First centrefire I’d go 243. I’ve shot quite a few animals with a 243 and never felt under gunned. Doesn’t kick and easy to shoot.
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First centrefire I’d go 243. I’ve shot quite a few animals with a 243 and never felt under gunned. Doesn’t kick and easy to shoot.
If you get a .243 you might shoot your life and never come across any limitations - after years worth of it killing red deer, and others doing the same with a .223, I am still amazed at people who say hunting with a .243 is "experimenting".
Deer are not difficult animals to kill. And you dont need special heavy 243 bullets or special slow twists, and you do not need to shoot out to 500 metres. A standard .243 Winchester will do just fine.
The .308 is a great gun too. They both kill about the same on deer to be honest, any difference of killing power between them is largely due to different bullet designs.
The .243 has very little recoil, and is a most user friendly gun to shoot. Dont underestimate the value of this. It is true that under pressure you will not notice recoil much anyway, but a .243 is easier to shoot with in general and that will give you confidence, and a rifle you shoot well will become a friend in a life of hunting adventures.
From experience over a long time, I have the impression that the .243 gave faster kills than the .308 or the .303 and I have used them about the same. I don't really know why, other than the higher velocity gives a bigger wound channel. What I mean is that a high velocity .243 bullet, like an 85 grain Sierra at 3200 fps, will drop deer with any reasonable shot faster than a .308 bullet in the same place. Velocity will be the special herb or spice. MOst of my shooting is offhand shots from six metres to 200 metres. I have shot deer out further, and they all died too. But it is unusual. Even when hunting big clearings its unusual. Deer dont stand around in the middle of big clearings. They hang around the edges, because of serious men with .243's.
I have both, and use my .308 as well, mainly because it is in a light handy rifle rather than any reasons of caliber. I would have said that in the roar I take the .30/06, but this year I took the .243 and shot the biggest stag I have ever seen in person, and he dropped in his tracks. Just like in the saying. I still have not come across the limitations of the .243.
It has a good pedigree. It has one of the cartridges of choice for professional hunters in New Zealand but also in Australia. Plus it has better numbers. Two Four Three. Just sounds cooler. Looks cooler written down.
If you shoot in the open tussock country exclusively then nothing really changes. But get a .270. A .270 is a wise owl. Or an eagle. And eagles live in the big spaces. Like 7mm Remington Magnums.
With reasonable shooting ability and some basic anatomy knowledge, then killing deer with a rifle is not hard to do. Pick a cartridge you like and don't worry about it anymore, and then learn about the animals and what they eat, about climbing the hills and how to cross a river, how to take care of yourself in the bush and what to do with a knife.
I used to hunt with a Howa 243, shot mostly 80gr Federal Powershok (3330fps). Shot quite a few fallow, goats, and a couple of reds.
I found it extremely flat shooting and I could keep MOA easily out to 350m (I'm an average shot at best). I did find it dropped deer fairly quickly, with them wandering at most 10-20m before succumbing to the leaky plumbing.
After a few years I got bored and wanted to try something different and lighter, so I got a 300blackout (Ruger American, 16"). With the 300 I lost the laser accuracy of the 243, and gained a rainbow trajectory. Though once you learn your ranges it's not a big deal.
I shoot Hornady 125grain HP (2175fps), mostly in the 150m-250m range. My observations on fallow vs the 243 are that the fallow tend to drop on the spot, the wound channel is much bigger with the 300, but the meat damage is much less (the 243 meat damage was a large dinner plate sizes cross section).
Finally a comment which makes absolute sense. The 6.5 Creed. Recoils like a .243 and hits like a .308 what more could a hunter ask for. Over to you @Barry the hunter :)Quote:
Originally Posted by gimp
[QUOTE=zeropak;1459415]Finally a comment which makes absolute sense. The 6.5 Creed. Recoils like a .243 and hits like a .308 what more could a hunter ask for. Over to you @Barry the hunter :)[/QUOTE[/I]
I must not comment -I must not comment - no matter how bad -
Ill bite a 6.5x55😬Quote:
Originally Posted by zeropak
nope it doesnt hit like a .308...it hits like a .264
Haha!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
With modern powders and loads a 7x57 is in the sweet spot
Out to 400m it only just hits like a proper 264 (win mag). After that the heavier better BC projectiles in the faster twist start to beat itQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
This is my personal take on a somewhat contentious subject.
I think its a red herring to ask for advice for which caliber to buy for a first rifle, with the intent of picking a rifle of that specific calibre. Advice on specifically which calibre a new shooter shoot own is often erroneous, stemming from personal preferences or opinions that are often more limiting than useful.
My advice is to create a 'shortlist' of calibres that meet your basic criteria. i.e. What animals are you hunting or what range are your targets? Do you want a readily available and wide selection of brands of ammunition to buy at any gun store you walk into? Or, are you happy to hunt around for a box or two of your calibre when you can find it? Do you have a friend or family member able to reload for you? Does the choice of rifle matter?
Once you've had a think about this, you should be able to find 2, 3 or more calibre choices that fit your list. And if you don't have a criteria, then the world is your oyster in terms of choice. About the only caveat is to avoid heavy recoiling beasts too soon before you've built some shooting experience.
If you have a shortlist of options, the choice of what rifles you can buy readily opens up, and you're not as limited. This is especially important if budget is a concern and you're shopping on the second hand market. Which I also recommend to a new shooter.
Most of us on here have all been down the path of owning multiple rifles over the years, and chances are, for many of us, that first rifle and calibre choice didn't matter at all. You will eventually own more that one gun, some will go and others will stay, and you will build experience with a variety of calibres over your shooting journey.
Calibres are like chicks, if you wanna claim redheads are hotter than brunettes or blonds, go right ahead, but personally I would try them all before you marry one.
Best post on the forum today!Quote:
Originally Posted by -BW-
bloody words of wisdom very well put top man - so many calibers are so close - and then go custom well some odd ball choices -okay many ya wont be able to buy ammo- it will cost you a lot of money to get a useable rifle in your chosen calibre -if thats your thing and you have the budget for all the expense okay but try selling it - and then there are calibers that have been around for years and do the job as they always have and easy to sell 308 270 7x57 243 - unless ya fanatic reloader and have shit loads of money to spend on 6.5 cream puff or what ever - just buy quality in a good calibre- with resale value - and spend ya hard earned cash on a helicopter into a good hunting spot - your second hand sako in 308 that ya picked up at a bargain price on the forum will do the job -why waste moneyQuote:
Originally Posted by -BW-
bargain prices sako .308s....MAN I missed out AGAIN!!!!!
Yep sage advice there. I think the real reason God created calibres is so that we mortals can fool ourselves into believing we need a new rifle. He who dies with the most toys wins.Quote:
Originally Posted by -BW-
they are out there Micky Duck- I have seen them - this forum comes up with some real bargainsQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Actually, he who does having used whatever toys he has the most wins!Quote:
Originally Posted by zeropak
Exactly what I did, was expecting to buy a 308 but ended up with a 270Quote:
Originally Posted by -BW-
Out of the 2 rifles in this topic my personal choice would be the 243
and I bet never looked back - I had a 270 for a no of years - never failed to impress me the way it dropped deer -but I got a sako 308 and that did the businessQuote:
Originally Posted by makka
Get both, while your at it get a 270 or 708 for the days when you can't decide.
Instead of the 243 you could go with a fast twist 223. That would take pills
Close to 243 weight. Swap out 308 with 30-06 and you can get hot loads very
close to magnum performance or loads just a tad better than 308.