Have I gone for the wrong calibre?

[greenhout]

Just got into deer shooting and have just received my FAC back with a 0.243 on it. I am within seconds of getting a rifle but am having second thoughts about the calibre I have chosen. I have to get it right because I doubt I will be able to afford another rifle. I want to shoot fallow deer predominantly in a woodland setting, mostly from high seats. Reading the hundreds of posts on this forum, there is loads of calibre/bullet mass related stuff but the comments seem to polarise between small deer - muntjac and roe and red. Fallow are somewhere in the middle. My question is: should I bite the bullet and send the FAC back for a variation to say 0.270, or will the 0.243 be OK for fallow with 100gr bullets? Can I get some feedback on the effectiveness of 0.243 on Fallow specifically. Cheers!

 

[glogin]

Nothing wrong with the .243

 

[murrayb]

I use it and have nothing to complain about.

 

[Axe]

243 is more than enough gun for fallow - and its also an easy calibre to shoot well, low on recoil and will teach you the importance of good shot placement and good stalking technique.

Im sure there will be the hard core here to follow with comments like "get a 308 or a 2506 etc etc", all very good calibre's but for your first deer legal rifle the 243 is a good choice IMO.
It was my first deer legal rifle, and I still take the 243 out 10 years on over a 30-06 on some occasions because it's just a pleasure to shoot and carry around and can cross over to be used as a foxing rifle too.
Plenty of new or good second hand rifles in this calibre around and plenty of ammunition choice available.

It is inevitable that you will eventually want to get a bigger calibre, im sure, but 243 is a good starting place and is more than enough gun for Roe, Fallow, Muntjac, Chinese, even Red Hinds if shot properly.
If all your deer stalking will involve shooting big fallow bucks and red stags then probably go for something like a 308.

​Good luck with your stalking and have fun.

 

[finnbear270]

Notwithstanding the very good advice above, Just hope you don't get a lemon that does not like 100 grainers.

 

[John Gryphon]

A good man will kill any game animal in the UK with a 243

 

[Jager SA]

The .243 has probably accounted for a large proportion of Deer killed in the UK. It's more than ample for your needs, get it, get out with it and get to know it.

 

[enfieldspares]

No. It is a good calibre as it has little recoil in a standard weight rifle. But for short range do stick with "standard" velocity 100 grain loads and not either "Light Magnum" or those with plastic tipped bullets. However long term if a lead ban comes into force in the UK the 243 will be dead as I doubt any will stabilise a non-lead 100 grain bullet.

 

[ian 243]

hi the 243 works for me every time

 

[XYZ]

You're probably reading too many of the threads about fancy calibres.

The fact remains the .243 has probably accounted for more deer than all of the other currently 'fashionable' calibres and will continue to do so. It's tried and tested. It stands up for itself.

True, the other calibres will kill deer and you will read many threads here where it's claimed that a bigger one will make a deer 'more' dead. A dead deer is a dead deer. Stick the bullet through the vitals and you will kill your deer with a .243 just as easily as with a .308.

There's nothing wrong with using these other calibres but for a first rifle that will do the job a .243 will be perfect. A properly placed .243 round will kill a deer quicker than a poorly placed 'other' round.

 

[CWMMAN3738]

That's a very good point and if money is a big factor now & in the future you may as well get a .308 now so you are prepared however I don't see the lead ban taking effect on rifle bullets in the next 5 years I could be wrong however there are a few places in the UK that lead bullets are already banned and I never hurts to be prepared & if you have big fallow bucks you'll see the benefit of a larger calibre.

No. It is a good calibre as it has little recoil in a standard weight rifle. But for short range do stick with "standard" velocity 100 grain loads and not either "Light Magnum" or those with plastic tipped bullets. However long term if a lead ban comes into force in the UK the 243 will be dead as I doubt any will stabilise a non-lead 100 grain bullet.

 

[stig]

I would not replace my .243... and it has shown no problem bringing down fallow or any other deer I have shot...

Tikka T3 Lite spits out 100gn Federal with ease and is a tack driver at 100m

Saying that, I will be buying a 30-06 at some point in the next 5 years... because I want to (not because I need to)

 

[Sam355]

greenhout,
I was in exact same position as you last year and wasn't too sure if my choice of calibre was correct. Bought my first .243 with interchangeable barrel and since shot a few fallow, a Muntjac & a couple of foxes, all clean kills. Have a look at interchangeable barrels too…
Sam

 

[Klenchblaize]

Just got into deer shooting and have just received my FAC back with a 0.243 on it. I am within seconds of getting a rifle but am having second thoughts about the calibre I have chosen. I have to get it right because I doubt I will be able to afford another rifle. I want to shoot fallow deer predominantly in a woodland setting, mostly from high seats. Reading the hundreds of posts on this forum, there is loads of calibre/bullet mass related stuff but the comments seem to polarise between small deer - muntjac and roe and red. Fallow are somewhere in the middle. My question is: should I bite the bullet and send the FAC back for a variation to say 0.270, or will the 0.243 be OK for fallow with 100gr bullets? Can I get some feedback on the effectiveness of 0.243 on Fallow specifically. Cheers!

There is no doubt the 243 will do for fallow but I would steer you in the direction of the 6.5X55 and certainly NOT a 270 unless you're perfectly comfortable shooting it.

My Sauer 90, in 6.5X55, will shoot sub 1" groups with everything from 95g V-Max through to the mid double figure weights which are probably what you’ll want for Dama Dama

And yes, I do dislike the added recoil from a 270 and am happy to admit my weakness.

Roughly where in Kent are you?

Cheers

K

 

[greenhout]

Thanks for all the replies. They make me more sure of myself!! I am in the Canterbury area.

 

[Sam355]

Thanks for all the replies. They make me more sure of myself!! I am in the Canterbury area.

Is your stalking ground around Canterbury too? I thought there was no deer around that area of Kent!?

 

[I. Farticus]

There is no doubt the 243 will do for fallow but I would steer you in the direction of the 6.5X55 and certainly NOT a 270 unless you're perfectly comfortable shooting it.

My Sauer 90, in 6.5X55, will shoot sub 1" groups with everything from 95g V-Max through to the mid double figure weights which are probably what you’ll want for Dama Dama

And yes, I do dislike the added recoil from a 270 and am happy to admit my weakness.

Roughly where in Kent are you?

Cheers

K

I was about to post the same...

My first rifle was a .243 and within 6 months had aspirations for something bigger, but only wanted to have one rifle other than a rimfire. The 6.5x55 is a cracking calibre, and with 140gr ammo with nail anything that the UK has to offer from fox to boar.

I'll never sell mine, and am only buying a .223 in addition as I have just taken on some very residential land with a muntjac problem.

Nothing wrong with a .243, nothing at all, but now's the time to be sure - or buy one, use it and put in for a variation at a later date if not happy

Enjoy the headf*ck that starts here

 

[Tackleberry270]

Try and get a good deal on a second hand .243 with good optics. You will then hopefully recoup what you payed for it if you do want to change later. Agree with whats been said on sensible ammo choice. Settle on one type as soon as possible and then get used to it with practice.

 

[Muir]

There is no doubt the 243 will do for fallow but I would steer you in the direction of the 6.5X55 and certainly NOT a 270 unless you're perfectly comfortable shooting it.

My Sauer 90, in 6.5X55, will shoot sub 1" groups with everything from 95g V-Max through to the mid double figure weights which are probably what you’ll want for Dama Dama

And yes, I do dislike the added recoil from a 270 and am happy to admit my weakness.

Roughly where in Kent are you?

Cheers

K

Likewise. The 6.5 is hard to beat.~Muir

 

[User00003]

whilst the .243 is probably on the smaller side of ideal for medium to large game and it not being the most effective calibre, it is sufficient to ethically take any UK deer species apart from perhaps H/L shots on Sika where a larger calibre is probably desired to avoid them trying to get into the next county's woods...

you will probably find that your shooting is going to be better with a moderate calibre like the .243 than if you went with something bigger, in addition, there's plenty on the 2nd hand market, so you can get a good setup for less than a more 'in vogue' calibre.

The .243, should you wish to sell it one day, is likely to be attractive to new people coming into the sport too, for the same reasons you've got authority yourself.

lastly, the .243 being adequate for your purpose with the right bullet and right shot placement, is probably worth keeping, simply to avoid the PITA of having to put your paperwork back in to get it changed and have new interviews about suitability and land clearances, etc....