One caliber away from contentment... who else?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I guess there always has to be "that" guy, but IME, the .243 has let me down more than any other caliber.

I once made a perfect heart/lung shot on a whitetail buck at about 100 yds with Federal Hydra Shoks.
The deer ran for at least 1/4 mile and came back to the place where I shot it the first time. I shot it again and it staggered and fell this time.

The bullet holes were less than 2 inches apart. I have taken several animals with a .243 and none were what I would have expected with an adequate medium-game cartridge. (I know, if I were shooting premium bullets, the results may have been different, but I don't believe you need to buy $3.00/round ammo to humanely dispatch whitetail deer at 100 yds).

I would opt for a .25 caliber or a 6.5mm with a similar recoil to fill the niche.


Just my 2 cents...

@Safari Dave
That's been my experience with 243 users. @peter Who had similar experiences with his 243. He now owns a nice left hand Remington 700 in 25-06
Bob

 

[mdwest]

.243 has been hit or miss performance for me… we’ve still got one in the safe.. but it hasn’t seen the light of day in several years… I’m honestly doubtful it will ever get shot again… it’s been pretty much rescinded to the role of “loaner” rifle if anyone needs to borrow a gun… and it sits about 4th chair in that role lol

 

[MRBlack]

Hey everyone...

I have decided that I am only one caliber away from complete contentment... does anyone else feel the same?

I thought I had the complete armoury but looking again l think l'm missing something...
Looking in my safe I have everything from rabbits to long-range deer hunting to close-range elephant hunting covered -but I'm missing one caliber that would be perfect FOR ME.
And l believe that caliber is the .243 Winchester.

I have always owned bigger calibers but my absolute favourite hunting spot in the world (@CBH Australia this is where we hunted ) is where l hunt Fallow deer - and not particularly big Fallow at that. There's no Sambar, just Fallow so a bigger caliber isn't required.

Now, having said that I have hunted this spot with the following calibers... .458 Win Mag, 425 Express, 338 Win Mag and my next trip l was going to bring my 308 Norma Mag.
All have done - or will do the job, but all of the above are expensive, kick hard and are big for Fallow... and l think a .243 Would be perfect for this hunting spot.

Why the .243 over other certain calibers?
Well for one l really like the .243.
I also like the idea of walking into a gun shop and have a selection of readily available ammo off the shelf.
I can choose ammo from 55 to over 100gn.
Recoil is mild so my wife and kids can comfortably shoot it.
Pretty flat trajectory - similar to my 308 Norma.
It's effective on Fallow sized game. I've personally seen with my own eyes a mate drop 2 Fallow with one shot using factory Federal blue-box 100gn ammo.
I think it would be a nice step down from my 308 Norma.

As far as rifles go, l think my perfect .243 would be housed in a Winchester M70 with a 22" barrel with a nice trim 3-9x scope on top.
If l couldn't find a Winchester M70 it would have to be something that is nice light and trim.

Now, all the above is just me dreaming as l have NO budget for a new rifle!
BUT!
If l could afford one more rifle it would be a .243 Winchester.
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and it's not very exotic or exciting, but l already own enough exciting calibers so a .243 it would be

Is anyone else one caliber or rifle away from complete contentment?
If so, would love to hear what it is! And it can be as exotic or rare as you want.
And l bet it's not a .243!

Russ

I have that literal set up and thoroughly enjoy it. A pre 64 standard weight 243 with a z3 3-9. Perfect all arounder for the Ozarks. 100gr partition for Whitetails and 74 Bergerd for coyotes, wood chucks, armadillos and other varmints

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Never owned a 243 and never will. Never been a fan of any caliber that ended in Win or Rem. Don’t know why, just me. I am drawn to the slightly more obscure calibers because they are a little different, also just like me. I’m a one of a kind! I really like the satisfaction of making my own rounds to hunt with, and seeing the fruits of my labour.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Never owned a 243 and never will. Never been a fan of any caliber that ended in Win or Rem. Don’t know why, just me. I am drawn to the slightly more obscure calibers because they are a little different, also just like me. I’m a one of a kind! I really like the satisfaction of making my own rounds to hunt with, and seeing the fruits of my labour.

Ahh a partaker of unobtainium...cool.

 

[Safari Dave]

So, are you in the Creedmoor camp?

I have to admit that I own a "manbun", but I've never shot an animal with it.


I can hold my head high when I hunt with a .260 Rem or 6.5 x 55!

 

[Rafiki]

I thought I was done a year ago but a 375 H&H got in the way.

 

[Franco]

I’m more like one caliber a month away from contentment.

I could not have said it any better.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Never owned a 243 and never will. Never been a fan of any caliber that ended in Win or Rem. Don’t know why, just me. I am drawn to the slightly more obscure calibers because they are a little different, also just like me. I’m a one of a kind! I really like the satisfaction of making my own rounds to hunt with, and seeing the fruits of my labour.

Well, Bob's @Bob Nelson 35Whelen one of a kind too. Talk to him about his one of a kind wildcats. You'd be the first one in Canada to own one (or more). LOL

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Never owned a 243 and never will. Never been a fan of any caliber that ended in Win or Rem. Don’t know why, just me. I am drawn to the slightly more obscure calibers because they are a little different, also just like me. I’m a one of a kind! I really like the satisfaction of making my own rounds to hunt with, and seeing the fruits of my labour.

@Boyd Brooks
That's why I own a 25 that I designed. I would also have a 250 Savage, 257 Roberts or a 25-06.
Their ain't no Winchester, Remington, Weatherby or any other name in the 35 Whelen despite the fact Remington legitimised it. The grand old cartridge kept its proper name.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

I have to admit that I own a "manbun", but I've never shot an animal with it.


I can hold my head high when I hunt with a .260 Rem or 6.5 x 55!

Approved!

 

[CBH Australia]

@Boyd Brooks
That's why I own a 25 that I designed. I would also have a 250 Savage, 257 Roberts or a 25-06.
Their ain't no Winchester, Remington, Weatherby or any other name in the 35 Whelen despite the fact Remington legitimised it. The grand old cartridge kept its proper name.
Bob

And Bob adopted it.

Even my phone contact list is written as Bob Nelson .35Whelen

 

[bobdahunter84]

I feel like I'm pretty much covered in terms of rifle calibers at this point. I wrote down a list, and I don't think I'm missing anything I need. I might be missing a caliber or two in the safe that didn't make the list. I know I have a couple of the calibers in multiple guns. Still a couple shotguns and pistols I'd like.

22 LR
220 Swift
223
240 Wby
26 Nosler
270 Wby
7MM Wby
30-30
30-06
300 Wby
308 Win
338 Win Mag
375 H&H
416 Rem
458 Lott

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I feel like I'm pretty much covered in terms of rifle calibers at this point. I wrote down a list, and I don't think I'm missing anything I need. I might be missing a caliber or two in the safe that didn't make the list. I know I have a couple of the calibers in multiple guns. Still a couple shotguns and pistols I'd like.

22 LR
220 Swift
223
240 Wby
26 Nosler
270 Wby
7MM Wby
30-30
30-06
300 Wby
308 Win
338 Win Mag
375 H&H
416 Rem
458 Lott

@bobdahunter84
Take out the 240 Weatherby and the 338WM and replace them with the 257 Weatherby and the 35 Whelen and it would be even better.
Bob

 

[bobdahunter84]

@bobdahunter84
Take out the 240 Weatherby and the 338WM and replace them with the 257 Weatherby and the 35 Whelen and it would be even better.
Bob

Take out? Just adding to the list seems like a better idea!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Take out? Just adding to the list seems like a better idea!

@bobdahunter84
Just replacing the not so good with better.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[colorado]

I shot an elk in Montana running through the timber at 20 yards with my 243 with 105g Speer spitzers. He was dead when he hit the ground. Only reason I switched to my canon of a 270 Win was the grizzlies that would come to see what was going on.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I shot an elk in Montana running through the timber at 20 yards with my 243 with 105g Speer spitzers. He was dead when he hit the ground. Only reason I switched to my canon of a 270 Win was the grizzlies that would come to see what was going on.

I’m sure it was dead when it fell. Did you leave out the half day of tracking to find where it fell? Asking for a friend!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m sure it was dead when it fell. Did you leave out the half day of tracking to find where it fell? Asking for a friend!

@Boyd Brooks
Luckily he was using the right bullet even tho it was maximum effective range for the 243, 20 yards.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[Safari Dave]

Colorado must be one hell of a killing machine!



A coyote would run 300 yards, if I shot it with a .243.