Hello im looking for a new rifle and caliber, now i had a .243tikka 595 which i found real good to shoot, but only shot roe, muntjac, cwd,with the 243
i was always told the 243 was`nt upto falow and sika,
what would you choose to Harvest muntjac, CWD, roe deer, fallow, and maybe sika ?

25-06
260
7-08
308
? cheers

chapster1,

the .243 is well up to the task. I had a .243 tikka 595 a couple of years ago and i sold it on a whim. probably one of the daftest thing i have ever done, it killed everything up to fallow size, never tried it on sika or red but had i the opportunity i would not have hesitated one bit to grab that one and flat pack anything bigger than fallow.

of the ones you have listed i would opt for the 7mm08.(just my preference because i have one!!)

as for alternatives maybe the 7x57 or 257 Roberts?

If you'll buy a new rifle, than buy one that's real diference to your 243.
In this case of the ones you have listed i would opt for the 7mm08, have good accuracy low recoil and shot reasonable flat. Yes this will be a good choise...
But, why not a great 30'06??? This is the totaly hunting caliber.... Even my favorite. You can use it for larger game, and use your 243 for medium game (roedeer, ecc).
Faina

Hello chapster1

The 243 is a great rifle. I hunt Red deer with mine,hinds and stags. Where i hunt in Scotland the outfitter always insists that i bring the 243.

I have also taken the 243 to Zimbabwe hunting Plainsgame. Such as Zebra, Kudu and Wildebeeste.

You will be fine shooting Fallow and Sika with a 243. Keep using it!!

Mike

Mike Taylor Sporting Agent
mike@miketaylorsporting.co.uk

For the heavier game like Wild Boar and Red Deer within 200m, the 100grn bullets have served me well with the 243.

I have heard of people having problems with big red stags with the .243 AND the .244 Holland. It is all about bullet placement and terminal performance. If you put it right you won't have a problem.

6.5 x 55 is what seems to be "in fashion" at the moment. But as an all-around then .25-06 is said to be good.

I can't see the point - in UK - of 7mm-08. Fine where .308 and 7 x 57 are prohibited calibres, but in UK? Why?

I agree with Faina: why not an 'hunting all around caliber such 30-06 or an european 7x64 Brenneke?

Low recoil, accuracy and great results on all european game @ normal shooting distance.

Have a great huntin' day, ciao

Generally speaking I am with Faina in choosing 30-06, but if you remain in your hunting areas you need for sure heavier bullets. You can choose 6.5*55, 6.5*65, 7*57, 7-08, 7*64, 8*57, 30-06, only to tell someone.

Steve you still have that Zoli 9.3x62?

Not a bad rifle either, maybe not the ideal caliber for chamois and roe, but a nice one for the rest of europe.

260 or 7-08

If you cant kill ANY of the deer listed with either of those two calibers, then you need to learn how to shoot!!!

I had a Tikka 595 243, re-barreled it to 260, best thing I ever did!!! (Not that I had a problem killing with the 243, the 260 is just BETTER)

Faina, 30-06??? Yuk!!! He'll not find anything BIG enough to NEED a 30-0yuk to shoot in Brittan, with the possible exception of boar(do you have any in Yorkshire?)

enfield, 6.5x55 is in "fashon" for a good reason, it's a good caliber, almost as good as a 260. 7x57, great caliber, as with all 7mm's a 7-08 will kick a 308's ass on preformance every time, the only two things a 308 has going for it is barrel life and ammo avalability.

quote:

a 7-08 will kick a 308's ass on preformance every time, the only two things a 308 has going for it is barrel life and ammo avalability.

What exactly is performance if it isn't making the beastie lie down with permanent narcolepsy?

Balistics are great fun but as far as stalking situations sub 250-300m in the UK (Anything above that you are in a minority nationally), the differences of any of the calibres mentioned are virtually academic. I'd be more interested in the build/setup of the new rifle and it's components before I got overly concerned about calibre.

That's not to say we don't all have our favourites, but they are favourites for a range of subjective reasons rather than any scientific fact.

If you are looking at some rather more exotic uses for a rifle globally then the relative merits of each calibre are somewhat more pronounced in my view, (still secondary to rifle secification), but for UK stalking they all kill deer.


Rgds,
FB

Cheers for the replys
it looks like either the 260 or 7-08

James have you recived your finished 260 yet ?

As for boar in yorkshire i know of a couple of escpies/release,

As Faina said get a caliber that is a worthwill jump up from the 243 otherwise its a waste of effort.Imagine arriving in Scotland and running out of bullets and having to re-zero your rifle, how many rural gunshops are going to stock any choice in 260 or 7-08? Most likely will be 243, 270 and 308.
You will always be safe in the UK with a 308 getting ammo anywhere. The 7-08 is an 'in between' cartridge so across the whole spectrum ifs performance is OK.
If you ever intend to hunt Europe, reload and want something different go 7x64. I use it to great effect in Scotland.

To be honest your most practical choice for all UK game including boar is the 308, 30-06 will not give you any greater practical advantage.

Mark

Hi Seth,
no I have an ultra customized Sabatti, normally it is cheaper than a Zoli, but I'm in love with it. As we say in Italy it fit to me like a glove, more over now that I shortened the stock. It was too long with the winter dresses.

If you hit a roe deer 9.3x62, for sure it won't have anything to say to protest, it will die and Amen. It will not get up again saying that the caliber swa not the right one. Not even the chamois, if you can get close enough to shoot at it.
Our friend 10,3x60r alias VenzinM. (Buon Anno Max), that lives in Grigioni canton in Switzerland can tell you that the 10,3x60r caliber is the minimum there. It has a Rainbow trajectory. 9.3x62 is a superflat if compared to 10,3x60r

I got roe deers and foxes with it during a trip in Hungary that I did to hunt red deer.

well im from ireland and i shoot 308 and have shot sika ,red,fallow, hybrids and boar abroad with it and would not change it for the world had a 270 great gun also 22-250 one of my favourites but as a all rounder 308 makes for a very handy stalking rifle and loaded with 110 vmax perfect foxing round long range varminting

Gidday Guys,

Listen to FB.

What he said is dead right. I have come to the same conclusion after thirty odd years pissing about with different calibres.

I do have a thing for 6.5mm cals now that has lasted for 10 years now showing no sign of abaiting but have put Reds through to fallow, sika, whitetail and chamois down consistently with 243 right through to 30-06 and quite frankly I'm buggered if I see any difference in terminal performance.

I do stalk in and place my shots so that may make a difference. One thing I have noticed with the 243 though is I did have more bang flops once the range was over approx 200 yards. Closer and they did tend to run for 20 to 50 yards before falling over. It may be just a quirk with me but something I noticed.

FB let us know how your 260 is going.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Hi Hamish,

The 260 is built!! I'm just waiting for the stock to be made then we are readdy. Unfortunately I think this is going to take a couple more months but I'm hoing to have the gun for the AR weekend.

Actually the 260 was a case in point for what I said before. I wanted rifle that was, Stainless, Moderated, shot a 120-140gr bullet, and was non military for use abroad. The only time I was concerned with the ballistics of the calibre was with regard to the short barrel and whether it would restrict me for my foreign hunting. Again that was a design question rather than a calibre question. The 7-08 probably would have done the deal but the bulet weights there were probably a little too high in the spectrum I was looking for.

Rgds,
FB

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
I'd be more interested in the build/setup of the new rifle and it's components before I got overly concerned about calibre.

FB

And the prize goes to ......FB.

I used to have some really preconcieved notions about calibres. As time has gone on and I have bought and tried rifles for the make and model, I have, as a by product, used some of the calibres I had previously taken a theoretical dislike to.

I don't find much to object about, they all seem to work fine.

243 is I think perfection for up to and including fallow. I find using larger and reasonable expansive bullets quite tough on muntjac and roe carcasses

quote:

a 7-08 will kick a 308's ass on preformance every time, the only two things a 308 has going for it is barrel life and ammo avalability.

A very naive comment if I may say so.

Of the calibres listed, the 308 Win is the most flexible regarding bullets, and is second to none of the listed regarding perfomance.

Inherently accurate, easy to load for, no recoil to mention and truckloads of good bullets and guns cambered for it.

If I my add; Where I live roe is the biggest game allowed for 243 Win.
A splendid roe caliber, but a marginal red deer caliber, and therefore not allowed...
Different countries, different rules and regulations.

Kicked in the ass by the 7-08? I beg to differ.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon2:

quote:

a 7-08 will kick a 308's ass on preformance every time, the only two things a 308 has going for it is barrel life and ammo avalability.

A very naive comment if I may say so.

You may say so, but you are wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
Of the calibres listed, the 308 Win is the most flexible regarding bullets, and is second to none of the listed regarding perfomance.

Inherently accurate, easy to load for, no recoil to mention and truckloads of good bullets and guns cambered for it.

If I my add; Where I live roe is the biggest game allowed for 243 Win.
A splendid roe caliber, but a marginal red deer caliber, and therefore not allowed...
Different countries, different rules and regulations.

Kicked in the ass by the 7-08? I beg to differ.

You dont need to "beg" to differ, your opinion is different, and again, wrong.

There may be a troll hiding in Glasgow. . Its a long time since I've seen one of these on the forum. Especially when we all know who really is wrong. There is b-----ks all difference between a 7-08 and a 308. I do know because Mr Johnston said so that if you have a 7-08 its harder to get ammo and your barrel will suffer more. I have yet to see somone shoot a barrel out just hunting deer in the UK.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MarkH:
There may be a troll hiding in Glasgow. . Its a long time since I've seen one of these on the forum. Especially when we all know who really is wrong. There is b-----ks all difference between a 7-08 and a 308. I do know because Mr Johnston said so that if you have a 7-08 its harder to get ammo and your barrel will suffer more. I have yet to see somone shoot a barrel out just hunting deer in the UK.

Mark

Mark, there are a few people in the UK who have/do shoot out barrel's on stalking rifles.(just not in Worcestershire) p.s. I am not one of them. I did shoot out a 243 barrel, foxes, crows, deer, practice, about 1500 rounds, went from 1/2" group's when new to 2"+ groups on a good day.

Troll??? Your words cut me soooo deep, give us a break! Surely you can see it is a toung in cheek type post/reply, it can be too budy budy on here some times. Most of the "big caliber" talk(.30"+) (thats 7.62mm+ for the Europeans) comes from the guys who shoot the lesser volumes of deer. Opinions are like a***holes, everybody has one, more s***e comes from some than from others. There's not much between the two, but there's enough between them for me to chose a 7-08 over a 308 every time.In most peoples hands a 308 is a fine caliber, just a 260/7-08 are my preferance in a 308 case, followed by a 243 and then a 308. I admit I am predujuise against 308's because of some horrendus bad shot's I have seen useing them, for the twice I have seen 200yrd deer getting a foreleg shot off by someone shooting a 308, and for a friend's horror of a manlicker 308 that kick's like an angry mule.

I do however admit that i'd take a 308 over a 270, but I'd take a lot of calibers over a 270!!!

Hi James.
Apologies, I will take back my troll comment now I have read you reasoning and like what you say.
When making tongue in cheek comments it helps if you stick a few of those emoticons behind it so those of us who are hard of reading can spot it better.

Happy hunting

Mark

Its the stock design that makes that mankicker not the caliber!

I will clarify my previous post.
Its the fit of the stock to the person that makes it kick more.I to have probs with mannlickers and its to do with the drop and the toe of the stock, any rifle with a straight stock and recoil isnt a problem for me.
Oh and about swinging fore legs, thats S**T shooting not S**T caliber.

Yep,

Anyone that shoots the foreleg off isn't doing it because of the claibre, it's because they are a crap shot and they should not have been on deer in the first place.

Incidentally, My 308 does kick me a bit. I love the calibre and the rifle but it is a bit short in the stock for me som my face is angled forward when I mount it. When I get the 260 through I will send the 308 off to get the stock lengthened 3/8" which should make a difference.

Rgds,
FB

FB,

When you get the 260 you may be inclined to leave the 308 in the house........

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
Of the calibres listed, the 308 Win is the most flexible regarding bullets, and is second to none of the listed regarding perfomance.

Inherently accurate, easy to load for, no recoil to mention and truckloads of good bullets and guns cambered for it.

Different countries, different rules and regulations.

Kicked in the ass by the 7-08? I beg to differ.

You dont need to "beg" to differ, your opinion is different, and again, wrong.[/QUOTE]

Just to clearify.. which of my statements regarding the 308 win are wrong?

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
Of the calibres listed, the 308 Win is the most flexible regarding bullets, and is second to none of the listed regarding perfomance.

Inherently accurate, easy to load for, no recoil to mention and truckloads of good bullets and guns cambered for it.

Different countries, different rules and regulations.

Kicked in the ass by the 7-08? I beg to differ.

You dont need to "beg" to differ, your opinion is different, and again, wrong.

Just to clearify.. which of my statements regarding the 308 win are wrong?[/QUOTE]

The statement's, "....and is second to none of the listed regarding perfomance." and "Kicked in the ass by the 7-08? I beg to differ"

A 308 suffers more from drift and drop, even at 200yds, which on a breezy Scottish hillside in the middle of the hinds can meen alot, to me

I just did a few fag pack calculations on a 9.1gm 7-08 in a 5m/s cross wind against a 9.7gm 308. zero 100m target 200. Norma factory ammo

The conclusion was that the 308 will drop 3mm more and drift 12mm more. Hardly 'kick ass'. My 7x64 with KJG will produce 5.5cm less drop than the 7-08@ 200m. Windage is negligable. Which kicks more ass 3mm or 5.5 cm

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MarkH:
I just did a few fag pack calculations on a 9.1gm 7-08 in a 5m/s cross wind against a 9.7gm 308. zero 100m target 200. Norma factory ammo

The conclusion was that the 308 will drop 3mm more and drift 12mm more. Hardly 'kick ass'. My 7x64 with KJG will produce 5.5cm less drop than the 7-08@ 200m. Windage is negligable. Which kicks more ass 3mm or 5.5 cm

Mark

If you can be bothered with a long action then i'd go with the 7x64 every time, it kickes ass "big time"!!!

What on earth is a 7x74? i cannot find ANY referance to this caliber.
Chapster, getting back to your original question, do you have a slot for just 1 rifle? if so i would think that a .25 of some discripton (roberts be my choice) or a .26 would cover your requirements to the T, or if you can have a couple of rifles i would go for a small .224 (.22ppc,22BR,.222,.223) for the munties and CWD and 1 of the above for the bigger stuff.Oh i`ve just realised.......................... I shoot this combo. oh well just my 2p worth

James,
can you be more specific about how it "Kicks Ass"?
Velocity, energy,accuracy,recoil etc...

regards
griff

I think the original question was,Which calibre?
I.M.O.... 1 that works for you !does what you want, doesn`t cost a fortune to run,and you can get ammunition for whereever you are or whereever you go,and if your sensible (like me) you could go for a calibre that has a good long pedigree like a 30-06 which does everything it says on the box !
We all have our favourites what work for us and I personally stick with what works for me.

6.5x55 or 7x64. Lou

bumscratcher i have 2 spare slots, i think im really set on 7-08+ sound mod just wanna be different, but im still looking at ideas,
i really just want one for all caliber if possable, ive been there with the 223,243,308, Had all 3 same time some times when i went to the cabinet i could never decide which to take between the 243 /308 for roe localy,


john.d.m i personally think the 30-06 is toooo much for muntjac-cwd, thats only my view thanks anyway

i also have the option/chance for boar so my thinking is the 7-08 ?,
please anybody correct me if im wrong

i will be reloading for the 7-08 if thats the one i go for + depends on bullet/case availablity ? or will it be necked down 308 ?,

as for rifle make ive also been looking at the Remmington sps, and Tikka t3 varmint

cheers chapster

I.M.O no such thing as too much.... dead is dead. but everyone to their own.
I shot alsorts from rabbits to African stuff with my 30-06 and 30+ boar and it works ok for me even a few clients liked it too didnt they brass?
Good luck with what your looking for matey.

If you are after 1 for all, then i would base my choose on the bullet weight that you have in mind? I personaly go for heavy for caliber (better BC and SD) bullets but i am VERY specific with my shooting (dif rifles for high seat and woods stalking etc) its going to be difficult to be differant as well because the choice is small.