243-more to the point

[Bluffton Bill]

This question was kind of danced around in the previous thread, so to be more to the point. Is a 243 too much for pelt hunting?

If not, what kind of loading is required?

Looking for a new rifle, but not really interested in a 22 cal. centerfire.

 

[Mumptia]

Never heard of pelt hunting, just pelt trapping

Kidding asside, I'd say a .222 if you are pelt hunting. A .243 leaves a too big a exit hole for the fur auctions. Good chance of losing potential $$$$

What animal are you after?

 

[powder burner]

I think the better question is FMJ or frangible thin jacketed bullets for pelt damage. A lengthy debate it will be.

One big hole to stitch up or two smaller holes to stitch up?

 

[todbartell]

if fur is your main goal, I believe trapping is your best bet.

for a calling rifle that you'd like to salvage some pelts with, a 204 ruger, 222, 223, 22-250, 220 swift would be a better choice that a 243, although I seen a couple dogs hit with the 80 grain Nosler BT in 243, and they werent too beat up

 

[captonion]

I am told a .17 Rem is a good one on pelts.
My father uses a 22mag for all his trapping.Even wolves out to 100yrds without problems.

 

[powder burner]

Captonion,

I have seen what a .22 mag does to beaver as well. Seems like many people overlook it as a varmint gun. They are pretty potent for a rimfire.

I think if I were to make the choice of 17 or 22 mag, I would opt for the 22 mag.

 

[jjackman]

What sort of pelts are you shooting at? Coyote?

With a FMJ it's an alright round. Does make a big hole, but we've shot lots of yotes with a .243. Ideally, a 22-250 is best, but expensive, a .223 is almost as good and cheaper to shoot, a .17 is expensive, and a .22lr too slow.

The only reason I'd hunt predators with a .243 rather than a .223 or 22-250 is because I might be deer hunting at the same time and a 6mm is the smallest caliber you can shoot big game with in Alberta.

 

[sunray]

"...too big a exit hole..." Quit using varmint bullets. Commercial FMJ's(90 grain Speer, out of mine) leave a puncture wound with no exit hole in a ground hog. No, I wasn't hide hunting ground hogs. The original plan was for fox.
Commercial FMJ's are made for hide hunting. The 90 grain bullet may be too heavy for your rifling though. There are lighter FMJ's. Mind you, they may not be easy to find.

 

[Why not?]

I have heard that from other folks as well, that contrary to what one might expect, the Speer FMJ do not exit, but come apart violently.

Have you tried them on coyotes at all?

Ted

 

[varminter]

I use a 243 with 105gr A-Max or 100gr GS for coyotes and the exit hole is just a bit bigger than the entry and about the same with the 100gr GS.If you are worried about pelt damage use premium bullets and you be surprised how little damage the do.

 

[powder burner]

someone on here was saying berger bullets were the way to go for minimum pelt damage, if I remember correctly. Of ourse those are handloads

 

[Rembo]

I use a 243 with 105gr A-Max or 100gr GS for coyotes and the exit hole is just a bit bigger than the entry and about the same with the 100gr GS.If you are worried about pelt damage use premium bullets and you be surprised how little damage the do.

now I've heard this before from other guys...premium big game bullets for coyotes.....
I once bought a Rem 700 25-06 from a guy who's favorite coyote rifle was another Sako 25-06 shooting 100 gr Partitions....he swore by the combo for very little pelt damage.....he lived a few miles out of Drumheller and he'd shot more coyotes with this combo than I've ever seen....

 

[catnthehatt]

One of the guys I hunt with used to use a .243 and TNT's for coyotes.
And yes, we have killed a smack of 'em!
No exits unless the shot was inside 275 yards.
However, most of our killing is by calling, and my partner and I use .222's

The other fella went to a .17 Remington with stupoendous sucsess , and now shoots a .204.

TNT's are very good , as they go in and don't exit 99% of the time.

I would bnot buy a .243 for that application, but it may be a suoper woodchuck round.
Cat

 

[Pat Brennan]

FMJ are illegal to use in BC, don't know about the other provinces. One theory is to use something that expands quickly so it doesn't exit (like a hot 22 caliber with lighter bullets, and stay away from bone mass), though I believe if you want to put them down quickly (who wouldn't) you will have to accept some "significant pelt damage" on occasion. Bob Hagel wrote about this and had some decent success overall, and he knew a thing or two about ballistics.
In the 24/25 caliber rifles I'd be inclined to try some of the heavier deer bullets and stay off the shoulders.

 

[varminter]

I used to use a 22-250 with TNTs for yotes,but i had a few that had entry holes as big as a fist.I am happier with my 243 and them 105 grainers.Instant kills and they look kind of peaceful without all that blood everywhere.