.243 Win for Prairie Dogs

[centershot]

I know this is a question of personal choice. You should take at least two rifles to do dogs. I like the .223 because it is accurate and brass and ammo are available in quantity. It would be a medium distance round. I like the 6 m/m for distance. A lot of doggers are using 6 m/m bench rest or other "prepared" cartridges. You can buy a varmint rifle in .243 and just shoot it. No fire forming, or other case prep needed. And the cases are cheaper that 6 BR. Is the accuracy good for varmints? I would think the barrel life would be good because you do not have to top load it to get 3500 fps out of lighter bullets. I know there are a lot of other personal favorites, but is the .243 overlooked? Brass is plentiful and so are powders and bullets. Is recoil more than other 6 m/m? Remember, I am looking at the mid loads with 70 grain bullets.

 

[LarryDScott]

You would be burning a lot of extra powder
and sustaining a lot of recoil for naught,
A 20 Tactical/Practical or a 204 Ruger will
get the extra yardage you are looking for
and you will enjoy these rounds much
more because you still get to see the action.
If you are going past 500 a 6BR is the ticket.
Less powder/recoil than a 243, and with an 8twist
and heavy bullet, you are good to a 1K. LDS

 

[markT]

I purchased a ( Rem 700) .243 from a guy that said it had too much recoil.. I put a Choate Sniper (or Varmint, / the green color one / can't remember) on it to tame recoil.. ( it has a factory "med" weight barrel.. It shoots a 65 gr Vmax very well... no problem with recoil, bullets, brass or heat..

 

[DogBuster]

Comparing the 243 to 6BR....p/dogs ? No comparison......

6BR hands down...brass cost ? $.90 each...they last forever...

You'll lose it before you wear it out....powder consumption ?

BR again wins..30-31 grs vs 37-42 (or so)...along with the added

heat/noise/recoil........p/dogs are not hard to kill....even @ 600+ yds..

Look around for a factory Savage 6BR...or as mentioned an outta the box

204 Ruger...or better yet put a 20 cal together...no flies on an 11 twist

20 Pract or Tact....sitting along side someone burning 40+ grs every shot

in a p/dog patch gets annoying fast.....throat erosion happens much faster

 

[CatShooter]

I know this is a question of personal choice. You should take at least two rifles to do dogs. I like the .223 because it is accurate and brass and ammo are available in quantity. It would be a medium distance round. I like the 6 m/m for distance. A lot of doggers are using 6 m/m bench rest or other "prepared" cartridges. You can buy a varmint rifle in .243 and just shoot it. No fire forming, or other case prep needed. And the cases are cheaper that 6 BR. Is the accuracy good for varmints? I would think the barrel life would be good because you do not have to top load it to get 3500 fps out of lighter bullets. I know there are a lot of other personal favorites, but is the .243 overlooked? Brass is plentiful and so are powders and bullets. Is recoil more than other 6 m/m? Remember, I am looking at the mid loads with 70 grain bullets.

Listen to Larry Scott

You will kill more dogs at longer ranges with the 20 cals and 222/223/222 Mag family, than you will ever kill with a 6mm family, even the 6mmBr.

PD's don't take much to kill them, but you have to hit them, and in order to do that at long range, you must be able to spot the dust from your misses so you can correct.

With a 243, you will be shooting against a handy cap, because you can't see your misses.

 

[waterfwlr]

I used to use a .243 as my long range prairie dog rig. I used 70gr BT's primarily. I have switched to a 6br. Less recoil, less powder, less throat erosion.

But, I most certainly could spot my hits and misses at long ranges. A .20 cal, at long range, in those winds, would fare a lot worse than the 6mm's. I use the 22 cals, for the under 500 shots.

 

[vlcakc]

Back in the days before the 17's and 20's became popular I shot a lot of PD's with the 6mm Rem using mainly 70 to 80 gr bullets. It burned up a lot of powder and heated the barrel up pretty quick, but worked pretty well, especially in the wind. The cumulative recoil effect even with 70 gr bullets does become a bit wearing after several hundred rounds. Spotting the misses wasn't a problem as we used the buddy system spotting each other's shots. However, I now have 17's and 20's that I like better for this type of shooting. If I already had a .243 I'd not hesitate to use it, but would not get one for just PD shooting. As others have said there are better choices out there. Vic

 

[people]

Listen to Larry Scott

You will kill more dogs at longer ranges with the 20 cals and 222/223/222 Mag family, than you will ever kill with a 6mm family, even the 6mmBr.

PD's don't take much to kill them, but you have to hit them, and in order to do that at long range, you must be able to spot the dust from your misses so you can correct.

With a 243, you will be shooting against a handy cap, because you can't see your misses.

Not true at all. Sure at close range but he has a 223 for that. Once your distance gets out there with proper technique it is not a problem at all.

Now handle your rifle like someone who does not know how to shoot then sure.

 

[DogBuster]

A 223 or 223AI in the right hands is not a short range p/dog gun...

Or.....any of the 223 reformed 20 cals....or the 204R...

You can shoot & kill p/dogs from point blank out to 700 yds....again...

in the right hands...want a good mild mannered 6mm...6BR or 6XC..

you'll spot hits/misses....and your buddy can sit next to you w/o

having unneeded muzzle blast......you'll get tired real fast even with a

12# 243 p/dog gun......

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/20caliber/

 

[Greyfox]

A 223 or 223AI in the right hands is not a short range p/dog gun...

Or.....any of the 223 reformed 20 cals....or the 204R...

You can shoot & kill p/dogs from point blank out to 700 yds....again...

in the right hands...want a good mild mannered 6mm...6BR or 6XC..

you'll spot hits/misses....and your buddy can sit next to you w/o

having unneeded muzzle blast......you'll get tired real fast even with a

12# 243 p/dog gun......

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/20caliber/

Totally agree with everything here. You can certainly use a .243 and I have, but as Bob says, you will quickly tire of the recoil and the muzzle blast compared to a .204 or .223. Also, it's damn near impossible to see your hits with a .243 even if you get a muzzle brake. Get something in a .204 you won't regret it.

Rick

 

[markT]

I watch spectacular "show dogs" with my 243.. and 6BR and 223.. It's simple.. use a "heavy stock".. and stay in the scope.. why buy a stock that weighs less than you pay for it in one dollar bills? Physics..

 

[Greyfox]

Sure, you can make a .243 work. If that's what you have and you don't want to buy something else, that's one thing. But to buy one for the purpose of shooting dogs is a mistake, period.

Rick

 

[people]

I would like to see you guys shoot. Have to be doing it wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqFH0A7Py1Q


As to blast being too much. I have just too many questions.


Better options are out there. Just remember bigger bullets and more speed make your splash bigger most of the time.

 

[DogBuster]

not wanting a pizzing match....I shoot a lot of p/dogs all summer.......

One time I had a 300 Win set up running 175 SMK's...now I look back and

say WTF...who's idea was that...now my battery of p/dog guns consist of..

20 Vartarg up to 6.5x55....sorry no 243's..my 6's are 6BR & 6XC...these are

table guns..not carry...all weigh 16-18#...all Salvage s/shots....my fav...?

20-222 hands down...or maybe my 223 AI....or..............

Remember too....bigger boolits....bigger case..more powder....more $$$

per shot...once shot with a guy that was using a 6mm Rem...48grs a pop...

PS...landowners like smaller calibers too...........

 

[centershot]

I wish there was a factory .222 mag out there. I really do like it. No fire forming. What about light bullets, 35 to 40 grain, in a .223? How are they to 450 yards or so?

 

[JORTZ]

I would go with whatever u want to use. If u want to use a pellet gun to a 50bmg use it varmint hunting to me is suppose to be fun!
I will say i love those 204 rugers for out to 700 yards but for 1200+ ive used a older ruger 243 with a heavy barrel and it shoot great but i would not put round after round thru it barrel life sucks!

 

[markT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0HDpSkQ_FQ

The above is a link.. This is a Savage with a Choate ( "weighted") Stock.. 6BR with a 87 gr Vmax.....

Below is a picture of the steel weights I added. They are 3/4" x 1 1/2" steel.. I used an angle grinder to grind the center out to fit around the barrel.. I drilled and taped them so that the rail for the bi-pod could still be used..
Stay in the scope!!!

 

[Greyfox]

I wish there was a factory .222 mag out there. I really do like it. No fire forming. What about light bullets, 35 to 40 grain, in a .223? How are they to 450 yards or so?

I've owned several 222 Mags and currently have a 222 Mag AI. I do like them and have run thousands of rounds through them. However, the dogs can't tell the difference between a 223 and a 222 mag. The brass is difficult to find at a reasonable price and isn't generally as good as 223 brass. I only load 40gr bullets and have no problems out to 400 yards. I don't usually shoot anything past that distance unless I'm forced. I have 2-223AI barrels and can get very near 4000 fps using the 40gr. It makes for violent hits.

Rick

 

[CatShooter]

I wish there was a factory .222 mag out there. I really do like it. No fire forming. What about light bullets, 35 to 40 grain, in a .223? How are they to 450 yards or so?

I've owned several 222 Mags and currently have a 222 Mag AI. I do like them and have run thousands of rounds through them. However, the dogs can't tell the difference between a 223 and a 222 mag. The brass is difficult to find at a reasonable price and isn't generally as good as 223 brass. I only load 40gr bullets and have no problems out to 400 yards. I don't usually shoot anything past that distance unless I'm forced. I have 2-223AI barrels and can get very near 4000 fps using the 40gr. It makes for violent hits.

Rick

On the contrary, I find the Remington brass much better than their usual stuff.

I have been shooting the 222 Mag since ~1975. I have slightly over 850 pieces of Remington brass, bought in two lots 10 years apart... The weight variation for the whole bunch is inside of 1.7 grains (which surprised the hell outa me!) I have lost only three cases because of loose primer pockets.

I also have 100 pieces of Norma brass, and it is gorgious.

Before the Obama brass panic, 222 Mag brass was always available, and when things settle down, it will be available again.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

To answer the OP's question. The 243 is fine for p-doggin.. I have been using one for years literally.. 75 grain Vmax these days.. What I like about the 243 is I also use it for deer and speed goats.. That said these days it rarely leaves the safe as my p-dog safaris usually include my 22 Mag, 22 Hornet and 204.. And for those gimme shots a Browning Buckmark in 22 LR..

My son packs a 223 in a Savage bolt gun.. It is dead on using 52 Sierra match bullets and H335..

On the flip side there are a lot of great cartridges to choose from..