.308 or .243

[saw-tooth-jimmy]

I know this subject has been addressed various times but here is my deal. I have a budget of $1,600 and am looking at a Red Hawk rifle, the tactical one with the Bell and Carlson A5 stock on it. I am on the fence about which caliber to go with. I live in AZ and shoot in pretty hot conditions anywhere from 3000ft altitude to 7000max, but mostly in the 3,000ft alt, temp=75-108 degrees, humidity from 1%-40% max. Wind 5-20 mph. I would like to shoot regularly to 600+yards but would like to try my hand at 1000yards just for fun. I am not the best hunter but go deer hunting. I love varmint hunting P-dogs to coyotes. With that being said, what would you all recommend I purchase? They offer .204,22-250, .223, .243 and .308. I am looking at keeping the barrel at 20" with a brake.

 

[boltgunluvr]

well....if one desires a rifle to take care of critters to coyotes to deer...243 Win. It is very versatile. I have a friend that has taken elk with one also, but it was with careful shot placement. I really like mine for deer and long range target. I do have 308 too, but 243 Win is a great cartridge.

 

[snowpro440]

.308 all the way ...I'd put a brake on it to watch the impact shots an your good to go for elk an all the way down to coyotes . 1000 yds , no problem also great barrel life .

 

[Raythemanroe]

I like my .243 a lot, but the .308 has much better barrel life! I would probably lean to the .308 if I couldn't get a 1-8 twist barrel for the .243 or faster! Either way you go you could always have it rebarreled with the other and have tried both.

 

[mao0720]

I think a 20" barrel is going to significantly deminish your 1000yd ability with any of those cartridges. That being said I would tend to stick to 308 win for a do anything gun. You can load light 135-155gr bullets for varmint/coyote/ deer, and heavier higher BC bullets to try to stretch your max range. Second choice would be the 243, you would still be able to get 2700 ish (guestimate) FPS with 105gr bullets, which will do well, but you are going to pay in barrel life. I love other calibers, but I always end up coming back to 308 win.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I checked there web site out and there prices are not bad! I would keep the barrel at 26" but that is me and with that being said the .308 length cartridges do well with shorter barrels though! I would have to believe you could run the 105 amax up to 3000 fps with no problem other then barrel life but not with a 20" barrel!

 

[fdshuster]

From my hands-on experience: 3, 243 barrels shot-out, all by an accurate round count of 1400. From published results (Precision Shooting/ Sept. 1998) by Kevin Thomas, 5, 308 barrels, all fired side-by-side, under very controlled conditions were all ready for the scrap bin at 4000 rounds fired, give or take 100 either way.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Jimmy....It is true, 308 has better barrel life, but a 30 cal for varmints...wooh! Consider 223 for Pdogs to coyotes. 243win is that perfect cartridge for a shooter that wants 1 rifle to do everything, legitimately up to deer. 243 barrel life is not great in the realm of benchrest shooting, but for a shooter that makes sure the barrel doesn't overheat, it's freakin awesome. I know many oldtimers that have 243s and they've put thousands of rounds thru them....still going. They simply know not to overheat. For me, 223 up to coyotes, 243 for deer and long range target, and 308 for large game & long range target.

 

[tjtjwdad]

Tough choice. I'd take the .308, it will do anything a 243 will with more authority at longer ranges. I wouldn't want it for ground squirrels, nor a 243 either. Don't get me wrong, I like my 6mm Remington but if I could only have one...it would be a 308.

 

[abishai]

A 308 will do anything a 243 can, except buck wind and shoot extreme distance............ I have shot my 243 ( 28 " 1 -8 ) out to a mile , didnt hit the target every time, but did hit it some of the time . 308 has way better barrel life. Personaly, I am willing to pay for performance. High speed and high BC are worth toasting barrels . To me its a lot more fun to hit your target

 

[Raythemanroe]

abishai,


+1

 

[saw-tooth-jimmy]

Thank you all for the responses. I guess I have to decide if I am willing to replace a barrel in 1400 rounds or so. I have to admit I will heat up the barrel a bit maybe a 10 round string. Waiting for barrel cool off it the Arizona heat takes forever. One more question if I got a 243 and shot out the barrel in time then were to replace it is it pretty easy to go to 308?

 

[Raptor]

Another thought for you. If you go with a 243 go with the 1-8 twist(Like was stated earlier) and use the heavier 105 or 107s and go with H1000 if it will shoot in your gun.

With H1000 you can get 3000rds out of a 243 if you don't get stupid and shoot it in a dog town or get it really hot before letting it cool down. My last barrel started off as a 6XC , shooting 105s at 2980 to 2995 and at 1800+ rounds I rechambered it to a 243SLR. (Same case only 30 degree shoulder and a little longer neck) I pulled the barrel at 3000rds and it was still shooting under .5moa at 600 by was starting to open up at 1000yds.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I like H1000 and Retumbo in mine and RL25 (.243)

 

[saw-tooth-jimmy]

Well I think I'll go for a 243. Have any of you ever converted from 243 to 308 on the same 700 action. What has to be done other than the barrel swap. I'm just thinking for the future?

 

[Raptor]

I tried the switch barrel thing and didn't really like it. I usually wanted to shoot both at the same time.Ha

 

[mao0720]

Barrel swap is the only thing you need to do. Bolt diameter is the same.

 

[Yellow11]

Didn't the .243 started life as a wildcat of the .308.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Yep...243 came from 308, 308 came from 30-06 and 30-06 was originally 30-03 until changes in 1906.

 

[roninflag]

Jimmy- when you rebarrel from .243 to 308, nothing else must be done. the bolt face is the same for .243 and 308