Choosing a caliber

[groach1234]

Right I am sure this will probably have been done to death (think i have done it once before but shifted the goal posts) in one way or another but sorry here it all goes again

 

I have had my FAC for about 8 months now and have slots for both .17hmr and .22lr and now am going to take things to the next level. I have now been on a total of 5 stalks for roe (3 in scotland 2 with john from Yorkshire deer stalking) and have taken 1 buck. I have just booked, with my dad, 2 red stags each for early august and as i was always going to apply for a .243 i am in two minds as to what to do.

 

I was always planning on going .243 for fox and roe as my main quarry but now with the reds on the cards i am in two minds. I know that .243 can be enough for reds but it is starting to get a bit marginal.

 

I am now thinking that i will be going something like a .222/.223/.22-250 for my foxing rifle and then for deer something like 6.5x55/.270/308 with potential of both boar and african plains game in the coming years. the problem with this being i live on a farm and we have 600 acres of land with a decent roe population on it so i may take 2 or 3 bucks a year from it when i have a bit more experience but these calibers may be too big however as it would only be 2 or 3 bucks a year i could be highly selective and something like a 223 would be far more useful as a foxing tool on the farm.

 

So what i suppose i am trying to say is that what caliber would you recommend to be used on roe, red and i suppose fallow and sika up to boar and plains game?

 

Another problem is that it would mean two rifle set ups not just the one so i would probably have to go second hand as opposed to new so far as the rifle is concerned as i was always going to buy second hand optics anyway.

 

So back to the point what calibers would you recommend?

 

George

[Dempy]

.243 minimum for dear anyway, but I find the .243 very versitile, you can if you wish, use something like a 100 grain bullet for stalking but also have some 55 grain for foxes and it will peform in a very simalar way as the 22.250.

 

i have both because although I like the .243, i love the my 22.250!

 

if you buy something bigger, will get use from it?

[Beardo]

.223 and 6.5x55 works for me.

i have a higher mag scope on the .223 for longer foxing and a nice fixed 8x56 on the 6.5 for stalking.

[jamie g]

i would have the 22/250 as a foxing tool and 308 for the deer and boar

[Vince Green]

If you get a .243 for foxes the ammunition will be a bit dearer but not cripplingly so. The PPU ammunition is about £10 a hundred dearer .223 against .243 so you could buy one rifle for both jobs. The money you save on not having to buy a second rifle would cover a lot of slightly dearer ammunition for years to come. Plus you wouldn't have to mess about sighting in your second rifle every year to take three bucks which would be another expense. You would use more ammo sighting in than actually hunting.

 

If you plan to do boar and african game you really need something bigger than the calibres you mention. probably a .375 so cross that bridge when the time comes. When it does you will probably be able to pick up a .375 secondhand quite cheaply because they don't sell that easily as there is little demand for them.

Edited June 17, 2010 by Vince Green

[Beardo]

if i only had one, it'd probably be a .243, it's probably the most versatile.

[Dempy]

If you get a .243 for foxes the ammunition will be a bit dearer but not cripplingly so. The PPU ammunition is about £10 a hundred dearer .223 against .243 so you could buy one rifle for both jobs. The money you save on not having to buy a second rifle would cover a lot of ammunition for years to come.

 

If you plan to do boar and african game you really need something bigger than the calibres you mention. probably a .375 so cross that bridge when the time comes. When it does you will probably be able to pick up a .375 secondhand quite cheaply because they don't sell that easily as there is little demand for them.

 

 

if you live near a sportsman guncenter or can find another stockist, you can buy privi ammo for .243 and many other calibres for £10 for 20, it is not as good as the federal in my 22.250, but only increases a 200 yard group very slightly, if you are just shooting foxes, it hasnt let me down yet, no complaints at all and at £30 a box saving, what more can you ask for?

[eddoakley]

if i only had one, it'd probably be a .243, it's probably the most versatile.

 

:(

 

Currently have .243 and with 100g federals have been taking my fair share of deer, roe, munty and fallow. Have arranged to get a red stag soon and have put in variation for .308 on the strength of that(feo says no probs so will be shopping soon)

Have a mate loading some awsome 70g bts and they are a great fox round, not to mention the way they perform on the range!!

But basically .243 will do what you need till you get something special for the african stuff

 

ATB

Edd

[al4x]

I'd go .243 for everything and if you really want borrow a bigger estate gun for large reds.

 

The simple reason for this is the more you use a gun the better you are with it so using a .243 on foxes means you should use it a fair bit so when you go deer stalking you are more familiar with it. Add to that that it will take all deer with the possible exception for big reds and you have a very versatile gun and one that you can spend more money on and the optics to go with it

[Vince Green]

if you live near a sportsman guncenter or can find another stockist, you can buy privi ammo for .243 and many other calibres for £10 for 20, it is not as good as the federal in my 22.250, but only increases a 200 yard group very slightly, if you are just shooting foxes, it hasnt let me down yet, no complaints at all and at £30 a box saving, what more can you ask for?

He lives in North Yorkshire so he should be near enough to Kranks.

[Dougy]

i would have the 22/250 as a foxing tool and 308 for the deer and boar

 

My choice well nearly ( i picked the 30.06, not the 308) :( (just thought i'de mention it stu)

[wildfowler.250]

I'd go .243 for everything and if you really want borrow a bigger estate gun for large reds.

 

The simple reason for this is the more you use a gun the better you are with it so using a .243 on foxes means you should use it a fair bit so when you go deer stalking you are more familiar with it. Add to that that it will take all deer with the possible exception for big reds and you have a very versatile gun and one that you can spend more money on and the optics to go with it

 

As above really.

 

Plus I'd (personally) rather get one good set up than two 'ok' rifles.

[Vipa]

if i only had one, it'd probably be a .243, it's probably the most versatile.

 

 

What's going on Nick..... I thought you were one of us..... have you abandoned the 6555 club :(

[Beardo]

no not at all, as i'm more than happy (in fact ecstatic with my 6.5), i was merely hypothesising on the fact that if one were to own only one rifle.

[CharlieT]

How far in the future do you envisage shooting boar and plains game ?.

 

If it's within the next couple of years then go down the 223 & .270 + route. However if it in the distant future then I also vote for the .243. It has to be the best all rounder for your current needs and as has been said you can borrow an estate rifle for the odd jaunt on Red stags.

 

When your needs change in the future you can then add a larger caliber to your collection.

[Dekers]

Right I am sure this will probably have been done to death (think i have done it once before but shifted the goal posts) in one way or another but sorry here it all goes again

 

I have had my FAC for about 8 months now and have slots for both .17hmr and .22lr and now am going to take things to the next level. I have now been on a total of 5 stalks for roe (3 in scotland 2 with john from Yorkshire deer stalking) and have taken 1 buck. I have just booked, with my dad, 2 red stags each for early august and as i was always going to apply for a .243 i am in two minds as to what to do.

 

I was always planning on going .243 for fox and roe as my main quarry but now with the reds on the cards i am in two minds. I know that .243 can be enough for reds but it is starting to get a bit marginal.

 

I am now thinking that i will be going something like a .222/.223/.22-250 for my foxing rifle and then for deer something like 6.5x55/.270/308 with potential of both boar and african plains game in the coming years. the problem with this being i live on a farm and we have 600 acres of land with a decent roe population on it so i may take 2 or 3 bucks a year from it when i have a bit more experience but these calibers may be too big however as it would only be 2 or 3 bucks a year i could be highly selective and something like a 223 would be far more useful as a foxing tool on the farm.

 

So what i suppose i am trying to say is that what caliber would you recommend to be used on roe, red and i suppose fallow and sika up to boar and plains game?

 

Another problem is that it would mean two rifle set ups not just the one so i would probably have to go second hand as opposed to new so far as the rifle is concerned as i was always going to buy second hand optics anyway.

 

So back to the point what calibers would you recommend?

 

George

 

 

The .243 isn't marginal for Reds, it is only marginal, as is any other calibre if you shoot them in the wrong place, and it can be easier to shoot than bigger calibres!

 

If you personally are not happy with it then it isn't an issue, and you will then probably need to look at smaller for fox, probably a .223 and bigger for deer, probably .308!

 

Depends on your pocket, your usage and your skill levels, but a .243 is very useful.

 

Some deer stalks require bigger anyway, why not talk to them?

 

[groach1234]

How far in the future do you envisage shooting boar and plains game ?.

 

If it's within the next couple of years then go down the 223 & .270 + route. However if it in the distant future then I also vote for the .243. It has to be the best all rounder for your current needs and as has been said you can borrow an estate rifle for the odd jaunt on Red stags.

 

When your needs change in the future you can then add a larger caliber to your collection.

 

Boar i was planning on for 2011/12 and plains came a little after but who knows. The reason i was after maybe a larger caliber is that i am going after a couple of red stags this summer

 

The .243 isn't marginal for Reds, it is only marginal, as is any other calibre if you shoot them in the wrong place, and it can be easier to shoot than bigger calibres!

 

If you personally are not happy with it then it isn't an issue, and you will then probably need to look at smaller for fox, probably a .223 and bigger for deer, probably .308!

 

Depends on your pocket, your usage and your skill levels, but a .243 is very useful.

 

Some deer stalks require bigger anyway, why not talk to them?

 

 

I know the .243 is up to it as when i was in scotland last year one of my guides was a keeper on a large Scottish estate and he said he had quite literally taken thousands of reds with his .243 as it was his job so i understand it is up to it but i bigger caliber may give greater peace of mind but then again it may mean complacency leading to sloppy practice the problem is everyone has a different idea and i just don't know what to do

 

George

[Dekers]

Boar i was planning on for 2011/12 and plains came a little after but who knows. The reason i was after maybe a larger caliber is that i am going after a couple of red stags this summer

 

 

 

I know the .243 is up to it as when i was in scotland last year one of my guides was a keeper on a large Scottish estate and he said he had quite literally taken thousands of reds with his .243 as it was his job so i understand it is up to it but i bigger caliber may give greater peace of mind but then again it may mean complacency leading to sloppy practice the problem is everyone has a different idea and i just don't know what to do

 

 

 

George

 

 

Only you can answer that, but bigger ISN'T always better!

[CharlieT]

Boar i was planning on for 2011/12 and plains came a little after but who knows. The reason i was after maybe a larger caliber is that i am going after a couple of red stags this summer

 

George

 

 

My choice would therefore be to get a .223 and a .270 for Red's and boar. There are some good deals on 270's as at the moment it's out of fashion. You should be able to pick up a cracker for £500, something like one of the older Tikka's which are superbly made. A 270 would be perfect for red's on the hill and is the minimum recommended caliber for boar. It kills foxes to !!!

[Dunkield]

As with any of these things, you need to be honest with yourself about how much of each you will be doing.

If you going to say shoot 100 foxes and then 1 boar, it makes no sense to buy a boar calibre.

Seems obvious, but people still lumber themselves with the 'wrong' calibre for something they may or may never get round to doing.

You could probably hire the guns for any overseas stuff anyway.

[SSS]

Would .270 be 'man enough' for plains game? I was always under the impression you needed bigger than .375 to save embarrasment

[CharlieT]

Would .270 be 'man enough' for plains game? I was always under the impression you needed bigger than .375 to save embarrasment

 

 

It's all compromise again.

 

Take Eland and Zebra out of the equation and a .270 or 30.06 make perfect sense given that most people would wish to use it as an everyday rifle at home. The .270 being flat shooting makes for a perfect all round caliber.

 

Far better to use a caliber you are familiar with and use at home then an exotic that only gets used once in a blue moon.

[njc110381]

What about a 7-08? They seem to be getting good press recently. I wouldn't worry yourself too much about making a mess of small Deer with a large calibre. If you select your bullet carefully it shouldn't be too bad. Just go for a more solid construction so it doesn't expand too rapidly on the small species and you'll not lose too much meat. The 7-08 isn't a military calibre so will be fine for France, isn't too big for Roe and isn't too small for Reds.

 

I tend to follow Dunkields line of thought with the really large calibres. If you're on a budget then stick to a rifle that is best for your main quarry. I have silly and pointless calibres but I can afford other guns to make up for that!

[Dempy]

Instead of .270, how about 300 winmag? Something I have never had a use for, but always fancied!

 

fast round

[Harnser]

I have allways advocated the .308 as the jack of all trades calibre and still do . I am now a one gun stalker and shoot an m77 in 308 for foxs up to red stags . The best choice of bullets come in 30 calibre and the round is very versatile from 100 grain up to 200 plus .

I have owned all the stalking calibres over the years and have realized that the .308 winchester is the only gun a stalker needs to shoot deer and foxes with . I now only load 150 grain bullets and use them for every thing . Proberbly my most favourite rifle was my .270 , which I used for many years on european big game with fabulous results . The only problem with the .270 is they are a bit noisey at first light in woodland and tend to have a bit to much power for the smaller deer .

 

Harnser .