Oldbloke wrote:IMO Howa's are heavy......
bigrich wrote:Oldbloke wrote:IMO Howa's are heavy......
i have a vangaurd 223 ( same thing for those who don't know ) , and i'm inclined to agree with you
JohnV wrote:You can't go far wrong with a Vanguard or a Howa but I stopped using a 243 as a walk about stalking cartridge , it's marginal on running away shots on big pigs and deer and getting the bullet through scrub even using a 100 grain bullet , I found that 308 is better with 144 to 165 grain bullets . A Browning BLR in 308 is a nice scrub gun to add to say a 243 bolt action with a bigger scope for longer range on dogs and goats .
ScottyD wrote:Thanks for the tips and advice guys, its really helping me to get some clarity.
A very decent bloke agreed to meet me at the range yesterday to discuss options and let me have a couple shots with a few of his rifles. I shot a 243 (American) and a 270 Win, which was really helpful. It was over a bench, which I understand is a worst case scenario with respect to felt recoil. I believe the 308 has marginally less recoil than the 270, and whilst the 270's recoil was a surprise, I didn't think it unbearable. At least now I can personally quantify what I can expect with these harder hitting rounds.
With this new experience, and given the comments here about the 308 perhaps being a more appropriate caliber for the type of shooting I'm likely to be experiencing, I'm starting to rethink my position. Perhaps I should go back to the idea of a 233 first, and then get something like a 308/270/etc on my next centrefire PTA. This pathway would help me get started with learning things like how to sight in my scope(s), develop some shooting skills with the negligible recoil and also get started on learning to reload before getting to the more expensive/serious ammunition of the bigger rounds.
The guy also had an X-Bolt there, and when I asked him about it, he said it was awesome. He loves it. So it looks like that's back on the table again too.
So now it seems I'm back where I started. At least now I'm more confident with what I'm grappling with this time around.
Oldbloke wrote:
When you go hunting and your after foxes and take the 223. What else might you see? Oops a 27" sambar stag, oops or 4 Reds & I only have my 223. Sheesh.
Has happened to me 3 times now, (sh1t) so I'm starting to go fox whistling with the 30-06 now in some places. Maybe one gun for everything aint so silly.
Bugman wrote:Can't open the image. DOH!
Oldbloke wrote:When you go hunting and your after foxes and take the 223. What else might you see? Oops a 27" sambar stag, oops or 4 Reds & I only have my 223. Sheesh.
Has happened to me 3 times now, (sh1t) so I'm starting to go fox whistling with the 30-06 now in some places. Maybe one gun for everything aint so silly.
Lorgar wrote:Oldbloke wrote:When you go hunting and your after foxes and take the 223. What else might you see? Oops a 27" sambar stag, oops or 4 Reds & I only have my 223. Sheesh.
Has happened to me 3 times now, (sh1t) so I'm starting to go fox whistling with the 30-06 now in some places. Maybe one gun for everything aint so silly.
That was my problem. Back in in the day I had a .243 loaded with 80gr pills, and a .308 with 150gr.
A pest/small game rifle, and a larger game rifle was the thinking.
But it was endless thinking of what if I see X while with the smaller rifle, do I bring both, will just bring the .308 varminting and live with the overkill, etc. etc. etc.
More of a pain in the ass than anything, TBH.
I split the difference, sold them both and replaced with a 7mm-08. Legal for everything. Now just carry a handful of heavier pill loads when out varminting instead of the need for an additional rifle.
Lorgar wrote:
That was my problem. Back in in the day I had a .243 loaded with 80gr pills, and a .308 with 150gr.
.
deye243 wrote:The way I look at a 243 is it is a varmint cartridge .
If you want to shoot medium game go 6.5 and upwards that's just my opinion I got to say this the 243 is the best varmint cartridge I have ever used a lot more destructive than a 22 250 and easier on the years , paddock pizza from one end of the joint the other
SCJ429 wrote:deye243 wrote:The way I look at a 243 is it is a varmint cartridge .
If you want to shoot medium game go 6.5 and upwards that's just my opinion I got to say this the 243 is the best varmint cartridge I have ever used a lot more destructive than a 22 250 and easier on the years , paddock pizza from one end of the joint the other
I have shot lots of pigs and goats with a 243, pretty handy varmint cartridge.
Lorgar wrote:Oldbloke wrote:When you go hunting and your after foxes and take the 223. What else might you see? Oops a 27" sambar stag, oops or 4 Reds & I only have my 223. Sheesh.
Has happened to me 3 times now, (sh1t) so I'm starting to go fox whistling with the 30-06 now in some places. Maybe one gun for everything aint so silly.
That was my problem. Back in in the day I had a .243 loaded with 80gr pills, and a .308 with 150gr.
A pest/small game rifle, and a larger game rifle was the thinking.
But it was endless thinking of what if I see X while with the smaller rifle, do I bring both, will just bring the .308 varminting and live with the overkill, etc. etc. etc.
More of a pain in the ass than anything, TBH.
I split the difference, sold them both and replaced with a 7mm-08. Legal for everything. Now just carry a handful of heavier pill loads when out varminting instead of the need for an additional rifle.
Oldbloke wrote:Lorgar wrote:Oldbloke wrote:When you go hunting and your after foxes and take the 223. What else might you see? Oops a 27" sambar stag, oops or 4 Reds & I only have my 223. Sheesh.
Has happened to me 3 times now, (sh1t) so I'm starting to go fox whistling with the 30-06 now in some places. Maybe one gun for everything aint so silly.
That was my problem. Back in in the day I had a .243 loaded with 80gr pills, and a .308 with 150gr.
A pest/small game rifle, and a larger game rifle was the thinking.
But it was endless thinking of what if I see X while with the smaller rifle, do I bring both, will just bring the .308 varminting and live with the overkill, etc. etc. etc.
More of a pain in the ass than anything, TBH.
I split the difference, sold them both and replaced with a 7mm-08. Legal for everything. Now just carry a handful of heavier pill loads when out varminting instead of the need for an additional rifle.
Probably the best solution (7-08). 7x57 would also be a good option.
I had two 30-06s. And didn't want to sell the old one. Little room in the safe to.
My solution was buy a scope for the old
30-06 and a mild load with 130gr bullets as a general centrefire, but deer legal. And retain the other 30-06 as a deer specific rifle with 180gr bullet. Not ideal but provides a bit of choice depending on locality and animal targeted.
Problem with 7mm is bullet cost.
ScottyD wrote:Hey guys, thanks so much for all the excellent comments and tips. This forum is brilliant.
I have finally stopped stuffing around and made a decision.
After taking on board all your thoughts/advice, talking with other experienced shooters and shooting some different calibers for myself, I’ve committed to the slower route of a .223 first. I figure I’ll definitely be getting (a couple) larger caliber rifles in the not too distant future anyway, and as Bigrich mentioned, one gun to do everything would be boring.
So in case you’re curious, for my three PTAs (2xAs & 1xB), I’ve just put down deposits on a Styer Zephyr 2 in .22LR and a Frachi Horizon in .223 (the cammo version with cerakote barrel/action). I’m also intending to put down a deposit on a Styer LG110 High Power air rifle in .22 this week. I can’t wait to get stuck in.
Now, if they would just hurry up with the bloody PTAs ...