Fidgety 8 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Was set on .243 for roe, fallow and fox. Now someone with a lot of experience has cast doubt in my mind about caliber choice. Shooting distances will be 50m - 200m. Any advice greatly appreciated, especially suitability and cost. Quote Link to post
riohog 5,721 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 cant se the problem good bullet placement is the answer youll have no problem knocking fallow down at 200 if you put the bullet in the right place Quote Link to post
SNAP SHOT 194 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 mate i not doubting your friend here but a .308 for 200..... .243 will do that and more, Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 I have both, and trust me, a well placed .243 is devastating!! The right .308 ammo hits like a sledgehammer but will destroy a fox. If you (metaphorically) can't knock down anything you can find in this country at 200yards with a .243 then you should seriously consider another sport!!! Quote Link to post
Fidgety 8 Posted March 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Thanks for that chaps. Think i'll stick with .243, its very popular! Quote Link to post
danebrewer10 6 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 .243- flat & fast lots of meat damage in comparison with the .308- smaller bullet but much larger hydrostatic shock due to the bullet velocity- nice all rounder. .308- less meat damage, less suitable for foxes, but you could get home hollowpoint match rounds, or something like a .308 hornady v-max varmint bullet also if your shot placement isn't as good, you get more penetration on quartering shots, and more knock down power For me? I'd try and get a .308, if they won't let you have that? then get the .243 also as your shots are at moderate range, you won't have to worry much about the bullets' trajectory either, also the heavier .308 will get blown around less... Hope this helps! NB: I don't actually have any experience shooting centerfire/fullbore rifles, I just read a lot on the net.... Quote Link to post
Fidgety 8 Posted March 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) "NB: I don't actually have any experience shooting centerfire/fullbore rifles, I just read a lot on the net...." B****r me, thats refreshing! Thanks for the info! Edited March 21, 2009 by Fidgety Quote Link to post
harry mac 1 Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 "NB: I don't actually have any experience shooting centerfire/fullbore rifles, I just read a lot on the net...." B****r me, thats refreshing! Thanks for the info! 308 heap good medicine. A real do it all calibre. 125 grn ballistic tips will do double duty for fox and lighter deer, but do cause quite a bit of meat damage on the deer. 150 grn bullets are good all rounders but will not be absolutely ideal for fox as they do kick quite a bit compared to your other option, they are, however more than accurate enough if you do your bit. Will you be mainly shooting fox or deer? To be honest I can't speak too highly of 308, I've used one for well over 10 years and only ever lost 2 deer in all that time. Other thing to consider is that 243 CAN be hard on barrels. Quote Link to post
Popgun 0 Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Go for a .270 very flat and fast i've got a 243 and had a 308 sold the 308 and got a 270 best move i've ever made it;s deadly, use it for every thing fox roe sika and red deadly :thumbs-up: bit of kit. Quote Link to post
harry mac 1 Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 "NB: I don't actually have any experience shooting centerfire/fullbore rifles, I just read a lot on the net...." B****r me, thats refreshing! Thanks for the info! 308 heap good medicine. A real do it all calibre. 125 grn ballistic tips will do double duty for fox and lighter deer, but do cause quite a bit of meat damage on the deer. 150 grn bullets are good all rounders but will not be absolutely ideal for fox as they do kick quite a bit compared to your other option, they are, however more than accurate enough if you do your bit. Will you be mainly shooting fox or deer? To be honest I can't speak too highly of 308, I've used one for well over 10 years and only ever lost 2 deer in all that time. Other thing to consider is that 243 CAN be hard on barrels. Quote Link to post
SNAP SHOT 194 Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 f you (metaphorically) can't knock down anything you can find in this country at 200yards with a .243 then you should seriously consider another sport!!! Thats the best bit of info on this thread..... Now theres lots of variables flying about here, You don't state if its your first centre fire or not, so take it, it is, The .243 has plenty of bullet selection, very mild recoil, accurate, easy to sell on if you want to change.... larger calibers if you get granted them, are heavier on recoil which may lead to flinching the shot due to anticipation of the shot, i personally shot with the .243 for about 13 years and have never seen a need to change, i was thinking about the 6.5 again but why bother when the .243 does it all. if you troll thruogh the deerstalking posts you will see i shot a fallow at 282 yards this year, it never flinched 2 steps and dead... all my other shots have been neck shot out two 228 yards this year..... I'm giving you this info not to look like a big man on here but from some-one's perspective who has shot this calibre extensively.... At the end of the day the decision is yours..... snap... Quote Link to post
clivej 0 Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Just to add my bit to this thread I'm hoping to get a 308 Tikka T3 Varmint SS this week @€1250. After doing a lot of thinking and dreaming about what calibre I decided to go with the 308 and the T3 varmint. This Gun will be used for deer stalking in the coming season. BUT I also want a gun that I can bring to the range and use in the competitions. So thats why I'm going for the varmint rifle in 308. I have a CZ Varmint 223 and the T3 Varmint 20" barrell is the same weight so I can't see the weight as a problem to carry when stalking. Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Just to add my bit to this thread I'm hoping to get a 308 Tikka T3 Varmint SS this week @€1250. After doing a lot of thinking and dreaming about what calibre I decided to go with the 308 and the T3 varmint. This Gun will be used for deer stalking in the coming season. BUT I also want a gun that I can bring to the range and use in the competitions. So thats why I'm going for the varmint rifle in 308. I have a CZ Varmint 223 and the T3 Varmint 20" barrell is the same weight so I can't see the weight as a problem to carry when stalking. Each to their own and weight wise I am a tart, .223T3 Lite, .243T3 Hunter and .308 Remington SPS...carry them around all day no problem in the field, but they get warm on the range!! Quote Link to post
lxx73 0 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Ive got a T3 varmint and I certainly wouldn't want to go stalking with it. Quote Link to post
soapy 23 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Ive got a T3 varmint and I certainly wouldn't want to go stalking with it. 243 mate Quote Link to post
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