If you’ve read my hunting reports or most of my opinion to the subject of rifle and caliber choice and my approach to hunting -which I’ve done my fair share of, most, if not all of it, is based on first hand experience. If I used it and it works well, i.e .243, of course I’m going to put that in my hunting report. Just like I would with my 7 REM MAG, 300 RUM, or 375 H&H and my respective bullet choices. That’s because I’ve done it, first hand, and know it works. I could give two shits about anyone else’s second hand opinion. Although, I do appreciate Bob’s commentary and low grade humor regarding the .243. I also appreciate his commitment to keeping the lessor known 35 Whelen alive for those of us to wander about. And, if Bob reports that it works for him, and supplies the proof, that’s good enough for me. He knows this about me.
I’m a solo hunter, I put my time in, report as factually as possible about my hunts and the equipment I use. I have several .30 cal rifles: to include, 30-30, 30-06, .30 Carbine, 308, 300 WBY, 300 RUM, a couple .375H&H. A couple of those are military rifles that some may have hunted with, but I don’t. Many are/were popular and a couple to include 300 RUM and 375 H&H I still hunt with.
I, like most Americans, that grew hunting and shooting, whether bird or rifle hunting, were given or loaned, there first rifle or shotgun to hunt with and those became part of their hunting experiences. For a lot of Americans and African PH’s this includes a .243, just a fact. If you ask most PH’s, they are likely to tell you their love of a .243 is based in experience hunting with it and that is what I’ve learned. It was only at the urging of my PH on my 3rd Safari, that I started using it to hunt PG with. I’ve not had one PH in my many Safaris, express anything other than great respect for the .243 because they’ve killed so many animals with it. Even on my current Safari to the point that I was told to use it on larger plains game… It’s in my hunt report. I’ll post pictures of entry, exit, and vital damage on those animals. To include pictures of heart and lungs.
For the record, I’ll use what I can effectively shoot and kill animals with, and I’ll continue to report as accurately as possible.
Side note: I bought my LH .243 Tikka, and later had it customized, to get comfortable practicing the repetitive mechanics and functions of that style rifle in preparation for my LH SAKO .375H&H, because they are the same basic design. I never intended to hunt PG with the .243 because I had a really good shooting 7MM REM MAG. I’ve taken my share of North American game with the .243 too. I have never had an animal, shot with a .243, not recovered immediately. So, I’ll continue to hunt with it because it is effective!
To each their own…
