223 or 243

Rimfire bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action and self loading rifles. Air rifles.

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Member-Deleted » 10 Dec 2018, 1:09 pm

JimTom wrote:Ideally mate I would get a .223 and a .308.


+1 to both although my agreement with JimTom may be my 'confirmation bias' because that's what i did... first rifle was a 223 (which is such a pleasure to shoot all day and makes me look better than I am, cheap to run too), then #2 was a 308.
Member-Deleted
 

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Stix » 10 Dec 2018, 2:17 pm

If you're gonna shoot more of the smaller stuff...roos bunnies, foxes cats & also wana plink away at the range...& the odd ham here & there...
223 for first centrefire without question...!

If mostly just smashing pigs & a few roos with an occasional hit at cousins of bambi...243.

But a 223 will do them all with the right ammo & ability. :thumbsup:

You might get a bit longer out of the 223 barrel as well so thats a bonus for the novelty of a first centrefire. :thumbsup:

243's are considerably louder too...so if you're into the spotlighting game with noise sensative vermin around, volume may also be a consideration...

In general...223 for your first...
The man who knows everything, doesnt really know everything...he's just stopped learning...
Stix
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3675
South Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by JimTom » 10 Dec 2018, 2:26 pm

Member-Deleted wrote:
JimTom wrote:Ideally mate I would get a .223 and a .308.


+1 to both although my agreement with JimTom may be my 'confirmation bias' because that's what i did... first rifle was a 223 (which is such a pleasure to shoot all day and makes me look better than I am, cheap to run too), then #2 was a 308.


:-) exactly what I did too mate.
User avatar
JimTom
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2130
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Blr243 » 10 Dec 2018, 4:38 pm

Years ago when I had to hand in my mini 14 semi auto 223 I intended replacing it with a lever action 223 but there was only a 243 in stock of the lever gun that I wanted. I’m glad I have the 243 now ( wild horses nz thar fallow and reds. and the occasional brute of a boar )
Blr243
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4479
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Oldbloke » 10 Dec 2018, 5:50 pm

JimTom wrote:Mate if you are going to restrict yourself to the one centrefire then I’d say go the .243, good all rounder for what you have mentioned.
Ideally mate I would get a .223 and a .308.



:thumbsup:
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: 223 or 243

Post by RoginaJack » 10 Dec 2018, 8:23 pm

If you still want carryable perhaps go down to a 20". Those Howas mini-actions are pretty amazing. :thumbsup:[/quote]

WHAT, "CARRYABLE"! If you can't walk around the bush with a 22" TIKKI Lite rifle in 243 get a water pistol, but don't load it with "Bore water", 'cause it's heavier than normal tap water..... :roll:
Boom, Boom! Tikka, Tikka, Boom! Shoot first, video later.
User avatar
RoginaJack
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1410
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Bruiser64 » 10 Dec 2018, 9:00 pm

JimTom wrote:Mate if you are going to restrict yourself to the one centrefire then I’d say go the .243, good all rounder for what you have mentioned.
Ideally mate I would get a .223 and a .308.


I totally agree. In the unlikely event you will stick to one centrefire rifle, get the .243 as it is very versatile. Having said that, I doubt you will stick with one. I would agree you are better of cutting to the chase and get a .223 and a .308. The Howas are very well regarded and excellent value, so it won’t be too expensive to one in each calibre.

I have a 243 and I love it. With the shooting I do, I am finding I am using my .204 a lot more than the 243. I also have a 17 Hmr which I took out for the first time last night. I shot a fox and several rabbits with the Hmr and three foxes with my .204. There is obviously a huge difference in hitting power between the hmr and the 204. I intend sticking to the 204 when targeting foxes in preference to the hmr.

Whilst l love my 204, the ubiquity of the 223 is a more rational and cost effective choice in my opinion. So in my experience your 17 hmr, a 223 and a 308 is likely to easily cover most game species in Australia. I would, however also add the 22 lr as it is almost treason not to own one in Australia.
Bruiser64
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 387
Western Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Faedy » 11 Dec 2018, 12:24 am

Mate - you will buy more. Its a fact of life ..lmao.
With the 17hmr in your lot, is a no brainer to go to the .243 for the extra range and hitting power.
Down the track when you got a few extra sheckles, add the .223 then, plus a .300 winmag :-)
Faedy
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 212
Western Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Diamond Jim » 12 Dec 2018, 1:30 am

I also can't believe I'm going to say this because my .223 is a laser, but if you are going to keep the .17 then you already have a lot of the .223 ground covered. I don't own a .243 but my brother (farmer) does and it is his "do all" rifle. Superbly accurate (Win 70), doesn't put a huge number of rounds through it and they are tax deductible anyway so he doesn't reload. The .243 covers the gap before you need a seriously "big" rifle - everything from fox to deer. I'd be thinking seriously about the .243. It does bark though.
Listing your firearms is as good as a fingerprint.
User avatar
Diamond Jim
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 389
Western Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by simpsonhey » 29 Dec 2018, 9:39 pm

Ok so on the weekend i shot a couple off 22s fun all day. Im still waiting on my pta for my 17. I shot a remington 223 and the tikka 223 wow nice guns and powerfull. So i dident get to shoot a 243 but i shot a 270 and a 30-30. The 270 was solid and had a lot off whip(im only new to shooting first day out). The 30 -30 was a pig short leaver action and punched hard. Id love to shoot a 308. So my mates have a lot off guns that i could borrow to shoot with them and im looking at a 223 and a cheep 22lr this will cover everything atm .
simpsonhey
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 20
New South Wales

Re: 223 or 243

Post by pomemax » 29 Dec 2018, 10:18 pm

brett1868 wrote:.223 or .243....shoulder them both and get what feels better that fits within the budget.

then buy .222 .223 .243 .22-250 .270 .308 30-06 300 wsm 375 45/70 357 / 38 S and be just like the rest of us lol make sure you get the biggest safe you can Times 3 or 4
pomemax
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1165
New South Wales

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Sawyers » 29 Dec 2018, 11:15 pm

simpsonhey wrote:Ok so on the weekend i shot a couple off 22s fun all day. Im still waiting on my pta for my 17. I shot a remington 223 and the tikka 223 wow nice guns and powerfull. So i dident get to shoot a 243 but i shot a 270 and a 30-30. The 270 was solid and had a lot off whip(im only new to shooting first day out). The 30 -30 was a pig short leaver action and punched hard. Id love to shoot a 308. So my mates have a lot off guns that i could borrow to shoot with them and im looking at a 223 and a cheep 22lr this will cover everything atm .

Dont cheap out on the 22lr, you'll end up shooting it more than any other firearm you own and you'll only end up wanting something bettet
Sawyers
Private
Private
 
Posts: 95
Western Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigfellascott » 29 Dec 2018, 11:55 pm

Sawyers wrote:
simpsonhey wrote:Ok so on the weekend i shot a couple off 22s fun all day. Im still waiting on my pta for my 17. I shot a remington 223 and the tikka 223 wow nice guns and powerfull. So i dident get to shoot a 243 but i shot a 270 and a 30-30. The 270 was solid and had a lot off whip(im only new to shooting first day out). The 30 -30 was a pig short leaver action and punched hard. Id love to shoot a 308. So my mates have a lot off guns that i could borrow to shoot with them and im looking at a 223 and a cheep 22lr this will cover everything atm .

Dont cheap out on the 22lr, you'll end up shooting it more than any other firearm you own and you'll only end up wanting something bettet


I bought a cheap 22, still got it and love it. :unknown:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: 223 or 243

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 29 Dec 2018, 11:59 pm

You can do alot with the 243 i love watching things explode with a 58gr proj and my current go to being the 87gr vmax available cheaply for $129 per 500. I also have a 223 that is a laser pointer. At the end of the day the 223 will do 75% of most things in Australia 243 given the correct placment will do most of the big game probably only excluding buff. Id use the 45-70 for that. Either way you cant go wrong just have to think about you hip pocket at the end of the day 223 is dirt cheap and even cheaper to reload for.
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
User avatar
AZZA'S HJ47
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 687
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by simpsonhey » 30 Dec 2018, 5:33 am

I shot a puma and a cz on weekend and honestly liked the puma better i had no idea thry were cheep
simpsonhey
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 20
New South Wales

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Sawyers » 30 Dec 2018, 10:54 pm

bigfellascott wrote:
Sawyers wrote:
simpsonhey wrote:Ok so on the weekend i shot a couple off 22s fun all day. Im still waiting on my pta for my 17. I shot a remington 223 and the tikka 223 wow nice guns and powerfull. So i dident get to shoot a 243 but i shot a 270 and a 30-30. The 270 was solid and had a lot off whip(im only new to shooting first day out). The 30 -30 was a pig short leaver action and punched hard. Id love to shoot a 308. So my mates have a lot off guns that i could borrow to shoot with them and im looking at a 223 and a cheep 22lr this will cover everything atm .

Dont cheap out on the 22lr, you'll end up shooting it more than any other firearm you own and you'll only end up wanting something bettet


I bought a cheap 22, still got it and love it. :unknown:

Cheap as in poor quality or cheap as in a good deal? because theres a big difference
Sawyers
Private
Private
 
Posts: 95
Western Australia

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigfellascott » 31 Dec 2018, 5:32 am

Sawyers wrote:
bigfellascott wrote:
Sawyers wrote:
simpsonhey wrote:Ok so on the weekend i shot a couple off 22s fun all day. Im still waiting on my pta for my 17. I shot a remington 223 and the tikka 223 wow nice guns and powerfull. So i dident get to shoot a 243 but i shot a 270 and a 30-30. The 270 was solid and had a lot off whip(im only new to shooting first day out). The 30 -30 was a pig short leaver action and punched hard. Id love to shoot a 308. So my mates have a lot off guns that i could borrow to shoot with them and im looking at a 223 and a cheep 22lr this will cover everything atm .

Dont cheap out on the 22lr, you'll end up shooting it more than any other firearm you own and you'll only end up wanting something bettet


I bought a cheap 22, still got it and love it. :unknown:

Cheap as in poor quality or cheap as in a good deal? because theres a big difference


Cheap as in a Savage 93 :thumbsup:

Bought it for the Oldest Daughter, it's a cracking little rifle for the $400 I paid for it. Shoots like a laser beam too. :drinks:

Image

Shoots well

Image

Image

Image

Pretty sure the Daughter shot this group with it with her first time shooting it
Image

Image

It was bought for her to use hunting and she's very good at that too, her first lot of bunnies she's ever hunted - all headshot and shooting from a 4 wheeler buggy under lights.

A nice little Rifle for the $$$ :drinks:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigrich » 31 Dec 2018, 6:47 am

30 plus years ago, before we were spoiled for choice, the 243 was the "one gun" for everything .pigs , goats , deer , if you upgraded from a three-oh , to a new fangled flat shooting sporter , 243 was it . at least that's how i remember it in south east queensland back then. of coarse if ya lived in NT ya owned something bigger . a lot of big stuff was killed with 303's back when, and with the 30-30 and 44-40's as well . in another generation , 300 win mag will be required for goats at this rate :lol: :lol: :lol:

:drinks: :drinks: :thumbsup:
User avatar
bigrich
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4483
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigfellascott » 31 Dec 2018, 6:52 am

bigrich wrote:30 plus years ago, before we were spoiled for choice, the 243 was the "one gun" for everything .pigs , goats , deer , if you upgraded from a three-oh , to a new fangled flat shooting sporter , 243 was it . at least that's how i remember it in south east queensland back then. of coarse if ya lived in NT ya owned something bigger . a lot of big stuff was killed with 303's back when, and with the 30-30 and 44-40's as well . in another generation , 300 win mag will be required for goats at this rate :lol: :lol: :lol:

:drinks: :drinks: :thumbsup:


Yep Red Deer and others were culled for years using a 222, now we need armour piercing tank shells to do the job apparently :lol:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigfellascott » 31 Dec 2018, 6:58 am

I think the problem is manufacturers and their pursuit for more and more profits, they come up with all these new cals and justify their need/benefits to market them to all and sundry, when in fact most would have cals that are good enough for the majority of their hunting they do.

It's like Mobile Phones, it's every other week just about that apple or samsung bring out the latest and greatest must have phones that essentially all do the same bloody thing anyway but yet people have to rush and a buy the "Latest and Greatest" because it's so so much betterer than the one they have now.

People are just flat-out plain retarded these days I swear to god, dumb and dog s**t the lot of em :lol:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigrich » 31 Dec 2018, 8:32 am

bigfellascott wrote:I think the problem is manufacturers and their pursuit for more and more profits, they come up with all these new cals and justify their need/benefits to market them to all and sundry, when in fact most would have cals that are good enough for the majority of their hunting they do.

It's like Mobile Phones, it's every other week just about that apple or samsung bring out the latest and greatest must have phones that essentially all do the same bloody thing anyway but yet people have to rush and a buy the "Latest and Greatest" because it's so so much betterer than the one they have now.

People are just flat-out plain retarded these days I swear to god, dumb and dog s**t the lot of em :lol:


it is fun having lot's of toys, and things with "thump" :D . one or two capable centrefires is all most of us really need , but consumerism , new products , having the latest and greatest. it's all part of human nature i guess scott , i'm considering moving on my 308 sako synthetic . it's beutifully made , super accurate . but in reality my winchester in 6.5 swede will do everything i'm likely to come across . i've bin thinking a original old octagonal barreled '92 winchester in 32-20 would be more fun as a plinker and handloaded it's not too bad in grunt :D just a thought ......

:drinks: :drinks: :thumbsup:
User avatar
bigrich
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4483
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigfellascott » 31 Dec 2018, 11:06 am

bigrich wrote:
bigfellascott wrote:I think the problem is manufacturers and their pursuit for more and more profits, they come up with all these new cals and justify their need/benefits to market them to all and sundry, when in fact most would have cals that are good enough for the majority of their hunting they do.

It's like Mobile Phones, it's every other week just about that apple or samsung bring out the latest and greatest must have phones that essentially all do the same bloody thing anyway but yet people have to rush and a buy the "Latest and Greatest" because it's so so much betterer than the one they have now.

People are just flat-out plain retarded these days I swear to god, dumb and dog s**t the lot of em :lol:


it is fun having lot's of toys, and things with "thump" :D . one or two capable centrefires is all most of us really need , but consumerism , new products , having the latest and greatest. it's all part of human nature i guess scott , i'm considering moving on my 308 sako synthetic . it's beutifully made , super accurate . but in reality my winchester in 6.5 swede will do everything i'm likely to come across . i've bin thinking a original old octagonal barreled '92 winchester in 32-20 would be more fun as a plinker and handloaded it's not too bad in grunt :D just a thought ......

:drinks: :drinks: :thumbsup:


Pretty sure my mate runs a 32-20 on pigs with good effect, I think he uses lead projectiles (100gn or something like that) or he just uses his ol 223 and for some variety a 270win. You are right we just buy s**t for the sake of having it half the time, not that we really need it as such (got a good collection of fishing rods sitting here doing SFA along with a heap of Chainsaws and rifles too :lol:

I've stopped buying crap now, I'm into offloading mode as I only use a couple of each and I don't really see the point of having them cluttering up the place especially when I know I won't be using them again. :drinks:

It's funny how our needs and thinking changes of the years hey. :unknown:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bigrich » 31 Dec 2018, 12:16 pm

too true scott , too true :lol: :lol: :lol:

:drinks: :drinks: :thumbsup:
User avatar
bigrich
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4483
Queensland

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Baronvonrort » 31 Dec 2018, 7:06 pm

simpsonhey wrote:Hey all so im loving the forum and have lernt a lot. Im looking at getting a second gun for the cabinet. I have a hmr17 which will look after the small criters and range. What would be a good alrounder for the little bit bigger crits like roos or pigs etc. Im thinking a 223 or 243



It depends on how many guns you want to have, if you get a .223 you will probably get something bigger sooner or later.

A .243 is a good allrounder, if you start reloading you can send the 55-70 gr projectiles a few hundred feet per second quicker than a .223 with starting loads with the option of using up to 100gr as well. Trailboss opens up options to forget about rimfires.

A .223 is what pro roo cullers use and ok for smaller pigs, a .243 would be better for big pigs.

Lots of opinions on what to get all valid, in rimfire I would only get .22lr as it's cheapest for ammo, a .223 would be good then something like a 260 rem/7mm-08 or .308 as well. Add a shotgun as well then you have most bases covered.

I know a guy who is 74 who has a .22lr and .243 and db shotgun that is all he has had for about 45 years, he had quite a selection of calibres before that and does really well.

You can only really carry one rifle when on foot and budget plays a big part as well, if money is tight then a .243 would be the go.
Baronvonrort
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 896
New South Wales

Re: 223 or 243

Post by alucarD » 19 Jan 2022, 11:24 am

Hi all,

I’m in the same boat. Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.

Cheers
Aim small miss small..
alucarD
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 35
New South Wales

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bladeracer » 19 Jan 2022, 3:48 pm

alucarD wrote:Hi all,

I’m in the same boat. Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.

Cheers


Both are capable out to around 350m or 400m in most people's hands, with some practice and some ability to read wind conditions. Bullet choice will determine how effectively it drops the game when it hits it. You probably want to handload to shoot with rabbit-head accurately much further than 250m.

Ruger American Predator for me in both of those chamberings. You can drop it into a chassis later on as well if you want to.
Learn to load your own ammo and you increase the versatility of both cartridges enormously. You can reduce your .243 loads and use it as a .223 most of the time, then just feed it some hot 100gn loads when you go after some pigs, goats or deer. Or you can use the .223 (the Ruger has a tight 8"-twist and feeds way over-length cartridges) and load some 80gn to 90gn bullets when you want to reach out and touch things a long way away.

Both cartridges have similar trajectories.
.223 55gn VMax does around 3250fps
Zeroed around 250m it's about 40mm high at 50m, 85mm high at 100m, 95mm high at 150m, 70mm high at 200m, 120mm low at 300m, 300mm low at 350m, and 550mm low at 400m, so out to 300m you only need hold a few inches high or low to be on target, say under or over the fox's head or chest.
Handloading the 80gn ELDM at 2800fps follows virtually the same trajectory.
Zeroed around 250m it's about 50mm high at 50m, 100mm high at 100m, 130mm high at 150m, 80mm high at 200m, 125mm low at 300m, 310mm low at 350m, and 550mm low at 400m, so out to 300m

.243 with the 87gn VMax at 3250fps follows a similar curve.
Zeroed around 250m it's about 30mm high at 50m, 70mm high at 100m, 80mm high at 150m, 60mm high at 200m, 100mm low at 300m, 240mm low at 350m, and 420mm low at 400m.
Switching to a 100gn SP for deer or goats at 2950fps.
Zeroed around 250m it's about 45mm high at 50m, 90mm high at 100m, 100mm high at 150m, 70mm high at 200m, 120mm low at 300m, 290mm low at 350m, and 520mm low at 400m.

Or if you decide to load your own ammo from the start, go with the 7mm-08. A 78gn SP at 3700fps will do everything the .223 does out to 300m (after 300m the reduced BC bleeds velocity quickly), while also doing .308 stuff with heavier 162gn to 175gn bullets.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: 223 or 243

Post by boingk » 19 Jan 2022, 5:09 pm

alucarD wrote:Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.


Another vote for the Ruger Americans. I've got a 223 Compact and a Ranch 308. Both shoot sub-MOA with cheap PPU factory ammo.

Also be realistic on ranges - 200m is a fair distance and I'd say most people would be confident at that range with a basic Ruger American and say a 4-12x40 scope up top, even a 3-9 would be fine.

- boingk
Nil
boingk
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 682
Other

Re: 223 or 243

Post by bladeracer » 19 Jan 2022, 6:13 pm

boingk wrote:
alucarD wrote:Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.


Another vote for the Ruger Americans. I've got a 223 Compact and a Ranch 308. Both shoot sub-MOA with cheap PPU factory ammo.

Also be realistic on ranges - 200m is a fair distance and I'd say most people would be confident at that range with a basic Ruger American and say a 4-12x40 scope up top, even a 3-9 would be fine.

- boingk


I would agree, if you have to shoot at more than 200m you're not hunting, you're just strolling hoping for a shot at something.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Oldbloke » 19 Jan 2022, 6:57 pm

bladeracer wrote:
boingk wrote:
alucarD wrote:Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.


Another vote for the Ruger Americans. I've got a 223 Compact and a Ranch 308. Both shoot sub-MOA with cheap PPU factory ammo.

Also be realistic on ranges - 200m is a fair distance and I'd say most people would be confident at that range with a basic Ruger American and say a 4-12x40 scope up top, even a 3-9 would be fine.

- boingk


I would agree, if you have to shoot at more than 200m you're not hunting, you're just strolling hoping for a shot at something.


It's horses for courses. But I agree. IMO 200mtrs is a very long shot. Can't remember if I ever took one. 50 to 160mtr for me is more the the norm. Also keep in mind field conditions are nothing like a range bench.
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: 223 or 243

Post by Shootermick » 19 Jan 2022, 8:26 pm

boingk wrote:
alucarD wrote:Mastered the .22lr and looking to go up to centre fire.
What distances is the .223/.243 rounds good for hitting small to medium game?
Also which rifle brand would be recommended for accuracy & reliability.


Another vote for the Ruger Americans. I've got a 223 Compact and a Ranch 308. Both shoot sub-MOA with cheap PPU factory ammo.

Also be realistic on ranges - 200m is a fair distance and I'd say most people would be confident at that range with a basic Ruger American and say a 4-12x40 scope up top, even a 3-9 would be fine.

- boingk


I’ll add another tick for the Ruger American. Mine is the 243 compact, also with a 4-12x40, I’ve also got a Lithgow in 223, but I normally grab the Ruger 243 first these days. I just shoot OSA 87gr vmax and it loves them. I don’t worry about the price of the ammo either, honestly if I take it out after work I might only take 3 or 4 shots. If I’m out spotlighting I’ll put a lot more rounds through whichever rifle I happen to take, but cost doesn’t worry me, I just shoot them and enjoy it.
200 metres is also a long shot for me, I doubt I’d take many shots outside of that, pretty confident most times at 150m though.
.22, .22wmr, 223, 243, 303, 20ga, 12ga
Shootermick
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 795
Victoria

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Rimfire rifles, and air rifles