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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
.243 good for long-range?
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<blockquote data-quote="M Rosslee" data-source="post: 1171465" data-attributes="member: 94998"><p>In South Africa we're nervous in using any caliber under .30 Caliber for general hunting applications (even out to 100m).</p><p></p><p>I don't know if our game animals have a different degree of resilience considering their hide thickness or bone structure but we tend to follow the "more caliber is better" approach. </p><p></p><p>However, the .243 Winchester is a fine cartridge for hunting species such as Impala (rooibok), Blesbuck, Springbuck and Bushbuck (I suppose these are deer-sized - I'm not sure what a white-tail deer weighs out but these animals weigh out (dress carcass mass) at around 30kg for large male animals) and are tougher than one would think.</p><p></p><p>I have noted dramatic kill shots from the 243 and have shot species such as blackwildebeest and redhartebeest. They weigh out at around 60-70kg's and have a thick, tough hide with a heavy-set bone structure. </p><p></p><p>These kills were all effected with soft nose boat tail 100gr projectiles at around 2950fps out of a standard 22" barrel at ranges not exceeding 100m... </p><p></p><p>I think one has to be realistic when considering cartridge choice and we often say that the .243 Winchester is a fantastic, accurate and fast cartridge with great wound channel characteristics and is accordingly one of the most underestimated cartridges that there are, but also one of the most over-estimated by its owners. </p><p></p><p>I noted that on the larger game animals (both shoulder shots), the Hornady Interlock SPBT's separated in the gearbox and I removed shards of copper jacket from the lungs and lead separation resulted in a divergent wound channel and terrible soft tissue damage with devastating 3" wound channel.. Although furnishing me with dramatic kills, the penetration was poor and the high impact velocity on thick-muscled larger game animals is somewhat of a worry as it introduces that "what if it doesn't make it next time" element... </p><p></p><p>I wouldn't shoot at species larger than that and there are a few species here which are an absolute no-no for the 243, although some guys will differ:</p><p></p><p>1. Eland</p><p></p><p>2. Bluewildebeest</p><p></p><p>3. Kudu bull</p><p></p><p>4. Waterbuck.</p><p></p><p>That's just my opinion, but it's on an ethical basis... Is it a good idea to shoot if there is a "what if" factor in the back of your mind in respect of penetration and overall bullet performance (eg maintaining intended bullet course).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="M Rosslee, post: 1171465, member: 94998"] In South Africa we're nervous in using any caliber under .30 Caliber for general hunting applications (even out to 100m). I don't know if our game animals have a different degree of resilience considering their hide thickness or bone structure but we tend to follow the "more caliber is better" approach. However, the .243 Winchester is a fine cartridge for hunting species such as Impala (rooibok), Blesbuck, Springbuck and Bushbuck (I suppose these are deer-sized - I'm not sure what a white-tail deer weighs out but these animals weigh out (dress carcass mass) at around 30kg for large male animals) and are tougher than one would think. I have noted dramatic kill shots from the 243 and have shot species such as blackwildebeest and redhartebeest. They weigh out at around 60-70kg's and have a thick, tough hide with a heavy-set bone structure. These kills were all effected with soft nose boat tail 100gr projectiles at around 2950fps out of a standard 22" barrel at ranges not exceeding 100m... I think one has to be realistic when considering cartridge choice and we often say that the .243 Winchester is a fantastic, accurate and fast cartridge with great wound channel characteristics and is accordingly one of the most underestimated cartridges that there are, but also one of the most over-estimated by its owners. I noted that on the larger game animals (both shoulder shots), the Hornady Interlock SPBT's separated in the gearbox and I removed shards of copper jacket from the lungs and lead separation resulted in a divergent wound channel and terrible soft tissue damage with devastating 3" wound channel.. Although furnishing me with dramatic kills, the penetration was poor and the high impact velocity on thick-muscled larger game animals is somewhat of a worry as it introduces that "what if it doesn't make it next time" element... I wouldn't shoot at species larger than that and there are a few species here which are an absolute no-no for the 243, although some guys will differ: 1. Eland 2. Bluewildebeest 3. Kudu bull 4. Waterbuck. That's just my opinion, but it's on an ethical basis... Is it a good idea to shoot if there is a "what if" factor in the back of your mind in respect of penetration and overall bullet performance (eg maintaining intended bullet course). [/QUOTE]
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.243 good for long-range?
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