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Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle #101322 10/23/06 10:48 AM
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redraider99 Offline OP
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I am thinking about getting a new rifle in a year and wanted to start doing some research. What are y'alls thoughts on the .243? Is it worth getting for deer hunting. I aready have a 7mag and was wanting something with less recoil. I am having a child soon and thought maybe later in life they could use it. Is the recoil alot less than the .270 or should I just go ahead and get a .270?


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: redraider99] #101323 10/23/06 11:04 AM
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If all you are ever going to hunt is whitetails and feral hogs here in Texas than the 243 is more than adequate out to 300 yards for those animals. Depending on what brand you buy and the weight of the gun with scope, the recoil will be less than with a 270.

Now for some of the other aspects. I am going to assume that by 7mm., you are referring to a 7mm Rem. Mag.. If that is the case then the 243 would be a good compliment to that gun. The 243 will be good for deer, hogs, coyotes, and pronghorn, if you decide to go to another state. The 7mm will cover you for elk and above, or as a little longer range gun for the game you would use the 243 for. With some of the new managed recoil cartridges around, moving a youth from the 243 to the 7 Mag won't be that difficult. JMO.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Crazyhorse] #101324 10/23/06 12:02 PM
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I really like the Remington 243 auto-loader. Low recoil + low noise + accurate = fun to shoot.



Practice doesn’t make perfect.
Practice makes permanent.
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: PrimitiveHunter] #101325 10/23/06 12:16 PM
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243 will be great, if you happen to handload, get a 6mm remington though. I have at one time or another had a 243, 25-06, 270, 7 Wsm, and a 308. The 243 will kill a whitetail just as dead as the others, and kicks a lot less if compared to the same weight gun. I got rid of mine b/c I liked the 25-06 better though. JMO



As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind...Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks--Thomas Jefferson
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Rowney] #101326 10/23/06 12:51 PM
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Check out this link...
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

it will show you the recoil of almost every caliber and you can get a good feel for what gun will do what to your sholder. ( you will see the 270 will kick more than 2 times as hard as the 243.)

Click on this link to see the knockdown power or energy of the different rounds.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_ballistics_table.htm

It should help you out with which caliber would do the trick compaired to others you have shot and been happy with.

Hope it helps!

-Greg


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Greg] #101327 10/23/06 12:53 PM
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redraider99 Offline OP
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Thanks for the links, but I will have to look at them at another time. My school's filter has it blocked.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: redraider99] #101328 10/23/06 12:54 PM
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The 243 is the absolute bare minimum for whitetails in my opinion. Although i took my largest buck ever with a 243 ( short story is i wasn't hunting whitetails at the time, i carry it for coyotes ), it's not a caliber i would recommend. If recoil is a problem, i would suggest using something in the low recoil range like a 7mm-08 or a 308. I prefer something that's capable of delivering at least 2000 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Have you looked at the 260?



Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: HWY_MAN] #101329 10/23/06 02:26 PM
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Quote:

The 243 is the absolute bare minimum for whitetails in my opinion. Although i took my largest buck ever with a 243 ( short story is i wasn't hunting whitetails at the time, i carry it for coyotes ), it's not a caliber i would recommend. If recoil is a problem, i would suggest using something in the low recoil range like a 7mm-08 or a 308. I prefer something that's capable of delivering at least 2000 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Have you looked at the 260?





I would agree with that, maybe even a 257 roberts or 7x57 would be great as well.

I think that the 243 is one of those cartridges that is extremely popular, but has many choices out there that can do what it does better in almost the same package. Comparitively, the 270 IMO is as good as it was in the 30's and nothing has come out that will do what it does without increasing the recoil substantially.



As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind...Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks--Thomas Jefferson
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Rowney] #101330 10/23/06 02:50 PM
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I SAY 243 WOULD BE GREAT AND JUST FOR THE INFORMATION, JUST YESTERDAY I HAD A GUNSMITH AND COMPETETION SHOOTER SAY IF HE WAS GONNA BUY A GUN OFF THE SHELF HE WOULD BUY A SAVAGE.





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ATTENTION: Your decision should NEVER be based SOLELY upon my advice, recomendation, or opinion.
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: RICK O'SHAY] #101331 10/23/06 05:05 PM
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IMO a 25.06 would be a much better choice.



"You deserve what you accept"
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: cj7zrcool] #101332 10/23/06 05:17 PM
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I agree with HWY_MAN the 243 works, but would be the bare minimum that I would use. My wife and I both shoot Browning A-Bolts chambered in 308. Low recoil, excellent accuracy, fairly light weight and you can get a large varity of ammo just about anywhere. We have harvested 3 or 4 whitetail a year for the last 10 years with them. Our normal shot would normaly be around 65 yards or so. If I hunt the "canyon blind" as we call it, I'll use my 270. That shot is around 150 to 200 yards.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: cj7zrcool] #101333 10/23/06 05:42 PM
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I will have to look into the 25.06. My main reason is I want a rifle that I can shoot with and not kill my shoulder and a gun that a young hunter can work into. Looks lke I have alot of thinking and shopping to do. That is why I am starting out a year inadvance. I just wish there was a gun shop that would let you shoot diferent rifles, to help you in the decision process.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: redraider99] #101334 10/23/06 05:58 PM
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I would definitly look into the 25-06 or the 308. The 270 wouldn't be hard to handle since you shoot the 7mm. However, for the up and comer, I would look at the 25 or the 308.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: JaredM] #101335 10/23/06 08:31 PM
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I would vote for a 308.

I have the admit i am bias against the 243. Up north it's not even legal to hunt deer with in most states. Down here, in my very unscienctific survey, the two hunters on my lease with 243's have lost more deer then the rest combined. And before you all gripe at me about shot placement I will agree that you put a shot in the wrong spot you dont get a clean kill, however the 243 is a wimp in my opinion. 308 get's the job done and the recoil is more then manageable.

Just my $0.02's


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: txbrian] #101336 10/23/06 08:48 PM
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The first deer I ever killed was with a Savage model 99 lever action chambered in .243. I was young and I shot it a bit too far back. My brother finished it off with a head shot from a .30-06. After that deer, I purchased my very own Remington 700 mountain rifle in .280 Rem. In my opinion, take a look at the Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08.



Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: wileyporker] #101337 10/24/06 12:33 AM
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i got a savage lever action 243 model 99f



i am cancelling my subscription, i am tired of your issues!
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: txbrian] #101338 10/24/06 12:52 AM
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Just being nosy here, but what states do not allow the 243 for deer hunting? Most states I have checked with, the 243 is the minimum caliber allowed for deer.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Crazyhorse] #101339 10/24/06 01:02 AM
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The 243 with a good premium 100 grain bullet is a great deer cartridge. I have killed dozens of deer with my Remington 700 ADL and now my little boy is shooting it. I bought a 7mm-08 3 years ago for 12 year old daughter and she and I fight for it. I HIGHLY recommend the little 7-08. It is pleasant to shoot and does a number on the panhandle muleys and whitetails.



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Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: A.B.] #101340 10/24/06 01:54 AM
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I'd vote for the 7mm-08. I've had one for 10 years or so and it's what I use for 90% of my deer/hog hunting. It kicks a little more than the 243 (both are based on the 308 but has a 40 grain heavier bullet) but not so much you would notice the difference. If you do go for the 243, use good bullets. Federal loads a 100 gr Partition and an 85 gr Barnes bullet. Either one would do great.

If you don't buy one this year, another thought is the reduced recoil loads. Remington says theirs has less than half the kick of a normal 7mm mag. I believe Federal also makes something similar.


Last edited by BigGuy; 10/24/06 01:56 AM.

Good Luck and Good Hunting.
Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: BigGuy] #101341 10/24/06 11:35 AM
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Are 7mm-08 rifles and ammo hard to come by? I don't think I have ever seen one....though I have not been looking for them


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: BuckMark] #101342 10/24/06 07:57 PM
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When I finally purchased my own rifle I was trying to decide between .243 &.270. I had been using my brother-in-laws .243 for a long time. That's what I really wanted but couldn't find one at the time. I bought the .270 & am extremely satisfied. Now I'm looking for a .243 since that's what I originally wanted.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: BuckMark] #101343 10/24/06 08:05 PM
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Quote:

Are 7mm-08 rifles and ammo hard to come by? I don't think I have ever seen one....though I have not been looking for them



If they are it's because that region is not aware of the effectiveness of the 7mm08. I think that it's highly under-rated.

As far as the .243 - I can't think of any reason for not wanting one. It's a great gun. If you're torn between it and another caliber, it all depends on what you intend to do with it. That's all, imo.


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: BuckMark] #101344 10/25/06 12:38 AM
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Quote:

Are 7mm-08 rifles and ammo hard to come by? I don't think I have ever seen one....though I have not been looking for them




Nearly all my rifles are chambered for ammo that is hard to come by in my hometown. I have to go out of town to find 338, 280, 220 Swift, 45-70, and 6.5 swedish. 223 and 22LR are quite easy to come by. I guess that's the drawback in wanting to be different.



Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: wileyporker] #101345 10/25/06 02:30 AM
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The 243 is an excellent deer rifle and that is what I would recommend, especially if you already have a 7mag. I have taken a lot of deer with a 243 and all have been 1 shot kills, the longest being 307 yards on a huge whitetail buck in Arkansas. Just use a good 100 grain bullet and you won't have any problems. Recoil is very mild and 243's are a joy to shoot!!


Re: Thoughts on .243 cal. rifle [Re: Crazyhorse] #101346 10/25/06 03:50 AM
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Well I recall that Wisconsin used to not allow it. However in the rifle counties I now see it's any centerfire 22 cal and over in Wisconsin. I was told by my uncle growing up that it was not legal in most states.

Upon doing my own research it appears thats no longer the case.


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