Lea MacNally and the .243

[John Duxbury]

Hi guys,

Is there anywhere where I can find the articles that Lea MacNally wrote on his use of the .243? I know he started with a .222 Magnum and then went to the .243 when the law changed in the UK. I have seen reference to his writing articles in praise of the .243, but I can't find anything on the internet that he wrote. (I saw a video of him taking a new guy stalking on a show called Jack's Game in the eighties.)

 

[Foxyboy43]

Lea MacNally was a regular contributor to the Shooting Times and The Field when they were proper hunting/shooting/fishing magazines - when I was making my way through a succession of chamberings many years ago and wrote quite a few books too from memory. His son also occasionally writes - again from memory for the same magazine - you could try emailing the Shooting Times?

Remembering the custodian of Torridon - Scottish Field

Scottish Field - Scotland's leading lifestyle magazine established 1903. Scottish Field magazine is Scotland’s leading lifestyle publication, featuring the best of Scottish culture, heritage, travel, food, whisky, property, and country living. Discover stunning photography, expert features, and...

www.scottishfield.co.uk

 

[Dickie]

Didn’t he also write for the Stalking magazine when that was about many many moons ago?

 

[User00040]

Still stuck in the wrong 'headspace' of looking at what is stamped on the back of the cartridge vs. what comes out of the muzzle...

If you could line up nearly every 6mm chambering, both factory and wildcat (6mmPPC, 6BR, 6CM, 6GT, 6ARC, 6mm Remington, 243 Win, .244 H&H and the latest 6UM), load and shoot the same bullet out of them, some would seem to be excellent performers, others rubbish.

Match the correct bullet to the twist rate and length of the barrel for optimum performance, which is true for any calibre.

The changing of law in Scotland means that the average 80 grain bullets which are better suited to the standard 1:10 twist rates are now viable on all deer species. However they need to be loaded quite hot to meet the arbitrary muzzle energy and velocity numbers listed by NatureScot.

I highly doubt the average 18-22" barreled 243 Win, shooting 100 grain+ bullets was 'deer legal' with most factory ammo, but deer still died though!

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

Were still stuck in the wrong "headspace" looking at rubbish writen on the internet, spec sheets, fact and figures rather than getting out there and just using our various rifles for the jobs they were intended

 

[sh1kar]

Still stuck in the wrong 'headspace' of looking at what is stamped on the back of the cartridge vs. what comes out of the muzzle...

If you could line up nearly every 6mm chambering, both factory and wildcat (6mmPPC, 6BR, 6CM, 6GT, 6ARC, 6mm Remington, 243 Win, .244 H&H and the latest 6UM), load and shoot the same bullet out of them, some would seem to be excellent performers, others rubbish.

Match the correct bullet to the twist rate and length of the barrel for optimum performance, which is true for any calibre.

The changing of law in Scotland means that the average 80 grain bullets which are better suited to the standard 1:10 twist rates are now viable on all deer species. However they need to be loaded quite hot to meet the arbitrary muzzle energy and velocity numbers listed by NatureScot.

I highly doubt the average 18-22" barreled 243 Win, shooting 100 grain+ bullets was 'deer legal' with most factory ammo, but deer still died though!

I think you are missing Middlestead

 

[John Duxbury]

Still stuck in the wrong 'headspace' of looking at what is stamped on the back of the cartridge vs. what comes out of the muzzle...

If you could line up nearly every 6mm chambering, both factory and wildcat (6mmPPC, 6BR, 6CM, 6GT, 6ARC, 6mm Remington, 243 Win, .244 H&H and the latest 6UM), load and shoot the same bullet out of them, some would seem to be excellent performers, others rubbish.

Match the correct bullet to the twist rate and length of the barrel for optimum performance, which is true for any calibre.

The changing of law in Scotland means that the average 80 grain bullets which are better suited to the standard 1:10 twist rates are now viable on all deer species. However they need to be loaded quite hot to meet the arbitrary muzzle energy and velocity numbers listed by NatureScot.

I highly doubt the average 18-22" barreled 243 Win, shooting 100 grain+ bullets was 'deer legal' with most factory ammo, but deer still died though!

Thanks for that. I have shot deer with a .243, but none of the others listed although I am well aware of most of them.
I am more curious about Lea MacNally.

What does deer legal mean?

 

[Husky]

Thanks for that. I have shot deer with a .243, but none of the others listed although I am well aware of most of them.
I am more curious about Lea MacNally.

What does deer legal mean?

It mean that the ammunition meets the requirements for muzzle velocity, bullet weight and muzzle energy for that particular species.

 

[John Duxbury]

Sorry, I am in New Zealand. I had to google UK deer laws. It puts the deer I've shot with a .222 into perspective. For a while the .22 hornet had a brief life as a deer rifle here too a good while back (They are all still dead though if anyone's curious)