One caliber away from contentment... who else?

[Ridge Runner]

Well...maybe...unless he's a snowflake...then he may be too incompetent to use a Glock.

Wow!
That's going to leave a mark.
He must have seen one too many movies where the shooter steadies the (longer barreled) handgun over their non firing arm.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I don’t know why someone would want a 243.... they are gay....worse than a creedmoor......you should get a real mans ( or ladies )calibre Like the 6-08......a much more manly( or ladyly....is that even a word?) calibre....I know of two of them over here....the rifle that is....


gumpy



we'll just see how long it takes.....

 

[Forrest Halley]

Wow!
That's going to leave a mark.
He must have seen one too many movies where the shooter steadies the (longer barreled) handgun over their non firing arm.

No that was a snow flake that got shot by a rifle during a riot after trying to murder someone.

 

[colorado]

I don’t know why someone would want a 243.... they are gay....worse than a creedmoor......you should get a real mans ( or ladies )calibre Like the 6-08......a much more manly( or ladyly....is that even a word?) calibre....I know of two of them over here....the rifle that is....


gumpy



we'll just see how long it takes.....

Well a good friend went out and bought a 9mm Sig. I told him if I just wanted to make someone angry, I would just insult them

 

[Woodcarver]

No that was a snow flake that got shot by a rifle during a riot after trying to murder someone.

I knew I had seen that pic before. That was the only survivor that went after Kyle during the "mostly peaceful protest". And then his testimony hung himself and acquitted the kid defending himself. He really is a POS, not just a snowflake.

 

[MS 9x56]

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

The problem with 243 is it has no soul, being the bastard child of the 308. What you really need is the original first cartridge to surpass the magical 3000 fps. The 250-3000.

 

[colorado]

My first big game rifle was a BDL in 243. I loved that gun. Moved to Montana needed something bigger with grizzlies around. Went with a BDL in 270 never looked back. Varmints: Sierra 90g HPBTs at 3400 fps. Deer, elk and bear, 150g Partitions at 3000 fps. Still works

 

[MS 9x56]

Greetings Russ,

Hi again Russ,

The world is small and getting smaller.
Back about the same time as companies in your country were marketing “sporterized” Scandinavian Mausers in 6.5x55 caliber, companies in my country were doing the same.
From my point of view and with only a very select few exceptions, “sporterize” is almost always synonymous with “vandalize”.
Be that as it may, in my limited experiences with said surplus Scandi-Swedish Mausers, they were pleasantly accurate.

The .264 Winchester Magnum ya, it’s a screeching laser beam for sure.
I will guess that it shines for long shots at thin skinned game but I’ve never shot anything with that cartridge, except paper targets.
It’s one caliber that despite my wearing ear plugs and ear covers both, the loud and sharp sound hurt my eardrums, right through said double protection.

Even with that crybaby memory of trying a .264 Magnum, at a rifle range, indeed I agree with you that a vintage Winchester Model 70, in that caliber might be fun to hunt thin skinned game with, in the wide open places.

Meanwhile, in the pics attached here, you will see my CZ 550, in caliber 6.5x55, with vintage Leupold 3X scope in lever rings.
Generally speaking, I do not care for short barreled hunting rifles.
However, this little 6.5 of mine is a noted exception.
It’s a delight to carry and easy to shoot, even for recoil sissies like me.

Cheers Mate,
Paul.

View attachment 565895View attachment 565896View attachment 565897

Love the rifle. Mine is in 9.3x62. I am currently suffering from a Mannlicher stock affliction.

 

[Forrest Halley]

My first big game rifle was a BDL in 243. I loved that gun. Moved to Montana needed something bigger with grizzlies around. Went with a BDL in 270 never looked back. Varmints: Sierra 90g HPBTs at 3400 fps. Deer, elk and bear, 150g Partitions at 3000 fps. Still works

I find it interesting how people scale up to something sub thirty and find it to be a big enough gun for bears. I'm in the camp of .308 diameter and at least 180 grain bullet. If I were a one gun guy the Whelen or the 9.3 sound very nice for conventional long actions with a slight edge to the turdy-phive for bullet availability.

 

[MS 9x56]

Anyone who thinks a 30 or lower is big enough has never been charged and it end at the end of your barrel. For me it starts at 35.

 

[colorado]

I find it interesting how people scale up to something sub thirty and find it to be a big enough gun for bears. I'm in the camp of .308 diameter and at least 180 grain bullet. If I were a one gun guy the Whelen or the 9.3 sound very nice for conventional long actions with a slight edge to the turdy-phive for bullet availability.

I find it amazing that people think a 44 Mag revolver is more than enough for bears, when a 270 Win shooting 150g Partitions or A-Frames makes it a peashooter in comparison.

 

[375er]

I currently have 15 different rifle calibers at the moment; so for me it's not really about the next caliber, but rather the next beautiful rifle or killer deal that catches my eye. That being said, I keep hearing 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, and 6.5 Creedmoor calling my name; which is kind of funny as those three are almost the same thing.

If you start hearing a 25-06 calling to you, you will know true bliss!!!

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

The problem with 243 is it has no soul, being the bastard child of the 308. What you really need is the original first cartridge to surpass the magical 3000 fps. The 250-3000.

Whilst I’ll agree on the"has no soul" (6-08 is a better cartridge, more pizazz ) and I agree that the 250-3000 is a wonderful cartridge, I must point out that it wasn’t the first one to exceed 3000fps, the 280ross did that years before it
gumpy

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Newtons own 256 Newton was 2 years earlier than his 250 Savage and it shot above 3000 fps. It is very similar to the 6.5-06 but are not interchangeable. I would definitely like a Newton over a Creedmoor.

 

[cash_tx]

If you start hearing a 25-06 calling to you, you will know true bliss!!!

I actually picked another one of those up a little over a year ago as a barreled action donor to a nicely figured walnut stock that I had on hand. 25-06 has long been one of my favorites.

 

[Ridge Runner]

No that was a snow flake that got shot by a rifle during a riot after trying to murder someone.

Need more than just response on this one:

Like and Love it: he was stopped before he got away with a deadly crime.

Sad: poor marksmanship, QAbecause the rifleman didn't put the bullet into this guy's chest to neutralize the eminent and immediate deadly threat.

 

[CBH Australia]

Whilst I’ll agree on the"has no soul" (6-08 is a better cartridge, more pizazz ) and I agree that the 250-3000 is a wonderful cartridge, I must point out that it wasn’t the first one to exceed 3000fps, the 280ross did that years before it
gumpy

Grumpy, I reckon the .280a.i. has a little pizzaz or class.

If you start hearing a 25-06 calling to you, you will know true bliss!!!

I know those who use them regard them highly.
My mate has gone back to one this last year but others I've spoken to rate them highly.

 

[Woodcarver]

Need more than just response on this one:

Like and Love it: he was stopped before he got away with a deadly crime.

Sad: poor marksmanship, QAbecause the rifleman didn't put the bullet into this guy's chest to neutralize the eminent and immediate deadly threat.

To his credit, he did well on the others, and he was on his back with a pistol in his face, IJS....

 

[Ridge Runner]

I find it amazing that people think a 44 Mag revolver is more than enough for bears, when a 270 Win shooting 150g Partitions or A-Frames makes it a peashooter in comparison.

True. But it depends on location and hunting season or hiking season.

Carrying a 270 Win Mag while hiking during the no hunting season is a bit cumbersome and will mostly generate a few calls to both law enforcement and game wardens. A .44 mag is more convenient to carry.

During archery only hunts Tennessee and most likely quite a few other states want allow an archery hunter to carry a rifle or shotgun, but do allow archery hunters to carry handguns.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I find it amazing that people think a 44 Mag revolver is more than enough for bears, when a 270 Win shooting 150g Partitions or A-Frames makes it a peashooter in comparison.

The .44 magnum is the most commonly available and portable handgun of its power level. People carrying a .44 are folk that are looking to have the gun on their person when they need it mostly having their hands full with some other task. The 12 gauge or the rifle will be leaned up against a tree and possibly a world away. The .270 is a compromise choice for heavier game just like the .243 and I put it a worse choice than the .44 magnum because it loses in bore diameter and portability. So I have a compromise rifle leaning on the tree which if I get to will not be as good as something else better that I could have chosen to lean on the tree.

True. But it depends on location and hunting season or hiking season.

Carrying a 270 Win Mag while hiking during the no hunting season is a bit cumbersome and will mostly generate a few calls to both law enforcement and game wardens. A .44 mag is more convenient to carry.

During archery only hunts Tennessee and most likely quite a few other states want allow an archery hunter to carry a rifle or shotgun, but do allow archery hunters to carry handguns.

Clarification: A .270 Winchester is not a magnum cartridge. It can be used for metallic silhouettes. You may be crossing wires with the more rare .270 Weatherby Magnum.

Can't carry a rifle hiking in a lot of places without a hunting license during hunting season.

Handgun can fall under concealed license and not be considered a hunting implement.

I still can't say I'd ever pick a .270 where bears were a concern. Say whatever you like about bullet technology, but I can have the handgun on me and a bigger more powerful rifle is just better when the chips are down. I don't want to have to explain myself to the bear so he knows what he's getting shot with. An angry bear is a poor student for a lecture.