The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Hunt

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 12, 2012, 12:34 AM   #26
sneasle
Member
 
Join Date: February 17, 2011
Posts: 35
So far it looks like the .243 is leading, which I kind of expected.

I got a PM to consider the .260Rem and it looks like a solid choice, but I'm not sure the availability is there.

After that it looks like 7mm-08 would be my fall back plan, then onto .270 and .308. 30-30 will be an option if I come across a nice lever at a nice price.


That sound like a plan?
sneasle is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 02:21 AM   #27
Buzzcook
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 29, 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 6,126
It's a jump from the 7mm-08 to the .270.

There are several cartridges you should look at. The 6.5x55Swede and the .260Rem are ballistic twins worth looking at. .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts are also good rounds.
Buzzcook is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 04:52 AM   #28
Dr. Strangelove
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 1, 2008
Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 1,436
Quote:
Originally Posted by sneaesle
So far it looks like the .243 is leading, which I kind of expected.

I got a PM to consider the .260Rem and it looks like a solid choice, but I'm not sure the availability is there.

After that it looks like 7mm-08 would be my fall back plan, then onto .270 and .308. 30-30 will be an option if I come across a nice lever at a nice price.


That sound like a plan?
Though any of the above will be a great rifle, I'd look strongly at the .270 and the .308 as having the most versatility. Though I dearly love my .270, the .308 is a bit more versatile in commercially available loads, and has the advantage of being a short action, together with the availability of surplus govt. ammo.
__________________
Just remember, when you pull the trigger, the bullets come out going very, very fast. So make sure to keep the weapon pointing away from you.
Dr. Strangelove is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 05:09 AM   #29
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
I would add:
250 Savage
257 Roberts
7mm Mauser
44 mag in Bolt or semi auto rifle

These should all provide very low recoils and 243 class stopping power. The 243 win is probably the most versatile. I would guess you would find a 44 rifle limited to about 150 yards or less, but I'm a bolt gun or semi auto, it should recoil very little.
Nathan is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 05:17 AM   #30
nate45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 15, 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,746
Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzcook
There are several cartridges you should look at. The 6.5x55Swede and the .260Rem are ballistic twins worth looking at. .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts are also good rounds.
Those are good ideas for something different than .243 Winchester.

I'm thinking strictly of you being recoil sensitive.

While many people will scoff at the idea of the .270 Winchester, or .308 Winchester kicking hard, off of the bench they may bother you.

My grandfather used a .243 Winchester for 40-50 years and the deer, hogs, etc he killed with it looked just as dead as those killed with more powerful rifles.
__________________
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
(>_<)
nate45 is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 07:43 AM   #31
Saltydog235
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 20, 2010
Location: Pawleys Island
Posts: 1,563
From your initial post, you only have two choices, the .243 or 7mm08. Cartridges like the .260, .257 Bob, etc aren't readily available and cost a fortune compared to standards. The LA rounds are going to be a handful to someone who is recoil sensative.

A .243 with 90-100 grn bullets a proper shot placement will drop any whitetail or pig around. Step up to a 7mm08 and you can do a bit more. 120grn bullets will drop whitetails and shoot relatively flat. 150grn bullets mimick the performance of a 165grn in a .308 and are flat devastating on pigs and wood goats. IMHO the 7mm08 is the perfect whitetail deer round for nominal responsible shooting ranges 99% of hunters encounter.
Saltydog235 is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 12:19 PM   #32
warbirdlover
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2009
Location: central Wisconsin
Posts: 2,324
I have been using a .300 Win Mag for years. Never got nailed over my eye because and "old pro" at the range years ago told me when shooting a heavy kicking rifle to "stick my chin out" and move your head to get a good view through the scope. This keeps you from tilting your head forward toward the scope and getting nailed. Believe me it works. And after doing it awhile it becomes a normal part of your setup.
warbirdlover is offline  
Old January 12, 2012, 12:32 PM   #33
myshoulderissore
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 12, 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 447
Being recoil sensitive, and seeing the CZ550 on your list in the other forum, I really would recommend the CZ550 American or CZ550FS in 6.5x55 Swede. Very good, easygoing (on you, not game) round, IMHO the finest rifle you can get for under a grand, and beating many over a grand. Set trigger is amazing, accuracy is great, Mauser style action, very nice looking walnut stock. Hornady Superformance 140gr SST gives you very good power, while going easy on your shoulder, yet I would feel great taking any non dangerous game with it. Really,I would trust it to take brown bear, lions, etc., but I would not feel good trying to stop a charge with it.

I really urge you to at least check out a CZ550 before you buy, and look at write-ups of the 6.5 Swede, it really is an amazing round.
myshoulderissore is offline  
Old January 18, 2012, 07:33 AM   #34
Jack O'Conner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2005
Location: Manatee County, Florida
Posts: 1,974
Farmer Boy is right on; 30-30 is still the best cartridge for the hunter who plans to master his carbine with shooting practise. That is, shooting dozens of rounds from improvised field positions.

This older photo shows my daughter with a huge South Dakota muley she toppled with one shot with my Winchester. Distance was approx 125 yards or so.

30-30 is a keeper!

Jack

__________________
Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.
Jack O'Conner is offline  
Old January 18, 2012, 09:12 PM   #35
MOshooter65202
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 16, 2011
Posts: 471
I really like the 7mm-08 that's the cartridge I started my Son when he was 10 years old,he's still using the 7mm-08 almost 13 years later.
MOshooter65202 is offline  
Old January 26, 2012, 12:03 AM   #36
Stick_man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 18, 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 241
My vote would probably go to the 7mm-08 even though the .243 ammo would be a little more universally available. It is light on the recoil and yet with a good 140gr is adequate for elk.

The .243 is a very popular deer gun (yes, even in the west) and would probably rank in the top 10 calibers when talking deer taken. However, because of it's weight limitations (105gr is about max available), ranges should be kept under 300 yards for reliable kills.

On another note, I believe you can get "managed recoil" loads for the .308 and the caliber is probably the most inherently accurate of the bunch. It can also be loaded with (standard) bullets ranging in weights from 110gr up through 200gr with excellent results. It is actually ballistically superior to the .30-06 in bullet weights of 165gr or less. There is a reason the military snipers use it for their light weight sniper guns.
Stick_man is offline  
Old January 26, 2012, 05:53 AM   #37
youp
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 15, 2005
Location: south of Canada, eh?
Posts: 438
...and the winner is?

Based on the low priced factory ammo criteria the 30-30 Win. With a close second being the 243.
__________________
Use enough gun.
youp is offline  
Old January 26, 2012, 09:41 AM   #38
Bittervinom
Member
 
Join Date: September 16, 2011
Location: Florence S.C.
Posts: 26
I'd have to fall in with a few of the other guys. My 6 yr old son...4'5" tall beast he is likes the .243 and I also recomend the .270. Both are easy to find ammo in just about any gun Manufacturer flavor you prefer. I like the Marlin XL7 in .270, it's light, 22" barrel, and was dead nuts at 100 yrds out the box. To boot it had a "accu-trigger" too. Good recoil pad make a difference too.
Bittervinom is offline  
Old January 28, 2012, 07:51 AM   #39
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
For a short range hunter, you might think about a 243 AR or better looking Browning/Remington semi auto.
Nathan is offline  
Old January 30, 2012, 07:17 PM   #40
2ndtimer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2004
Location: Kennewick, WA
Posts: 292
For overall versatility for the recoil sensitive, you just can't beat a .243 Win. It is also a dynamite long range varmint cartridge when loaded with lightweight bullets and equipped with an appropriate scope. While many tout the 7mm-08 as a mild recoiling cartridge, many of them come in the form of lightweight carbines, and having owned a Model 70 20" barrel lightweight carbine, it was not a light kicker. Particularly when loaded with the most popular factory ammo, a 140 gr SP at around 2700 fps. Great deer cartridge, absolutely, but not in the same light kicking league as a .243 win. Trust me, I have owned 5 different .243 Winchesters, and my current Sako A-7 is probably the hardest kicker of all them and it is mild, even with 95 gr Ballistic Tips at 3000 fps which is good medicine for any buck out to 300 yards. Some prefer the Partition, but I get much better accuracy with the Ballistic Tip. The 30-30 is a good hunting round as long as you are willing to give up half the range and a lot of accuracy compared to the .243 Win. If you want a real pussycat, recoil wise, get yourself a Weatherby Vanguard in .243 Win. They are a little heavier than most comparable rifles and will reduce the recoil even more with the extra 1/2 pound or so they carry. They are also reasonably priced and are available with a 24" barrel to give maximum performance out of factory ammo. Seriously, if you don't like recoil and want to be able to practice enough to improve your skill, get a .243 Winchester and don't look back. At least that is my honest opinion and based on actual experience.
2ndtimer is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:22 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06972 seconds with 10 queries