.243 vs .270

both are good cartridges, if it is strictly going to be for deer and yotes a 243 will suffice. if you may be venturing into larger game down the road you might want a little heavier cartridge. But you could always get something larger down the road too.
You can never have to many guns

Merry Christmas
 
If you are ready to "pull the trigger" on either the Axis or the 783 Rem you should do it NOW.

You can get 50 bucks (USD) back on the Axis from Savage or $40 back from Remington for the 783 if you buy either before the end of the year (receipt dated on/before the 31st of December).
 
I've been around enough deer hunters over the years to hear the occassional but persistent confession that the big one that got away was first shot with a 243.
Rarely heard with a 270 though.

Happens enough to make you go hhhmmm....

But on the flipside, the 243 is popular with trappers in the NWT?? so wtf
 
The 270 is a great cartridge for deer and moose...unless you handload it is big for coyote. 243 imho is a bit on the small side for deer(acceptable but small) and a bit on the big side for coyote. I would get a 270.
 
243. Very little recoil and a pleasure to shoot. Accurate, available, not that hard on coyote pelts and enough to drop deer with no problems. Never taken anything bigger but have read with the right bullet selection (ie. Nosler Partitions) it makes a good black bear rifle as well. Mine is a Tikka T3 Stainless Camo and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Shoots great with anything I've put down the pipe.
 
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There's an argument for both cartridges. I would think the 270 would be a bit much for coyotes, but a 277 cal 120 gr ttsx at 3400 fps sounds like it would be awesome for both coyote and deer at long range. A 25-06 would also work well. Then again, you couldn't go wrong with a 243.
 
Brutus said:
I've been around enough deer hunters over the years to hear the occassional but persistent confession that the big one that got away was first shot with a 243.
Click to expand...

No deer is getting away when hit properly with a .243 unless varmint bullets are used. I just posted a thread a month ago about a deer I shot with a mild .243 load - take a look at the pictures and tell me what deer would walk that wound off!

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1321807-Let-s-play-a-little-game
 
The 243 is more than adequate for deer. I know many will poo poo it, but I took several deer now with a 222, only one ran 30 feet after being shot in the chest facing me. The rest were literally DRT. Now that I know it works and is very effective, I'm back to using much larger cartridges. However a .243, .257, or .264 are excellent calibers for deer.
 
I have quite a few cal's to choose from, and my wife has been shooting a 243 sincee the early 80's. Many WT, Mule deer, and a moose have fallen to it. I like it enough that this year I got one for myself . We only use Nosler 95 gr partitions, and I don't have any hesitation to hunt with the 243 for anything.
I also have a 270, which I like a lot, as well as 30-06,6.5 x 55. 9.3x62, 30-30,32spl,223,and recently a 7mm Rem mag.
With factory cup and core bullets I found the 243 overly destructive to meat, but with a partition it is a fantastic round for deer and a very pleasant round to shoot.
 
To the OP I think you have to look at it from the opportunity to hunt stand point. You can hunt coyotes all year round in Ontario. Deer in Lanark what do you get 3weeks with a rifle? With that info I'd get the .243 its short action and light recoil as well as load offerings make it a great choice as a dual purpose rifle. The .270 with its long action, heavier recoil and Meger load choices make it less versatile IMO. I've owned both and used for deer and coyotes. .....I sold the .270 and kept the .243
 
Given the OP's parameters, I would go with a stainless Ruger American in 243. Cabelas Canada has them on right now with free shipping for $589. That's a good deal on a nice, light, trim rifle. I've owned several Vanguard 2's, but find them to be heavier than they need to be, especially in a 243.

I have also had excellent luck on my stainless Ruger American 223 with a nice,simple, light, and optically very clear/bright Weaver K6, which has a real world price of right around $300 Cdn.
 
cdn1canhunt said:
To the OP I think you have to look at it from the opportunity to hunt stand point. You can hunt coyotes all year round in Ontario. Deer in Lanark what do you get 3weeks with a rifle?
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2 weeks for deer with a 3rd muzzleloader week in Dec.


Thank you guys for all your input. For my first rifle purchase, I have decided on the Savage Axis XP in .243.

Cheers,

Jay
 
IMHO upping your budget by even 100$ takes you into a better class of rifle, such as a Savage 11, Marlin XS7 or Ruger american etc. There are some significant criticisms of that axis action design. Personally, I would watch the EE (Equipment Exchange) for a scope/gun/rings package deal. Probably cost you the same or less than buying new. Or put up a WTB ad stating what you're after. These guns are very common. Don't get the cheapest scope!

like these ones:

550 plus tax and shipping
ht tp://www.wholesalesports.com/store/wsoo/en/Categories/Hunting/Firearms/Bolt-Action-Rifles/Model-11-111-International-Trophy-Hunter-Xp/p/27409B

550 plus shipping
ht tp://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1335217-Ruger-American-243-Win-with-Scope
 
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I have a 243 that I use for coyotes, and tho not my "go to" deer rifle anymore, myself, nor my brother have never had a deer take more then 2 steps after being shot with one. I load a 95 gr Hornady SST with a max load of H414 powder set to a factory length. Prints sub MOA groups all day outta my savage 11 and and doesnt blow the coyotes up too bad if you want to save pelts.

As far as a rifle goes, you can find a good used 243 for 300-500 bucks these days. I would look for a savage 11, weatherby vanguard (or S2 vanguard), or if you wanna spend a little more, keep your eyes open for a used tikka t3. You cant go wrong with any of those options imo for a beginner rifle. Stay away from the axis, or even the ruger americans. Axis are plastic, and the americans I found to be flimsy too. The savage 11 is 20x the rifle an axis or american is.
 
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