Should i buy one rifle to do it all or two.
12-07-2004, 02:32 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SE PA
Posts: 1,291
Should i buy one rifle to do it all or two.
I am in love with deer hunting and predator hunting. Should i just go with the .243 for both, or should i buy two seperate ones. If i go with seperate, then what cartridge should i get. I was thining about a .223, but have no clue what i want for a deer cartiridge.
12-07-2004, 02:58 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,395
RE: Should i buy one rifle to do it all or two.
The 243 will work for both, but IMHO there are better calibers to choose from. I would buy two rifles. The 223 would be my pick for varmits. The 270-winchester would be my pick for a deer rifle.
The 25-06 would also make a fine varmit/deer rifle.
If you ever plan on hunting anything larger than deer? ie: Elk, bears, moose? You might want to add a third rifle or buy a larger caliber second rifle? Rifles chambered in .338 caliber & up are my pick for the larger critters.
You really could do it all with a 338-win mag, 338-R.U.M. or 340-Weatherby.
The 25-06 would also make a fine varmit/deer rifle.
If you ever plan on hunting anything larger than deer? ie: Elk, bears, moose? You might want to add a third rifle or buy a larger caliber second rifle? Rifles chambered in .338 caliber & up are my pick for the larger critters.
You really could do it all with a 338-win mag, 338-R.U.M. or 340-Weatherby.
12-07-2004, 07:22 PM
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 776
RE: Should i buy one rifle to do it all or two.
I'd go for two. Now, what to pick? The 243Win. makes a fine varmint rifle, but IMHO it is
MINIMAL for deer (whitetail or mule deer), and there's certainly better for black bear.
The 260Rem. is good, but not a whole lot of variety in factory ammo. Okay if you handload though. The 25-06 is good for deer, and can be used on varmints, but recoil
is a bit much if you do a lot of varmint shooting, and most rifles are equipped with 24"
barrels - a little long I think if you're in the thick woods.
Suggestion: For varmint use I'd look at either a 223 or 22-250. For big game hunting
take a look at the 270Win., 280Rem., 308Win. or 30-06. Any one of these will do for
deer, black bear, and can be used for elk & moose also. All but the 280Rem. can be had in a pretty wide selection of rifles, by any of the major manufactures. Selections for the 280Rem. are more limited, but there are good ones out there like the Remington
Mountain Rifle.
Here's a thought; get the 270Win., etc. for your big game rifle, and then get a 243Win. for use on varmints, and it could serve as a spare or backup deer rifle as well.
Check this one out: http://www.remington.com/firearms/ce...e/700mtnls.htm
MINIMAL for deer (whitetail or mule deer), and there's certainly better for black bear.
The 260Rem. is good, but not a whole lot of variety in factory ammo. Okay if you handload though. The 25-06 is good for deer, and can be used on varmints, but recoil
is a bit much if you do a lot of varmint shooting, and most rifles are equipped with 24"
barrels - a little long I think if you're in the thick woods.
Suggestion: For varmint use I'd look at either a 223 or 22-250. For big game hunting
take a look at the 270Win., 280Rem., 308Win. or 30-06. Any one of these will do for
deer, black bear, and can be used for elk & moose also. All but the 280Rem. can be had in a pretty wide selection of rifles, by any of the major manufactures. Selections for the 280Rem. are more limited, but there are good ones out there like the Remington
Mountain Rifle.
Here's a thought; get the 270Win., etc. for your big game rifle, and then get a 243Win. for use on varmints, and it could serve as a spare or backup deer rifle as well.
Check this one out: http://www.remington.com/firearms/ce...e/700mtnls.htm
12-07-2004, 08:19 PM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 32
RE: Should i buy one rifle to do it all or two.
Go for a TC Encore wtih a .243 barrel to start with and others as needed. I recently bought a new gun myself and am second guessing myself over did I get the right one. I love it and keep myself from getting too frustrated by knowing that if I'd bought the Encore I'd be doing the same thing in the other direction. So if you're like me you'll second guess any way you end up going, but at least with the Encore buying additional barrels will be cheaper than picking up additional rifles.
