One rifle - another one!

[jamross65]

Hi Jamross,

Thanks very much for your detailed response - much appreciated and we are thinking along the same lines. Also, the fox part of it all can be seen as an afterthought - only really required when hens start to go missing on the family and friends' farms. By the way, my empty 308 slot has been granted for deer and fox.
I plan to stick with what I have for a little while, and look to the same rifle but in 6.5 or 308 (although 25.06 very popular round these parts!) when funds allow. It might be that I don't change for ages but only time will tell.

Thanks once again

Tim

To be honest Tim it annoys me when folk do what I just did, offer opinion on chamberings not related to the original question! I just think the 25-06 offers a bit more than a 243 without stepping up to a chambering that cannot offer bullets in the lighter weights. Having said that, I hear a lot of folk rate the 125grn Nosler BT as a good allround bulletin the 308, which may be a good compromise for covering all your needs should you go down that route. I used them years ago in mine but they were pretty severe in damage to the deer. I believe the make up of the bullet may have changed a bit since then though.

 

[nuttyspaniel]

My thoughts on it are, and this is from using a 308 (currently) and having had several 243's and 25-06 among others.

I think you are right to look at what the rifle will be used the majority of the time on. Providing it is then also capable of fulfilling the minority roles as well then perhaps the 243 is one to stick with. 105 grn is quite heavy for the chambering and some rifle because of their twist rate may not shoot accurately with that weight if bullet, but from what you say yours does.

The only fly in the ointment with how you describe the requirements your rifle has to fulfil on your ground, is the expectation of having the large reds drop quickly, because for that there is no doubting my mind the 243 is not the first choice. Although the 25-06 is only adding 15grns or so of bullet weight the speed Itis travelling at compared to the 243 means a lot more energy being delivered at the point of impact, so don't just look at the step up in bullet weight alone. Will 308 be passed by your force for fox, because I know some may not do that?

Your pal is right, in that the 243 will do the job, just like many other chamberings. But for me, a split of almost 50/50 on roe and big reds, I would up the chambering if I had the means to do it. Even sticking with say a 120grn bullet for all your shooting out of the 25-06 it will deliver a lot more energy on the target, and still be a good, usable round for fox and roe.

Spot on Jammy old boy. Tim Im lucky enough to re-load so Ive chose the 110 nosler accu bond wich is a tough bullet. Now my thinking is it can utilise the speed of the 25-06 with out turning Roe into soup, but it will do job on reds aswell.

You still chasing peel? Or is that a stupid question? Im still hammering the Till mate.

John

 

[jimbo1984]

My choice would be the 6.5 x 55

 

[I. Farticus]

+1 for 6.5x55

 

[otisthedog]

Spot on Jammy old boy. Tim Im lucky enough to re-load so Ive chose the 110 nosler accu bond wich is a tough bullet. Now my thinking is it can utilise the speed of the 25-06 with out turning Roe into soup, but it will do job on reds aswell.

You still chasing peel? Or is that a stupid question? Im still hammering the Till mate.

John

Ha ha thanks for that John, yes of course a daft question! Am nocturnal from about mid April these days Hoping for a drier summer this year
Hope you are keeping well mate

Tim

 

[Brithunter]

After reading through this entire thread it would appear that if one was to have but one rifle for the envisaged usage then one cartridge seems to shout out:-


270 Winchester

Of course it handles heavier bullets than the suggested 25-06 and so is a very real step up in that department. It's commonly available in just about every gunshop in the UK mehinks. The bonus is that due to it's perceived fierce recoil by many, often by those who have never shot them even, it's unfashionable so one can pick up a very nice rifle for very little coin .

It's also more likely to be accepted for dual purpose of Fox and Deer by many licensing officers........................... although that is not an issue it seems in this case. Another added bonus of course would be should one wish to travel on the continent that it's never been a military calibre . In the same vein but less commonly found of course would be the 280 Remington.

 

[Lord muck]

why choose 1 when theres a wide choice

 

[The deer man]

Some advice please wise fellows....

...As a relative novice I won't take long shots and I like the 'mellowness' of the 243...

Thanks in advance

Tim

Hello Tim,
Judging by what you've said you've almost answered your own question. If you are looking for a "mellow" shooting calibre then the 6.5x55 is what you need to look at. Highly capable of taking anything in the UK with certainly more bite than the bare minimum .243.
An alternative to this calibre which again is mellow to shoot and an excellent performer on everything including Boar is the 7mm-08. It is basically a .308 necked down to a 7mm/.284 calibre which performs on similar terms to the .308 without the recoil but with better Ballistic Coefficient and Sectional Density, in a nutshell it's more efficient.
I use both these calibres on everything but mostly Reds and Fallow. If pushed to favour one or the other it would be the 7mm-08.
As for the make of rifle go for what feels comfortable in your hands and go for quality. Does it come up to the should instinctively? Not too long, not too short? Not too heavy, not too light? For a sporting scope there are only three in my mind, Schmidt & Bender, Zeis and Swarovski in fixed or variable but no fiddling parallax (keep it simple and quick to use). Moderator, there's a new one on the market which I use 'Hardy Gen IV', very very light, compact over-barrel and very good which doesn't upset the rifle balance.
Good luck!
[h=4][/h]

 

[finnbear270]

.270Winchester, .......... perceived recoil, it doesn't,........... it's a pussycat!,.......... stick a mod on it, youv'e got a .243!

 

[finnbear270]

Real recoil!...... here!Monmouth Charity Shoot - Finnbear270 fires his Marlin 45/70

 

[The deer man]

.270Winchester, .......... perceived recoil, it doesn't,........... it's a pussycat!,.......... stick a mod on it, youv'e got a .243!

Stick a mod on a .243 and you've got a .22!
Stick a mod on a 6.5x55 or a 7mm-08 and you've got a .222!
Wherever you can reduce recoil you will improve accuracy performance. So can we improve on the .270 with a 6.5x55 or 7mm-08 most definitely "YES".
Now I'm off to catch the last light......

 

[finnbear270]

But just to make things right, take the mod off a .270, & listen to that great luvverly boom echoing round the ground!

 

[devon deer stalker]

OK, i have a Sako .243, have shot for 20 years with the .243, fox, munty,roe,fallow and red have all fallen to it, even the big red stags we have in Devon. I am 100% confident in the rifle, speer 100 grain BT does the business.
About 2 years ago i bought a 30-06 with a moderator (don't use the mod anymore, unbalances the rifle, before you say it yes i am fully aware of the pro's and con's) the only reason was wild boar turned up near Exeter. It has taken a while to get used to the 30-06 but i am getting very fond of this calibre, it took out a roe this morning with hardly any damage using a 165 grain Sierra Gameking (gun doesnt like Nosler Partition) but which one would i choose if i had to make a choice? The .243 without question, but not much good in Montana on elk eh Muir?
Cheers
Richard

 

[Simjim33]

OK, i have a Sako .243, have shot for 20 years with the .243, fox, munty,roe,fallow and red have all fallen to it, even the big red stags we have in Devon. I am 100% confident in the rifle, speer 100 grain BT does the business.
About 2 years ago i bought a 30-06 with a moderator (don't use the mod anymore, unbalances the rifle, before you say it yes i am fully aware of the pro's and con's) the only reason was wild boar turned up near Exeter. It has taken a while to get used to the 30-06 but i am getting very fond of this calibre, it took out a roe this morning with hardly any damage using a 165 grain Sierra Gameking (gun doesnt like Nosler Partition) but which one would i choose if i had to make a choice? The .243 without question, but not much good in Montana on elk eh Muir?
Cheers
Richard

Strange how many people have both .243 and 30-06. That's what I have. My 30-06 is conditioned for fox and deer.
you can always reduce load the 30-06 but you (the OP) is not reloading then that is not an option.

I have just put in a veriation for a 6.5. The chambering I haven't decided on yet. (lesson learnt from the application process)

The object for this exercise is to elaluate it for the one stalking rifle perpose. Having Fox, Muntie and fallow on the ground. I think it wil be a good test. Plus it will be used on some mule deer in Montana this year.

But unlike Richard above. It is always the 30-06 that comes out of the cabinate. The .243 sits there mostly doing nothing. Going to use it doing a bit of foxing soon though.

 

[2130martin]

Keep the .243,it works,so why fix it?I went for .308 when I started,very happy with it and what it has done for me,Roe,Reds,Boar and Fox,both readily available rounds in many forms!

 

[jp16vrs]

I have .243, .270, .308 as part of my collection. I can say the .243 will kill ANYTHING in the UK out to at least 400mtrs. The difference is the amount of energy and velocity at that range is different for each caliber.
I like them all for different reasons, I will always have a .243 for ease of use. The .270 is flat shooting and provides nice clean kills on deer bigger than roes with 130gr rounds, (I like eating all of the deer that I shoot not just the rear legs and fillets!). The .308 is my toy for when I am going shooting stags or feeling energetic, is a Rem 700 VSF but is getting traded in shortly for a lighter, shorter rifle.

Not much help but dont just stick with one caliber, try them all if you can, its the only way to know what suit you best.

John