Recommend a new rifle caliber for me

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Olympus said:
Being from the midwest, I will forever be a fan of the 243 Winchester. There's no animal within 500 miles that I can't effectively take with the 243. I have shot this caliber off and on my whole life and I get a LOT more practice time with it because of the mild recoil. That being said, I think I'd like to pick up rifle in another caliber just to have, but I have a few parameters I'd like to stay within.

Firstly is recoil. I prefer a mild recoiling rifle, something that tends to "punch above its weight" so to speak. I'm a reloader, so I can tailor a bullet and powder combination to get the most out of a caliber. Personally, I think the 243 also punches above its weight also. I have a friend that usually helps with the deer cleaning and every year he makes a comment about how devastating the chest cavities are on the deer I shoot with my 243.

I hunt hardwood timber and most shots are under 200 yards. I'm not opposes to a lever gun, but as I get older my vision isn't as good as it used to be so scope is pretty much a must-have now. I could care less about ammo availability since I reload. I'm always drawn to unique, lesser known or lesser seen calibers. I've also gotten to be more of a synthetic stock guy for hunting rifles. My safe is full of blued/walnut rifles, but I have grown fond of the utilitarian synthetic stock for hunting rifles. But I'm always interested in suggestions. Thanks!
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Please no AR there is enough beer cans in this world
 
I suggest the 7x57 as well, or a 7.65x53.
The 6.5x55 is an excellent choice as well. Maybe a .257 Roberts as others said.
8mm-06 is another one I could consider.
What about a 9.3x62?
 
jmr40 said:
If it ain't broke why try to fix it?

If you want something out of the mainstream something like the 257R, 7X57, 260, or 6.5X55 meet your parameters. Although 7X57 might be getting close to being too much recoil.

If you want to stay with commonly available cartridges 6.5CM, 7-08 and 308 are the top 3. Although both 7-08 and 308 might be getting close to your recoil limits. Especially in a lighter rifle. The 6.5CM has been outselling everything for several years for a reason. Recoil is between 308 and 243, but closer to 243. It shoots bullets in the 140-150 gr range making it a better choice for game bigger than deer than your 243. There are hunters who use 24 and 25 caliber cartridges to kill elk every year, but I'd feel better with the ability to shoot a heavier bullet than you can get with the 24's and 25's. A 26 caliber 140 gr bullet is as small as I'd feel comfortable with on game that size.

There is a lot of irrational hatred for the 6.5CM on the internet but is just works. I've had a chance to own or shoot 5-6 different rifles in 6.5CM. Every single one of them was more accurate than any other rifles I've ever fired. Strictly for hunting or strictly for target shooting you can do better, at least on paper. But if you want to play around with longer range informal paper punching and hunt with the same rifle the 6.5CM is an ideal dual-purpose hunting/target round.
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This.
 
Been looking at the 6.5 Grendel, mainly in the Ruger American Ranch or Predator profiles. I'm leaning more toward the 16" Ranch version as I'm not really interested in long range performance, nor do I have any range longer than 300 yards.
 
Olympus said:
Been looking at the 6.5 Grendel, mainly in the Ruger American Ranch or Predator profiles. I'm leaning more toward the 16" Ranch version as I'm not really interested in long range performance, nor do I have any range longer than 300 yards.
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I would look at 6 ARC if you reload as there are more bullet choices and they cost less.
 
I think the previously mentioned calibers are good upgrades to larger bullets but the OP is still hunting in wooded areas, he likes medium recoil, and he reloads. I assume this .243 is a bolt action rifle. And so, I'd suggest a lever action or semi-auto 35 Rem. It's superior to a 30/30, the OP can have a larger bullet to use, and he can cast his own bullets to hunt with. Also, by casting the OP can practice more with the rifle. A 35 Rem is a necked up .308 vs a .243 is a necked down .308.
 
Since your a reloader I’m going to say jump ship on the 308 based cartridges altogether. You have the .243 so you have the medium game needs covered, so I would downgrade in horsepower and upgrade in speed. Go a bit odd and get into something along the lines of 20 practical.
 
Your .243 is a great choice for your needs. Most (if not all) of the other suggestions are good choices. In the end, they all do about the same thing anyway so you cannot go wrong with any choice. Shooters on this blog in most cases promote the caliber and design that they own/ shoot - it is human nature to seek approval even in a hunting rifle. I shoot the .308, 45-70, .45 Colt and the 6.8 SPC in various rifle configurations. They are not the latest/ greatest but I have any/ all bases covered for both hunting and casual shooting needs. Again as with your .243 and your needs/ wants, you are already there.
 
.270 Winchester or .280 Remington. If you want to try something different but much the same, my favorite deer rifle for up to 300 yards and a little more is my Ruger Model 77 RS MKII, chambered in 7x64 Brenneke. Almost identical in dimension and ballistics as the .280 Remington cartridge but having a European (German) namesake.
 
BJung said:
I think the previously mentioned calibers are good upgrades to larger bullets but the OP is still hunting in wooded areas, he likes medium recoil, and he reloads. I assume this .243 is a bolt action rifle. And so, I'd suggest a lever action or semi-auto 35 Rem. It's superior to a 30/30, the OP can have a larger bullet to use, and he can cast his own bullets to hunt with. Also, by casting the OP can practice more with the rifle. A 35 Rem is a necked up .308 vs a .243 is a necked down .308.
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35 Rem is a great cartridge, but it is not a necked up 308. 358 Win is a necked up 308.

The 35 Rem is a dandy carbine cartridge though. Not too hard kicking, but delivers quite an impact. Plays nicely with cast bullets as well. I had a Marlin 336 so chambered. It was a great combination.
 
Since you reload, heres another 6.5 I didnt see mentioned- 6.5×.284. Short action with near magnum ballistics. And +1 on the .35 Rem, or .358 Win.
 
Olympus said:
Been looking at the 6.5 Grendel, mainly in the Ruger American Ranch or Predator profiles. I'm leaning more toward the 16" Ranch version as I'm not really interested in long range performance, nor do I have any range longer than 300 yards.
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I just bought my first Grendel, albeit in an AR platform. Weather being what it's been lately, I've not gotten it to the range yet. Check out some of @Double Naught Spy's videos of hunting pigs in TX with a 6.5 Grendel.
 
LonewolfMcquade said:
The itty bitty little Ruger Ranch chambered in 7.62x39 has been a SURPRISING favorite of mine the past few years. Perfect for groundhogs, all the way up to whitetail! Accurate, small, lightweight & LOW recoil. View attachment 1056820
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I wondering now what benefits the 7.62x39 round will have since the steel cased ammo will be drying up in the years to come. Factory ammo is not exactly inexpensive for the x39, even steel cased stuff. And the .311 diameter bullets are not as readily available either. Not to mention that you're stuck having to use the expensive Mini 30 mags and I'm struggling to see many "pros" for opting for the 7.62x39 chambering now.
 
Olympus said:
I wondering now what benefits the 7.62x39 round will have since the steel cased ammo will be drying up in the years to come. Factory ammo is not exactly inexpensive for the x39, even steel cased stuff. And the .311 diameter bullets are not as readily available either. Not to mention that you're stuck having to use the expensive Mini 30 mags and I'm struggling to see many "pros" for opting for the 7.62x39 chambering now.
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Steel case won't dry up.
 
Olympus said:
I wondering now what benefits the 7.62x39 round will have since the steel cased ammo will be drying up in the years to come. Factory ammo is not exactly inexpensive for the x39, even steel cased stuff. And the .311 diameter bullets are not as readily available either. Not to mention that you're stuck having to use the expensive Mini 30 mags and I'm struggling to see many "pros" for opting for the 7.62x39 chambering now.
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7.62x39 is likely the most common ammunition worldwide and will be around a very long time. As for mags I really like the fact it uses Mini-30 units. But then I have a Mini-30 as well...:D
 
Olympus said:
I wondering now what benefits the 7.62x39 round will have since the steel cased ammo will be drying up in the years to come. Factory ammo is not exactly inexpensive for the x39, even steel cased stuff. And the .311 diameter bullets are not as readily available either. Not to mention that you're stuck having to use the expensive Mini 30 mags and I'm struggling to see many "pros" for opting for the 7.62x39 chambering now.
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It's not drying up in the least. Much 7.62x39 comes from other places besides Russia. Taiwan, Serbia & other places. In fact, Palmetto state armory has purchased a crapload of the equipment necessary to produce the steel case ammo here & they expect to have it up & running soon. As far as being "stuck", as YOU say, with the expensive mags, I bought a bunch of quality aftermarket ones from Mag Warehouse about 1/2 the price IIRC. They actually seem to function better than the oe Ruger ones I have. Even if the steel case "dries up", I'll have enough to last me & most likely my children the rest of our lves! Lol
 
LonewolfMcquade said:
It's not drying up in the least. Much 7.62x39 comes from other places besides Russia. Taiwan, Serbia & other places. In fact, Palmetto state armory has purchased a crapload of the equipment necessary to produce the steel case ammo here & they expect to have it up & running soon. As far as being "stuck", as YOU say, with the expensive mags, I bought a bunch of quality aftermarket ones from Mag Warehouse about 1/2 the price IIRC. They actually seem to function better than the oe Ruger ones I have. Even if the steel case "dries up", I'll have enough to last me & most likely my children the rest of our lves! Lol
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But does 7.62x39 still make sense for someone just now getting into the caliber? Sure, not long ago it was dirt cheap and I can see why people would have stocked up, but it's not that cheap these days.
 
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