Is .243 big enough???

[berg]

do you have munties up that far yet? and it may only be 0.5mm bigger but still and good choice for a lot off people, and mocking or telling people that its not is not the way to make people decide what to do .like I said I have both so if going out with larger species in mind then I will grab the 308 but when I am out on a block off land where there a mix I will take the 243 and use it with absolute confidence in it capability of killing anything that comes my way as long AS I DO MY BIT and I cany be bothered with this any more ,all the best

 

[liddlesdale]

comment has nothing to do with the training of deer dogs?

my trade member status has nothing to do with a shop?

what's your point about .243 in Scotland and munties?

Paul,

Can I buy some more of them .243 rounds off you, I will call in the shop tomorrow .

 

[Paul at Fechan]

do you have munties up that far yet? and it may only be 0.5mm bigger but still and good choice for a lot off people, and mocking or telling people that its not is not the way to make people decide what to do .like I said I have both so if going out with larger species in mind then I will grab the 308 but when I am out on a block off land where there a mix I will take the 243 and use it with absolute confidence in it capability of killing anything that comes my way as long AS I DO MY BIT and I cany be bothered with this any more ,all the best

Don't spit the dummy, I shoot munties (darn souf) and roe (in Scotland) with .223 and 55gr which is proportionally not that different to shooting small fallow with a .243 but deer twice the size of fallow... it's that's all you have fair enough but more is better obviously.

Paul,

Can I buy some more of them .243 rounds off you, I will call in the shop tomorrow .

only if you promise to use the on Roe

 

[bewsher500]

I've shot Roe in Scotland with a .223, I've shot Roe in England with a .243 and 70gn BT's and I've shot Red with a 7mm08. They all died.

reminds me of:
"In 1980...some-one died"

 

[Jagare]

Same old bull about the .243. I've shot a load of fallow with the .243. That was 25-30 years ago so perhaps the fallow have got tougher since then. Mind you people were spouting the same Sh!te then as they are now. Maybe i had a better .243 than them.
I think people would be better off learning how to shoot their rifle better and use the right bullet for the job. So a deer runs a bit after the shot. The answer to that is learn a little field craft or get a dog.

 

[berg]

Same old bull about the .243. I've shot a load of fallow with the .243. That was 25-30 years ago so perhaps the fallow have got tougher since then. Mind you people were spouting the same Sh!te then as they are now. Maybe i had a better .243 than them.
I think people would be better off learning how to shoot their rifle better and use the right bullet for the job. So a deer runs a bit after the shot. The answer to that is learn a little field craft or get a dog.

+1

 

[EMcC]

reminds me of:
"In 1980...some-one died"

I remember the incident when the pigeon got in.
They called the Vermin controller but the handle on his net was not long enough to reach the roof and the roof was too high to use a ladder, H & S rules so the decision was taken to shoot it.
Guess what calibre was used ?
Yes you've guessed it, it was a good ole .243.
The vermin controller swore by that calibre and said it was good for anything he ever came across in his job.

 

[Sabian223]

Never realised that there were so many 243 fanatics out there! Still think ill stick to my 260

 

[berg]

reminds me of:
"In 1980...some-one died"

I am sure everybody pleased to see you have a job, but I am not sure what it has to do with shoot a 243.very funny

 

[EMcC]

I am sure everybody pleased to see you have a job, but I am not sure what it has to do with shoot a 243.very funny

The tone of his voice sounded very much the same as non .243 users

 

[bullet chucker]

6.5x55 is tempting! Anyone else got an opinion on the 6.5x55??????

Incoming!!!

​Brilliant Callibre !!!!!!

 

[bullet chucker]

if you have never
lost a deer, ...
Had to put in a second shot,..
Seen a big stag linger that little bit too long before expiring..
Or spent the rest of an otherwise perfect day searching for something that should have "died on the spot" but made it to the tree line and beyond.......

Anyone who has not experienced any of the above, has really not shot very many deer, and that is regardless of the calibre they are using.

i'll drink to that !

 

[Sabian223]

E=bullet chucker;764586]​Brilliant Callibre !!!!!![/QUOTE]

6.5x55 is definitely the way forward. Not too big nor too small and medium to slow velocities for less meat damage whilst having good knock down power!

 

[Paul at Fechan]

we all know .243 kills the biggest deer just fine with good heart shots but unfortunately most shots are simply not perfect in the real world, my issue is all to do with the lag before a shot animal expires. That delay is all down to energy and damage delivered internally so just take the time to look and understand the information presented below and you will see how far down the .243 is compared to more proportionate calibres on medium to large deer. To say again, .243 kills just fine and if that's all you have good luck in your stalking but keep an open mind.

 

[bogtrotter]

we all know .243 kills the biggest deer just fine with good heart shots but unfortunately most shots are simply not perfect in the real world, my issue is all to do with the lag before a shot animal expires. That delay is all down to energy and damage delivered internally so just take the time to look and understand the information presented below and you will see how far down the .243 is compared to more proportionate calibres on medium to large deer. To say again, .243 kills just fine and if that's all you have good luck in your stalking but keep an open mind.

I don't disagree with you but .243 is my weapon of choice for various reasons, not because I can't have anything else I did have access to other calibres but because I chose to use .243

Why, I don't shoot Boar never have doubt very much if I ever will ,not interested in them, there are none in my area and I hope there never will be.

I don't have Sika , have shot a handful and .243 did OK if it was going to be a regular occurrence I might opt for something a bit bigger.

Have shot quite a few woodland Reds and while they are every bit as dead with .243 even a run of thirty yards can make them hard to find in thick cover, so again if I was only shooting big woodland Reds I might opt for a bigger calibre.

Absolutely no problem with .243 for hill Reds.

Long a go I decided that instead of chopping and changing I wanted one rifle that I could use for everything
mostly hill Reds some woodland Reds and Roe also wanted to use same rifle for foxing and it also needed to double as an estate rifle, one that would do the job but not be intimidating for woman or people who had never shot before.

So as an all rounder my choice was .243 and have been using the calibre almost exclusively for all my stalking for the last thirty years.

 

[Dagben77]

I don't disagree with you but .243 is my weapon of choice for various reasons, not because I can't have anything else I did have access to other calibres but because I chose to use .243

Why, I don't shoot Boar never have doubt very much if I ever will ,not interested in them, there are none in my area and I hope there never will be.

I don't have Sika , have shot a handful and .243 did OK if it was going to be a regular occurrence I might opt for something a bit bigger.

Have shot quite a few woodland Reds and while they are every bit as dead with .243 even a run of thirty yards can make them hard to find in thick cover, so again if I was only shooting big woodland Reds I might opt for a bigger calibre.

Absolutely no problem with .243 for hill Reds.

Long a go I decided that instead of chopping and changing I wanted one rifle that I could use for everything
mostly hill Reds some woodland Reds and Roe also wanted to use same rifle for foxing and it also needed to double as an estate rifle, one that would do the job but not be intimidating for woman or people who had never shot before.

So as an all rounder my choice was .243 and have been using the calibre almost exclusively for all my stalking for the last thirty years.

I keep thinking of going bigger than .243, but then someone drops in a post like this and (to me, anyway) makes total sense. My next problem is what do I do with my 223. Its used for foxing (and the occasional rabbit for bait) and if I was to find a deer roaming around, I would like to take it but won't be able to as it's not deer legal!
Point being, as they're so close, would I be making my 223 redundant except for night shooting, and most of that starts in daylight hours.

It's very much like my 223 and my 22 Hornet. Both great rounds but my 223 does what the Hornet does, and a bit more! Which is why my Hornet is a little bit redundant now (and for sale as a result).

 

[Dagben77]

Can I just add at this stage I really do appreciate people taking the time to post on this thread. I still cant decide but its plenty of food for thought. :idea:

Thank you.

Let the debate continue!!!

 

[tusker]

my son is a semi pro stalker of 10 years experience. Most of his stalking is Roe. But he has taken many Fallow and been on the hill with me in Scotland on the reds. He has only shot one Sika. So many foxes I couldnt count. The only rifle he has is a 243. The only bullet he uses (unless in Scotland) is 85 grn Sierra hollow points. He kills upwards of 100 dear and god knows how many foxes a year. he does not have a dog and never has to walk far to find a shot dear. My point being find a rifle you like and fits you and learn to shoot it accuratly. simples
Tusker

 

[Dagben77]

you b,ugger

Well! Have you decided???

 

[Hornet 6]

It's very much like my 223 and my 22 Hornet. Both great rounds but my 223 does what the Hornet does, and a bit more! Which is why my Hornet is a little bit redundant now (and for sale as a result).

Simple, keep the hornet and the .243

I almost wish I had, and if it hadn't been a horrid blaser 243 I would have.

Neil.