.243 info needed

U

unicorn gravedigger

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Big Island West Coast
A friend asked me today; what hunting rifles chambered for .243 are made with a semi auto action? and, I would like to know how much felt recoil ( in % if possible ) of center fire rifles is eaten up by the semi auto action? Is it really worth it over a bolt action in comparison? BTW, he is NOT looking for a quick follow up shot, I belive the rifle might be for his daughter to hunt with. thanx in advance UG.
 
Fit of the rifle is, imo, more important. Don't forget too that the Browning BAR, which is the only current .243 semiauto that is readily available, is quite a bit heavier than a compact youth model bolt action rifle. I've made up some mild loads in my model 7 .243 that my son can easily shoot. Something like an 85gr Sierra Gamkeking, Speer BTSP or Nosler Partition will do well at reduced velocity and have very mild recoil. For practice there are numerous 55-70gr choices that are economical and have almost no felt recoil when loaded to modest velocities.
 
I too only know of the browning BAR other than tactical style AR-10 type offerings or possibly the xcr or Uber expensive atrs modern hunter.
 
unicorn gravedigger said:
A friend asked me today; what hunting rifles chambered for .243 are made with a semi auto action? and, I would like to know how much felt recoil ( in % if possible ) of center fire rifles is eaten up by the semi auto action? Is it really worth it over a bolt action in comparison? BTW, he is NOT looking for a quick follow up shot, I belive the rifle might be for his daughter to hunt with. thanx in advance UG.
Click to expand...

Pretty light recoiling the 243 is.
If he reloads, he can load up some reduced ammo too.
Proper fit as mentioned would be the key factor.
 
Have your friend try to borrow a BA .243 for his daughter to try. Odds are he will find she can very easily handle a youth model .243 or 7-08. Just make sure the girl is wearing good hearing protection. I've found most kids react more negatively to noise than to recoil, within reason.

BTW, I started out on a Rem Model 600 in 308 at 9 yrs. old, my son was shooting a 7.62X39 and 30-30 at that age. The only reason he wasn't shooting anything bigger is that I didn't have anything light enough for him to handle (my 308's were an AR-10 and a G3 - both pretty heavy for a kid). But he was shooting a 12 gauge with light loads.
 
Last edited:
I'd drop the notion of a semi-auto .243. Choose a good quality bolt gun, and have it cut to fit the young shooter. If necessary dock the barrel an inch or two to to keep the balance pleasing, and be sure to install a good recoil pad, while keeping the LOP correct for her. I've started a number of young shooters with such a rifle, only this one is a .30/06, fed loads that are appropriate for a novice, a 125 jacketed bullet at 2600, or cast bullet loads at 1800.

 
I shot a Remington 788 bolt in .243 from age 10 onward. It's fine.

ATRS doesn't chamber the MH in .243 anymore.

If he insists on trying to reduce recoil, he could add a Mercury recoil
Tube to the stock, but that's really a unnecessary. This is coming from a guy who's been called a "recoil princess" on here.....

GGG
 
I started with an old 92 in 44-40 around 8 or 9 and moved on up to
an 8x57 when I hit double digit, twelve or thirteen?
I was pretty darn skinty in them days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom