How many forms can a centerfire bullet take? The shell stays the same right? Then the bullet and the load are designed to be heavier or to penetrate differently? I'm mainly wondering because when I shop for a .243, which I feel is a good caliber to be able to hunt small and larger game, I want to be able to hunt different game with only the substitution of higher grain ammo. Is that the idea?
THNX

Most cartridges can use a variety of bullet weights. The 243 Winchester for example can use bullet weights from 55 to 107 grains. 55 thru 85 grain bullets are primarily for varmits.

Usually the heavier bullets for a specific caliber are designed for big game rather than varmits except in 22 caliber rifles such as 22-250's, 223's and 220 swifts bullets are pretty much designed for varmits.

This is usually true for calibers up to 26. From 27 to 30 calibers most bullet weights are used for big game with a just a very few in each caliber used for varmit hunting.

From 30 caliber on up varmits do not inter into the equation often and most all the bullets are designed for just big game.

I don't know if this helps you any.

So then it still seems like the .243 is a very versatile bullet. I like that it has a range of applications. Is it really as easy as choosing the right weight within your caliber for the game I want to take. .270 type bullets seem too commited to a type of game. As a poor$$$hunter it'd be nice to invest in a multitasker. Any recs. I'll spend up to $800. Tikka, Savage, CZ, best made bolt action wood stock .243, 40"s. I lean towards Savage and Tikka, even Weatherby.
THNX

So then it still seems like the .243 is a very versatile bullet. I like that it has a range of applications. Is it really as easy as choosing the right weight within your caliber for the game I want to take. .270 type bullets seem too commited to a type of game. As a poor$$$hunter it'd be nice to invest in a multitasker. Any recs. I'll spend up to $800. Tikka, Savage, CZ, best made bolt action wood stock .243, 40"s. I lean towards Savage and Tikka, even Weatherby.
THNX

The one I like the best and has one of the best factory triggers, and shoots very well out of the box is the Savage.


For the .243 I like this one....http://www.savagearms.com/14u.htm

Any that you mentioned are good along with Remington and Ruger.

It sounds to me like what you need to invest in is a 30/06.

That is the most versitle round available and will take any game from a P-Dog at 300 yards to elk at 300.

You have bullet ranges from 110 to 210 and you can get that kind of info, ammo, powders and reloading data from any shooting supply on the contentent.

In my opinion, if you want one caliber to do it all and had one rifle to choose from, it would be a Remington BDL in 30-06 ;)

:D
Bru I agree with Gismo, regardless of the caliber buy the Savage with the new Accutrigger, I have found them to be exceedingly accurate out of the box vor a modest price. For the $800 you have to spend you should be able to buy the rifle optics and some ammo and take your someone out to dinner..... :D

sam

It sounds to me like what you need to invest in is a 30/06.

That is the most versitle round available and will take any game from a P-Dog at 300 yards to elk at 300.

You have bullet ranges from 110 to 210 and you can get that kind of info, ammo, powders and reloading data from any shooting supply on the contentent.

In my opinion, if you want one caliber to do it all and had one rifle to choose from, it would be a Remington BDL in 30-06 ;)

Agreed. When I moved to Colorado 25 years ago, I had 2 centerfire rifles .30-06 and .30-06. I now have rifles for a variety of different centerfire cartridges from .22-250 to .340 Weatherby. However, if I could have only 1 it would be a .30-06. But, I'm undecided which model it would be. (And for you .270 Win fans, YES - I do have one of them with which I've shot deer and caribou - and a freind who regularly shoots elk with his)

If I were picking a gun to do what you asking it to do, I would get the Savage in a 25.06. It is a better deer round than the 243 and still a fine varmit round as well. Everyone that suggested the 30.06 have excellent points and I would select it if larger big game than deer was in the picture. It does kick harder than the 25.06 and that would add up when shooting a bunch of varmits. Plus the varmit bullets in 30.06 are ballisticly inferior to the 25 caliber bullets.

Everyone that suggested the 30.06 have excellent points and I would select it if larger big game than deer was in the picture. It does kick harder than the 25.06 and that would add up when shooting a bunch of varmits. Plus the varmit bullets in 30.06 are ballisticly inferior to the 25 caliber bullets.


Now I don't know much about this at all, so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but how about those "Accelerator" rounds in the 30-06 for Varminting? I've never seen one, but if I understand correctly, it's a .22ish caliber projectile, in a .30 caliber sabot, and travels at something insane, like 5K+ fps. Not sure if the components are availabel to be able to reload the Accelerator, but that would seem to make the 30-06 an excellent choice for varmints up through big game.

Thoughts?


Ken

Ken, the Accelerator ammo is fast but isnt all that accurate. Might as well just load a good 150 grain bullet and use that instead.

And the componets are not available to reload.

Actually, sabots for reloading Accelerator type ammo are available from EA Brown at http://www.eabco.com/reload02.html . Accuracy is generally considered to be whatever you can get from standard bullets, which can get pretty good. Optics on an "all round" 30 caliber rifle are likely what is going to limit its varminting accuracy, particularly if there is no parallax adjustment on the scope.

What kind of game are we talking? Prarie dog or coyote up to elk or up to deer? If its up to elk, you can't go wrong with the '06 (or it's sisters the 270 or 280, it's all in preference). May be on the heavy side for varmints but you'll appreciate it when going after elk. If the largest you're looking at is deer, than I have to go agree with what twillis said regarding the 25-06. Great selection of varmint bullets and some good punch for deer, even at longer ranges.