Try and convince me the 243 is actually useful

[HankBuck]

@375Fox
Them's fightin words.
If you own a Whelen the only reason to have a 375 is if'n you is huntin DG. That's only cause the mighty Whelen ain't quite legal. For 98% of game the Whelen will do just fine and dandy. It will do everything the mighty 350 Rigby magnum will do and you know how highly regarded that was.
Nah I'll stick with my Whelen thanks.
Bob

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - would you agree that the .243 is to the .270 …as the .35 Whelen is to the 375 H&H? IE: Both come up significantly SHORT of their more popular & powerful Big Brothers.
If we were comparing them to a “Bar Fight” then the .270 & .375 Beat Up .243s & .35 Whelens On-their-way to a real fight (as a Warm Up). Sort of like “Hollywood Tough” compared to MMA or Mike Tyson TOUGH.

 

[colorado]

Using a 243 is kind of like using a 35 Whelen instead of a 375 H&H . . .

I like my 243 at the range. It’s a nice little model 70 featherweight, but I always find myself going for the 270 instead of the 243 for deer. I’ve never killed anything with it, but it holds some sentimental value because I remember my grandpa hunting with the rifle. The right bullets a reasonable ranges I can’t see anything wrong with the caliber for deer if I do decide to use it.

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

You’re funny Bob…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Or you’re bored…

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: Waterberg SA Safari - Progress'

Aug 29, 2024

I’ll try to make this more up to date than previous posts. This being my 5th or 6th safari to hunt with Boseveld Jacobs Safari and my old friend Riaan Jocobs I’ve lost count. Several animals on the list: to include, Hippo, Roan, small cats, Lechwe, remaining Tiny Ten, any interesting warthogs, and whatever else presents in the way of old mature animals that I’ve not hunted. The goal is to hunt a Hippo on land and maybe another buffalo, depending on the circumstance. I think I’m in country for 14 days… Nice thing about Riaan is if he hears about something special or interesting, we’ll pack...

• NIGHTHAWK
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

This was the 2nd Safari my .243 has been on and it’s been on 3 successful Safaris.

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: .243 On Safari In The Waterberg Mountains!'

Sep 10, 2022

I Booked this trip in January this year at Vegas SCI after my dear friend Steve (he’s in his 70’s) showed interest and finalized it after confirming a New Zealand hunt was not available (at the time) for this year. Side note: most of the NZ outfitters that were there had US reps in their booths and were noncommittal for this year.

Having hunted 3 times in SA with two other outfitters, and hunting most of my desired animals over these previous trips, I honestly had no great desire to go back before I hunted other countries/continents. The exception would be that I knew I would once again...

• NIGHTHAWK
• Replies: 21
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 
• 

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’m not sure how the .243 will fare on your big game of choice (the 2 jump camel), but I’ve killed a lot of animals deader than shit with it…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

 

[Cohle]

If I remember correctly, the 243 Winchester and the 244 Remington were conceived as much, or even more, as wind bucking varmint cartridges. In fact, the 244 was only loaded with a 75 and 90 grain bullet for a period of years. That was due mostly because of a slower twist, I believe 1-12. Whereas the 1-10 243 would stabilize 100 grain bullets , since Winchester perceived their cartridge as more of a dual threat. When Remington reincarnated the 244 as the 6 MM, they put in the faster twist and loaded hundred grain bullets.
I began hunting in the 1960s, in NW Pennsylvania and most of the people I encountered or even hunted with had surplus military rifles or a lever action of some caliber. Remember, back then it was the big rage to argue which was more effective, the 30-30 or the 32 special, the most ballistically twinned cartridges in the history of firearms. Anyway, a few 243’s were in use, some in the newly minted Remington 600. And yes a 243 at the typical Pennsylvania woods range of 30 or 40 yards would drop them dead.
As Bob has rather calmly pointed out, it’s the misuse of the cartridge that gets people into trouble and gives him the fantods, as Mr O’Connor used to say.
And Mr Twain before that.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Roan antelopes are large animals, one of the largest in Africa. They typically stand 130-160 centimeters (53-63 inches) at the shoulder and weigh between 225 and 300 kilograms (496-661 pounds)

You can reach out to Henk Jacobs (Pictured with me) my PH on my last Safari or his brother Riaan Jacobs both of Boseveld Jacobs Safaris and they will confirm the countless animals we’ve killed together with the .243 pictured above… Or just read my hunt reports. It’s detailed, firsthand, with pictures in those reports.

Of course there are other North American animals not reported on that my .243 has taken. Pigs, coyote, deer, I’ve dispatched a many baboons too…I don’t really count those.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Truth is, I never got “the memo” about the .243 not being popular, so it really didn’t occur to me not to use it. Not that I give 2 shits about popularity.

I’m 6’-2” and not recoil sensitive. I’m not into stunt shooting. I do appreciate that this particular rifle in its current state is laser accurate and I shoot it as required. So short of making a bad shot, which is documented in one of my reports, no animals have run off unrecovered. On Bushpig double lunged ran 30 - 50 yards, one warthog ran a 100 plus yards after being single lung shot at 300 yards. A black impala, my worst shot, ran into a rocky hill area and needed a follow up shot. That is all documented too…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Of course @Bob Nelson 35Whelen will criticize me for driving a Ford 6.7 liter Turbo Diesel when he gets by with a Shitissan 1.1 liter soy sauce burner… I know, you can “have Chinese food, piss in the tank, add a packet of rice vinegar, and make it home with a few Kilometers to spare!

Or Ishitsuzo or whatever rice burner you’re running these days. All the same…

 

[Flbt]

We had a fl summer shower this afternoon.
The dog was going nuts Lisa went out to check.
Had a armadillo digging around her roses.
A 80gr corlock out of the 6mm made one heck of a mess.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - would you agree that the .243 is to the .270 …as the .35 Whelen is to the 375 H&H? IE: Both come up significantly SHORT of their more popular & powerful Big Brothers.
If we were comparing them to a “Bar Fight” then the .270 & .375 Beat Up .243s & .35 Whelens On-their-way to a real fight (as a Warm Up). Sort of like “Hollywood Tough” compared to MMA or Mike Tyson TOUGH.

@HankBuck
Mike Tyson had to bite the ear off some one to win a fight .
Never underestimate the fighter.
It ain't the size of the dog in the fight
It's the amount of fight in the dog.
I know the 270 will run rings around the 243
BUT
The Whelen will give it's bigger brothers a run for their money.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Of course @Bob Nelson 35Whelen will criticize me for driving a Ford 6.7 liter Turbo Diesel when he gets by with a Shitissan 1.1 liter soy sauce burner… I know, you can “have Chinese food, piss in the tank, add a packet of rice vinegar, and make it home with a few Kilometers to spare!

Or Ishitsuzo or whatever rice burner you’re running these days. All the same…

@NIGHTHAWK
Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

A bit of shit and a bit of board and you can build a FORD.

MY little 2.7 turbo, intercooled diesel NISSAN may not have class but I will take it places that big useless ford can't go because it won't fit down some of our bush tracks.
Big Fords, Silverado and Rams just can't handle Australia. They blow gearboxes and bend chassis rails. So much for being tough.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

We had a fl summer shower this afternoon.
The dog was going nuts Lisa went out to check.
Had a armadillo digging around her roses.
A 80gr corlock out of the 6mm made one heck of a mess.

@Flbt
Of the dog or the armadillo
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@NIGHTHAWK
Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

A bit of shit and a bit of board and you can build a FORD.

MY little 2.7 turbo, intercooled diesel NISSAN may not have class but I will take it places that big useless ford can't go because it won't fit down some of our bush tracks.
Big Fords, Silverado and Rams just can't handle Australia. They blow gearboxes and bend chassis rails. So much for being tough.
Bob

See Bob, your little Nissan is the 243 of trucks to me. Not good for much, in between car and truck. My F-250 will take me 95% or anywhere I need to go, but has also crossed the scale with truck and trailer weighing 28,000.

 

[Flbt]

I

@NIGHTHAWK
Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

A bit of shit and a bit of board and you can build a FORD.

MY little 2.7 turbo, intercooled diesel NISSAN may not have class but I will take it places that big useless ford can't go because it won't fit down some of our bush tracks.
Big Fords, Silverado and Rams just can't handle Australia. They blow gearboxes and bend chassis rails. So much for being tough.
Bob

would say your right on any of the big 3 since the 90s
If I still had my 80 I would be willing to try it anywhere.
Except for passing a gas station
400 cid 40 in groundhogs and 4.10 with front and rear min spools.
And. 12000 lbs Waren winch .
The 6mpg was a bit of avergating even with 2. -26 gallon fuel tanks

 

[Flbt]

@Flbt
Of the dog or the armadillo
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

Could not get lucky enough for her to get rid of the yapping hotdog ( duchhound)
But we try to get rid of all the armadillos since fwc said they can carry leprosy
Took a weed torch and burn all the mess I could

 

[Flbt]

found
On
Road
Dead

 

[Flbt]

found
On
Road
Dead

Heard that a lot there more Chevy and dodge guys around here