Is .243 big enough???

[User00003]

pick the wrong bullet in any 6.5, 7mm or 30 cal and they will do a significantly worse job on a red stag than an 85g partition from a .243...pick the wrong bullet in a .243 and put it in the wrong place given distance and thus velocity, and you're just asking for trouble..


guys, it's a heck of a lot more to do with placing the right bullet construction in the right place for 'that' bullet, at the right distance/speed given 'that' bullets ability to expand and create shock at 'that' distance.

that goes for all calibres and chamberings, a .243 can be a real killer if you know how to use it. similarly, a .308 with a poor bullet choice can be a real unethical combination.

...it ain't the size of the boat ..

 

[Sikaside]

And sleep!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jay 22]

well that was a good long read. ben have you made your choice now its a hard choice so many good calibers out there. some better then others for different things. you have to pick what you think is best for the style of shooting your doing ben.

i went ofr 25/06 in the end. because it offers a good choice of varmint bullets. and also can go upto 120 grain bullets for deer. my ticket is back now. im off to rfd to pick the tikka up on monday.

anyone else with 25/06 use the 100 grain nostler bt hunting bullets ?

 

[Paul at Fechan]

guys, it's a heck of a lot more to do with placing the right bullet construction in the right place for 'that' bullet, at the right distance/speed given 'that' bullets ability to expand and create shock at 'that' distance.

Agreed, but unfortunately most bullets fired by normal recreational stalkers while good are not perfect shots and a many slip to become poor as distance or pressure increases and so it is obvious that more is better to compensate for misjudgement or lack of experience when placing shots at any range. The skill you carry does not change just because you change the calibre up or down as the bullet after is not making the shot. I will agree that professionals or experienced stalkers in ideal conditions can without question be efficient in the stalking of larger deer with one but...

there is this blind assumption that the levels of proficiency with our shooters here in the UK is world class but it is not across the board and this is hugely evident by the DSC1 shooting cards in which at zeroing about a third need a second attempt and a quarter use my estate rifle!! Mostly down to the rifle rig I might add and not the operator ie. a .243 that just hates 100gr ammo. Of the many DSC2 candidates and guests that I have shot with there is a high percentage aim safe towards the lungs and liver and as many that are either excited or have not the trigger time to squeeze smoothly and so shots get pulled. Even excellent marksman consciously aim to place bullets not quite where they should go to ensure a clean carcass, hell I do! This also assuming that all rifles are in zero which is not always the case?!

I guess the point I am making is that .243 will absolutely do the business but does not carry the security of larger options to allow for the margin for error that compensates for real world field issues such as wind, slight loss of zero, tired, wet or excited stalkers and ultimately less than ideal shooting.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

....I guess the point I am making is that .243 will absolutely do the business but does not carry the security of larger options to allow for the margin for error that compensates for real world field issues such as wind, slight loss of zero, tired, wet or excited stalkers and ultimately less than ideal shooting.

Paul. Thanks, that's very well put. I wish I could summarise so effectively. Well done. Regards JCS

 

[ian 243]

Thats what I am hoping for. Sako or Tikka. I'm also thinking new as 243 can be a bit of a barrel burner (so I'm told).

hi had a tikka 243 for years barrel still good sub inch at 100 yard .

 

[Paul at Fechan]

.243 running smooth is fine, when people shoot hot for velocity it's can make a difference. A soft pull through (not a bore snake) before and after makes sure you've not got any left overs in your barrel that can really do damage.

 

[berg]

.243 running smooth is fine, when people shoot hot for velocity it's can make a difference. A soft pull through (not a bore snake) before and after makes sure you've not got any left overs in your barrel that can really do damage.

why not a bore snake I use one? should I be using something instead I always thought that they were ok

 

[rabbitter]

Whilst shooters prove year in year out that .243 kills deer and advocates staunchly defend this choice of calibre, I sometimes wonder how the conversation goes with the FEO?


Shooter: "I want to apply for a deer calibre, please."


FEO: "Certainly, what calibre would you like? You can choose from .243 up to a variant in 30 cal with no trouble at all."


Shooter: "Errrm...... well, I would like to pick the absolute minimum to be legal please."


FEO: “Are you sure? I can't tempt you into going with a .308 or 30-06? You can choose from a wider palette of bullet weights, shoot any deer species in the UK and even get onto boar if you so wish."


“No thanks, I don’t want to go for a bigger round. Hit me up with one of those .243 thingies.”


FEO: “Really? Why not jump up just a little to, say, 6.5x55? It gives you a bit more authority and is a soft-shooting round."


Shooter: "Errr, no. I take your point, but I’ve been told that if I place the shot absolutely right every time, .243 is awesome. Plus, in a thread on the stalkers board, someone said that if I can’t deal with a deer on the hill with .243, I shouldn’t be shooting in the first place.”


FEO: “Ok, well, if you insist - you know where I am when you want a variation.”

 

[taln]

270 is a great calibre,130 gr ideal for everything,great knockdown power.really accurate in my tikka t3,flat out to a great distance.good moderator makes a difference,have fun

 

[Paul at Fechan]

why not a bore snake I use one? should I be using something instead I always thought that they were ok

when I run a bore snake it seems to upset my first round back on paper afterwards but soft pulls like a patch don't, wouldn't make a difference really on deer at sensible ranges. I'm convinced that it's just the rough graze over the metal after the pull that hasn't had copper past it again to settle back.

Rabbiter.... that's pretty good

 

[Jager SA]

Whilst shooters prove year in year out that .243 kills deer and advocates staunchly defend this choice of calibre, I sometimes wonder how the conversation goes with the FEO?


Shooter: "I want to apply for a deer calibre, please."


FEO: "Certainly, what calibre would you like? You can choose from .243 up to a variant in 30 cal with no trouble at all."


Shooter: "Errrm...... well, I would like to pick the absolute minimum to be legal please."


FEO: “Are you sure? I can't tempt you into going with a .308 or 30-06? You can choose from a wider palette of bullet weights, shoot any deer species in the UK and even get onto boar if you so wish."


“No thanks, I don’t want to go for a bigger round. Hit me up with one of those .243 thingies.”


FEO: “Really? Why not jump up just a little to, say, 6.5x55? It gives you a bit more authority and is a soft-shooting round."


Shooter: "Errr, no. I take your point, but I’ve been told that if I place the shot absolutely right every time, .243 is awesome. Plus, in a thread on the stalkers board, someone said that if I can’t deal with a deer on the hill with .243, I shouldn’t be shooting in the first place.”


FEO: “Ok, well, if you insist - you know where I am when you want a variation.”

Slight flaw in your post...most if not all FEO wouldn't know the difference of a 243, 308, 30-06 or even a 6.5x55!

Shooter... I'd like a .243 as a one does all calibre, Fox, Deer etc please.

FEO... Ooh no, a 243 is far to much for Fox, but you can have a 222 or 223

 

[Offroad Gary]

when I run a bore snake it seems to upset my first round back on paper afterwards but soft pulls like a patch don't, wouldn't make a difference really on deer at sensible ranges. I'm convinced that it's just the rough graze over the metal after the pull that hasn't had copper past it again to settle back.

Rabbiter.... that's pretty good

Paul, i use a boresnake with the brush removed, takes out the crap but doesnt disturb the fouling, bang on 1st shot afterwards

 

[berg]

Paul, i use a boresnake with the brush removed, takes out the crap but doesnt disturb the fouling, bang on 1st shot afterwards

I don't think I have ever check my zero after using a bore snake .I only do that after a good scrub though and then it might be fractionally out. I thought that the idea was that the brush loosens the crap and the snake the cleans behind it ????

 

[Hornet 6]

Paul, i use a boresnake with the brush removed, takes out the crap but doesnt disturb the fouling, bang on 1st shot afterwards

Tried one of these yet, I prefer mine to the bore snake.

Neil.

 

[levigsp]

Again I think its your own choice and what you are confident in.
I used various calibres over the years, 22-250, 223, 270, 308, 30-06, 7x64, 300 win mag and so on.
In 1990 I got rid of all my guns and replaced the 5 that I owned with a 243 against everyones advice on two counts.
Firstly I was assured that it would not be man enough for the highland stags and secondly I was informed that because of the seeds involved with the smaller bullets for foxing etc, the barrels dont last.
I went for something cheep and cheerfull, because I might change it because of its unsuitability etc.
I bought a Bruno, fitted it with a meopta 6x42 scope and messed about loading some ammo.
I settled for serra game kings, in 85 and 100 grain hpbt.the accuracy is simply stunning compaired to most of the rifles Ive owned.
I have NEVER hit something for it not to fall over and I have shot a lot of, foxes, roe @reds in the highlands and a lot of munties, fallow in England, so its more than man enough.
As for the barrels wearing out, well not so far and its had umpteen thousands of rounds through it, whether its the bruno barrels or not I cannot say, but its still as accurate now as the day I bought it.

 

[BOSSTUCKER]

GET YOUR SELF 6.5X47 LAPUA YOU HAVE THE PUNCH OF .270 WITH THE HANDLING QUALITIES .243 120gr A MAX JUST SUPERB ACCURCEY

 

[Sabian223]

I see this thread has come to a grinding halt. Conclusion - 243 is naff get something bigger?

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

sabian you need a bigger hat!

 

[Offroad Gary]

GET YOUR SELF 6.5X47 LAPUA YOU HAVE THE PUNCH OF .270 WITH THE HANDLING QUALITIES .243 120gr A MAX JUST SUPERB ACCURCEY

The perfect uk deer calibre, so good, ive got 2! But i still think i need a fox rifle, cue the .243