.308 or .243

[tjtjwdad]

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

Not knocking 243's but if you can only have one...well ya gotta choose. Personally, if I were him, I'd do a switch barrel, ya' get the best of both worlds and you can swap them on the range.

Incidentally, I have a 308/6MM Remington switch barrel set up. It's as good as it gets, IMO.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Just use a 1-8 twist to run the heavy's with some H 1000 and you can do anything a .308 can but better with less drift!

 

[mao0720]

Even burns a barrel better! ;D Just kidding. I have wanted to build a 243 of some kind for quite some time, but the barrel life is what keeps killing it for me. I know you have to pay the price to run the hot stuff, but I like not having to change a barrel every year or so. I just change the barrel on my first 308win this year. The rifle is 5 years old now and I think it had about 5000 rounds through it (this was not a competition gun). It was definitely showing its age and I could barely keep it under an MOA.

 

[Raythemanroe]

The best advice would be to buy two guns and have lots of fun!

 

[Raythemanroe]

Even burns a barrel better! ;D Just kidding. I have wanted to build a 243 of some kind for quite some time, but the barrel life is what keeps killing it for me. I know you have to pay the price to run the hot stuff, but I like not having to change a barrel every year or so. I just change the barrel on my first 308win this year. The rifle is 5 years old now and I think it had about 5000 rounds through it (this was not a competition gun). It was definitely showing its age and I could barely keep it under an MOA.

That is why I have been looking at the 6slr! I wonder if some one will make a .30 slr

 

[Barlow]

Take a look at a 260 Rem. Barlow

 

[mao0720]

That is why I have been looking at the 6slr! I wonder if some one will make a .30 slr

Not much point to a 30SLR, would essentially be a 308AI. The 6SLR looks great if the claim of longer barrel life is true.

 

[Joe C]

Considering your budget and barrel length desires I'd personally go with the .308. But then I've never been a lover of the .243. I've seen too many deer lost over the years to that round. I know, I know, shot placement is the key, but the op already stated he isn't much of a hunter...yet. The .308 would give him a lot of barrel life for practice and if he learns to read the wind with it and chooses to rebarrel to a .243 when it burns out and his skills improve he would have no problem reading a flatter cartridge. Then if it were me I'd do a .260 down the road. But thats just my two dull pennies.

 

[wlsnmike]

I've had 4 308's,great cartridge! I now have 1 243 1/8 twist shoot 107 smk's. I don't have any 308's anymore. Just how it worked for me!

 

[Raythemanroe]

wlsnmike,

 

[saw-tooth-jimmy]

Well thank all of you for sharing your knowledge and opinions. I went with the 308 because I couldn't get it in a 1-8 twist on my budget so I went with the 308 in 1-10 which only comes with a 20" barrel. When I get to the point of switching it out then I will have more options. I will post some pics when I get it. Red Hawk said it could be ready to ship in 1 week. So excited!

 

[Raythemanroe]

We want a run down on it!