Thread: Good caliber to start hunting with?

Originally Posted by hawkfish

I use a 243 in the UK and shoot Foxes, muntjac, Roe and Fallow with it and it does the job well, But Im not sure Id want to shoot a big Red stag in the roar with it. If I were in your shoes I think Id go 308...

Not sure why people say such nonsence. A 243 will bowl a very big stag anytime over no problem, esp in the roar bush stalking where the distance shooting is going to be shortish.Its a proven fact that if you about to shoot a 140-150kg stag with a 243 the bestplace to aim for is the shoulder and its yours. Why, because the best perforance out of a 243 round is where it hits bone and thats a fact. Behind the shoulder on a big stag still will kill it but it could run quite a long way before it drops hence some people lose it. Neck shot will kill it on spot but a big stag can have a big blown up neck and room for error not hitting it right in the spot hence again can drop one then its up and off. Middle of the shoulder its dead and wont go far at all if anywhere. 243 is way under rated in the roar. Last roar i shot 4 good stags, biggest 140kg plus, another one at least 120kg all one shot kills and the most anyone of the stags went was 50m which i shot in the chest. A 243 is awesome out to 200m and for roar hunting thats whats coming with me, even thou a have just got a 308 for longer ranges. Still, a 308 is even better at longer ranges but a 243 will do anything a 308 will do with 0 200 m with shotplacement. Aim at that shoulder young man!!