#315199 - 07/26/07 09:20 PM
.243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
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RUBLINE
TnDeer Old Timer
6 Point
Registered: 12/28/99
Posts: 801
Loc: HAYWOOD CO.
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Want a short action bolt action. Looking at the .243 or a .308. Give me some info....
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#315207 - 07/26/07 09:24 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: RUBLINE]
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.444 Marlin
16 Point
Registered: 08/10/02
Posts: 15325
Loc: Benton, Polk Co. Tenn.
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youth rifle or adult rifle?
The Ruger compact is a nice gun for the money.
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#315283 - 07/26/07 10:13 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: .444 Marlin]
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Kimberman
10 Point
Registered: 10/30/05
Posts: 3156
Loc: Knoxville
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If you are looking for a varmint/deer combo, go with the 243, if its strictly a big game gun, go with the 308. If you handload take a look at the .260.
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#315349 - 07/26/07 11:08 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: skynimrod]
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4onaside
12 Point
Registered: 02/07/06
Posts: 5053
Loc: Jackson,Tn
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Assuming that you are not a long range varmiter, which is not as likely as your being a deer hunter on this forum, no contest. .308, and I don't even own one, although I do own a .243. However, my dad owned one(inherited by my son). It is much more versatile as a big game rifle going up the size scale(of game), whereas, IMO the .243 is right on the edge, whitetails being the upper limit(size) of game that you would normally expect to hunt.
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Lord, keep your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth
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#315375 - 07/27/07 12:05 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: 4onaside]
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Darkthirty II
6 Point
Registered: 02/28/07
Posts: 534
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a 260 will give you the best of both worlds
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#315378 - 07/27/07 12:15 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Darkthirty II]
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Model70Man
12 Point
Registered: 09/30/05
Posts: 6142
Loc: Knoxville, TN
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I have both calibers and love them both. I say get both calibers. You can never have too many rifles.
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#315434 - 07/27/07 06:05 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: ]
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Tikkabuck
10 Point
Registered: 07/05/05
Posts: 4019
Loc: Humphreys,Co
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7mm-08
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#315477 - 07/27/07 06:48 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Tikkabuck]
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BucknBass
TnDeer Old Timer
10 Point
Registered: 09/27/99
Posts: 2843
Loc: Bartlett, TN USA
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Hands down .308 for deer hunting. Look at Rem 700 or Browning A-Bolt as far as I'm concerned.
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#315541 - 07/27/07 07:43 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: BucknBass]
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Sako
10 Point
Registered: 01/19/05
Posts: 2786
Loc: Knoxville
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No question.... 308
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#315560 - 07/27/07 07:53 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Sako]
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Cull Buck Hunter
8 Point
Registered: 12/16/05
Posts: 1876
Loc: Cleveland,TN
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IF you reload I would say 308, I loaded 168 Barnes TSX for deer and 125gr TNT's for coyotes and other varmints.
If you don't reload I would say 243. The 243 is offered in big game loads and you can find varmint loads too. It is hard to find varmint loads in a 308 from a commercial source.
Both are great calibers and usually accurate, you can't make a bad choice!
The Remington 700 SPS is a good bargain, not too mention the Savage with an accutrigger.
Edited by Cull Buck Hunter (07/27/07 07:56 AM)
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#315665 - 07/27/07 09:16 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Sako]
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MWP_N_Cookeville
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 03/15/99
Posts: 5438
Loc: Cookeville, TN, USA
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Ditto, and with the available "Reduced Recoil" factory rounds even a youngster can now start out with a 308 and then move up to "Standard" power rounds and even "light magnum" rounds all from the same gun!
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In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
--Thomas Jefferson
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#315676 - 07/27/07 09:28 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: RUBLINE]
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Plateau Hunter
8 Point
Registered: 05/19/00
Posts: 1602
Loc: Cannon County, TN
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Well if you are using it for deer that is a no brainer. .308 all the way. It is head and shoulders above a .243 imo and a lot of others also by way. Ifyou are only after groundhogs, coyotes and such the .243 is fine but better choices exist for those too.
If you like tracking deer around in failing light, in the thickets, with a 6mm hole punched in them, as a light rain starts to fall--get the .243.
Flame on.
Plateau Hunter
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#315870 - 07/27/07 12:19 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Tikkabuck]
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vonb
6 Point
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 775
Loc: TN
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What are you looking for? Low recoil? Deer hunting? Selection of ammo? Ballistics? Long barrel life? Lightweight? Do you reload? Need more info...
With that said, I have a .243, .260 and .308. B/t the three, I can tell you that the .260 is quickly becoming my all-around favorite caliber. It has great ballistic coefficient, high sectional density which means it shoots flat and hits hard. It also has very little recoil. The cons to this setup are that ammo. is hard to find for it and there is very little selection...This means I would not consider this cartridge if I didn't reload. Brass is another con for this rig since I own the other .308 based calibers. Therefore, I'm stuck with Remington .260 brass as I don't want to neck up/down other vendor brass due to mixing up headstamps. Barrel life on the .260 is more generous than the .243 but not as good as the .308. Other than that, I like them all for different reasons.
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#315934 - 07/27/07 01:28 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: vonb]
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Hillbilly Hunter
Killbilly
16 Point
Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 16986
Loc: Branchville
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.308 over a .243 anyday, every day.
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#315952 - 07/27/07 01:47 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Hillbilly Hunter]
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W.Seay
12 Point
Registered: 01/17/06
Posts: 7216
Loc: Collierville,TN.
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Thats a no-brainer, get the .308.
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#315958 - 07/27/07 01:52 PM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: W.Seay]
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Hillbilly Hunter
Killbilly
16 Point
Registered: 07/15/05
Posts: 16986
Loc: Branchville
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Thats a no-brainer, get the .308.
yep
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#317971 - 07/29/07 11:16 AM
Re: .243 OR .308 HELP ME DECIDE
[Re: Hillbilly Hunter]
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Bobby Williamson
16 Point
Registered: 02/07/02
Posts: 12577
Loc: Bowlinggreen ,Ky
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308
Edited by Bobby Williamson (07/29/07 11:23 AM)
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