What caliber rifle for various use?

That shooting shoulder is shot.:D There is nothing left between the two sides of the joint. They can put in a new shoulder but I am debating as to get it done or not. The VA will take care of it but there are still pro's and con's.
 
Just like anything else in life. I know a Vietnam Vet who is learning to walk again after having his hip replaced, he's having a rough go at it. That's a bit more involved than a shoulder, but, still...hurts like hell too! :)
 
I tend to consider the .243 to have a little too much powder and a little too little bullet to be optimum. I would go with the .250 Savage or a .257 Roberts as ideal for deer. When I go to lighter weight I tend to go to shorter barrels. With the shorter barrel I want a bit heavier bullet to make efficient use of less powder. If you ever want to shoot something a bit bigger you might go with the basic 7mm Mauser. With a longer barrel I would pick a .270.

What I actually use is a short barreled .257 and a long barreled .270.
 
I have used the 257 Roberts, 250 Savage, 25-06 and the 243. I used 100 grain bullets in all four. The 25 grain 100 grain bullet will expand a bit better on deer size game because of the lower BC. There are better bullets now days for the 243 but when it first came out, the heavy bullets would punch a pencil size hole through a deer with little damage and the lighter bullets would over expand and not penetrate. The early 25-06 bullets had similar problems. The Nosler Partition solved all of that, along with other good bullet makers.
 
I'm gonna go very left of center and recommend the .308. It should do all you need it to unless youre elbows deep in bears. I'd even venture a semi-auto would be fine against bear. I've read that its been used without issue on Elk and Moose with clean shots. The sniper platforms speak for its capabilities. Seems like a winner to me.
 
I am a big fan of 'tweeners... I have taken much game with .243, 250-3000, 257, 6.55 Swede and a few with .260.
Hard to beat them for all around if white tails or blacktails are on the menu. If all animals targetd are under 100lbs.... I switch to .223. 55gr ballistic tips and I will take anything from 1lb to 60lb critters without blinking. Almost no recoil and excellent accuracy. 18" barreld bolt gun and small scope weighs not much more than a decent .22lr. Switch to controlled expansion bullets and I would be happy taking white tails at reasonable ranges.

2Door
 
.308 is a good calibre for varmits, deer, and just about anything else.

Ammo is easy to get and comes in a variety of loads.
 
I'd go with the .243. It is a great caliber. My dad and grandpa have both taken numerous antelope and mule deer with it. My grandpa also used it as his elk gun.
 
For those purposes, a .308 would be my choice. The 150 to 180-grain loads can take anything in the lower 48 and HI. You can load it up or down, and if you'll handload, you have the widest selection of projectiles available.
 
When I was shooting steel silhouettes I shot a 308 with the 190 grain Hornady BTHP match bullets, for hunting seasons I just switched to the 190 grain BTSP and I didn't have to resight the rifle. They were overkill for deer but very very accurate.
 
25-06

especially if you are used to the balistics of 22-250, it's similar,
very little drop at 300 yards, especially when compared to 308 at the same ranges
 
If I understand your main objective is to use it for a coyote gun first and deer second, the 22-250 wins hands down. I was handloading rounds for this in 40 grn when Hornady had not published data for it yet. I could reach speeds in excess of 4100 fps. I have shot this round ALOT. Any way I think you should not step away from a round you are having great sucess with. There are plenty of premium loads and bullets now that will take care of a deer in .22-250 now, such as a Barnes bullet. The .22-250 is very flat shooting and you don't have to get a bull barrel to get great acuracy. The 243 is a real slow poke with 100 grain bullets. Lucky to get 3000 fps out of factory loads. Borrow one from a friend and shot it first before you buy. But I would stick with the .22-250.
 
True, but ballistics are based on bullet shape and BC. The bullets ability to overcome gravity, as well as starting velocity.
 
The 7x57mm and .257 Roberts are based on the same case (as is the 6mm Remington).

The .308 and 7mm-08 use the same case, as does the .243.

Don Friggin' Rearic! Send me an email, man.

John
 
In Colorado the 22-250 is not legal for deer the 243 is. The 243 is a kick ass deer cartridge and it is a reach out and touch something varmint cartridge. Sticking with the 2 choices given the 243 gets my vote....Steve
 
I have shot both and owned both .22-250 and the .243 and a 6mm remington. My preference is the .22-250. I have cut up alot of deer and the wound channel created by a .22-250 is very impressive. Plus I have learned in my older years that deer don't have ballistic armor! LOL just my thoughts. I just like the 22-250 and if he has had good suceess with it, why change ? Ballistics will be different so a .243 does shoot different than a .22-250. Did I mention I like .22-250's ??? LOL
 
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