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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Well since I now have a 257 I've decided to snob out and divest myself of all my 243 rifles. There is nothing I can't do better on the deer hunting end with my 257 and on the varmint end the 243 can't touch my 22-250. I've sold most of my 6MM bullets, rebarreled one of the 243 rifles to 22-250 and converted another into a 7MM Remington magnum. Now that the Creed is running rampant we have a much better medium game round in the same action length to pick if you want a short action deer rifle. I give the 243 credit for being accurate but I never liked the case design and when you could have much more by going to the 7-08 or 308 in the same action and style rifle why would you choose the 243? And what is this dual purpose rifle crap, you are trying to tell me you would rather have one rifle than two?
Dog I rescued in January ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/yYDjsxrQ/IMG-0124.jpg)
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Well since I now have a 257 I've decided to snob out and divest myself of all my 243 rifles. There is nothing I can't do better on the deer hunting end with my 257 and on the varmint end the 243 can't touch my 22-250. I've sold most of my 6MM bullets, rebarreled one of the 243 rifles to 22-250 and converted another into a 7MM Remington magnum. Now that the Creed is running rampant we have a much better medium game round in the same action length to pick if you want a short action deer rifle. I give the 243 credit for being accurate but I never liked the case design and when you could have much more by going to the 7-08 or 308 in the same action and style rifle why would you choose the 243? And what is this dual purpose rifle crap, you are trying to tell me you would rather have one rifle than two? Dual purpose cartridges are one of those better in concept than in actual practice sort of things.
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Campfire Tracker
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I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
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Campfire Outfitter
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I love the 243. Handoaded, it's even better. Little recoil, easy to shoot, long bullets fly flat, animals big and small die. Of course, I'm learning the same about the 22 cals.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Campfire Ranger
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Well since I now have a 257 I've decided to snob out and divest myself of all my 243 rifles. There is nothing I can't do better on the deer hunting end with my 257 and on the varmint end the 243 can't touch my 22-250. I've sold most of my 6MM bullets, rebarreled one of the 243 rifles to 22-250 and converted another into a 7MM Remington magnum. Now that the Creed is running rampant we have a much better medium game round in the same action length to pick if you want a short action deer rifle. I give the 243 credit for being accurate but I never liked the case design and when you could have much more by going to the 7-08 or 308 in the same action and style rifle why would you choose the 243? And what is this dual purpose rifle crap, you are trying to tell me you would rather have one rifle than two? I killed a deer with the 243 this year and it was my first one with the chambering in 25 years, almost to the day. I really like it as a knock-around, truck-gun type of chambering, as you can fling bullets of a decent BC at speeds that flatten trajectory pretty well. You can also do it with relatively low recoil, so it is fun to shoot. I'm currently shooting the 105gr Hornady HPBT and to 400yds it flies much like my 6.5x47L, 260, and 7mmRM, while being easy on the shoulder. It will certainly kill big game if you point it right and pick a decent bullet, but like you, I really do prefer a little bit more bullet and the better blood trails. Having said that, I doubt there is a deer alive that I couldn't take with a Partition or Triple Shock, so long as the range was moderate.
Now with even more aplomb
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Campfire Regular
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I have an early 90's Ruger M77 Mk II push feed/claw extractor in 6mm Remington and can't bring myself to ever part with it... it shoots the 100 grain Nosler partition tight enough for any deer hunting i will do, and i am working up a load with the 95 grain BT... so my "243" is here to stay. i never had a fancy for the 243 Winchester but several buddies swear by them as a "death ray" on Virginia deer.
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Campfire Ranger
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps.... But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't...
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Campfire Ranger
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps.... But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't... And with a higher B.C. How the fug did they do that. Have a bud that says the 55 Ballistic Tip is hell on coyotes at 4040 fps.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Campfire Ranger
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My very first centerfire rifle was a .243 which I sold more than 40 yrs. ago, I have had a .257 Roberts for 30 or so years now and like it very well though it does not get as much field time as its big brother my .35 Whelen. Both are great classic cartridges created by two men what were some of the most knowledgeable of their era.both have had times when they were more or less popular but both have stood the test of time.
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Campfire Ranger
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps....
But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't... ⬆ ⬆ ⬆
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/X0n16mr.png) WWP53D
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Campfire Outfitter
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Well how important is 4000fps with a 55 gr. Bullet? What kind of barrel life does that get you. For the varminting I do a 60 gr. bullet at 3400 fps works great, that being coyotes and prairie dogs. And I like a 115-120 gr. bullet at 3000 fps plus better than a skinnier bullet that weighs 100 grains any day. I just don't need a compromise rifle.
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Tracker
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Should've rebarreled your 243 to a 7.5 twist and shot 110-115gr 6mm bullets! They are devastating on game. I do like the 257 though if it's a 257wby.
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Campfire Regular
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I was the same. My .243 got pushed to the back of the safe a week after I got my first .257 Roberts. I haven't fired the .243 for over 10 -12 years I'd say. Can't sell it though.
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Campfire Regular
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rickt300,
The .243 does a LOT of things quite well. It's what the .22 SAV High-power was supposed to be but never was. = I'm selling the ONE that I have because I like my .244 REM better, as the .244 was my FIRST Model 760 & that I've owned since 1966.
(BEST 60 bucks that I've ever spent.)
Now if I could just find a 760 in .257 Roberts!!!!
yours, tex
"VICTORY OR DEATH"
William Barrett Travis, Lt.Col., comdt.
Fortress of The Alamo, Bejar
F'by 24, 1836
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
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Granddaughter slays cshit out of deer and pigs with hers. I’ve never shot one in my 65 years. They are very popular. It must be doing something right!
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Campfire Oracle
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Well how important is 4000fps with a 55 gr. Bullet? What kind of barrel life does that get you. For the varminting I do a 60 gr. bullet at 3400 fps works great, that being coyotes and prairie dogs. And I like a 115-120 gr. bullet at 3000 fps plus better than a skinnier bullet that weighs 100 grains any day. I just don't need a compromise rifle. Companies make new barrels every day, which apparently you aren't aware of.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I love 243’s... 55 bt at over 4000 is amazing on coyotes
Ping pong balls for the win.
Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable
I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Campfire Ranger
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Hell even a 75 at 3500-3600 is wicked coyote medicine.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Campfire Outfitter
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Our own "Mule Deer'" posted several months back many Montana hunters were trading in their .243's for the new 6.5 Creedmoor. I am sure JB is wired into the area gun shops to know local trends in caliber changes among the average gun buyer.
Last edited by doctor_Encore; 02/09/18.
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Campfire Ranger
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doc, That's why from .243, I'd skip right over the .257 cal - unless of course, there's 70+ grains of powder behind the bullet. I've read speed kills. 
WWP53D
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Campfire Tracker
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps....
But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't... ⬆ ⬆ ⬆ A 243 with a 55 grain BT will smoke a 22- 250.
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes."
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Campfire Outfitter
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Yep, same here. Used them all at one time or another. Ditched the 22 centerfires and 17s in favor of the 243. From there, I skip the 25 and 6.5 and use the 7mm. Then its 300 mag. The 243, 280AI, 300 mag has been a great combination.
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Campfire Outfitter
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doc, That's why from .243, I'd skip right over the .257 cal - unless of course, there's 70+ grains of powder behind the bullet. I've read speed kills. Back in my youth while in school in Ohio I was asked to sight in a friends 700 BDL in 25-06. He brought me the rifle and said the 25-06 kills so far out you have to "Put salt on the bullet so the meat doesn't spoil before you get to the deer". I always remembered that statement and being a young gullible kid I considered the statement Gospel. I do own a 25-06....mo' better with 100 gr bullets than a .243.....and yes speed kills.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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What fresh Hell is this?
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Guys, DON'T talk him out of it. There'll be more 6mm bullets & 243 brass available. aka Less competition  Jerry
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
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Campfire Ranger
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Guys, DON'T talk him out of it. There'll be more 6mm bullets & 243 brass available. aka Less competition Jerry Sshhh, you'll queer our plan!
What fresh Hell is this?
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I've got a few .243's and for the life of me cannot figure out what I like them for. I never hunt with them because we have some big bears in our area. But on the other hand I hunt with a 22-250 and think nothing of it.
Hmmm, I just decided I'm either biased or crazy, but I honestly have no use for a .243.
_______________________________________________________
An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire Ranger
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I sold my .243’s, never plan to own another.. But the .257 Roberts was the most disappointing caliber I have ever owned.. Had it for 6 months and sold it... Hope to never have another!!
Molon Labe
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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Well how important is 4000fps with a 55 gr. Bullet? What kind of barrel life does that get you. For the varminting I do a 60 gr. bullet at 3400 fps works great, that being coyotes and prairie dogs. And I like a 115-120 gr. bullet at 3000 fps plus better than a skinnier bullet that weighs 100 grains any day. I just don't need a compromise rifle. Companies make new barrels every day, which apparently you aren't aware of. That's funny right there, where do you think I got the 22-250 barrel? Why compromise when you can have 2 guns?
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Our own "Mule Deer'" posted several months back many Montana hunters were trading in their .243's for the new 6.5 Creedmoor. I am sure JB is wired into the area gun shops to know local trends in caliber changes among the average gun buyer. Which is exactly what the Creed is, the perfect replacement for the 243.
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps....
But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't... ⬆ ⬆ ⬆ A 243 with a 55 grain BT will smoke a 22- 250. And sell barrels too. Really though just how much coyote hunting requires 4000 fps?
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I sold my .243’s, never plan to own another.. But the .257 Roberts was the most disappointing caliber I have ever owned.. Had it for 6 months and sold it... Hope to never have another!! Couldn't get it to shoot?
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Enjoy your BOB. Great cartridge that will do about anything you really need to do with a rifle.
But know this. The Roberts cartridge was obsolete and not chambered in any factory rifle for multiple decades after the .243 completely supplanted it. The Roberts was even dropped from most loading manuals during those decades. Bill Ruger brought the .257 back to life in the early 1980s IIRC. He did stuff like that. He also resurrected the single shot rifle.
Seems that Ruger had an awareness of mojo that drove him.
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Campfire Outfitter
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It is odd how advertising can get a so so cartridge to supplant a much better one. The Bob was chambered in a too short action and pressures kept to 45000 psi which cut performance way down. I like the 722 but wouldn't build a Roberts on it.
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I doubt that Townsend Whelen was overly influenced by advertising. Even he admitted that the .243 was good for any task suitable for the Roberts. And that covers a lot of ground.
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Campfire Outfitter
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Our own "Mule Deer'" posted several months back many Montana hunters were trading in their .243's for the new 6.5 Creedmoor. I am sure JB is wired into the area gun shops to know local trends in caliber changes among the average gun buyer. Which is exactly what the Creed is, the perfect replacement for the 243. I AGREE....replaces the .243, 250 Savage and the 257 Bob.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Our own "Mule Deer'" posted several months back many Montana hunters were trading in their .243's for the new 6.5 Creedmoor. I am sure JB is wired into the area gun shops to know local trends in caliber changes among the average gun buyer. Which is exactly what the Creed is, the perfect replacement for the 243. I AGREE....replaces the .243, 250 Savage and the 257 Bob. Except the Creed won't shoot a 55 gr bullet 4000 fps... Got a Creed myself. Something new to play with but beyond that don't know that I've got much use for it. After all, I've already got a .243..... And a .308.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Its sure wild to read how we all can think
I have a 257 wtby and I'm basically so un impressed with it that it mostly stays in the vault now. Am sorely tempted to pull out a 243 again though, but the wife and I have been shooting the 308 so much and its kinda rare for us to have a shot over about 350ish or so. And if we do its zero'd out to 725 anyway...
I've killed so many with the 243 over the years, and fair distances, like to about 500ish it just never did us wrong.
Can't see that same weight bullet more or less but 500 fps faster really makes that much difference in the end. As I"ve noted on other threads.. a bullet in the right place regardless of caliber almost always kills. And the times it doesn't, it doesn't matter much what bullet or caliber. And if you need em to die where you can see em without looking for them then the ONLY way is CNS.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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I'm with you, rost495, a .224" 55 grain bullet traveling at 3,800 fps or a .243" 55 grain bullet speeding at 4,000+ fps with both wreck whatever the intended target is. I like the 243 Win but I also like the 22-250 Rem for its intended purposes. Modern bullet construction and offerings have changed the game mightily in the smaller calibers and given them the ability to kill bigger than they are.
A 22-250 with a 62 grain TTSX is a pretty devastating killing bullet.
A 243 with a 100 grain partition is the same.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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It is odd how advertising can get a so so cartridge to supplant a much better one. The Bob was chambered in a too short action and pressures kept to 45000 psi which cut performance way down. I like the 722 but wouldn't build a Roberts on it. I've probably owned close to a dozen 722s in 257 Roberts, still have one, and can't see a reason not to load it to its full potential. Since I only shoot varmints and medium game with my rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, the bullets that I load for them are all in the 75 thru 110 grain range, with the majority being 75, 87, and 90 grain varmint bullets and 100 and 110 grain medium game bullets. None of the bullets that I use are negatively impacted by using them in a short action or have positively benefited from using them in a long action. I would agree that the 57mm/2.244" case length limits bullet weight/length options in the short, 2.84", action Remington magazine boxes. OTOH, I can't think of a .257" bullet better suited to shooting medium game with a 257 Roberts than the 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB, both of which work flawlessly through the 2.84" magazines. I currently have 10 rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, 3 long actions and 7 short actions. The long actions are a Mexican Mauser, a Swedish Mauser, and a Ruger 77. The short actions are a Marlin XS7, 3 Remington 700s, a Remington 722, a Ruger 77, and a Savage 11. My current favorites are a long action Ruger 77 RSI and a short action Remington 700 CDL-SF. EDIT: The most frustrating 257 Roberts that I've owned was a sporterized 1936 style Mexican Mauser. It had a 1-12" ROT Flaig's barrel and would only shoot good groups with bullets in the 75 thru 87 grain range. It wouldn't shoot good groups with the normally reliable 90 grain Sierra BTHP, but would routinely go MOA or better with whatever 87 grain Hornady or Speer bullet I loaded in it ahead of 42 grains of IMR-3031. As picky as it was, you'd think that it was of the female gender. So I rebarreled it in 243.
Last edited by 260Remguy; 02/10/18. Reason: Added comment
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Campfire Regular
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The 243 certainly has it's place, and it's here to stay. The bob is a less than exciting cartridge that has always had a small following "mostly for the name imo" for the last 40-50 yrs. It's never appealed to me more than a passing thought.
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The Roberts is a neat round, Remington in their usual way screwed it just like they did the 244 and 280. There were other factors like the common use of 93, 95 and 96 Mausers to build them on. Winchester should have come out with the 257AI instead of the 243 but Warren Page and Charles Askins were singing the praises of the 6mm bore, the rest is history. There was a big interest in dual purpose rifles then, more so than now also.
Last edited by rickt300; 02/10/18.
Dog I rescued in January
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My family had terrible experiences with the 243 shooting 100gr cup and core bullets but no more deer needing multiple shots or lost when I started loading 100gr Nosler Partitions. It really doesn't take much to kill whitetail deer but for some reason we were jinxed and all swore we would not have another. Other than shooting heavier bullets the 257 Roberts and the 243 should be able to down deer equally but I'll have nothing to do with another 243. But I would gladly hunt with a 250 /300, 250AI or a 257 Roberts. Just doesn't make sense but I don't want any dealings with the 243.
"I know you believe that you understand what you think that I said...
But I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
( A quote of my Father)
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I am not a fan of anything 243 or 25 caliber. I will take a 22-250, skip the next two calibers and jump to a 6.5.
My boys both have 243's which they like.
And I once had. Faux 257 Roberts LVSF, shot lights out but could not warm up to the cartridge and was never impressed with it on deer.
Arcus Venator
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A 243 with a 100 grain partition is the same.
Yeah....... ![[Linked Image]](https://s10.postimg.org/cdn3e6nl5/AD95_E67_C-68_B8-4011-9281-_F57_A48_ECD062.jpg)
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Our own "Mule Deer'" posted several months back many Montana hunters were trading in their .243's for the new 6.5 Creedmoor. I am sure JB is wired into the area gun shops to know local trends in caliber changes among the average gun buyer. Which is exactly what the Creed is, the perfect replacement for the 243. Yeah, the Creed may be, but the Roberts isn't.
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I like the 243 and my 257. I'm also fond of my 6mm Rem as well as the 240 Weatherby. All are great rounds. The 243 is super for pronghorn, the 6 mm ideal for whitetail, and 240 does wonders on mule deer. The 257 Weatherby is being saved for bighorn.
1Minute
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Hmmm, I have a .22-250 and a .243. Funny thing is, my .22-250 can't fling a 55 grain bullet 4000+ fps....
But my .243 can.... My .243 can also fling a 100 grain bullet 3000+ fps... But my .22-250 can't... ⬆ ⬆ ⬆ A 243 with a 55 grain BT will smoke a 22- 250. And sell barrels too. Really though just how much coyote hunting requires 4000 fps? You said a 243 wouldn't touch your 22-250, I was just disagreeing with you.
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes."
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Maybe we need a 2018, game killed with the 243 thread.
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Maybe we need a 2018, game killed with the 243 thread. Counts me out, my 243 is a 6mm.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Game killed with the .243 would out number game killed with the .257, as there are a lot more .243s hunted with than .257s, must be a reason for that. Rio7
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I'll be honest, never really gave the 243 chance, first rifle was a model 7 and after some issues with corelokts my dad moved me up to a 270. That being said, had the 243 tuned after it sat around for years and some custom loads done with sierra gamekings. It's been heck on whitetail ever since. I rarely take it out but allow others to use it on hunts and its done well.
I picked up a used ruger m77 6mm, killed several deer with it and loved it...but I wasn't reloading at the time and ammo was hard to find so let it go. I'd like to give a 257 roberts a try and though about picking up a kimber hunter in it. I reload now so its not an issue.
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Just getting started w 243 win for deer (2016) Seems to work, changed to diff bullet.........see how it does this yr (let em all walk last yr) ![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/CNoP7Sg.jpg)
Last edited by hookeye; 02/13/18.
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Buddy has three 760's in .35 rem, told me to come over and pick one out. Got the $ but dunno if I need another deer rifle (have a few others). Like the .35 rem though. Been blasting chucks w .243 win of some sort for over 30 yrs. Has more HP than needed............but I likes it!  Did not purchase my #1 .243 for deer, was snagged to rebarrel to .35 rem. But it shot very well...........so I ran it. Proly leave as is and look for another one to redo.
Last edited by hookeye; 02/13/18.
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Campfire Kahuna
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I'll be honest, never really gave the 243 chance, first rifle was a model 7 and after some issues with corelokts my dad moved me up to a 270. That being said, had the 243 tuned after it sat around for years and some custom loads done with sierra gamekings. It's been heck on whitetail ever since. I rarely take it out but allow others to use it on hunts and its done well.
I picked up a used ruger m77 6mm, killed several deer with it and loved it...but I wasn't reloading at the time and ammo was hard to find so let it go. I'd like to give a 257 roberts a try and though about picking up a kimber hunter in it. I reload now so its not an issue. Having seen recovered bullets a lot in my years I"d trust a core lokt before I'd trust a game king again. YMMV
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Well the 243 is a flat shooting varmint gun for sure but it's case design and short neck make it hard on barrels, it does burn more powder also. I may have gone a bit far with the "can't touch" comment. I do believe that with lighter bullets the 22-250 can get to 4000fps also.
Dog I rescued in January
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Game killed with the .243 would out number game killed with the .257, as there are a lot more .243s hunted with than .257s, must be a reason for that. Rio7 And I pointed out those reasons. Without a doubt but I'll bet 243 sales are down since the Creed has made it's debut.
Dog I rescued in January
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I still have one 243 though it's days are numbered. However poor game bullet performance on deer is the main reason I'm done with it and of course poor barrel life. In the last 3 years I took 5 deer with this 243. I used the 95 gr. Ballistic Tip, 100 grain Nosler solid base and the 85 grain Nosler Partition. All were hit well solidly in the chest, 2 went down and got back up to run a ways. The only bullet that left any blood to follow was the Solid base. The Partition always exited but it was a small exit hole. A doe shot with the Ballistic Tip was the only one to drop on the spot. There is no comparison between the 243 and either my 7x57or my 308, they are both much better at bringing hogs and deer right down and if a blood trail is needed much more likely to provide one. Neither kicks much and the rifles are just as light.
Dog I rescued in January
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That is one fine rifle! I always like the RSI models.
Dog I rescued in January
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Would be interesting to know how many hunters have burned out a .243 barrel, I would bet it's damn few. Rio7
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Would be interesting to know how many hunters have burned out a .243 barrel, I would bet it's damn few. Rio7 +1
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Started my hunting 'career' with a borrowed 30 carbine. The next year it was a borrowed .222. My third year was a Savage 99 243, followed by a Mohawk 600 in 243. It wasn't until I was about 13 that I started hunting with a 25-06. My first two elk were taken with the 25-06.
Fast forward a number of years and my Model 600 and Model 99 were both using 100 gr sp and dropping deer quite regularly. As was my 25-06.
Dad asked me one time if I'd ever counted up the number deer I'd taken by the time I was 18. I did some math and came up with just over 100, give or take. By the time I was out of college, I'd added more to the list.
In my 40's, I went back and started playing with the 243's again. Worked up a nice load with 95 gr BTs for my 'grandson' to shoot when he got old enough. The lever gun I should start playing with again and see about bringing it out of the back of the safe. Trouble is, I have a nice Weatherby 243 that shoots little bug-holes. Even took it out to 800 yards a couple of times just for grins.
I still like the 243 AND the 25-06 AND my 6.5x55 Swede AND my 264 WM and several others.
Biggest problem I have now when I pack to go hunting for whitetails is, which one's will I bring? Usually it's one of the 6.5's and a 243 or one of the 25-06's and a 243.
Support your local Friends of NRA - supporting Youth Shooting Sports for more than 20 years.
Neither guns nor Liberals have a brain.
Whatever you do, Pay it Forward. - Kids are the future of the hunting and shooting world.
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Deer hunters probably not many but shooters and prairie dog hunters many. I have burned 5 243 barrels out myself and I try to keep them from getting real hot. Two were still good enough for deer hunting.
Dog I rescued in January
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I am getting an old Sako forester in .243 Rick, but I have done similar moves as you are doing. I have killed a lot of varmints and deer, exotics with small cartridges, i.e .221 Fireball, 22-250, 22-250 AI, 220 Swift, and the 224 TTH for the 22s. Don't own a one now, ha. Been there, done that. I love and used the 240W, the 6mm/284, 6mm Remington, 6mm Bullberry ( 6mm/30-30 Improved) and the .243. I also had a 27" barrel 6x47 made up ( 6mm/222 Magnum) and the 85 XBT was going a tad over 2900fps, very mild report in the jewel. I killed an axis doe, a big axis buck and a Scimitar horned Oryx with, essentially, a .243! ha. That was awhile back. I'm not getting this .243 primarily for deer but for shooting rocks, coyotes and the "occasional" muley or antelope and for Texas deer. I am getting my 7x57 Mod 70 FWT set up as my "main squeeze" with my 338 WinMag as a thumper. I like to take two rifles on any hunt trip, just in case one gets gilflirted...so for deer, its the .243 and the 7x57; for elk, hogs and such, its the 7x57 and the 338. I "right now" have an old JC Higgins Mod 50 in .270 that is in limbo. It "may" get sold it may get rebarreled! Nothing wrong with a hot .22 and the right bullets, especially on Texas deer! have a ball.
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Started my hunting 'career' with a borrowed 30 carbine. The next year it was a borrowed .222. My third year was a Savage 99 243, followed by a Mohawk 600 in 243. It wasn't until I was about 13 that I started hunting with a 25-06. My first two elk were taken with the 25-06.
Fast forward a number of years and my Model 600 and Model 99 were both using 100 gr sp and dropping deer quite regularly. As was my 25-06.
Dad asked me one time if I'd ever counted up the number deer I'd taken by the time I was 18. I did some math and came up with just over 100, give or take. By the time I was out of college, I'd added more to the list.
In my 40's, I went back and started playing with the 243's again. Worked up a nice load with 95 gr BTs for my 'grandson' to shoot when he got old enough. The lever gun I should start playing with again and see about bringing it out of the back of the safe. Trouble is, I have a nice Weatherby 243 that shoots little bug-holes. Even took it out to 800 yards a couple of times just for grins.
I still like the 243 AND the 25-06 AND my 6.5x55 Swede AND my 264 WM and several others.
Biggest problem I have now when I pack to go hunting for whitetails is, which one's will I bring? Usually it's one of the 6.5's and a 243 or one of the 25-06's and a 243. over 100 deer by age 18? I'm curious how you could manage the logistics of that. If true, that is a lot of deer for a teen to handle
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
Calm seas don't make sailors.
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Just getting started w 243 win for deer (2016) Seems to work, changed to diff bullet.........see how it does this yr (let em all walk last yr) I used to think those RSI Number 1s were silly looking, but now I kinda like them. Nice photo.
What fresh Hell is this?
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My first rifle I bought was a 243. It was retired many years ago.I killed a bunch of deer with it. Just got tired of them running so far after being well hit with a lousy blood trail. My wife and daughter have hunted with it since. I won't. Unless I use it for varmints. It is a good shooter that is comfortable to shoot. There are just better choices to hunt big game with.
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Maybe you need to put the bullets where they count??
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Started my hunting 'career' with a borrowed 30 carbine. The next year it was a borrowed .222. My third year was a Savage 99 243, followed by a Mohawk 600 in 243. It wasn't until I was about 13 that I started hunting with a 25-06. My first two elk were taken with the 25-06.
Fast forward a number of years and my Model 600 and Model 99 were both using 100 gr sp and dropping deer quite regularly. As was my 25-06.
Dad asked me one time if I'd ever counted up the number deer I'd taken by the time I was 18. I did some math and came up with just over 100, give or take. By the time I was out of college, I'd added more to the list.
In my 40's, I went back and started playing with the 243's again. Worked up a nice load with 95 gr BTs for my 'grandson' to shoot when he got old enough. The lever gun I should start playing with again and see about bringing it out of the back of the safe. Trouble is, I have a nice Weatherby 243 that shoots little bug-holes. Even took it out to 800 yards a couple of times just for grins.
I still like the 243 AND the 25-06 AND my 6.5x55 Swede AND my 264 WM and several others.
Biggest problem I have now when I pack to go hunting for whitetails is, which one's will I bring? Usually it's one of the 6.5's and a 243 or one of the 25-06's and a 243. over 100 deer by age 18? I'm curious how you could manage the logistics of that. If true, that is a lot of deer for a teen to handle On a good size TX ranch (assuming TX), I could easily see that.
WWP53D
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Maybe you need to put the bullets where they count?? It does help. My camp mate and his youngest son have been dropping them quick with 95 grain SST's through the chest. I've had fine results with the 95 grain Ballistic Tip, even on a rather large hog.
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When I was growing up I hunted Louisiana and Arkansas both, as I lived close to the state line. That was 10 deer right there, if I wanted to take them all. And later, when we had our own land in Louisiana, my family got an extra 20-25 doe tags a year through the Deer Management Assistance Program, on top of the 6 deer tags on our licenses. It wasn't uncommon to kill 8-10 deer in a year without much effort. My dad got 15 one year with his bow, all tagged and legal. I spent a ton of time in the woods in my teenage years and didn't cull much......
Now with even more aplomb
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I have been hunting private land in Southwest Alabama for a long time. For years the limit was two does a day,it's still one doe a doe a day, The season is over 100 days long so it's possible to kill a lot of deer if you want to.
Being a rifle nut,for years I experimented with lots of different cartridges and bullet designs. The result of all of this is that I think there are better choices than a 243 for deer.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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My first rifle I bought was a 243. It was retired many years ago.I killed a bunch of deer with it. Just got tired of them running so far after being well hit with a lousy blood trail. My wife and daughter have hunted with it since. I won't. Unless I use it for varmints. It is a good shooter that is comfortable to shoot. There are just better choices to hunt big game with. I dunno, maybe, maybe not, how dead is dead? I can't recall a deer making 100 steps from my 243s. Thats from stupidly using 80 grain soft points, all the way to what I ran for years, 105 speers. And from up close spitting distance almost, out to over 500 yards. They normally didn't even make it out of sight or much past 40 steps I"d guess. I can't say that I saw any difference from the 308. Maybe a bit shorter runs on average with a 257 wtby, no difference with a 300 mag, no difference with a 338 mag, no difference with a 30-30, and so far less distance traveled with a 10mm. I often think the 300 and 338 for some reason may be that much louder, and thats why they ran a bit further with the mag. I have done a few only with a 7x300 and with a 338-378 but not enough to have comments tehre. OTOH I do believe with any round if you choose to run the way of an explosive bullet driven really fast, that most of the time the deer wont' go quite as far. I hate wasting meat, so its not for me. I also believe that now and then you'll loose a deer to a superficial hit. Though bergers seem to be, so far, totally reliable compromise. Although I've seen deer run over 100 yards after hit with them. And less than 20. Bottom line for me has always been pick a bullet thats going to provide an exit hole. Put the bullet in both lungs. DOn't worry about breaking bones. And let the deer run a bit and bleed out, no problem finding them. and if for whatever reason, say i was to sit on a neighbors fence line, which I don't do, and needed a drop, I"ll shoot CNS and at least know I"m 100% sure of a drop, vs risking a high shoulder or such.. and hope it works all the time.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Started my hunting 'career' with a borrowed 30 carbine. The next year it was a borrowed .222. My third year was a Savage 99 243, followed by a Mohawk 600 in 243. It wasn't until I was about 13 that I started hunting with a 25-06. My first two elk were taken with the 25-06.
Fast forward a number of years and my Model 600 and Model 99 were both using 100 gr sp and dropping deer quite regularly. As was my 25-06.
Dad asked me one time if I'd ever counted up the number deer I'd taken by the time I was 18. I did some math and came up with just over 100, give or take. By the time I was out of college, I'd added more to the list.
In my 40's, I went back and started playing with the 243's again. Worked up a nice load with 95 gr BTs for my 'grandson' to shoot when he got old enough. The lever gun I should start playing with again and see about bringing it out of the back of the safe. Trouble is, I have a nice Weatherby 243 that shoots little bug-holes. Even took it out to 800 yards a couple of times just for grins.
I still like the 243 AND the 25-06 AND my 6.5x55 Swede AND my 264 WM and several others.
Biggest problem I have now when I pack to go hunting for whitetails is, which one's will I bring? Usually it's one of the 6.5's and a 243 or one of the 25-06's and a 243. over 100 deer by age 18? I'm curious how you could manage the logistics of that. If true, that is a lot of deer for a teen to handle On a good size TX ranch (assuming TX), I could easily see that. I agree, even in eastern states is possible to kill that many easily. but before the age of 18? 100 is a LOT of deer. one would have to have a very dedicated parent and lots of hungry neighbors. I also know lots of ranchers and none of them (or their kids) would ever have to borrow a gun to go hunting, regardless of the size of their ranch. just doesn't add up to me is all, not looking to start anything which is why I chose my words the way I did. I agree it is possible.
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
Calm seas don't make sailors.
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Maybe you need to put the bullets where they count?? It does help. My camp mate and his youngest son have been dropping them quick with 95 grain SST's through the chest. I've had fine results with the 95 grain Ballistic Tip, even on a rather large hog. Those 95 grain SST's are wicked little bullets. They do more damage to a deer's giblets than 165 gr. power points out of my .30-06 and drop deer fast.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Maybe you need to put the bullets where they count?? It does help. My camp mate and his youngest son have been dropping them quick with 95 grain SST's through the chest. I've had fine results with the 95 grain Ballistic Tip, even on a rather large hog. Those 95 grain SST's are wicked little bullets. They do more damage to a deer's giblets than 165 gr. power points out of my .30-06 and drop deer fast. We haven't been able to detect any real blowups yet either, despite the SST reputation. None have been recovered, all exits. The more moderate velocity from a short barrel (his rifle is 20" I believe) and the long, straight shank with this particular SST being flat based may be helping.
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I didn't have any blowups with the SST's either. Full penetration with exits on broadside shots. Shot one in the brisket as it faced me. Bullet blew off the top half of the heart, turned the lungs to soup, put a silver dollar sized hole through the liver and was lost in the guts. They are very accurate out of my Tikka. I like 'em.
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You guys shooting those 95 SSTs and 95 NBT out of 10" twist barrels or faster, like the 6mms 9" something? My Sako has a 10" twist. I'm going to start out with the 90 BT & AB.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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You guys shooting those 95 SSTs and 95 NBT out of 10" twist barrels or faster, like the 6mms 9" something? My Sako has a 10" twist. I'm going to start out with the 90 BT & AB. My friend and I have whatever the factory Remington barrels are. 1 in 9 1/4 I think.
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Rem claims to be 1:9.125". Seems to be about right. I did a bunch of rough measures that came out just proud of 9" in one. I've shot a 1:10 quite a bit, and it stabilized 95 SST's just fine.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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over 100 deer by age 18? I'm curious how you could manage the logistics of that. If true, that is a lot of deer for a teen to handle[/quote]
Doe culling operation. Most were taken when I was first starting out. We hunted on a 12,000 acre ranch.
Support your local Friends of NRA - supporting Youth Shooting Sports for more than 20 years.
Neither guns nor Liberals have a brain.
Whatever you do, Pay it Forward. - Kids are the future of the hunting and shooting world.
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Bbear,
Can't imagine a better scenario for getting a yute accustomed to shooting deer. That's a lot of learning in a short period of time that most youngsters aren't afforded.
WWP53D
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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over 100 deer by age 18? I'm curious how you could manage the logistics of that. If true, that is a lot of deer for a teen to handle
Doe culling operation. Most were taken when I was first starting out. We hunted on a 12,000 acre ranch. [/quote] And thats not even a lot of deer really when culling or simply meeting quotas is the need... 16,000 acre ranch I used to guy on out west, we had to take over 300 deer a year IIRC...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Know a 75 yr old women hunter that has a ranch west of us that culls 45 to 50 does a week on 25000 acres. and gives them to the church, to give to those that are needy. Rio7
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Rio, that's pretty cool. I'd love to give her a hand sometime - though she seems to do quite well on her own.
WWP53D
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RIO7,
She sounds like a dedicated "Hunters for the Hungry" heroine. = I know a lady in another State that culled over 120 WT for HFTH in a single year.
(One of the officers of the local chapter took her to his gun room & said, "Take your pick, Darlin'. - You're my hero." = She picked an "old-school" Model 740 with a 15 round police magazine, btw.)
yours, tex
"VICTORY OR DEATH"
William Barrett Travis, Lt.Col., comdt.
Fortress of The Alamo, Bejar
F'by 24, 1836
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So he doesn't like the .243 because its a combination varmint/medium game round.
But loves the 257, which was invented to be exactly that.
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The OP is saying goodbye .243 I am saying hello to another .243!
Monday I will get back home and pickup my new Fieldcraft .243 that is sitting at my local FFL with it's 1 in 7 twist and I cant wait to do some loading for it.. This will be my new predator / whitetail gun for the next few years. Cant wait for deer season so I plan to try some 90 gr etips on pigs next moth.
Ted
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The OP is saying goodbye .243 I am saying hello to another .243!
Monday I will get back home and pickup my new Fieldcraft .243 that is sitting at my local FFL with it's 1 in 7 twist and I cant wait to do some loading for it.. This will be my new predator / whitetail gun for the next few years. Cant wait for deer season so I plan to try some 90 gr etips on pigs next moth.
I ordered the 6CM, because that's all they had with the 21" barrel in stock where I bought it. Would've gone for the .243 if that's what they had instead. That 1-7 ought to handle even the long Bergers. Too bad you can't use them.
What fresh Hell is this?
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A cheap shot, hmmmmmm. I haven't made a bad hit on a deer since I was in my 20's. Feral hogs, they are a different story.
Dog I rescued in January
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The OP is saying goodbye .243 I am saying hello to another .243!
Monday I will get back home and pickup my new Fieldcraft .243 that is sitting at my local FFL with it's 1 in 7 twist and I cant wait to do some loading for it.. This will be my new predator / whitetail gun for the next few years. Cant wait for deer season so I plan to try some 90 gr etips on pigs next moth.
I ordered the 6CM, because that's all they had with the 21" barrel in stock where I bought it. Would've gone for the .243 if that's what they had instead. That 1-7 ought to handle even the long Bergers. Too bad you can't use them. I like the 6CM far better than the 243, it gets rid of the short neck , the very sloped shoulder and is capable of using the long but still skinny high BC bullets. And most will come with a proper twist. No matter, I still would not take any shot with one that I wouldn't take with a 22-250 loaded with proper bullets.
Dog I rescued in January
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Combination guns are compromises, the 243 being a lot of gun for varmints generally and small enough to give spotty performance at times. The 257 is 20% more gun than the 243. I think the 250 Savage and 257 Roberts were developed as medium game rounds first and as varmint rifles as a second job not the other way around.
Dog I rescued in January
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I agree Rick, for "varmints" the 243 really IS a bit much. For "predators", its the cat's meow,. ha.
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I owned a 243 for a couple years. I found it inadequate for deer, not any better than a good 22 centerfire for coyotes and way to big for PDs. Sold it many years ago and won’t own another.
Last edited by dale06; 02/16/18.
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I am getting my Model 70 pre 64 243 featherweight ready for the deer woods this year. I am putting on it a VX5 2-10x42 and will handload 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for it. I think I will be alright with this combo.
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The OP is saying goodbye .243 I am saying hello to another .243!
Monday I will get back home and pickup my new Fieldcraft .243 that is sitting at my local FFL with it's 1 in 7 twist and I cant wait to do some loading for it.. This will be my new predator / whitetail gun for the next few years. Cant wait for deer season so I plan to try some 90 gr etips on pigs next moth.
I ordered the 6CM, because that's all they had with the 21" barrel in stock where I bought it. Would've gone for the .243 if that's what they had instead. That 1-7 ought to handle even the long Bergers. Too bad you can't use them. I will be using this gun out here as well as in Kansas and PA so I will be trying out the Bergers, I found this one with the 21 inch barrel on centerfire guns for $1507 shipped...
Last edited by old_willys; 02/16/18.
Ted
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I am getting my Model 70 pre 64 243 featherweight ready for the deer woods this year. I am putting on it a VX5 2-10x42 and will handload 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for it. I think I will be alright with this combo. That is the bullet I liked the best in my 6MM's, still I stopped several in deer and only used them for neck or head shots on feral hogs. In fact I found that was the best way to use the 243 CNS hits.
Dog I rescued in January
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For a good many years, I thought the 243 was a poor choice for deer. Then I realized that I was judging it on the people using it, not on the cartridge itself. Too often a 243 is the choice of a beginner, who often has trouble hitting the right spot, which results in either a wounded deer, or a lost one. In the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, it's as good a choice as a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. I like a bullet of at least 90 grains, preferably heavier for deer. I've not killed as many deer with as most of claim, but I've killed enough to know it will do the job very nicely.
Loaded with bullets between 55-75 grains, it's a coyote killer supreme. I shoot the 58 grain VMax at about 3775, and it's better than anything my 22-250 spits out.
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Your coyotes must be tougher than the ones I shoot! Haven't had a bit of trouble killing them with my 22-250 and I seldom load to top fps.
Dog I rescued in January
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For a good many years, I thought the 243 was a poor choice for deer. Then I realized that I was judging it on the people using it, not on the cartridge itself. Too often a 243 is the choice of a beginner, who often has trouble hitting the right spot, which results in either a wounded deer, or a lost one. In the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, it's as good a choice as a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. I like a bullet of at least 90 grains, preferably heavier for deer. I've not killed as many deer with as most of claim, but I've killed enough to know it will do the job very nicely. For years I was a confirmed .243 hater because of all the deer I saw wounded with it. I think it was a combination of handing a .243 to a beginner, plus the guys that never shoot their rifles because they're scared of recoil. Throw into the mix the crappy big box store ammo that most shoot with an already marginal round and you've got a recipe for wounded deer. I'll begrudgingly admit that in the hand of a competent marksman shooting good bullets (nosler partition or barnes TTSX) that the .243 is adequate for deer. I don't see the 6.5 creedmoor as it's replacement, the 6.5 is in a different class to me. I'll disagree with the 243 not being a prairie dog round. It's an excellent long range prairie dog round when it's twisted right and shooting high B.C. bullets. It's a bit much for general use but when the ranges get way out there it'll do what no 22-250 will do. A 243 isn't of any interest to me unless it's twisted for the long bullets which means at least an 8 twist. If I were building one now it would have a 7 twist so I could shoot the 115 DTAC, 110 SMK, and 108 ELD-M.
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Your coyotes must be tougher than the ones I shoot! Haven't had a bit of trouble killing them with my 22-250 and I seldom load to top fps. I won't say they're any tougher. I use the 223, 22-250, and 243 for coyote hunting, and have killed more with the 223 than anything else. I like shooting different rifles, and different cartridges. As I said, I've used a 223 more than anything else, but the 22-250 has it over the 223.......just like the 243 has it over the 22-250. I would be perfectly happy being able to use only one of those 3 for coyote hunting, if it ever boiled down to that. It's all about putting the bullet where it needs to go anyway, which brings us back to why the 243 is as good a choice for deer hunting as any, as long as you're able to just that.
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I swear I don't get some of the shyt I read on here. With all the chest pounding I see on here about what great shots everyone is, how they shoot so much more than average Joe, are expert handloaders and supposedly such great hunters that they're practically Daniel Boone, Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill all rolled into one, yet they can't kill deer dependably with a .243. What gives ? I've killed a pile of deer with cheap azz Wal-Mart .243 factory loads from Remington, Federal and Winchester as Well as Handloads with 100 gr. Hornady IL, 95 gr Hornady SST's and 85 gr. Sierra BTHP's with nary a hitch or complaint. But then I've killed another big pile with a .223 and ordinary 55 gr. sp's with zero problems or comlaints either. Could it be that some of the expert hunters and marksmen here just ain't quite as good as they claim ? Nah, couldn't be. I must just be lucky I guess.
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I swear I don't get some of the shyt I read on here. With all the chest pounding I see on here about what great shots everyone is, how they shoot so much more than average Joe, are expert handloaders and supposedly such great hunters that they're practically Daniel Boone, Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill all rolled into one, yet they can't kill deer dependably with a .243. What gives ? I've killed a pile of deer with cheap azz Wal-Mart .243 factory loads from Remington, Federal and Winchester as Well as Handloads with 100 gr. Hornady IL, 95 gr Hornady SST's and 85 gr. Sierra BTHP's with nary a hitch or complaint. But then I've killed another big pile with a .223 and ordinary 55 gr. sp's with zero problems or comlaints either. Could it be that some of the expert hunters and marksmen here just ain't quite as good as they claim ? Nah, couldn't be. I must just be lucky I guess. Yep, you are just lucky cuz all these other guys are the [bleep]. They told me so. If only we were from Montana...
Last edited by Fireball2; 02/17/18.
_______________________________________________________
An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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I agree with blackheart, the only deer I saw shot were the ones I shot in my teens.
And all I ever used was a .243, out of the 12 deer I killed with with they all
Dropped immediately with a behind the shoulder shot.
Being ignorant as hell I thought thats how it must be all the time for everyone.
That is until I started reading more hunting stories.
The first deer that ran on me was with the .270, shot behind the shoulder.
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To All,
My sole problem with the .243WCF is, using JSP/JHP deer-loads on coyote-sized game, that it tends to make relatively a large hole on the far side of the pelt & that isn't easy to patch. Nonetheless all of the factory fodder are good killers on yotes/WT.
(The opposite is the PBCB .30 caliber that I load to the "old-school" 32-40WCF ballistics of about 1400FPS, which passes through both sides of a WT or coyote leaving twp small holes & does a competent job of killing both species cleanly, given a decent/well-aimed shot.)
One wouldn't think that a 170 grain lead bullet only .08 caliber larger at 1400FPS would do as well as a 87/100 grain .243 jacketed SP/HP bullet at twice the velocity on the same species. Nonetheless, that has been my observation over >4 decades.
yours, tex
"VICTORY OR DEATH"
William Barrett Travis, Lt.Col., comdt.
Fortress of The Alamo, Bejar
F'by 24, 1836
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I have shot one deer w .243 win. Right behind one shoulder, and out behind the other.
Did not drop at the shot.
In the elk vid posted.........the long range one...........didn't that hit the spine?
Anything folds em when ya do that.
Used .35 rem on two other deer, clipped shoulders on way through. Neither dropped at the shot.
A few w 44 magnum, one did drop.
Bunch w shotgun........only a few dropped.
As long as the deer drops nearby, I'd call it good enough. Decent red to the flop is also cool.
Last edited by hookeye; 02/18/18.
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This will be my 53rd year deer hunting and have seen 500 pound black bears killed with the lowly .243 so for me deer are a no brainier.
Last edited by old_willys; 02/18/18.
Ted
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I will say the deer that ran when shot with a .270 only went 30 yards or so,
and the blood trail looked like some one was walking along and dumping
paint along the ground.
I've really been really lucky! But I'm also young and have a lot of time to mess up yet.
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need to find a remington 700 adl or a bdl from the 70's, used a 670 Winchester for hunting long ago one of them would be cool!
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I have a buddy that bought a Sako .243 in the mid '60s and has probably killed a few truck loads of W/T and mule deer with it. I was hunting with him 20 or so years ago when I heard him shoot in the last few minutes of the day. He hit the deer and knocked it down but, could not get another clear shot so the deer got away. The next season his sil killed a buck that had a wound that was just over the lungs and under the spine. He figures that was the deer he shot the previous season.
I always thought I'd like to have a 6mm because, IMO, it is a little better design than the .243 but, there's no contest on which brass is easier to find.
Last edited by Joe; 02/19/18.
Shew me thy ways, O LORD: teach me thy paths.
"there are few better cartridges on Earth than the 7 x 57mm Mauser"
"the .30 Springfield is light, accurate, penetrating, and has surprising stopping power"
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Combination guns are compromises, the 243 being a lot of gun for varmints generally and small enough to give spotty performance at times. The 257 is 20% more gun than the 243. I think the 250 Savage and 257 Roberts were developed as medium game rounds first and as varmint rifles as a second job not the other way around. .257 Roberts was developed as a varmint rifle as there were little to no deer in the east just after the turn of the century. The .30-06 was not "The" deer rifle yet and and game rifles were still fairly large caliber.
Last edited by wyoming260; 02/19/18.
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260 is right about the Roberts.. It was first developed for shooting woodchucks..
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Guess I am just lucky... haven't experienced a failure with a 243....
glad they are inadequate tho...... just in case I ever get shot by one...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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WyoCoyoteHunter,
IF I could find a Model 760 Remington in .257 Roberts, I would own one. = I've looked for over 3 years with NO luck, except a couple of vendors who had them priced at 2-5X their value.
(I don't pay scalper's prices.)
yours, satx
"VICTORY OR DEATH"
William Barrett Travis, Lt.Col., comdt.
Fortress of The Alamo, Bejar
F'by 24, 1836
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Guess I am just lucky... haven't experienced a failure with a 243....
glad they are inadequate tho...... just in case I ever get shot by one... That’s funny. 😃😃
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I discovered many years ago that my Remington .243 rifle is ideal for long range shooting pronghorn antelope. Superb accuracy combined with fast expanding bullets make for an unbeatable combination for shots of 300 yards and beyond. I'm certain that 6.5 Creedmore rifles are equally well suited to hunting antelope but I'm not trading.
Sherwood
FIRE UP THE GRILL - is NOT catch and release!
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Sherwood,
UNDERSTOOD. = I feel the same about my "obsolete" circa 1954 Remington Model 760 in .244 REM, that I found in an AR pawn shop in 1966. ====> BEST 60 bucks that I've ever spent.
(An 87 grain JHP at 3500FPS works FINE on "deer sized game" out to beyond 300M.)
yours, tex
"VICTORY OR DEATH"
William Barrett Travis, Lt.Col., comdt.
Fortress of The Alamo, Bejar
F'by 24, 1836
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An article in the new Hodgdon Annual makes a good point about the advantage the .243 has over the 6CM as a dual-purpose round, based on the usual throating of .243s. The test results bore that notion out, with only one "varmint" load for the CM doing really well.
My .243 is an oddball, with a 7.7" twist and a long throat, which has varmint-weight bullets hanging onto the case neck with their toenails.
What fresh Hell is this?
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It is odd how advertising can get a so so cartridge to supplant a much better one. The Bob was chambered in a too short action and pressures kept to 45000 psi which cut performance way down. I like the 722 but wouldn't build a Roberts on it. I've probably owned close to a dozen 722s in 257 Roberts, still have one, and can't see a reason not to load it to its full potential. Since I only shoot varmints and medium game with my rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, the bullets that I load for them are all in the 75 thru 110 grain range, with the majority being 75, 87, and 90 grain varmint bullets and 100 and 110 grain medium game bullets. None of the bullets that I use are negatively impacted by using them in a short action or have positively benefited from using them in a long action. I would agree that the 57mm/2.244" case length limits bullet weight/length options in the short, 2.84", action Remington magazine boxes. OTOH, I can't think of a .257" bullet better suited to shooting medium game with a 257 Roberts than the 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB, both of which work flawlessly through the 2.84" magazines. I currently have 10 rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, 3 long actions and 7 short actions. The long actions are a Mexican Mauser, a Swedish Mauser, and a Ruger 77. The short actions are a Marlin XS7, 3 Remington 700s, a Remington 722, a Ruger 77, and a Savage 11. My current favorites are a long action Ruger 77 RSI and a short action Remington 700 CDL-SF. EDIT: The most frustrating 257 Roberts that I've owned was a sporterized 1936 style Mexican Mauser. It had a 1-12" ROT Flaig's barrel and would only shoot good groups with bullets in the 75 thru 87 grain range. It wouldn't shoot good groups with the normally reliable 90 grain Sierra BTHP, but would routinely go MOA or better with whatever 87 grain Hornady or Speer bullet I loaded in it ahead of 42 grains of IMR-3031. As picky as it was, you'd think that it was of the female gender. So I rebarreled it in 243. I have a 30-06 with Flaig's barrel. I found the same condition with Federal 168BT ammo. I tried old school 150 Remmington SP and I can reach MOA performance. I don't know what the issue was with modern ammo. The Flaig's barrel likes all sorts of old ammo, 180, 220 RP. go figure? MM879
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I have seen a total of two deer taken with a 243 win. First one shot by my nephew about 8 yrs ago, did not impress me - medium doe shot at 90 yds with Federal Blue Box 100 gr ammo, ran about 40 yds and laid down - took another finishing shot to kill it. Second did impress me - this one last fall a nice non-typical 8 pointer shot at about 100 yds with 100 gr Partition. Ran/staggered about 30 yds then stopped and dropped. Bullet performance was very similar to what I've seen over the past 15 years with a 7-08 - nickel to quarter size exit, trashed lungs. I really like the 243 win after that one. I'll keep using it until I have a good reason not to.
"Blessed is the man whose wife is his best friend - especially if she likes to HUNT!"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
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It is odd how advertising can get a so so cartridge to supplant a much better one. The Bob was chambered in a too short action and pressures kept to 45000 psi which cut performance way down. I like the 722 but wouldn't build a Roberts on it. I've probably owned close to a dozen 722s in 257 Roberts, still have one, and can't see a reason not to load it to its full potential. Since I only shoot varmints and medium game with my rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, the bullets that I load for them are all in the 75 thru 110 grain range, with the majority being 75, 87, and 90 grain varmint bullets and 100 and 110 grain medium game bullets. None of the bullets that I use are negatively impacted by using them in a short action or have positively benefited from using them in a long action. I would agree that the 57mm/2.244" case length limits bullet weight/length options in the short, 2.84", action Remington magazine boxes. OTOH, I can't think of a .257" bullet better suited to shooting medium game with a 257 Roberts than the 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB, both of which work flawlessly through the 2.84" magazines. I currently have 10 rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, 3 long actions and 7 short actions. The long actions are a Mexican Mauser, a Swedish Mauser, and a Ruger 77. The short actions are a Marlin XS7, 3 Remington 700s, a Remington 722, a Ruger 77, and a Savage 11. My current favorites are a long action Ruger 77 RSI and a short action Remington 700 CDL-SF. EDIT: The most frustrating 257 Roberts that I've owned was a sporterized 1936 style Mexican Mauser. It had a 1-12" ROT Flaig's barrel and would only shoot good groups with bullets in the 75 thru 87 grain range. It wouldn't shoot good groups with the normally reliable 90 grain Sierra BTHP, but would routinely go MOA or better with whatever 87 grain Hornady or Speer bullet I loaded in it ahead of 42 grains of IMR-3031. As picky as it was, you'd think that it was of the female gender. So I rebarreled it in 243. When I was younger I had a custom Rem. 600 in.257 Roberts. It also had a Flaig's 1-12" twist barrel. It weighed 6 lbs. even with out scope, with 23" barrel in a Brown Precision stock. I loved the feel and weight of the gun , but ended up selling it for 2/3 of what I paid for it because it was so fussy and really only shot 75 gr hornadys decent. Ended any affection I may have had with a .257.
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Years ago, killed my first deer with a 7RM, 2nd with a 243/100 Partition. Both went about 30 yards, but horrible destruction with the Mag.
Later had a shot at around 200 yds using a 100 Sierra and it was a very cold morning. Hit a deer facing me and never found blood. Later found it was shooting low and I was in a tower blind, a raking shot. I hit it but it left. A few weeks later someone saw a deer limping, fitting the description. I lost faith. That was LONG ago. Since killed deer with 243 and 6BR both, 70 TNT - in both - Lung/neck shot. 95 Ballistic Tip on many in both. Worked great, even blew thru both shoulders exiting at 100 yds. Also using a 105 Amax via 6BR, at 400 yds, struggled about 20 yds.
So, I have complete faith in 6mm's. Shot Placement. Bullet choice. Put a good bullet thru vitals. That will = success.
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![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/MzXXct7.jpg) Shot this pig 4 times in the head at 800 yrds this morning with a .243 105 gr. Scenar didn't even make a dent. Rio7
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Bloody Mary or Aunt Jemima?
Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist
Just "Campfire Riffraff and Trash"
This will be my last post! Flave 1/3/21
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Aunt Jemima, No wind this morning. Rio7
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buy and sell . eventually you will have a the right combo. every one should have several 30-06s the all American caliber. . i do like my sako .243- mannlicher, sporter, and varmints. they all have been very deadly for me. not just lot of deer , antelope and 250 coyotes. an elk too.
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Good more ammo for me.... bye
Ping pong balls for the win.
Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable
I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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I use it more and more as I get older. Kills like a laser beam with ballistic tips and now that I have 2 95 gr partition loads that group under half inch. One at 3160 and one at 3250. I cant wait to shoot something with that combo... R23 and 26 are crack in the ol 243.
Last edited by DoeDumper; 03/17/18.
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I never was a .243 fan and i guess that comes from hearing all the negative press about the round for so many years. I did see a guy shoot a spike on a south Texas ranch one time and the little buck dropped, spun around, then got backup and took off. Never to be found. My thoughts on the .243 changed a little when I killed a huge axis buck with it. It's my fathers' rifle, a Model 7, but I cant tell you what bullet I used. He and I were driving through the pasture to fill a feeder. He handed me the rifle and said to kill a whitetail doe for him if I spotted one. Instead, we jumped a big herd of axis and I spotted two huge axis bucks. The biggest one made a circle around the oak mott and I bailed out of the truck. Through the scope I found a gap in the branches and squeezed off a round offhanded at about 100 yards. The buck took the bullet behind the shoulder, ran about 30 yards and piled up.
Crazy as it sounds, I always wanted a 6mm Remington though. Still do.
And then there's the BOB! I have a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .257 BOB and it has never failed to kill whatever I aim at and no matter what distance. I've probably killed more whitetails and other critters with that rifle and 90 grain Barnes X bullets than all my other rifles combined.
The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!
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My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 .243's, Mn whitetail, antelope and mule deer, a 80 grain TTSX placed right has worked just fine. I also have one as a loaner for folks just get started deer hunting up here, funny they had no idea that it shouldn't work on deer,.they've had no problems.
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My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 ..... Dang, your kids have refined tastes, it's no wonder they've been successful.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Smoke, that's all we have for big game rifles. pre 64 M70's all the way around from .243s to 300 H&H...brought them up right!
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My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 .243's, Mn whitetail, antelope and mule deer, a 80 grain TTSX placed right has worked just fine. I also have one as a loaner for folks just get started deer hunting up here, funny they had no idea that it shouldn't work on deer,.they've had no problems. I've used the 243 for years. The 80 TTSX works well on game 'too big' for the 243. I'll keep killing deer with 100 SGKs too. No problem.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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Took a bunch of deer with a .243, but now want more bullet. Sold the .243 and got a 7-08, no regrets.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 .243's, Mn whitetail, antelope and mule deer, a 80 grain TTSX placed right has worked just fine. I also have one as a loaner for folks just get started deer hunting up here, funny they had no idea that it shouldn't work on deer,.they've had no problems. I've used the 243 for years. The 80 TTSX works well on game 'too big' for the 243. I'll keep killing deer with 100 SGKs too. No problem.My father killed a large pile of deer with Sierra Game Kings, no problem. I know because I loaded his ammo.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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.243 with 95gr Hornady SSTs is a deer killing machine. To all those that say they knocked down deer, with a .243, only to have them get up & miraculously escape. It was no fault of the .243 !
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Campfire Kahuna
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Yep, that happens with high shots with any round.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Campfire Kahuna
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In fact it did to me some years ago with a borrowed 300 win mag. Hit to high and we later found the zero was off. Even with the best dog I've seen, we only proved that I hit to high above the spine.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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.243 with 95gr Hornady SSTs is a deer killing machine. To all those that say they knocked down deer, with a .243, only to have them get up & miraculously escape. It was no fault of the .243 !Agree’d
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It is not that the 243 won't kill deer with well placed hits, generally broadside, spine and neck hits drop deer with just about any rifle. It is also not just about deer. It is about the lack of blood trails most of the time and the need for just about perfect placement. I just find the 22-250 a better varmint rifle for me and the 7x57 a far better deer and feral hog rifle under less than perfect conditions. I find the 243 more than I need for coyote calling and not any better than my 22-250 on deer with the shots I will take with either.
Dog I rescued in January
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rickt300, it's good you know your limitations. Rio7
Last edited by RIO7; 03/24/18.
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I’m with Pablo. .243 with 95gr Hornady SSTs is a deer killing machine. To all those that say they knocked down deer, with a .243, only to have them get up & miraculously escape. It was no fault of the .243 !
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Odd how the 243 fans feel it is the panacea of deer rifles when it obviously isn't. I have never lost a deer I hit with either a 22-250 or a 243 but I have followed up some long and pretty thin blood trails for myself and others. I also note that those 243 afficionado's are generally from states where pretty open country is the norm or shoot from stands overlooking feeders. If a deer goes 150 yards and crosses a property line, even if it's carcass is visible it is lost. If your night hunting feral hogs the problem is a lot worse and the 243 is certainly no better than a 22-250 in that case. So at the no fault of the 243 I will say your right it was the fault of the guy who chose it to hunt with!
Dog I rescued in January
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7
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rickt300, it's good you know your limitations. Rio7 And the limitations of the 243. I don't need a 6.5 Creed but am grateful it has been introduced, as it is a much less limited round than the 243 and will eat up shelf space the 243 once dominated. That said the niche for the 243 is as a coyote round. I prefer the 22-250 but would hapily use the 243 for any of my coyote hunting. Even then a 6MM that has less of a tendency to eat barrels would be better.
Dog I rescued in January
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It was interesting to read all the opinions on the .243 Win. I formed my very narrow-minded opinion many years ago when I decided that it made a lot of bang and blast for what went out the other end. I have never owned one and never will. I’ll just stick to my obsolete and unworthy .257 Roberts and .250-3000’s. Happy Trails
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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It was interesting to read all the opinions on the .243 Win. I formed my very narrow-minded opinion many years ago when I decided that it made a lot of bang and blast for what went out the other end. I have never owned one and never will. I’ll just stick to my obsolete and unworthy .257 Roberts and .250-3000’s. Happy Trails I understand the lack of enthusiasm for the .243 Winch (which I have never used) but do not understand why the .250-3000 (which I have used) is preferable. Unless, of course, it is simply nostalgia.
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No one on this thread has mentioned a head stamp or caliber that I haven't used at one time or other, we all settle on what works for us for what ever reasons. In my case If I really like a rifle by that I mean the way it handles and fits and shoots for me there's a good chance I will like he head stamp that goes with it, I have never found a caliber that I hated I have found a few rifles I hated, shoot what works for you that's what I do. After all i'm not buying your guns or ammo. Rio7
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There is a statement, the rifle has to fit you or you fit it. It has to feel right.
Whats weird, is for years we shot M1A in competition, felt like a rifle. Hunted with em too. Moved to the AR. Felt like crap. But almost 25 years behind the AR that gun FEELs right, fits right, second nature etc...
To stir the pot there are a few rounds that work better than what they seem like they should, to me... 243 and 223 are among them. Many work as well as I expect, like the 308. Some don't work as well as I expected. 257 wtby. 50 BMG
That said all of the above work. Even the 270 works, though I am fairly sure I'll never use one, but I hear and see that it works. Scratch that I did shoot my buddies dads 270 on a spike after his dad died, just seemed right for that rifle to keep shooting deer and the brothers have been to emotional to use it. So I know it works, even though its on the bottom of my list. LOL.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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I started both of my daughters out hunting deer with a tang safety Ruger 77 RSI in .243. We shot several big Nebraska whitetails and several more desert mule deer with that little rifle, and I used it to shoot a couple of nilgai one year while I was helping a friend in south Texas with a wildlife management plan. We never lost an animal, and I can only remember one big mule deer buck that stayed on his feet long enough to take a second shot. I loaded all of the ammo--either 95-grain Partitions or 95-grain Ballistic Tips. Probably shot at least a dozen feral hogs on the ranch down here, all of them big ones. After I built the younger daughter a 7mm-08, I finally sold the .243 because no one was shooting it--still wish that I hadn't done that.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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...still wish that I hadn't done that. I'll bet your granddaughter feels the same way. She is determined to win every shooting contest at Armijo Springs. Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7 Funny post Rio. When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also.
Dog I rescued in January
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...still wish that I hadn't done that. I'll bet your granddaughter feels the same way. She is determined to win every shooting contest at Armijo Springs. Ed She will have her own rifle this summer, but they will not be able to make the Armijo Springs bash this year. It overlaps with start of school activities in the little town where they live. However, they are going to spend a few days with me in July somewhere up on the Gila or the Apache National Forest where it's cool. We plan to burn a lot of ammo.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7 Funny post Rio. When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also. You are helplessly, hopelessly clueless.
Last edited by mudhen; 03/25/18.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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I still have one 243 though it's days are numbered. However poor game bullet performance on deer is the main reason I'm done with it and of course poor barrel life... I am reminded of the saying: "It is the poor craftsman who blames his tools."
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Odd how the 243 fans feel it is the panacea of deer rifles when it obviously isn't. I have never lost a deer I hit with either a 22-250 or a 243 but I have followed up some long and pretty thin blood trails for myself and others. I also note that those 243 afficionado's are generally from states where pretty open country is the norm or shoot from stands overlooking feeders. If a deer goes 150 yards and crosses a property line, even if it's carcass is visible it is lost. If your night hunting feral hogs the problem is a lot worse and the 243 is certainly no better than a 22-250 in that case. So at the no fault of the 243 I will say your right it was the fault of the guy who chose it to hunt with! For most of my hunting career, I considered the 243 to be marginal, as I saw a lot of deer shot with it that ended up either not being recovered, or found after they had been dead for some time. Then I began to think about it, and in just about every one of those cases, the shooter was either an inexperienced hunter, or someone who simply made a bad hit. I've seen plenty of deer killed with the 243 where it worked just fine, and I've killed a few with it myself. So, as in just about any other cartridge, success or failure, can be laid squarely at the feet of the person using it. The issue of a deer being shot and crossing a property line can happen regardless of caliber used. I have an idiot of a neighbor who uses a 300 Mag, and every season I find deer on my property that were originally shot on his. Once again, it all falls back on the shooter, and if a deer is too close to a property line, it's not going to matter what it's shot with.
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Pal, Amen I remember my Grandfather telling me that when I was cussing my hammer for hitting my thumb. Rio7
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She will have her own rifle this summer, but they will not be able to make the Armijo Springs bash this year. It overlaps with start of school activities in the little town where they live. However, they are going to spend a few days with me in July somewhere up on the Gila or the Apache National Forest where it's cool. We plan to burn a lot of ammo. Too bad about Armijo Springs. Your family will certainly be missed and the competition will not be the same. Good news about the visit, though. Just don't coach her too well. I'd like to at least a have a chance to beat her the next time we shoot against each other. Ed P.S. Did you ever buy that Ruger Ranch Rifle you talked about? The offer to set it up like mine still stands. Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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...When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also.  If you only knew... Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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She will have her own rifle this summer, but they will not be able to make the Armijo Springs bash this year. It overlaps with start of school activities in the little town where they live. However, they are going to spend a few days with me in July somewhere up on the Gila or the Apache National Forest where it's cool. We plan to burn a lot of ammo. Too bad about Armijo Springs. Your family will certainly be missed and the competition will not be the same. Good news about the visit, though. Just don't coach her too well. I'd like to at least a have a chance to beat her the next time we shoot against each other. Ed P.S. Did you ever buy that Ruger Ranch Rifle you talked about? The offer to set it up like mine still stands. Ed Ed, what is the set up ?
James Pepper: There's no law west of Dodge and no God west of the Pecos. Right, Mr. Chisum? John Chisum: Wrong, Mr. Pepper. Because no matter where people go, sooner or later there's the law. And sooner or later they find God's already been there.
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...Ed, what is the set up ? If I told you I'd have to kill you. It's nothing, really. It just turned my 16" barreled, factory trigger, factory stock, .5.56 Ruger Ranch Rifle into something I could win matches with. That's all.  Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7 Funny post Rio. When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also. TFF ! Dick300, pull your thumb outta your arse & your nose outta the clouds. Not one person here, has stated the .243 is the ultimate/best choice for a deer rifle, just that it is more than adequate !
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7 Funny post Rio. When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also. TFF ! Dick300, pull your thumb outta your arse & your nose outta the clouds. Not one person here, has stated the .243 is the ultimate/best choice for a deer rifle, just that it is more than adequate ! Good for some kinds of hunting, more than adequate for the easy shots.
Dog I rescued in January
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rick300,Your getting no argument from me. I think you will really like shooting and hunting when you learn how. Rio7 Funny post Rio. When you get unstuck on the 243 and try some better rounds your learning curve will improve also. You are helplessly, hopelessly clueless. Opinions vary Mudhen. I have killed more than a couple pickup truck loads of deer with the 243, nothing special about the round.
Last edited by rickt300; 03/28/18.
Dog I rescued in January
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No one on this thread has mentioned a head stamp or caliber that I haven't used at one time or other, we all settle on what works for us for what ever reasons. In my case If I really like a rifle by that I mean the way it handles and fits and shoots for me there's a good chance I will like he head stamp that goes with it, I have never found a caliber that I hated I have found a few rifles I hated, shoot what works for you that's what I do. After all i'm not buying your guns or ammo. Rio7 I don't hate the 243 just some of it's characteristics, like piss poor barrel life and sometimes less than optimal bullet performance. Small exit holes, deer that run a bit far sometimes after being well hit, and way too much hype.
Dog I rescued in January
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rickt300, you need to quit while you're behind , before you get WAY behind.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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rickt300, No one here is trying to change your mind, let it go . Rio7
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Hang in there Rick! I understand exactly where you are coming from, and I just "wish" I had your hunting opportunities...:) Have you been using that 35 Whelen lately?
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,870
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,870 |
Read the whole thread.... made me remember Phil Shoemaker sig line something on the order of " If you can't kill with a 30-06 you are unwittingly commenting on your marksmanship". Yeah and that applies on this thread too. I have 3 243's and never found them wanting for deer and antelope. Hope you find something you can use. MB
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,401 |
I did use the 243 many times, it is just not the all around cartridge the 7x57 or 308 are. There are things the 243 is just not the best cartridge for. Believe it or not mass and diameter do have their place.
Last edited by rickt300; 04/03/18.
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,401 |
Hang in there Rick! I understand exactly where you are coming from, and I just "wish" I had your hunting opportunities...:) Have you been using that 35 Whelen lately? Last elk hunt was two years ago in Wyoming. I took the 35 Whelen and a 7MM RM. I was carrying the 7MM when I found the elk in a draw and shot him at 90 yards. And that was in some wide open area. It's getting to be such a project to get an elk tag anymore in the areas I like to hunt (where I have friends to hunt with) this is the biggest challenge.
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,874
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,874 |
rickt300, nine pages and your sounding more like a JERK than when you started, your way behind now let it go. Rio7
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