New to the High Road! Help me choose a new rifle.

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

Greetings from SE Wyoming.
I have several hunting rifles and 1 rifle which I use for home defense (10mm auto carbine semi-auto). However, I have a gap that I would like to fill. The gap is between 17hmr and 270 Win. I was thinking about 2 rifles but would accept a great recommendation too.
The 2 rifles that I have narrowed to are: Howa 1500 in 243 or Diamondback DB15 in 5.56.
Alright....let the fur fly! I'll sit back and listen.

 

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

I would use this for hunting coyotes, mountain lions and pronghorn. Ranges of up to 400 yards.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have a Howa. Very happy with it. Probably my most accurate rifle, and Ive got alot of rifles.

 

[ECVMatt]

.243 for sure It will do much better than than the 5.56 on the bigger critters especially past the 200 yard mark.

I love the 5.56/.223, but the .243 is a better all around round. The 6mm Remington is another one to give a look at.

 

[js8588]

Of those 2, Howa all day.

 

[redneck2]

I’ve got three AR .223’/5.56 and no .243. But, I’d go .243

 

[Ks5shooter]

.243 with 103 grain Hornady ELD-X bullet. The perfect combination.

 

[LoonWulf]

.243 howa for me as well!

 

[.308 Norma]

The gap is between 17hmr and 270 Win.

I would use this for hunting coyotes, mountain lions and pronghorn.

If you want a new rifle, that's great! Go for it! I like new rifles/cartridges too. But your 270 Win will work fine for coyotes and mountain lions, and you'll have a hard time finding a better cartridge for pronghorns.

 

[horsey300]

I would use this for hunting coyotes, mountain lions and pronghorn. Ranges of up to 400 yards.

.243 with a fast twist or a 6creed, your howa has a 10 twist and the bullets used to buck the wind in your locale favor a 9ish or faster twist.
I realize that that's outside of what you've referenced, but antelope and wind go together, plan accordingly. That howa makes for a decent deer gun (sister in law has one) but you lost me at 400 yards.

 

[ms6852]

If you don't have a 22.250, that would be a great flat shooting round for coyote, I've taken a couple of does with it as well so I know if you can sneak in pretty close to pronghorn it will get the job done. Side by side the 22.250 will out perform the .223 with 55 and 60 grain bullets delivering two to four hundred fps faster and at least 200 to 300 ft pounds of muzzle energy down range which bucks the wind good and repeatable accuracy at long distances. Ballistically speaking with a 64 grain bullet of a 22-250 it still provides over 1700 pounds of muzzle energy whereas the 223 provides 1330 pounds of energy with 69 grainers and 1293 with 77 grainers. Here is a link to a good article.
https://outdoorhill.com/22-250-vs-223-caliber/

 

[horsey300]

If you don't have a 22.250, that would be a great flat shooting round for coyote, I've taken a couple of does with it as well so I know if you can sneak in pretty close to pronghorn it will get the job done. Side by side the 22.250 will out perform the .223 with 55 and 60 grain bullets delivering two to four hundred fps faster and at least 200 to 300 ft pounds of muzzle energy down range which bucks the wind good and repeatable accuracy at long distances. Ballistically speaking with a 64 grain bullet of a 22-250 it still provides over 1700 pounds of muzzle energy whereas the 223 provides 1330 pounds of energy with 69 grainers and 1293 with 77 grainers. Here is a link to a good article.
https://outdoorhill.com/22-250-vs-223-caliber/

I'd add that the fast twist 22 250 will change the field with a 75 scirocco 2.

 

[Howland937]

I'm in the camp of

If you want a new rifle, that's great! Go for it! I like new rifles/cartridges too. But your 270 Win will work fine for coyotes and mountain lions, and you'll have a hard time finding a better cartridge for pronghorns.

Too.
Just don't see the .243 filling much gap with the .270 already in the arsenal. Did anyone mention .22-250 yet?

 

[Bfh_auto]

I would use this for hunting coyotes, mountain lions and pronghorn. Ranges of up to 400 yards.

For that usage, I'd go 243.
I'm not a huge 223 fan anyway.

 

[jmr40]

If you have a 270 there is no need for a 243. When introduced 243 was supposed to be a dual purpose varmint and deer hunting cartridge. But thanks to advancements in bullets today it is bigger than necessary for varmints, but a near ideal deer cartridge. But it lacks the versatility for anything bigger than deer. They also shoot out barrels faster than many other cartridges. All around big game cartridges start at 26 caliber. That is where you get enough bullet weight to be effective.

223 is dirt cheap to shoot, virtually zero recoil and extremely accurate. It'll cover everything from varmint hunting to target shooting out to 600ish yards and is acceptable for deer size game. If I had a 270 and a 243 the 243 would never get used for big game hunting.

 

[Robert]

Buy an AR. The 270 covers all the hunting bases just fine.

 

[hso]

Diamondback DB15

What's your budget and what's your expectation for an AR?

 

[bannockburn]

For your intended purpose I would go with a Howa 1500 in .243 as well.

 

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

What's your budget and what's your expectation for an AR?

Budget is under $700. Expectations: 1 MOA accuracy, MLock forend, collapsable stock, lighter than 8 lbs., AR compatible parts.

 

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

If you want a new rifle, that's great! Go for it! I like new rifles/cartridges too. But your 270 Win will work fine for coyotes and mountain lions, and you'll have a hard time finding a better cartridge for pronghorns.

I have taken pronghorn with my 270 before. It is too much gun for the animal. There is only 90 lbs of meat on a pronghorn. If you destroy both front quarters, you have about 55 lbs left.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 270. Best all-around cartridge for my area. I was just hoping for something in the 60-90 grain range traveling 3000-3500 fps. I can load Nosler Varmagedons that are 70 gr. 3300 fps (243 Win).
Flatter trajectory and slightly less power at impact. But I haven't had the time to research terminal ballistics for the 243 or 5.56 or 22-250 yet...

 

[hso]

under $700. Expectations: 1 MOA accuracy, MLock forend, collapsable stock, lighter than 8 lbs.

That might be optimistic, but now our AR experts have some specifications to work with.

 

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

That might be optimistic, but now our AR experts have some specifications to work with.

Not sure how accurate the Diamondback is but it fits all the other areas....and I can get it new for about $600.

 

[horsey300]

I have taken pronghorn with my 270 before. It is too much gun for the animal. There is only 90 lbs of meat on a pronghorn. If you destroy both front quarters, you have about 55 lbs left.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 270. Best all-around cartridge for my area. I was just hoping for something in the 60-90 grain range traveling 3000-3500 fps. I can load Nosler Varmagedons that are 70 gr. 3300 fps (243 Win).
Flatter trajectory and slightly less power at impact. But I haven't had the time to research terminal ballistics for the 243 or 5.56 or 22-250 yet...

A .243 90 gr tgk, 95 Berger, 95 btip, 100 gr sgk, or 103 eld are exactly what you're looking for, but not out of that 10 twister. The Valkyrie running heavies in an ar or Grendel running 123 ssts will also do it handily, but this is literally all on barrel twist.
Eta any of the listed bullets have been pushed to max and through the lungs yield little to no meat loss, whilst still downing antelope easily

 

[NoHillForAHighStepper]

There is some absolutely excellent wisdom showing up. Thanks for all the help! Greatly appreciated.

 

[Bwana John]

I'd say for the state where you live you are missing a heaver elk rifle caliber (although the 270 will really do it all)