Not another "what caliber" thread

I agree that a one rifle fits all isn't a good solution. Just means a bigger gun locker is required. I use a 243 for deer but it's not a long range deer rifle in my opinion, i loaded up some 55gr 243 slugs for sksavenger but i don't think he's tried them on coyotes yet to see what the damage will be. If i was to go for a one caliber fits all it would be a 6.5 of some variety, just in several different platforms.
 
Get yourself a good 243.
It can be used for deer and antelope, prairiedog, gophers and crows and rrrrrabbits.
It is one hell of a varmint gun.
My nicest 243 was a Remington model 700 VLS with a 6.5x 20 Leupold with a Varmint Dot reticle.
Unless you have practiced with one, you can't imagine how far you can kill a Varmint with this caliber.
You will never regret a 243.
Easy to reload for also.
Old prairiedog Hunter.
 
I'm in much the same boat as you, and this is what I've come up with for my 'wants' for shooting.

Field-hunting deer out around ~400 yards, longer range plinking and varminting, with the ability to take longer shot strings. Gonna look for a heavy-barrelled 243 Win or AI build with a higher power (maybe even fixed power) scope. From what I've seen and read, it's hard to beat a 243 for filling the lower end of lethality for deer and the higher end of lethality for varmint, but doing both effectively.

Hunting rig with the power to reach out (500+ for moose, deer, elk etc) when/if my skill and opportunity allow it, I'm going with a custom 270 WSM build off a Remington 700 with a #4 or 5 contour match barrel. If I was sticking to more common long range calibers I would pick up a used rig on the EE, I am however a little partial to the 270 cal, and have had good success with Matrix bullets, hence the different choice.

Or I might omit the .243 all together. There are some 90-110 Gr varminting bullets in .277 that might do the job (without destroying the pelt) if loaded down a bit, even at short range...
 
I think what I'll do is go with a 6.5mm offering and set it up for long range shooting. Then when it comes time to ride around in the truck I'll get a 223 axis or stevens 200 or something similar. Thanks for all the input guys!
 
Flandersander, I don't think you'll regret a 6.5 somethingerother. I've been a life-long .243 lover and can't say enough about them. 58 V-Maxes at near 3900 fps are smokin' on coyotes and work best if hit lengthways but not bad broadside either. Just stay away from raking shots - dog'll open up like your favorite skin mag ;) Load 85 Barnes or Partitions and you have a wonderful deer round that I've proven out to 330 yards.

However, I bought a .260 this summer and I figured it was just a bit of a grown up .243. And I think I'm right. The real joy about this is that the 6.5's will shoot 85's or 90's for coyotes (which really isn't over doing it) and you can go all the way up to the 139, 140, 142 offerings for really slick long range stuff. Not to mention several good hunting quality bullets that are available (including a few 160 gr. thumpers) and if you're on your "game" and carefully choose your shots, I dare say you'd have no problem taking bigger game than deer. The limiting factor for long range stuff in a factory .243 rifle is that you're often limited to 90 to 95 grain LR/target style bullets.

Shoot me a note over the holidays if you're interested in calling some coyotes.
Rooster
 
Want to kill deer at 800m? Minimum equipment for that would be a 300 Win Mag, because, let's face it, how accurate is your shot placement going to be at this distance?
If you see a deer at 800m and only have a .243 I'd highly recomend walking 500m closer before taking the shot.
Want to save coyote pelts and you're only shooting them at 200m? Get a .223 and run bulk, cheap FMJ's.
Coyotes are varmints, not big game, so you don't have to use expanding rounds.
 
Most hunters I know shoot deer at 150-300 yards with .243, 6.5x55 sw, .270, .30-30 or the do all caliber .308. I rabbit hunt with a guy that hits deer at 600-900 yards with a .300 WM But he has hit humans at 1200 yards on the run with a .338 LPM a lot of times in the "gan"... If I was to go with a do all for that range of cridders I would go with .243 and hand load my rounds to what is needed remember a slow and light .243 FMJ round will be fine for Yote' popping well out past 275 yards and a heavy and hot soft point will drop a deer at a good 450 yards that is far longer of a walk then any real hunter is going to really want to shoot and track a deer from.
 
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