Thread: .223 vs .243 please.

Depends what you call long range.

.223 is a great caliber but as soon as you start talking deer and distances over 300m the .243 is going to come out on top.
As Dougie mentioned, picking the right rifle, load and maybe adding a moderator is going to make a big difference recoil/comfort wise.

[QUOTE=CreepingDeath;68735]Bad experience can come from wounding an animal with to smaller caliber aswell that may put her off for life. A deer culler can say after shooting a couple thousand animals that 223 is enough gun for deer and it is, but in inexperienced hands a few inches makes a difference. My choice would be the 243 for the reasons stated above and I have never felt recoil worth talking about from any 243 ive shot and that a few. Ik not bagging the 223 its a great round but not acceptable for someones first animal in my opinion.

Well said

Mark. I think you need to quantify said girls guns use.
I was picking mostly varmints and paper, one day a deer if she is lucky?
In which case 223.
Its all good advice here but two main directions because of imagining its main use.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Mark. I think you need to quantify said girls guns use.
I was picking mostly varmints and paper, one day a deer if she is lucky?
In which case 223.
Its all good advice here but two main directions because of imagining its main use.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

+1 on that. Just remember POO 4 3 and ya cant go wrong

big diff to standing and shooting and lying down at a range to felt recoil and how its delivered to you - point load and ouch, nice fit and so much better - stock design has a lot to do with it

Nice recoil pad and a suppressor takes it away - and if you can get someone to trim the stock (before recoil pad) to suit

243 my pick - better for deer, you'd have to shoot a hell of a lot of hares etc to make a economic case for 223 (i.e. another rifle) - think I spend more on gas than hunting ammo per trip

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Mark. I think you need to quantify said girls guns use.
I was picking mostly varmints and paper, one day a deer if she is lucky?
In which case 223.
Its all good advice here but two main directions because of imagining its main use.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

You hit the nail on the head there cam. We are definitely talking paper and varmints with the lucky close deer a possibility but in saying that the .270 will always be close at hand!!! (Provided its sighted in lol)

I love this shit on my phone

Sorry for any inconvenience guys in my shit explanation

I love this shit on my phone

Doesnt have to be new remember In that price range could get a far better secondhand rifle than a new sub $1000

get a 1:8 twist second hand tikka. my Mrs has one which is suppressed. uses it for everything within sensible range. takes 7mm08 for tahr given the shots are generally longer.

243 bro run targex thru it and watch em tip over.

Originally Posted by R93

Just remember POO 4 3 and ya cant go wrong

I feel faint!

Another question is would you look at suppressing the rifle. I like my hearing so have mine suppressed (223, 243 and 308), adds some weight but also a big reduction in recoil. As mentioned earlier a good butt pad helps, seems to be one of the first bits changed on a lot of T3's.

Originally Posted by stug

223 and use a Barnes for the deer.

Just loaded 100 rounds of 53gr Barnes for a mates 222 Vixen. He usually uses 50 gr and still nails them. Dont forget the small thing called recoil. Nice to shoot all day with minimal thought about it.

It must be my fat shoulder's but i dont reckon the 243 has any real recoil.