Author Topic: Decisions, Decisions......on a hunting caliber. (Read 784 times)

J. Plate · « **on:** January 23, 2007, 05:51:47 AM »

I've been mulling it over the last few days and have narrowed my choice down to two calibers in basically the same rifle.

Either the .308 in Ultra or the .243 in Ultra Varmint.

My main focus originally was a coyote gun with the possibility of deer hunting with it. . . which the 24" HB .243 seemed more than enough for. But, here I sit in NY. If I get the chance to hunt deer with the rifle (I live in shotgun country), I will find myself in bear country....with a definite possibility of doing some bear hunting. I would probably do some bear hunting anyway, but have always used my scoped, rifled barrel slug gun for that since most shots are on black bear under 150 yards in dense veggies.

So, I guess I'm looking for opinions........and I would guess that the .243 is going to be light for black bear? Not trying to start a riot here....just looking for opinions.

myarmor · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2007, 06:11:00 AM »

Do you handload?

-Aaron

sluggo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2007, 06:15:30 AM »

....270 will handle most anything...

Beers · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2007, 06:25:06 AM »

+1 to that

Mac11700 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2007, 07:01:11 AM »

My question is ...Why limit yourself to those 2 calibers...I wouldn't...From my point view..your putting yourself at a disadvantage...While the 308 are good guns..and will do ok...They aren't the most accurate in a Handi...While the 243 Ultras are some of the most accurate..they are a little light to be going after some of the bigger black bears you might run into..They are excellent for the deer and coyotes....So...I would opt for a 26" 280...most of them are very accurate...Then..I would work up some hand loads for your coyotes...there are plenty of suitable bullets for this in 7mm...and plenty of good bullets for deer hunting and bear hunting too...Even if you don't reload your own...most of the heavier weight bullets for the 280 will work fine on the yotes any ways..

2 Great loads I used were the 140 grain Remington core-loc...and the Federal 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw...

140grain Remington load

140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw

J. Plate · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2007, 07:31:32 AM »

Quote from: myarmor on January 23, 2007, 06:11:00 AM

Do you handload?

-Aaron

No. I do not.

What's availability like for the .280 ammo?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2007, 07:52:26 AM »

There's a few available!!

Tim

280 Rem ammo

Mac11700 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2007, 07:54:17 AM »

Quote from: J. Plate on January 23, 2007, 07:31:32 AM

Quote from: myarmor on January 23, 2007, 06:11:00 AM
Do you handload?

-Aaron

No. I do not.

What's availability like for the .280 ammo?

You can check at any of the on-line dealers I posted in this link on the 260 Remington....http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,109282.0.html

Mac

J. Plate · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2007, 08:08:51 AM »

Well, I guess the question that begs to be asked is.......

Am I trying to do too much with one gun?

Coyotes to Black Bear?

Is the .308 too big for coyote?

bigjeepman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2007, 08:15:58 AM »

J. Plate ...

Up until I read/saw Mac's reply, I would have said to buy a .243 and have a .308 fitted for it through the barrel accessory program (if that is a possibility.) I would have answered so because I hunt coyotes with a .243 about 90% of the time and I think it is a great caliber for that use. However, after seeing Mac's targets with two different factory loads with the POI being nearly identical in his .280, I thought that is the answer. I have never shot a .280 but I understand it is just one of those calibers you fall in love with. As far as bear hunting, none where I am from but the ballistics should back up the .280 as being enough for black bear.

Good luck to you and enjoy the journey to a new caliber.

Syncerus · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2007, 08:44:39 AM »

.270, .308 or .30/06. The ammo is everywhere and as cheap as ammo can be. Personally, I'd just get the .308 and be done with it. The .308 is almost never a bad choice.

J. Plate · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2007, 10:52:25 AM »

Well, made a decision. (That was quick, right?)

Searching around Gunbroker.com and got an Ultra .308 for $218 shipped. Wouldn't be a true Handiholic if I didn't get the .243 bull barrel for it right? Guess I'll be looking for one of those soon enough!!

One question about that, though, do you need seperate forends? The .308 will be a 22" barrel and the .243 is a 24" HB......do they use the same forend?

Thanks for the opinions guys!! a .280 Rem barrel may be in my future too......after seeing those pics.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2007, 11:30:50 AM »

All the forends, cept the 12ga Slug gun and 10ga, have the same barrel channel, bull barrel or Superlight and anything in between.

Tim

J. Plate · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2007, 01:58:05 PM »

Thanks Tim!!

bigjeepman · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2007, 02:07:15 PM »

That's what it's all about ... a guy has a problem ... throws it out there to the GBO family ... gets a lot of opinions ... makes the choice on the information he has and goes with what he feels is best for him. I reload for six calibers religiously and the .243 and the .308 are two of them. I do not save pelts for coyotes unless it's a wall hanger so the .243 is a perfect caliber for me with any bullet I choose to use. It shoots 4 bullet/load combinations pretty darn well ... so you might get one of those through the barrel program when you can. I reload for my brother's .308 and it's a shooter. It is his favorite caliber. There are a lot of bullets to choose from so I think you did good in the end.

Keep asking questions and these guys can keep you on the least painful path.

J. Plate · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2007, 02:15:47 AM »

Quote from: bigjeepman on January 23, 2007, 02:07:15 PM

Keep asking questions and these guys can keep you on the least painful path.

Okay.....

Now that I have the rifle, (well, it's on it's way) it's time to settle on a scope. I was thinking that i'd just buy something for this gun, but I have a Simmons 3-9x40 8 point that I'm not using right now. Thoughts on putting this scope on a .308 for the game animals mentioned above? Plenty big enough or go bigger?

JKump · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2007, 02:34:03 AM »

Good choice on the 308, that's what I have. As for a scope I have a Nikon 4 x 32 fixed powered scope on my hunting rifle and have not had any problems. I prefer fixed powered scopes on hunting rifles, just my opinion. If you are shooting really long ranges then you will need more power. However, which ever scope you do get, get the best scope you can afford.

PartsMan · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2007, 03:28:21 AM »

If you can't decide between 308 and 243 do what I did.
order a 7mm-08.
Then sell your wood to buy watever color laminate you want.
7mm-08 ultra?

J. Plate · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2007, 05:17:37 AM »

Quote from: barr25-06 on January 24, 2007, 03:28:21 AM

If you can't decide between 308 and 243 do what I did.
order a 7mm-08.
Then sell your wood to buy watever color laminate you want.
7mm-08 ultra?

Well, I decided. Got the .308 and will probably get the .243 barrel later on. Either that or the .223 24" HB for coyotes, specifically. Or both...who knows? The possibilities are endless!!!

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2007, 05:29:32 AM »

Those simmons scopes work very well, Try an atec on the .243 when you get it. I have one on my .223 its a 3.5x12 AO I really like it.