Struggling with cartridge selection.

[Ringbill27]

I picked up a Tikka T3x 243win youth last year with the intention of pulling the barrel and rechambering in something.

I’ve been struggling with what that new cartridge would be. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the purpose of this rifle? I’ve narrowed it down to a short barreled lightweight brush stalker running heavies for whitetail. Looking for a good chance for bang flops.

I’ve tossed around the 308win running 200-220s, 358win and even the 450 BM as options.

I have a 30cal can but wouldn’t be opposed to a larger one down the road. I do reload so ammo selection isn’t a worry. Bullet selection could be.

The 358win is winning the fight so far. Thoughts?

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Truthfully it doesn’t matter, just get the cartridge that makes you happy.

No cartridge is a “brush buster” - all bullets will divert when impacting brush. How much is completely unpredictable as there are way too many variables to account for.

Again, just choose what you think is cool, because objectively, you shouldn’t be shooting anything through brush and expecting good results.

This is fact and has been tested countless times, you can google “brush busting myth” and read all day. Only shoot with a clear line of sight.

 

[yeti12]

You are going the opposite direction for bang flops in my experience.

A 6 creed or 22 creed will absolutely wreck whitetails out of a short barrel at close range or even moderate range with eldm's.

 

[Hydra6]

What twist is your 243? The 243 you have may be the answer.

 

[EastTX Jess]

Just high shoulder those whitetail with any 100 grain cup and core from that .243 and you’ll get plenty of bang flops. Pick the brand that groups best or the box with your favorite color.

 

[Ucsdryder]

358 win sounds awesome! Go with what makes you happy. You’ll get plenty of opinions but you know what they say about opinions!

 

[Ikmclean]

Cutting the 243 as down and running it would work great, also a 16 inch suppressed 338 federal would be cool

 

[TaperPin]

I came across a 358 and the size of hole in the barrel made me grin like a little kid. I’ve wanted one in a compact barrel ever since.

The 308 has so many bullets available, that probably makes it a better choice.

 

[HandgunHTR]

As others have said, if "bang/flops" are your goal, then high velocity fragmenting bullets are your best bet. Disruption of the Central Nervous System is what causes those, which means you have to put the bullet close to the spine/neck and then cause damage to it.
A 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor will get you want you want with the least amount of expense with the bolt-face that you currently have. That being said, if your Tikka is a 1:8 twist, then just load up some 108 ELDMs and go kill stuff.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Just stick with the .243 you have. With proper bullets, you have more than enough gun to kill any whitetails you see. It's not like you are going to shoot a whitetail through a foot thick oak tree. And any bullet can be deflected by a branch.

The whole "big heavy bullet" for brush busting is marketing and fudd lore. I've had people tell me, with complete sincerity, that a .30-30 with round nose 170-grain bullets is a "good brush gun", but they would never say the same of a .30-06 with 180-grain bullets.

Edit - I was just thinking about my previous hunting experience with the .243. I got a lovely Sako L579 last spring. Took it out one evening last rifle season and spotted a spike buck grazing in the pasture about 60 yards away. While I was getting a good angle on him, he wandered in between some light brush. I found a nice gap in the brush and dropped him right there with a high lung shot. He went DRT, but took a while to die. I was using some 100-grain factory soft points. I wouldn't hesitate to carry that rifle for deer hunting anywhere. Typical shot opportunities for me range from 25 yards to 300 yards. If I was to carry a so-called brush-busting cartridge I would be limited at the high end and gain nothing at the low end.

 

[rabbithuntr]

While I’d probably leave it a 243 and thread it. You could look into the 375 raptor, similar to the 358 win with a little modern flare.

 

[The Guide]

My 243’s have to be one of my favorite whitetail guns. Short barrel, easy to swing, low recoil, slaps like lightning, and cheap to shoot. That 95 grain NBT is where I'd go.

Jay

 

[Timjohnson11]

Another day, another new cartridge thread. Rokslide is something else.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Bang flops are just as much bullet placement as they are anything else. Break the front shoulders and the deer is going down.
Either the 308 or 358 will work well. But like others say, neither will excell at deflecting brush.

 

[Ringbill27]

What twist is your 243? The 243 you have may be the answer.

20” 10 twist. I actually pick up two of these rifles at the time. The other is staying 243 for my wife. I’ve loaded up some pretty spicy loads with the 58gr BT and the 95gr partition. So I’ll keep the barrel off mine for when her’s burns up. Whenever that happens.

Cutting the 243 as down and running it would work great, also a 16 inch suppressed 338 federal would be cool

I forgot about the 338 fed. Added to list.

 

[Ringbill27]

Another day, another new cartridge thread. Rokslide is something else.

With else is there to talk about other then firearms, cartridges, packs or footwear?

Edit: wait I guess Toyotas that are older then me with more miles then all the vehicles I’ve ever owned combined should be in that list.

 

[hereinaz]

Another day, another new cartridge thread. Rokslide is something else.

Another day another post complaining about another day talking about cartridges on a forum dedicated to cartridges.

Who would have thunk…

 

[FredH]

I had a light 358 Browning BLR. Have to say it was a bang flop special that penetrated well from any angle and didn't destroy a lot of meat doing so. I foolishly traded it off but built a reasonably light 35 Whelen. It also made a great rifle. Nothing shot with either rifle to include some big hogs went more than 30 yards. What few that actually moved much after being hit. However today using a short action I would make it a 338 Federal. Seems like it runs a little faster than the 358 and plenty of good bullets out there for it. One of the things I really like about the bigger bullets is the lack of lead fragments in the meat and edible organs.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

We have a couple of .243s. Mainly using 75gr mono at 3400+ fps. One gun is a savage model 16 and also have 7mm-08 and .308 barrels to fit. I thought of getting another barrel in 338 Federal which you did not mention; but .358 Win would be cool too. If I had to have only one barrel it probably be either .243 or 7mm-08.

 

[Ringbill27]

One of the things I really like about the bigger bullets is the lack of lead fragments in the meat and edible organs.

This is why I switched to monos. Pulled a chunk of lead out of some sausage we had made. If I were to go 358 not sure if I’d still go monos. Even looks at bullet selection hard yet.

We have a couple of .243s. Mainly using 75gr mono at 3400+ fps.

Which 75gr bullet are you using?