to this and its an interesting debate.

So for what its worth and in fairness if I had known at the time, when I put in for my variation (223 and 243) I would have gone for a 240 Wetherby for my vermin and small deer, CWS/Munty and Roe and 308 for larger species.

By way of interest has anyone used a 240 Wetherby?