TaperPin
WKR
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2023
- Messages
- 3,186
My vote goes to the 243 in a good used rifle - it shouldn’t be hard to find a Remington, Ruger, Mosberg, Howa, Savage or even an Winchester for under $300.
As far back as I can remember the first centerfire hunting rifle for a Wyoming kid was a 243. In time most move up to a larger caliber, but that’s a great all around plinking/varmint/coyote/deer/antelope cartridge that’s easy on the shoulder and wallet - and every small store will have ammo. Now that grandkids are starting to pop up, I’ve been scanning gun stores for 243s - when they are ready to hunt deer, one of these will be under the Christmas tree. I also keep a basic old Remington 700 .243 sighted in and ready to go as a loaner rifle.
The running joke between the older shooters is we always tell the young or inexperienced shooters the 243 shoots like a self guided missile and kills better than it should - they believe they will shoot it well so they almost always do.
As far back as I can remember the first centerfire hunting rifle for a Wyoming kid was a 243. In time most move up to a larger caliber, but that’s a great all around plinking/varmint/coyote/deer/antelope cartridge that’s easy on the shoulder and wallet - and every small store will have ammo. Now that grandkids are starting to pop up, I’ve been scanning gun stores for 243s - when they are ready to hunt deer, one of these will be under the Christmas tree. I also keep a basic old Remington 700 .243 sighted in and ready to go as a loaner rifle.
The running joke between the older shooters is we always tell the young or inexperienced shooters the 243 shoots like a self guided missile and kills better than it should - they believe they will shoot it well so they almost always do.