.243 or .308?!

[DazT]

I'd rather pick a 'mid range' calibre and buy quality rifle + optics than buy two (smaller and larger calibres) and settle for less quality. QUOTE]

Why compromise on quality?
Blaser R93 with .243 & .308 barrels S&B 3-12x50 Klassik on one barrel and a S&B 3-12X50 Zenith on the other

Daz

 

[Brithunter]

I'd rather pick a 'mid range' calibre and buy quality rifle + optics than buy two (smaller and larger calibres) and settle for less quality. QUOTE]

Why compromise on quality?
Blaser R93 with .243 & .308 barrels S&B 3-12x50 Klassik on one barrel and a S&B 3-12X50 Zenith on the other

Daz

I suppose that would be all right assuming that one is a lottery jack pot winner . sadly I don't think the OP is . That little lot you recommend is about £5,000+. I believe the OP is looking at more like £1,000 for rifle and scope. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[User00003]

for £1K I would look at a 2nd hand sako 75 + a hungarian (S&B) 6x42 or 8x56 fixed mag in warne rings. should squeeze in on budget and be a rifle to keep for life.

 

[DazT]

I suppose that would be all right assuming that one is a lottery jack pot winner . sadly I don't think the OP is . That little lot you recommend is about £5,000+. I believe the OP is looking at more like £1,000 for rifle and scope. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Its what i use

Daz

 

[Brithunter]

Its what i use

Daz

So what you have money. Not everyone does. I could not afford even one of those scopes source my scopes and rifles used.

 

[DazT]

No not saying that! Just that you don't have to have 2 rifles!!

 

[Brithunter]

Ok but if the action develops a problem your stuffed where as the person with more than one rifle just say Bugger and gets another one out.

I have nothing against switch/change barrel rifles at all.

 

[User00014]

I know this has been talked about but my questions are slightly different...

The .243 appears to have a better BC than the .308 when comparing a 100gn .243 to a 150gn .308 (which seems to be the norm for each respective calibre) - this said, then why do so many people recommend upping to a .308 if your after larger deer species?

As far as I can make out, the .243 is travelling faster than the .308 at 200yds, and is LESS prone to wind drift not more (working off ballistics software here) in the same way that a .17HMR is less prone to wind drift than a .22lr...?!!

I'm probably only thinking of getting a .308 as I know I'm more likely to be invited to red shoots if I have one, as the perception is the .243 lacks knock-down power - is that really true though?

I appreciate the .308 round is half again as heavy as the .243 but does anyone know the actual difference in ft/lbs at 200yds?

Do I really need a .308? Is it really that much better? Are the rounds any cheaper than a .243?

If I get a .308 I'll probably have to do a 1-for-1 and lose my .243 (my FLO can be tough)... so want to be sure!

another simple answer to the question , neither buy a .270 winchester !

 

[derek.snr]

I try and neck ahoot most of my stags so the SST's were the obvious choice for that reason (not the accuracy, the destrucion...) will see what happens with them this year...

bought some superperformance 165 and 180 at the midland for around 22.50 a box ,have found them the best factory round for accuracy in my 06 sako 85

 

[Irish Bob]

A .243 is dual purpose according to HO guidance, fox and deer. Any FO following this would not give you anything but deer / boar on a larger calibire.

Please spare me the "I have a .50 BMG on an open ticket" I am just reciting what the guidance says.

 

[kennyc]

A .243 is dual purpose according to HO guidance, fox and deer. Any FO following this would not give you anything but deer / boar on a larger calibire.

Please spare me the "I have a .50 BMG on an open ticket" I am just reciting what the guidance says.

not too sure about this, I have .223,.308 and 7.5x55 all are conditioned deer and any other lawful quarry (the ,223 actually specifies Muntjac Deer) and I believe this is in the spirit of the guidance,as opposed to the spin put upon the guidance by some forces ?

 

[BunnyDoom]

A .243 is dual purpose according to HO guidance, fox and deer. Any FO following this would not give you anything but deer / boar on a larger calibire.

Please spare me the "I have a .50 BMG on an open ticket" I am just reciting what the guidance says.

Not according to my FLO - I'm limited to deer only on my .243?!!? Though they conditioned my .17HMR as a fox and vermin rifle!! - This was because the land I applied on was in Surrey though... apparently if I applied in sussex I could have a .243 for Fox/Deer, or a .308 for Fox/Deer/Boar!

Like the chap says - it's all "guidelines" open for each forces interpretation!

 

[Gandy]

Not according to my FLO - I'm limited to deer only on my .243?!!? Though they conditioned my .17HMR as a fox and vermin rifle!! - This was because the land I applied on was in Surrey though... apparently if I applied in sussex I could have a .243 for Fox/Deer, or a .308 for Fox/Deer/Boar!

Like the chap says - it's all "guidelines" open for each forces interpretation!

Its funny, I'm in North Yorks and have a .243 and a 30-06, whilst NYP wont do any lawful quarry they have given me deer and fox on both, although he 30.06 is fox whilst out stalking deer.

Funny think licencing, when I asked if I could have any lawful quarry, he said no chance.

 

[BunnyDoom]

It's all such a mess isn't it - I whish they'd do a proper review of everything rather than having this open to interpretation nonsense!

 

[Southdowns_stalking]

I think one of your main problems is your not confident with your Xbolt, go out and try a Sako/tikka/Sauer and find something in .243 that your really happy with. Then when funds allow go and try a few different calibers and find your next rifle.

As for your FLO not allowing fox on a .243 i would give him a call and ask again, explaining that its "guidelines" you have the land and fox on the .17HMR.....the worst he could say is no!

 

[BunnyDoom]

I think one of your main problems is your not confident with your Xbolt, go out and try a Sako/tikka/Sauer and find something in .243 that your really happy with. Then when funds allow go and try a few different calibers and find your next rifle.

As for your FLO not allowing fox on a .243 i would give him a call and ask again, explaining that its "guidelines" you have the land and fox on the .17HMR.....the worst he could say is no!

True - am going for a Sako 85 when funds allow, but would also like a shorty of some sort - will have to wait for the variation to come through and see what they've given me so plenty of time to decide

Not sure what the point in restricting me for the .243 is, not that fussed in all honesty as have found the HMR to be fine - it's just every now and again when charlie pops his head out when I'm stalking... do I do the old "I missed a deer and hit a fox"???

 

[Irish Bob]

Have a look at the table on pp 77. This is what they are using.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/firearms/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf?view=Binary

You will note that the .17 covers fox. This will be the reason you only have deer on your .243.

 

[BunnyDoom]

Have a look at the table on pp 77. This is what they are using.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/firearms/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf?view=Binary

You will note that the .17 covers fox. This will be the reason you only have deer on your .243.

I know what you're saying - but by this logic if I get rid of my 17HMR then they'll let me have fox on my .243? What about when I'm on land unsuitable for .243?! Makes no sense! What is their motivation behind not letting me choose the best calibre for what the situation depicts?

 

[Southdowns_stalking]

Have a look at the table on pp 77. This is what they are using.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/firearms/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf?view=Binary

You will note that the .17 covers fox. This will be the reason you only have deer on your .243.

I dont think this is the reason.....I have .17hmr for vermin inc fox, i also have a 6.5x55 and 30.06 for deer and fox. Its all down to your FLO and their understanding of the "guidelines". When i first applied i explained that i wanted fox on all my rifles incase i was out and saw a fox that i wanted to dispatch.

 

[Munty]

Hi there,

Just been reading the various replies to your thread. I have three calibres which I use for deer control in the UK, they are .243, .308 and .300win mag.
My most used is the .300 win mag which is a superb round and very versatile if you reload. I have taken big Reds with all three calibres, but notwithstanding that irrefutable statement that bullet placement is everything, there is more surety of a quick humane kill with the .300 win mag.
I have taken Muntjac with the .300win without any meat damage at all, there is a lot of rubbish spoken about powerful calibres and meat damage, it's the type of bullet and shot placement that determines this.
Also please consider that if you ever intend to take a rifle on an African plains game safari, then .243 would be considered inadequate, .308 as OK for most species and .300win great for everything except dangerous game.
If it's a one rifle for all, and cost of ammunition a consideration the my advice would be to choose the .308.
Good luck with all the advice and making the right choice. I have fairly extensive experience, so feel free to PM if I can be of any help to you.
Regards
Munty