Savage .223 or .243

[geocole]

I want to get a 10GXP3 in a .243, but have read the barrel life is bad.
I just want to punch paper about 20 a week.
I wanted somthing larger than the 22 and thought the .243 would be nice on recoil.
I have a 30-06, 30-30 and 22LR and the 30-06 recoil is starting to wear on me as I just turned 71.
What about the barrel life on the .243?

 

[Ash]

Well, 223 will be cheaper to shoot.

Ash

 

[JMusic]

I would say both are excelent calibers. I used a 243 for years in the Ohio beanfields varmit hunting and it was the bad boy around. Shooting against 22-250's , 223's and others the 243 shines with 80 grain bullets. To punch paper though I think you would be much happier with the 223 one of the best all around calibers out to 350 yds ever designed. In specialty rifles shooting longer bullets it is a real distance shooter too.

Jim

 

[Safwan]

Your barrel life will be fine if you keep your bullets on the heavy side. 80 odd grains or above won't burn your barrel out.

 

[browningguy]

For long range precision shooting, say 600-1000 yards, most of the good shooters think you get 2000 rounds or so before the groups open up even 1/4 moa, for the rest of us that means it will shoot fine for 4-5000 rounds or more.

 

[geocole]

.234

Thanks for the info.
Think I will go with the .243.
Had a rem 6mm semi-auto back in the 70s, sure liked the way it shot, but used it only for deer.

 

[rangerruck]

If you must, and you want a longer bbl life, find a 6mm rifle. but yeah, if you wait 1 minute or more between shots, your bbl life will be even longer, really.

 

[browningguy]

I don't think you will be sorry with the .243, I picked up a Savage 12 FV a couple of weeks ago in .243 and it is quite a good shooter. It's a heavy barrel model which I got just for paper punching out to 600 yards (longest range near my house).

 

[rangerruck]

besides, if it a model 10, it is a true short action, and should be one nice shooter.

 

[tnieto2004]

Get the .243 unless you plan to shoot paper a lot ..