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?
A 6BR with a 1:8 twist. Super efficient, easy on barrels, easy to tune a load, good for target, long range, and hunting, and you can share bullets with the 243.
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.
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.
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.
+1 on the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62. I was getting ready to post that but Lonewolfe beat me to it. Fun, accurate, light, cheap to feed, what's not to like!
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.
Now with cz dropping there 527 ruger should sell even more. I'll have to pick one up someday when I've got the money.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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
I agree with wiscoaster, the 8mm Mauser doesn't make you look like the average penguin in a crowd like a 6.5 or .308.
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.
