Author Topic: Should I buy a .243 ? (Read 1186 times)

Country Boy · « **on:** February 28, 2011, 01:20:55 PM »

Want to buy one for a truck gun.( a guy gave me 10 boxes of various .243 ammo) but I have heard this is not an accurate cal. in the handi and has given owners all kinds of fits. Is this true ? I just want a simple rifle I can throw in the truck coyote capable and maybe a deer once in a while. I hate to waste all the ammo I got. Before I put my money down I would sure like your opinions. Thanks

gendoc · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 01:28:34 PM »

jus sight'er in wifa cold barrel..... might take a while to get'er down, but it will be all gud
when ya finish. jus remember.... 1st shot cold barrel. one shot is all ya need anywho !!!

problems have been multiple shots from these barrels, even heavy (bull) barrels.
they heat up real fast.
thats jus what i have found from my experiance.... my 24&3 isa tack driver at tha first shot.
afta that its purdy much over fer awhile.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 01:38:54 PM »

Even the Superlight can be accurate, specially for a truck gun, I have two bull barrel Ultra 243s, they like different factory ammo, but they shoot excellent.

Tim

Deerhunter#1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:36:17 PM »

I have the 243 ultra bull fluted and when devoping loads two shots is all I use the 3rd is always a flyer. As mentioned the first one counts.

jabey9210 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:42:00 PM »

I have two 243's my ultra fluted is almost a 1 hole gun 3 shots at 100 yrds it used to track vertically until i pillar bedded the forestock since then it's been perfect the other is a 22 inch bull and is currently at the factory getting fixed because of accuracy problems but I would still recommend a 243 to any one. My fluted 243 likes 55gr. nosler ct's and also 95 gr. nosler ct's but hates the 70 grainers don't know why but that's just the way it is. My 243 is definitely my go to gun for most things i do so I would say go for it and I'll bet you'll end up happy with it.

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2011, 05:26:10 AM »

I don't want to be a NaySayer, but I hate 6mms. If you enjoy running around the woods looking for wounded deer, go for it. I'd rather knock them off their pins with something like the .45-70. The other thing is the .45-70 will hit the same POI on the first shot, and the 20th.

Just my opinion.

Pete

gendoc · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2011, 12:00:03 PM »

me too pete !!!

i onla use mine fer them critters way out there,
never a whitetail.
i'm wif you on tha don't track, don't wound and don't feed tha kiyot's.....45/70

get'er done quick an go to tha house

petemi · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2011, 12:30:07 PM »

Gendoc, I've said this before, but I'm too old and lazy to wander thruouh the woods in the rain looking for a wounded deer with a flashlight. .45-70...equals Bang..Flop. That's how I do it. Perhaps the .445 or the Maxi, but nothing smaller.

My 50 year old .30-30 336 has killed a lot of deer in her time, but I still prefer my big bore, slow shooting Handis.

To me, the .24 to .25 calibers are useless. I have lots of Handi rifles that get the job done better.

Pete

Yak Angler · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2011, 02:35:27 PM »

Well for your intended use as a "truck gun" coyotes and a rare deer the .243 isn't a horrible choice. The .243 is probably one of the better varmint calibers out there and with premium bullet selection easily capable of taking deer effectively to 200 or so yards with a well placed shot and has probably been used by the highly skilled to take deer to 4-500 yards. The .243 is also what i like to call a dynasty cartridge meaning it aint going away like some of the flavor of the month cartridges out there will. If i were you though i would get a .270win mine folds coyotes, packs them up, and sends them to never never land and IMHO it is the best deer cartridge ever invented for all around shots inside 4-500 yards. you realy can't go wrong with any of the dynasty cartriges
.223( not for deer), .243, .270. 30-06, 30/30 and 45/70 type they just can't be improved upon and 100 years from now if people are still around so will rifles/ammo in those calibers.

Where i live driving around with a loaded rifle in my truck and or stopping at the side of the road and firing a shot from it would result in truck and rifle becoming government property if caught in the act.

Alias DW · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2011, 02:51:22 PM »

If a 45-70 is so good,just think what a 50BMG could do. I'll just stick with .223 with head and neck shots and have yet to track one.

cjrjck · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2011, 03:04:24 PM »

Quote from: Country Boy on February 28, 2011, 01:20:55 PM

I just want a simple rifle I can throw in the truck coyote capable and maybe a deer once in a while.

Exactly what the 243 was designed for.

Tencubed · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2011, 03:41:50 PM »

The 243 is well capable of doing what you want. Probably a good choice but just having a couple hundred rounds of ammo should not be a major deciding factor in buying a rifle IMO. That ammo will be shot up in short order if you practice much. If it's "some of this and some of that" chances are it will not all shoot to the same point of impact and some will group better than others. It may well point you in the right direction when you start buying or loading more shells.

I'd buy a rifle you are comfortable with and since it's going to be beat around in a truck I'd suggest stainless steel and plastic stock. There are a bunch of calibers suitable to your needs and such an overlap in capabilities as to be mind boggling.

At one time I was convinced there were certain calibers that were way better than any others. I also condemned some calibers as being useless for anything but noise and shooting paper. Over the years I've come to understand that the majority of calibers are viable options for many duties. What the shooter is comfortable with is a major consideration. Not that I'd suggest hunting elephant with a 22RF as common sense has to enter into all this. To me the big consideration is the determination of the shooter to become skilled with the rifle and develop a degree of confidence in his/her abilities.

Practice and using the right bullet for the job at hand is vital.

Mike

ratdog · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2011, 10:48:05 PM »

i have been shooting the 243 for 25 years shoot 25 or more mule deer one shot each but last year i drew out for antelope i shot a nice buck at 325 yard flop.walked up to it looked dead.i touched its eye with my barrel and it got up and took off.finally found it in my scope and drilled it again finally dead.i did'nt think antelope were that tough.i shoot a 87 grain boat tail re load 4895 powder.never had a problem. my son has shot elk with 100 grain spitzers now he shoots 25-06 he is a hunting machine i can't keep up with him. he knows where the dear and elk are before we hunt always get a deer when im with him.the antelope hunt was my last hunt diabetes has slowed me down. now i have fun shooting paper with my wife.have a great life.

Deerhunter#1 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:29:58 AM »

243 gets a bad rap for deer hunting as people assume they have light recoil and fair to practice and hense wound some animals. But that can happen with any caliber. True the 45-70 knocks them over but if you plan on doing a bunch of shooting say at the range for a day the 243 is the way to go, And as mentioned more practice is what is needed by many.

wreckhog · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:22:14 AM »

Handi is a nice truck gun due to length. Superlight kicks like a 308 though.

petemi · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:56:59 AM »

Quote from: wreckhog on March 02, 2011, 01:22:14 AM

Handi is a nice truck gun due to length. Superlight kicks like a 308 though.

I can shoot my .308 all day. The recoil to me is insignificant. My truck gun is my 16.5 inch .357 Maxi. It'll do just about anything I need on the spur of the moment. It's like three truck guns in one. It never goes on the road.....just on my property.

Pete

tobster · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:49:26 AM »

I once bought a 32-20 because I had gotten such a good deal on ammo from a sporting goods store that was going out of business. An old timer I related the story to said I reminded him of the little old lady that bought a pair of shoes that were too tight because she had gotten such a good deal on cornplaster!

I think the .243 would make an excellent truck gun. If you should get a shot at a deer,just make sure you're using a stout bullet made for big game and not a varmint bullet. Should you decide you made a wrong choice,it's real easy to sell/swap barrels here. At the very least,you'll get some cheap shooting and experience a new (to you)caliber.

Old Fart · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2011, 03:36:17 AM »

I picked up a handi in 270 for my grandson, but stumbled across a 243.
I'm thinking the the 243 may become his.
I haven't had a chance to take it out and shoot it because uncle arthur is still paining me.

But it should make the trip soon.
My brother in law is a big fan of the 243, he uses it for all his centerfire hunting now.
I think it would serve my grandson well for the same hunting.
Now if I shoot it and really like I may be looking for another one.

Yak Angler · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2011, 11:10:54 AM »

Well i suppose you can never have to many guns

Spanky · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2011, 11:45:12 AM »

I've killed a few deer with my 22 Hornets (all one shot kills) so I guess the 243 should work alright for deer too. $:-\$ Deer just ain't that hard to kill.

Spanky