advice please on .243 and .308

[kennym]

Hi all i'm just doing my variation for a .243 & before I send it off I would like to ask the advice of the people on the forum as I have little experience in matters such as barrel ware ect..

 

I would like to use the rifle as a kind of multipurpose tool, I want to use it for fox, deer maybe in the future and 6-800 yard target shooting, I like what I read about the versatility of the round and the flat shooting properties, however I have also read that the barrel life is short when compared with a .308, the gun I have in mind is a Howa 1500,

 

I own FAC shotgun, .22LR and .17HMR so small vermin and indoor targets are already catered for, do you use this round for similar? what are your thoughts?

 

thanks ken.

[CharlieT]

How much target work do you intend to do ?.

 

You'll get 5 times the barrel life from a .308. However, having said that you can't beat a.243 for fox and vermin and the odd bit of stalking, it's a joy to use and ideal under the lamp, due, as you say, to it's flat shooting capabilities.

 

Expect say 2000 rounds barrel life. If you can live with that then get the .243. However, if you do a fair bit of target work, then it may be prudent to lean towards the.308. Alternatively, replace the .243 when it's shot out or, when funds permit, buy a s/h .308 for your target work, which is the route I would choose.

[malkiserow]

A 7.08 maybe ?

[Paul T]

You might find your FLO might limit the choice - mine wouldn't allow anything other than a .243 if I wanted fox and deer. .308 is probably the best calibre for what you want - and it's probably the same for me long term, but I've had to bite the bullet (so to speak) and get the .243 for now.

 

I'd just ask for the .308 for deer with AOLQ - hope you get it

 

...and I looked at the Howa, but the Tikka is better. That said, I ended up with stainless Rem 700 with a Boyd stock and I love it.

[Redgum]

2000 rnd life on a 243 barrel? I'm sure that hot loads with fast powders behind small bullets may get that figure but sensible loads and barrel cooling will see more than 2000 rnds out of a 243.

[bullet boy]

I will always recommend the Tikka T3 cos it's a superb rifle!!

[kent]

A good target gun is not going to make the best foxing gun. The .308 win is parent case to the .243win, .260 rem, 7-08 rem. A .260 is about as big as I should go for fox (with something like the 95 v-max) but can out perform a .308 on targets but will often place in a different class ie open rather than TR, in open class you will be up against 7mm magnums and their like. Non the less its a great round to shoot with lighter recoil and high BC 6.5 mm bullets, it makes a fine mid point gun between fox, deer and targets. 7-08 rem offers no great advantage over a .308 win and bullets in 7mm are harder to get than 6mm, 6.5mm or thirty cal.

shooting light fast bullets from a .243 like the 55 and 58 might give you a barrel life of as little as say 1500 but slower heavier bullets using cooler burning powders can extend that radically. Many factors are involved not least how hot you get the barrel. .243 win will again place you in open class but 6mm target bullets are among the most available there are, its advantages to the new shooter are lighter recoil a factor that should never be dismissed both in the hunting field and on the range, especially from improvised stances.

 

A point of prime importance is which task do you wish to sacrifice because the two needs are very different in terms of equipment let alone the size of bullet they fire. Scopes, barrel weight, stock type, mag fed or single shot etc. My thoughts are buy the .243 Howa then if you still interested in doing more than an odd fun visit to the range get a more suited gun and scope for that use, without sacrificing anything.