.243 Vs .308

[KarbineKrazy]

I am thinking about a new rifle. maybe scout configged. Thinking a Remington Model 7

It will be my woods walking gun. I want something capable of 300 yard shots, Mostly for deer, but maybe Black Bear, or cougars...

Originally, I thought, got to go with a classic .308, but now, I think maybe it's time for a .243

How much power would I give up? Is the .243 more accurate? Flatter shooting?

What type of money is a box of cheap remington .243 shells going for? I want to shoot it a lot, and haven't got into reloading yet.

How about recoil. Is it much different?

Which would you choose? It's not like I need a bear stopper or an elk gun, or a SHTF rifle(SHTF can be applied to all my firearms though)

 

[Fumbler]

Recoil of a .308 is about twice as much. It's 8.8 ft-lbs of recoil in a 7.5 lb rifle shooting 100 gr .243Win. Recoil in an 7.5lbs .308 win with 150gr ammo is 15.8 ft-lbs.

The .243 will have a slightly flatter trajectory, but the .308 will carry a lot more energy farther down range. Zereo'd for +/-3", a 150gr .308 will shoot out to 275 yards without any holdover, a 100gr will shoot out to 283 with no holdover, so the difference is minimal.
The .308 will also deflect less if it hits a leaf or twig, that should be a factor if you hunt in thick woods.

I don't think one would be inherently more accurate than the other. The .308 is used a lot more in target shooting.

Cheap ammo is about $12/box for either cartridge. .308Win has the advantage in cost though, you can get 7.62x51mm NATO (basically the same as .308) for only $5 per box. It is okay to shoot 7.62NATO in a .308 rifle, but risky to shoot .308 in a 7.62NATO chambered rifle. The .308 can also be used for bigger game, Hornady makes Light Magnum rounds that exceed 30-06 performance.

I bought a Tikka T3 Light in .308 Win and I have been completely happy with it.
As far as accuracy of the T3 and .308Win:


Recoil and trajectory figures are quoted from Chuck Hawks at http://www.chuckhawks.com

 

[TallPine]

I have a 243 and use it for deer, but I sure would NOT want to shoot a bear with it

You might just make him mad ...

 

[Art Eatman]

I know from nuthin' about bear hunting, other than the Outdoor Channel. But if it's a sittin'-still bear, I figure a neck shot from a .243 with a 100-grain Nosler or equivalent would put paid to it. I don't think I'd go for a body shot...

, Art

 

[KarbineKrazy]

I know from nuthin' about bear hunting, other than the Outdoor Channel. But if it's a sittin'-still bear, I figure a neck shot from a .243 with a 100-grain Nosler or equivalent would put paid to it. I don't think I'd go for a body shot...

, Art

I just know a lot of people over here that still use 30-30s. I figured a .243 would be more effective.

I am stuck. I don't know which one I want. I want something a lot easier to shoot then my '06, I want something easy to pack in the brush.

I don't know, I am leaning .243 now.

 

[Fumbler]

Why not get something between 243 and 308?
There is the 260 Rem and 7mm-08 Rem, both are necked down .308's like the .243 is.
Their recoil is between a .243 and 308 also.
You can retain more long range energy and have only a small increase in recoil.

My T3 weighs only 7.5 lbs with scope. The recoil feels like an 8.5 lbs 30-06, so in a model 7 it would feel close to your average 30-06.

 

[Skofnung]

I want something a lot easier to shoot then my '06

Well, the .243 would be much easier on your shoulder than the .308, as its (.308) about the same as an -06.

I don't know how big your Black Bears get out there, but I would not hesitate to drop the hammer of a .243 on a BB around here. Then again, the ones around here are 250 lbs or smaller. A head shot would be the order of the day. I would prefer the .308 for this though.

I have a friend out in AZ that dropped a Cougar with a .243 at bad breath range a few years ago. So it ought to suffice in that role. He's a born and bred good shot mind you...

Being that you already have a .30-06, why not get a .243? .30-06 will do everything a .308 will plus some... the main advantage to a .308 is the shorter action/lighter weight than the -06.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Jonathan]

It will be my woods walking gun. I want something capable of 300 yard shots, Mostly for deer, but maybe Black Bear, or cougars...

I've seen a distance requirement tossed around a lot, but I'm never sure how to interpret it. All of the reasonable offerings will give you the 300 yard shot, but what kind of shot do you want that to be?

For example, after looking at your requirements I starting thinking about a compact 45-70, probably in a lever. More than capable at 300, but you'd better be careful on the ranging. Depending on a person's eyesight, going with iron sights could also be an issue.

So this depends on what kind of shooter you are.

How much power would I give up? Is the .243 more accurate? Flatter shooting?

Both will do the job. Heavier bullets in the .308 can give you the edge for less-than-ideal shots.

Which would you choose? It's not like I need a bear stopper or an elk gun, or a SHTF rifle(SHTF can be applied to all my firearms though)

My choices:

1.) Bolt action in a scout setup, .308 because I already have all the reloading equipment, with an Aimpoint 2x.

2.) Lever carbine in 45-70, large aperture sight.

3.) NEF single-shot. Definite minimalism.


Number 3 give you extreme compactness for transport, light weight, and simplicity. Number 2 provides serious power (okay, momentum, technically) for any game, anywhere. The first choice gives you range-tolerant trajectories with the capabilites for semi-precision work if necessary.

 

[Art Eatman]

My pet .243 is a little Sako Forester carbine, 19". It came originally with a pseudo-Mannlicher stock. One of those two-piece deals. Made for vertical string groups. So, I got rid of the junk and cut the forearm back, slightly.

That little doofer is a 1/2 MOA critter. With a Leupold 2x7, ammo and sling, it totals out at seven pounds. I've busted over 20 "regular" deer with it, plus I used it on a herd-reduction program of my own devise on my old home ranch near Austin. Very darned few deer ever required a second shot, other than a coup de grace from courtesy.

I've almost exclusively used the Sierra 85-grain HPBT. There's rarely an exit wound, but when Bambi's DRT I don't figure I'm gonna do any trailing. I mostly go for neck shots, but that bullet turns the heart/lung area to mush. (Fairly small CenTex deer, you understand. Not mulies.)

I have a Rem 700 Ti in 7mm08. With Leupold 3x9, ammo and sling, it's 6.5 pounds. They're available in .243, IIRC. Yeah, a bit pricey, but my old legs don't carry "real rifles" real well across country any more...

, Art

 

[mustanger98]

For the Remington M7, I'd suggest the .243, partly because of the weight of the rifle and the recoil being heavier from the same rifle in .308. I shoot .243 (100gr PowerPoint) too, and I've seen what it did to a deer.

For the trajectory, the books say +2" @ 100yds is 0.0" @ 200yds. I'll have to look back at the books to see what it is at 300yds, but it's not dropping that fast till you get it out past 500yds. I'd put a Lyman #57 on it and set it up for a 300yd "battle sight zero". I'm thinking it'd be good on deer sized game with little or no difference in POA; the bullet would just hit in the upper lungs at mid-range with the front sight held halfway up the crease behind the shoulder.

 

[Black Snowman]

How it's fat cousin

Extra oomph and shorter action you could go with a .243 WSSM. Something like a Browning A-Bolt Stalker with the synthetic stock would make a handy and effective rifle.

 

[Ala Dan]

U gott'a luv a good .243 Winchester, if you hail from the South!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Fumbler]

Extra oomph and shorter action you could go with a .243 WSSM. Something like a Browning A-Bolt Stalker with the synthetic stock would make a handy and effective rifle.

The .243 WSSM would be expensive to shoot a lot without reloading.

 

[Black Snowman]

Oh ya, I keep forgetting not everyone reloads. It's a foreign concept to me at this point I have .243 WSSM dies, shell holder, bullets, and brass but still haven't gotten around to picking up the rifle yet.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Use Enough Gun!!

Don't know how big bears run in yer neck of the woods. But they get big enough near me that I would NOT like to be throwing 100 grain pills at them. Would much rather use 165 or 180 grain pills. The .308 has more of everything except the .243 has a slight edge in accuracy but not enough to make it a deciding factor.

For big northern deer, even, the .243 is considered "iffy," place your shots well, and you may have to not take a shot now & again. Ditto the same in spades, for bear, IMHO.

Having said that, the .308's I've shot have a very similar recoil to the venerable '06--you won't be improving much in the recoil dept. by switching to a .308. Ditto weight and size of gun, unless you happen to have an unusually heavy .30-'06. But in consideration to your game, you have to use enough gun to guarantee that a well-placed shot will result in a quick kill.

Now if you get yourself a very light, handy scout rifle in .308, you'll be able to carry it all day, but when it comes time to shoot it, you'll get a bit more recoil than with a heavier weapon. But if this is a huntin'gun, you'll be carrying it a goodly bit more than shooting it, methinks.

And you WERE looking for an excuse go go buy another gun, weren't you??

 

[KarbineKrazy]

Still tough...

I have looked at the .260s and the 7mm-08s, but I don't think they are for me.

I'm leaning to the .243 cause I don't think I'll be using it on black bears... I'll use my '06...

I will start handloading within the year... I hope anyway.

I don't think I want to do a scout set up though, think I'd rather have a conventional scope.

 

[Fumbler]

A .243 would compliment a 30-06 nicely.

It may be the wiser choice as a .308 is much like a 30-06.