Author Topic: 308 vs 243: Hunting (Read 6186 times)

Gdbyrd · « **on:** July 03, 2009, 03:57:21 PM »

I'm having a really hard time deciding between these two. I am a little fearful of harsh recoil on the .308, and I also feel I could benefit from the availability of .243 at your typical mom and pop store. Other than that it all goes to the .308. Better range, bigger hole, etc.

Out of those two what would you recommend?

How harsh is the .308 recoil? How bad is the .243? Let's compare it to an Encore in .45-70(15" barrel).

Any other things I shoudl factor in? This will ONLY be for deer hunting(whitetail).

Barrels in question will be a stock T/C 15". Topping whatever I get with a Bushnell trophy.

Also! Any other calibers that are readily available that I should consider? I don't reload and am not sure when I will start, so I need a caliber sold by wal-mart or academy.

Thanks much guys.

Silvertp · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2009, 05:40:30 PM »

You really don't have a problem here. If the largest game you will hunt is white tailed deer then go with the .243. No need to worry about recoil on the .308.

Usually easier to shoot a firearm accurately if it has less recoil. With good bullets and shot placement the .243 should work well for you.

Silvertp

Just re-read your post. Definitely consider a .260 and 7mm-08. Both would exhibit less recoil than the 308 and for all practical hunting would be comparable in killing power due to the great bullets available now-a-days.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2009, 06:41:59 PM »

I haven't seen either of those for sale in a long while. The 7mm-08 is remotely available, but both I would imagine to be difficult to find. Although they would fit in other ways, I have to have something regularly available.

Basically, what do I gain from the .308 that I lose with using the .243?

And anyone have a comment on the recoil?

ralfus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2009, 08:01:59 PM »

Quote from: Gdbyrd on July 03, 2009, 06:41:59 PM

Basically, what do I gain from the .308 that I lose with using the .243?

Recoil.

90, 100 and 105 grain loads in a 243 would be excellent on whitetail and you could also use lighter loads on varmints if you wanted. Either caliber is common in any sporting goods store. Technically the 243 may actually be a little easier to find with the current market the way it is for milsurp calibers.

jetwrnch · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2009, 02:12:06 PM »

I have the 243 15" barrel. Recoil is manageable but dang it's loud. You'll want to be wearing hearing protection when hunting with it. I'm considering a 35 Remington instead.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2009, 03:16:17 PM »

The noise won't bother me, I'm just worried about recoil : /

My ONLY concern with this arguement is that with a .308, even if your shot placement isn't perfect it has a lot of force behind it. WIth the .243, I may get a killing shot on the animal but it very well could run a hundred yards before going down and in the brush I hunt in that would be horrible.

What do you guys think?

I really want to order this stuff ASAP so I can get as much practice in as I can..but damn I'm totally stumped!

GameHauler · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2009, 03:55:03 PM »

7-30 Waters and you are done searching

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2009, 05:31:22 PM »

Quote from: GameHauler on July 04, 2009, 03:55:03 PM

7-30 Waters and you are done searching

it's not an easy to find caliber. At least not in my area.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2009, 05:34:12 PM »

I have shot the 308 in a 15" Encore. The recoil is up there but can be tolerated and shot accurately, by me, speaking for myself. I have a 12" encore 6.5X55 and the recoil is slightly less. If you can tolerate recoil, get the 308. The blood trail will be both wider and shorter, if the deer does not drop on the spot.

Cheese

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:56:16 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on July 04, 2009, 05:34:12 PM

I have shot the 308 in a 15" Encore. The recoil is up there but can be tolerated and shot accuratly, be me, speaking for myself. I have a 12" encore 6.5X55 and the recoil is slightly less. If you can tolerate recoil, get the 308. The blood trail will be both wider and shorter, if the deer does not drop on the spot.

Cheese

That's exactly the reason I'm considering it. The brush in my area you can't exactly walk through. It would be difficult to track and damn near impossible to get a downed deer out of that brush. I wish there was some way to compare it....Do you own a 44 mag or 357? Or have you ever shot a 45-70 15" encore? Just like to have some sort of an idea or some way to compare it.... Thank you very much for the information!

I know it can be handled as enough people out there have them...but damn I don't want to shoot something that's going to hurt me everytime I play with it.

hoosierdome · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:14:41 PM »

I also was looking for a 15” encore barrel for whitetail hunting. I have 308 and 243 rifles and wanted to stay with one of these. After some research I decided on the 308, because you lose some of the calibers capacity in a shorter barrel. I also was worried about recoil, being that the only other caliber in encore pistol I have is a 223. Figured if it was too unpleasant I would get a muzzle brake. Traded here on the forum for my 308, put a 2X6 Bushnell on and went to the range. I shot a box of 20 with no problems at all. NO brake for me. It’s a lot more then a 223. I’m an average size man with small hands.

yooper77 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:33:22 PM »

I would choose the 308 Winchester for deer hunting pistol barrel.

I sent you a PM.

yooper77

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:03:33 PM »

The 308 has more recoil than a 44 revolver of average size, much more.

Cheese

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:40:03 PM »

What's your guesstimate on the kick compared to your average 44? x4? x8? I can shoot a 44 mag all day long and it doesn't bother me at all. My .45-70 barrel on the other hand...I actually got cuts from the frame scraping my finger..I split open the web of my hand(in between index finger and thumb) after shooting that thing 6 or 7 times. It was fun, but VERY unpleasant.

Do pachmyer decelerator grips really help? I'm thinking maybe it's my grips. The grips feel very big in my hands..

Here's the culprit...

Cheesehead · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2009, 04:39:43 AM »

x2 maybe. According to your description of the 45-70, not nearly that bad.

Cheese

KYODE · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:04:34 AM »

whether a deer drops on the spot, or how far it travels before giving it up has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether it was shot with a .243 or .308.
either one is just as likely as the other.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:49:36 AM »

I had a set of grips like you are showing and on my 44 mag 3 shots was enough for me but then again I am old and tender

I now use only the packmyer grips on all my heavy kickers and they do help on felt recoil. My choice for hunting with hand gun is 35 Rem or 7-30 waters and remember you can always order ammo off the net in most states.
Deaconllb

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:09:35 AM »

Quote from: KYODE on July 05, 2009, 07:04:34 AM

whether a deer drops on the spot, or how far it travels before giving it up has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether it was shot with a .243 or .308.
either one is just as likely as the other.

To some extent that's true. But there is a difference in the damage the two rounds will do.

I'm getting a lot of recommendations for 7-30 waters, but I really want to stick with locally available ammo. I wouldn't mind ordering, but I don't want that to have to be my sole method of getting ammunition.

Thank you for the advice on the grips! I'm a young'n but I got tore up pretty bad from shooting that .45-70.

So far it seems like it's basically a coin toss.

GameHauler · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:12:45 AM »

I would think your local gun shop would be willing to order
the 7-30 ammo for you.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:38:17 AM »

I don't really have a local gun shop anymore. Nearest one is an hour away, and they are outrageous. I only have mom and pop stores in my area, not sure if they'd order it or not but I suppose it'd be worth asking. Does Wal-Mart do that sorta thing?

Keith L · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:43:39 AM »

The last 7-30 ammo I bought came from Wal Mart. I wait until after deer season and stock up on the ammo that doesn't sell.

The only factory ammo I know of is Federal Premium. I guess if I didn't reload I would be talking with Reeds Custom Ammo (an advertiser on GBO) and take his recommendations about loads. He does custom loading and is also Quite experienced with TCs. Reeds info is on the Links page under advertisers and ammunition.

GameHauler · « **Reply #21 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:45:18 AM »

I doubt walmart would
but your mom and pops should.
Just ask them to add it to their stock order
and pricing should be fair.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:07:08 AM »

Is the caliber really worth that trouble? I've never shot it before, or known anyone to have it....so needless to say I know next to nothing about it. I know its a 7mm bullet in a necked down 30-30 case.

Just wondering if there is any reason to go to the trouble if there is already something out there that does equally as good, if not better.

GameHauler · « **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:13:32 AM »

Thats just it.
What you have listed can not do equally as good IMO
I have a 15" handgun barrel and a 23" carbine.
I love that round

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2009, 10:31:20 AM »

Quote from: GameHauler on July 05, 2009, 09:13:32 AM

Thats just it.
What you have listed can not do equally as good IMO
I have a 15" handgun barrel and a 23" carbine.
I love that round

What is it that makes it superior? What other calibers have you shot that leads you to believe it's better?

I hate you guys..make my mind up and you mess with me, lol. I just want to get what's going to work out the best for me and I really appreciate the feed back.

Colonel Daddy · « **Reply #25 on:** July 05, 2009, 10:35:15 AM »

Have never seen 7-30 Waters factory ammo in any of the local places, tho it is available on line. It is my new choice for whitetail hunting with a Contender, but for me will be strictly a hand-loading situation. The OP does not handload so 7-30 may be a poor choice. Go with a .243 or .35 Remington, which is also factory made in a spirepoint and Hornady is also making the Leverevolution .35 Rem with a pointed 200gr FTX bullet.
I may buy a .35 Rem Super 14 bbl next year.

The idea behind 7-30 Waters was to offer a flatter shooting cartridge in a lever action rifle and it was loaded with a flatnose bullet of 120gr.
It naturally moved into the single shot pistol arena because it was very effective but offered less recoil than 30-30, .44mag, and .308 in similar size bbls. Handloading is what really made the cartridge shine because a number of different bullet weights and styles could be used.

GameHauler · « **Reply #26 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:59:08 PM »

Quote from: Gdbyrd on July 05, 2009, 10:31:20 AM

Quote from: GameHauler on July 05, 2009, 09:13:32 AM
Thats just it.
What you have listed can not do equally as good IMO
I have a 15" handgun barrel and a 23" carbine.
I love that round

What is it that makes it superior? What other calibers have you shot that leads you to believe it's better?

I hate you guys..make my mind up and you mess with me, lol. I just want to get what's going to work out the best for me and I really appreciate the feed back.

I am a newbe that only has 12 barrels
so do not make a choice on my input.
I just do not understand what the "Trouble" is asking for mom and pop to order you some rounds?
Order 10 boxes and when you are down to 5 order 5 or 10 more

blklabs · « **Reply #27 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:16:30 AM »

I recently purchased my first encore pistol, in a 308. The recoil is about the same as my Super Blackhawk 44 mag with 310 gr loads. I think it is less than the 270gr Buffalo Bore loads I occasionally shoot as well. I had zero problems with the recoil and the 44 mag is the biggest pistol I have shot. I don't think you will have any problems with it.

If you want a gun that will blow out the shoulders and anchor the deer on the spot, I would have to go with the 308 over the 243.

jy951 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 06, 2009, 06:42:53 AM »

I'd go with the .308 just in case you have a tough quartering shot, it'll definitely do the job alot better than the .243. Also, I believe remington makes a "reduced recoil" round that you may be able to pickup if the standard loads are too unpleasant.

jhalcott · « **Reply #29 on:** July 06, 2009, 08:32:03 AM »

Gdbyrd, I have a 12 inch .308 and a bunch of TC barrels including the 45-70 and 7-30W. Also the 6.5 JDJ and .223. It is NOT what caliber you use,but WHERE you hit them that counts! If you just HAVE to shoot them at extreme quartering angles a 125 grain .308 MIGHT not penetrate to the vitals. On the other hand a 60 grain .243 bullet will explode on the skin of a PERFECT broad side deer! I have carpal tunnel and arthritis in my hands ,so I don't like recoil. I use the 7-30 as it has much less recoil than my .308 IF I were to reccommend any caliber to you it would be the .308 in the Encore or XP100! I'd suggest a reloading set also! Shooting factory costs MONEY and factory .308's are loaded for RIFLE length barrels.( My 12" .308 gets roughly 30-30 velocities with factory ammo as an example.) What ever caliber you decide on(you seem to lean for the .308) you will need to practice regularly with it. A pachmyer grip will help reduce the recoil. I would NOT get a brake for it till I KNEW one was needed. Brakes redirect the sound to the shooter and better hearing protection than a normal hunter uses is REQUIRED.