Brown Dirt Cowboy

I am looking for a back-up tothe Savage 223 Predator Hunter andthe Remington 30-06700 SPS.
The questions is, 243 or 270?
The "in-Betweener" should not sacrifice accuracy when usingEITHER45 gr. OR 110 gr. loads.
Please recommend best rate of twist to accomadateBOTH factory size loads?
Alsooffer opinions onRuger M77 Hawkeye, "new" winchester 70 and "new" Browning X-bolt.

"...still green and grow'in..........." E.J.

jeepkid

.243, but it would be tough to make a 110 grain shoot well in a factory barrel. You would most likely need a 1/8 twist. Thats a pretty big range for a .243. But I would recommend a .243 over the .270 since you already have a 30/06.

The new Model 70 is made by FNH and is an excellant company.

Brown Dirt Cowboy

jeepkid,
Would you say thatNEITHER the 243 or the 270 canhandleBOTH the 45gr and 110gr loads accurately?
So if I understand, you feel the 270 and the 30-06 will handleBASICLLY the same work.
Also do you feelthe 243WILLhandle the mid range WELL, given the proper rate of twist in which to carry the heavier loads?
The only question remaining isCANeitherthe 243 orthe 270 handle that widerange of loads?
Does onesettle on the lighter end(243)or the heavier end(270)when looking fora back-up forboththe 223 andthe 30-06?

..."for it's weak winged young sparrows, that starve in the winter".....................E.J.

jeepkid

Yes, the .270 and 30/06 can do pretty much the same stuff.

The smallest bullet a .270 Win will shoot is a 90 gr. I believe.

The Biggest a .243 Win will shoot accurately is about a 100 or 105 grainer, but will also shoot 50-55 grain varmint bullets.

I would definatley buy the .243 since you already have a 30/06 to handle the heavier work.

I am currently getting a .243 Ackley built for me, and it will be my primary deer/varmint rifle.

Brown Dirt Cowboy

jeepkid,
Thanks again for the insight.
Which 243productionRIFLESdo you like the best?
I hear the loads for 243 CAN burn up barrels after +/- 1500 rounds.
Any truth to that?
I like the Burris Signature Series ball plex 4-16X 44mm.
What do you think?
Happy Thanksgiving jeepkid, I appreciate it!!!

..."very clearly a case for cornflakes and classics"......................E.J.

jeepkid

For a factory rifle, I like the CZ American. Other then that, Remingtons are hard to beat, thats what mine is being built from, but, either of the three you listed would also be excellent choices. What kind of rifle do you want it to be? Varmint, hunting, benchrest...?

The .243 barrel will last longer then 1500 rounds, especially if you don't shoot super hot reloads. It really just depends on the barrel maker.

I think you could probably get a better scope for $500 then the Burris. Leupolds and even that new Nikon Monarch are around the same price. But if the Burris is clear and works good for you, then I wouldn't hesitate to try it out.

Brown Dirt Cowboy

Hay jeepkid,
You're the man.
That's exactly why I am interested in the 243.
I'm told that it's the best triple threat gun out there.
Good back-up for both varmint and "smaller" big game and can hold it's own with bench shooters.
I know this well respected gunsmith shop and "they" all say that the Burris glass is the CLEAREST/BRIGHTEST for the money.
When I told him I was look at Leupold he told me "they" ALL traded thier Leupolds' in for Swarovski, and recommended I look at Burris.
The one additional aspect I like about Burris is the ball plex comes in a lite reticle.
I understand this to be the most important innovationin rifle scopes in years (Ref:Chuck Hawks).


..."broken young children on the heals of the winners".................E.J.

Rammer

I have 3 243s becasue of their versatility. I have a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless, a Savage model 16 with a medium-heavy stainless fluted barrel, and a Remington 700 ADL with a wood stock.

They will all shoot 60gr Sierra HPs very accurate (never tried anything any lighter), and they all shoot 100gr bullets just as well.

I've also shot a mule deer doe at 517 yards with my Tikka 243 with 95gr Combined Technology BTs, and dropped it in its tracks.

Brown Dirt Cowboy

Rammer,
Thanks for joining jeepkid and I.
I hear alot of good things about Tikka, particularly the T3.
I especially like a detachable magazine, so I can have different loads "at the ready".
There is just something inside me that says, buy American.
Gladto hear you say though,... "thatyour 243 shoots 60gr and 100gr just as well".
So, you agree that 243 is a good back up for both223 and 30-06?
I hope one day I can feel confident shooting "paper" at 500 yards!
With that in mind; which scopes do you think deliver the biggest bang for the buck?
Also, what do you think of these lighted reticles?
Lastly, do you like the ball plex?

..."and the 68' summer festival wall flowers are thinn'in"....................E.J.

Rammer

The 243 will be a dandy backup gun for the 223 and 30-06. I wouldn't hesitate taking big game (bigger than deer) with my 243. I use my 243 as a backup to my 7mm Rem mag. I actually use my 243s for all my varmint shooting. I have +/- 3500 rounds thru the tube in my Tikka and its still shooting good. These are all hot handloads too I might add.

I'm a Leupold/Nikon guy myself. I have a few Leupold VX-IIs, a few Vari-Xs, a Mark 4 tactical, and a few others. For Nikons the Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 is one of the best buys in optics in my opinion. It is just as bright in low light as the Leupold VXIIs, and its better than my Zeiss Conquest in low light. The one thing I don't care for with the Nikon is the adjustments, they aren't 1/4" as stated. Then again I have one of the first ones to come out, and I have officially beat that thing to hell an back, but it keeps going.

I have a buddy that bought the Ballistic Plex Burris you speak of, only I have no experience with it yet, and he hasn't even fired the AR15 he has it mounted on. As for illuminated reticles, I also have no experience. I see them as one more thing to fail in the field, so I avoid them.