Thread: What calibre

243 would be good for a lot of what you'd be hunting here.
If you want to step up .308 .270 or 7mm08 are the most popular calibers. Pick one of these in a Tikka stainless and everyone will think you were born here.

I wouldn't really bother with anything much bigger than a .308 or .270 for normal hunting situations.
I personally would go for .260, because I like it and reload. But for a non-reloader the 3 I mentioned would be your best bet.

Out of interest where are you English folk moving to?
My first guess would be Christchurch?

Hopefully not Auckland

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Pick one of these in a Tikka stainless and everyone will think you...

...are a boring fart with no taste?

Also check out how much the ammo is, not just about calibre you also need to see how much it will cost to feed the beast! Bets prices i have gotten for ammo is at the outdoorsman in roto vegas, good bunch of buggers in there and prices are fantastic for hornady sst's

Originally Posted by hawkfish

this has probably been asked before

Doubtful

That's not much. 140s or 150s?

Originally Posted by gimp

That's not much. 140s or 150s?

130's doing 2850fps from a 24 inch barrel and under an inch 53.5 grains will get me one inch grouping and 50fps short of 3000fps if I go any higher with the charge then groups open up to an unsatisfactory sizing, going to be trying out a slower powder for it once the 4350 I have runs out but will be trying some 140's on it too before then.

7.62×39×270 ?

"Yawn" . Another case of someone who has been brain washed into thinking bigger is best lol. Its horses for courses. If bush stalking or shooting within 200m a 243 is PLENTY of fire power for any Red in NZ. I havnt lost one deer or pig yet with my 243 after being hit with in 0-200m with good ammo. Unless you doing longer range shooting every now and again theres no need to even think about changing to a "bigger" calbre. A 243 will still knock over game at 300m -400m if need be but if you shooting more than 200m a reasonable percentage of the time then i would recommend going to something like a 308 as its a fact that something like that performs better at the longer rangers than a 243.
But if 95 pcent of your shooting is 0-180m etc i have found the 243 will drop anything no prob and seems to be even better than the BIG Bangers as lots of hunters think because they using a cannon just getting it on and pulling the trigger it they drop the animal.
Have mates that use a 308, 3006, 270 and they all have shot deer in the past within 200m and they all have stories of the one that got away, or have run a fair distance after being it. never had a deer run more than 50yards ever if hit with my 243 at a reasonable distance,

Originally Posted by deer243

"Yawn" . Another case of someone who has been brain washed into thinking bigger is best lol. Its horses for courses. If bush stalking or shooting within 200m a 243 is PLENTY of fire power for any Red in NZ. I havnt lost one deer or pig yet with my 243 after being hit with in 0-200m with good ammo. Unless you doing longer range shooting every now and again theres no need to even think about changing to a "bigger" calbre. A 243 will still knock over game at 300m -400m if need be but if you shooting more than 200m a reasonable percentage of the time then i would recommend going to something like a 308 as its a fact that something like that performs better at the longer rangers than a 243.
But if 95 pcent of your shooting is 0-180m etc i have found the 243 will drop anything no prob and seems to be even better than the BIG Bangers as lots of hunters think because they using a cannon just getting it on and pulling the trigger it they drop the animal.
Have mates that use a 308, 3006, 270 and they all have shot deer in the past within 200m and they all have stories of the one that got away, or have run a fair distance after being it. never had a deer run more than 50yards ever if hit with my 243 at a reasonable distance,

When youve got a little one all ya want is a bigger one!
Apparently

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

When youve got a little one all ya want is a bigger one!
Apparently

And savagely defend the abilities of little ones!

Originally Posted by Spudattack

And savagely defend the abilities of little ones!

The best thing about small ones apparently,
Theres no hole they wont fit in!

Originally Posted by deer243

you shooting more than 200m a reasonable percentage of the time then i would recommend going to something like a 308 as its a fact that something like that performs better at the longer rangers than a 243.

Nah, .243 is an excellent long range cartridge if you have the right rifle (1:9" or faster twist) and load it correctly (stuff case to the brim with slow burning powder with a 105-115gr bullet on top)

Originally Posted by deer243

"Yawn" . Another case of someone who has been brain washed into thinking bigger is best lol. Its horses for courses. If bush stalking or shooting within 200m a 243 is PLENTY of fire power for any Red in NZ. I havnt lost one deer or pig yet with my 243 after being hit with in 0-200m with good ammo. Unless you doing longer range shooting every now and again theres no need to even think about changing to a "bigger" calbre. A 243 will still knock over game at 300m -400m if need be but if you shooting more than 200m a reasonable percentage of the time then i would recommend going to something like a 308 as its a fact that something like that performs better at the longer rangers than a 243.
But if 95 pcent of your shooting is 0-180m etc i have found the 243 will drop anything no prob and seems to be even better than the BIG Bangers as lots of hunters think because they using a cannon just getting it on and pulling the trigger it they drop the animal.
Have mates that use a 308, 3006, 270 and they all have shot deer in the past within 200m and they all have stories of the one that got away, or have run a fair distance after being it. never had a deer run more than 50yards ever if hit with my 243 at a reasonable distance,

No not at all, Im quite happy with the 243 but its interesting to see the different opinions, over here a lot of scotish estates wont let you use a 243 to shoot Red stags or Sika. I have shot a load of Deer with the 243 and nothing has gone anywhere, but Id like something bigger just to give me more options if nothing else and I wondered what you guys favoured, thats all....

Originally Posted by hawkfish

No not at all, Im quite happy with the 243 but its interesting to see the different opinions, over here a lot of scotish estates wont let you use a 243 to shoot Red stags or Sika. I have shot a load of Deer with the 243 and nothing has gone anywhere, but Id like something bigger just to give me more options if nothing else and I wondered what you guys favoured, thats all....

Stop this nonsense, get a 308

Originally Posted by Gibo

Stop this nonsense, get a 308

Sorry!

I might just have to do that! ��