Bmcphers83
Active Member
Im based in Scotland so using the 22-250 for Roe wouldnt be a problem, think ill start looking closer at the .243 though, thanks everyone for the input.
Billy
Billy
Calibre choice.
- Thread starter Bmcphers83
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Bmcphers83
Active Member
Sounds like .243 would be the best bet in the long term, time to start reading up.
cheers
cheers
Most .243 rifles have a one-in-ten twist which does not really suit bullets in excess of 90gr weight.
If you intend to use the 100-105gr weights it would be better to source a rifle with a one-in-eight or nine twist rate.
My Tikka T3 shoots Privi Partisan 100gr bullets into the same 1inch bullseye as my 75gr V.Max re-loads but it may be a fortunate exception.
The 85gr or similar factory options will kill any Fox or Roe you encounter if you do your bit correctly at a sensible distance.
HWH.
If you intend to use the 100-105gr weights it would be better to source a rifle with a one-in-eight or nine twist rate.
My Tikka T3 shoots Privi Partisan 100gr bullets into the same 1inch bullseye as my 75gr V.Max re-loads but it may be a fortunate exception.
The 85gr or similar factory options will kill any Fox or Roe you encounter if you do your bit correctly at a sensible distance.
HWH.
satellite buck
Well-Known Member
for what its worth i have just taken up stalking in the last year, i bought a like new sako 75 with a 1in 10 twist and can get sub 1" groups with 100 grn and 105 grn, 85 grn hpbt,and sako 90 grn game heads will cloverleaf though, all ive shot so far is roe and munty. i have a 308 on my ticket but at the mo dont feel the need to change, i think remmy is 1 in 9" twist . hope this helps . sb
JAYB
Super Moderator
If you can have one calibre that will meet all your stalking and shooting needs, then you have done well. Not only that only using the one can be hugely beneficial, "beware the man with only one gun" or something like that 
It sounds to me that a nice 243 would suit you perfectly, it fills the bill for fox and Roe, but will also be legal and capable of Reds and Sika if you stumble accross one. Easy on the shoulder to shoot and ammunition is widely available. I like the 243 and if I could only have one calibre it would be a close run contest between my 6.5 and my 243
John
It sounds to me that a nice 243 would suit you perfectly, it fills the bill for fox and Roe, but will also be legal and capable of Reds and Sika if you stumble accross one. Easy on the shoulder to shoot and ammunition is widely available. I like the 243 and if I could only have one calibre it would be a close run contest between my 6.5 and my 243
John
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
.243 is a good easy shooting round that is perfectly adequate for all UK species of deer. My Heym SR20 has a 1 in 10 inch twist and shoots 100 gn bullets of RWS or Norma variety into clover leaf groups at 100 metres.
I have seen both Rugers and Sakos shoot the same ammo very accurately as well. Don't know what twist rate they are, but the 243 win was designed right from the start to shoot the heavier bullets and to be a dual purpose varmint and deer calibre.
The beauty of the 243 is that it is available everywhere and ammo is not the price of some of the more exotic calibres.
But being a 6mm it does require good controlled expansion to transmit its energy - it doesn't have the frontal area of a 308. Would suggest that you have less margin for error over choice of bullet than with bigger calibres going at lower velocity.
If its principle use will be for deer, find a good deer bullet that works well and stick with it. I have shot plenty of foxes with 100 gn RWS and have never had any issues.
If I was shooting a lot more Reds with it I would probably look at a harder tougher bullet to give a bit more penetration rather than rapid expansion.
I have seen both Rugers and Sakos shoot the same ammo very accurately as well. Don't know what twist rate they are, but the 243 win was designed right from the start to shoot the heavier bullets and to be a dual purpose varmint and deer calibre.
The beauty of the 243 is that it is available everywhere and ammo is not the price of some of the more exotic calibres.
But being a 6mm it does require good controlled expansion to transmit its energy - it doesn't have the frontal area of a 308. Would suggest that you have less margin for error over choice of bullet than with bigger calibres going at lower velocity.
If its principle use will be for deer, find a good deer bullet that works well and stick with it. I have shot plenty of foxes with 100 gn RWS and have never had any issues.
If I was shooting a lot more Reds with it I would probably look at a harder tougher bullet to give a bit more penetration rather than rapid expansion.
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