[Varminter]

I got to thinking that i want another 243 barrel. But i don't know which one to get. Since i got rid of my 270 and 243 barrel i don't really have a long range (past 100 yards) deer gun.

I want somethin that is legal to hunt deer with in TN but still good for long range varmints for the yotes and next year's p-dog shoot.

I can't decide which 243 to get. :? They have the 22 in. bull, the 24 in. bull, 22 in. standard, and the superlight. I won't really be walking alot when i'm using this gun. More than likely just sitting up on some fields.

The 22 in. bull costs $93 and the 24 in. bull costs $100. Will i be able to tell a difference between 2 inches in barrel length?

I need help really deciding between those 2. All opinions are welcome. Or if anyone thinks of another caliber that would better suite my needs please say so.

 

[Brett]

Personally I think I would steer clear of the Ultra light if P-dogs are on the venue. I have not heard any reports of great accuracy with them. As fare as 22" vs. 24" barrel goes there are way to many variables involved in barrel making to call that one. If some how you could make two identical barrels except for length. I.e; Same exact chamber dimensions, same exact bore, same exact rifling, same exact crown, same exact... (well I think you get the point) the longer barrel should theoretically give you a little more speed. And that's if the powder used in the ammo has not already reached it's maximum potential in a 22" barrel, in which case the extra 2" could actually start to slow the bullet down.

If It were me I would handle the gun in both barrel lengths and see which one 'feels' better. Chances are that will be the one you shoot better. :wink:

 

[De41mag]

Varmiter;

I'd give it serious thought about a WHOLE new rifle. Cause ifin you gonna shoot PD's next year, you are going to need more than one rifle. That's a fact. I'm not being a SMART A or something, just letting you know what my experience was this year. I got the 223 Ultra so hot that my POI was going waaay right. And you sure can get a Handi hot on them PD's. I won't take less than three rifles at any time.
It sounds like your in the same delimma as me.
Go for the Ultra Varmit then get you a 7mm-08 barrel for deer.
I REALLY like the way the 7mm-08 performs on Tenn. deer. And I have taken my share of them in TN.
Just my two cents.

Dennis

 

[myarmor]

I don't have a 243 in a Handi, but I do in a Remington 700. Great caliber.
I personally would just go for the 24" Ultra 243 barrel if you went that route. Wish they made it in 26" myself-then I would probably buy one.
Have you thought about a 30-06 UltraComp? These shoot excellent, and very little recoil. Perhaps a little overkill on groundhogs, but not if you reload-something I'll be doing soon for mine. 30-06, very versitle.
Not totally sure if they still have some back at the factory, but they did about 2 months ago. Might want to call if you want one of these..
Then you have the 25-06 as well in a 26"barrel.
So many choices.......

 

[lik2hunt]

Varminter
1st of all contact quickdtoo and ask him to send you a copy of the barrel discount order form.....22" is $77 and the 24" is $95.
I used the 24" at this year's PD hunt and mine was hot beyand touch after about 12 rounds. It took a pretty good while for it to cool in the heat of the day too. I am taking three guns/barrels next year for sure. Good idea to keep at least two at your bench all the time. If it were me I'd go for the 24".....2" will make quite a difference in your velocity and you want all you can get for the P-dogs. After you get the 24" then save up for one of the Ultra Fluted in the caliber of your choice, I'm thinking about one of the 204's.

 

[Fred M]

Varminter.
I can hear the howling now. But here it is anyhow. The 243 is too small for big stuff and too big for small stuff. If you must use a deer rifle for varmints go for a 7mm08 it uses the same amount of powder and makes a fair varmint rig withe the light TNT bullets and is a fine big game rifle.

In a 243 by all means go for a 24" barrel it hold more steady and at least uses most of the suitable powder for this cartridge. There is no suitable powder for the 243 that will run out of steam in any barrel length normaly used for this caliber the 26" included.

Save up for two barrels one for varmints and one for bigger stuff.

 

[norseman112]

Varminter,

.243 will kill deer with proper shot placement, However I would consider the 25-06 because its good for deer and varmints. I don't have a 25-06 in handi, but I use a 75 gr A-MAX on yotes and 120 gr Speer for deer. A great caliber. I know the 25-06 is kind of big for pds though. If you decide on the .243 I would go with the 24" barrel.

another option would be get the 25-06 and a .223 or 204 barrel
good luck in your choice.

Norse

 

[McLernon]

Got to Thinking

If your going to use a .243 for PD's I would suggest you consider stainless as I believe the standard barrels are mild steel. The .243 is known to be a 'barrel burner' even using the best materials and steady shooting with a mild steel barrel will be good for maybe 1000 to 1500 rounds, or less but for sure not more.

I would suggest you get another rifle in maybe .223 for PD's.

Good Shooting

McL

 

[Nuttinbutchunks]

If it were me the choice would be easy. The .243 Ultra bull barrel in the 24" length. I like long heavy barrels.

 

[hellacatcher]

Had five active guns on the Ok. P-Dog hunt. Shoot one get it warm to hot, put it in the shade let it cool drag out anther. Now for the 243 It was fun, under 200 yrds with 58gr. v-max hornady bts 38.5gr. IMR 4064 it turned the poor little critters into mists. Out past 300yrds plus it did real good bucking wind and pushing their pop buttons. Heck if you like the 243 then you like it if you don't you don't. 8) The 243 is a accurate round. 8)

 

[Varminter]

De41mag, I was planning on putting it on my 223 frame, but i see your point of getting another whole gun. You know from experience. But i was planning on getting one of the new Ultra varmint fluteds in 204 for the P-dog shoot next year.

Fred, I don't get what you mean.???? :? You say the 243 is too small for big stuff and too big for small stuff. Then you recommend the 7mm-08. That is an excellent round but it seems quite larger than the 243 on small stuff. Plus i already have a Win. m70 clasic compact in 7mm-08.

Myarmor, I like the idea of the 30-06 Ultracomp barrel. But what is the smallest grain bullet that can be had for the 30-06? I would prefer the 270 ultracomp if it is still available. Since i'm already set up to load for it. Guess i'll have to give them a call to fnd out if they are still available.

I've never really been a fan of the 243, but it seemed like the cartridge to go for in my situation. The 25-06 would be pretty good, is there anyone that has one and can tell me of the accuracy that you are getting from it?

 

[myarmor]

I think the lightest grain you can shoot in a .308 is 100gr. But I am not sure, as reloading is still very new too me and I am reading everything I can get my hands on before I start.
Anyone some suggestions here?
As for the 25-06, I know quick and Mac have got great accuracy out of theirs. Hopefully one of them will chime in.......
But I also have been looking at the 25-06 due to being able to load pretty light, but load heavy enough for deer, etc.

 

[quickdtoo]

I haven't shot my 25-06 since last fall, but it does shoot well with a couple 115gr & 117gr factory loads, but I don't think I'd wanta use it for colony shooting, too much noise and recoil with the loads I'm shooting which are for deer. Mac's load was a deer load, also. Hildy developed a 75gr Vmax load and his shot great at 200yds, if you do a search for Hildy as the user name and 25-06 and all terms, you should find his posts about it if he doesn't show up to reply.

Tim

 

[Fred M]

Varminter.

Fred, I don't get what you mean.???? You say the 243 is too small for big stuff and too big for small stuff. Then you recommend the 7mm-08. That is an excellent round but it seems quite larger than the 243 on small stuff. Plus i already have a Win. m70 clasic compact in 7mm-08.

What I am saying, if you must shoot varmints with a deer rifle you then should get a good deer rifle like a 7mm-08 not a 243. In my opinion the 243 is very much over-powdered for varmints unless you get a barrel with a 1-8" twist and shoot 108gr VLD bullets for shooting varmints a 1000 yards. Other than that a 17, 20 or 22 cal rifle is what you should use for varmints.

 

[Mac11700]

Varminter:

Check your PM's

Mac

 

[Varminter]

Gotcha Fred :grin: . Now the 204 would be a great round for the varmint part but would be illegal for deer here in TN. :roll: I'm thinking the 243 is the way to go but the 25-06 is looking more and more interesting. If the chance would arise that i had a shot at a hog and only had a 243 would this round cleanly kill a hog? Maybe loaded with a CT fail safe, with a neck shot? Cause where i hunt this would be very likely to happen.

But then there is the chance of the ultracomps still being at the factory.

So many decisions not enough $$$$$.

 

[Datil]

243

Varminter, Go a head get the 243 in 24 inch barrel, you never be
sorry! I have a 243 with 26 inch barrel ( not NEF ) that will lay southern
deer on the ground every shot. Getting 3400 fps with 85 grain HPBT.
Got some 58 gr hornady bullets for next year P D shoot. Marv.

 

[Fred M]

Varminter.
The 243 and the 25-06 are both high pressure numbers, the 25-06 Ultra I had it did not like high pressure and with an oversized barrel it would loose a 100 ft with any load. But then others seam to have better results.

There is no comparison between the two calibers, an up to snuff 25-06 like my Ruger #1 kills like a ton of bricks. I get 3430 ft with a 100gr TSX bullet.

I have never shot a wild pig, and if I had a 243 and saw one I would try to shoot it in the ear with a 100gr partition or a TSX bullet. I would not try for a body shot. The TSX bullet would for sure reach the brain or vertebra and drop it right on the spot.

But I would never wander around with a 243 if their was a chance for a shot at a wild pig.

I would venture to say that a 100gr TSX bullet shot from a 25-06 would be much better for this critter. But a big slug of some sorts would be more suitable for pigs, me thinks.

Shot a Warthog in Africa with a 7mm-08AI and a 175gr RN. No contest, of course the are not quite as big as the wild pigs in your area.

 

[Mac11700]

Varminter:

I know a few guys who have taken extreamly large hogs and big 250lb deer with the 243...and 95 grain partitions at 3000fps......it did a bang up job on them...and for those little critters...a 55grain CT-SBT at 4000fps is spells DOOOM for them......My 243 handles both the lighter and the heavier bullets just fine...and if you look at my groups I got...you'll see that...not all the 243's have the problems the ultra lights do...and depending on the date of manufacture...the throating isn't a issue at all...some of these barrels will amaze you...especially the newer ones...I just wish they could do that for all the barrels they make...

Mac

 

[Varminter]

John, how long is the barrel sale going on? I would like to get a couple of barrels before it goes off. I think i might have found me a 243. :wink: