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Posted: 1/2/2002 2:33:32 PM EDT
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Are the .243, .308, and .30-06 dead cartridges? I was told that they were. Which was surprise me being most places can't keep .308 on the shelf around here. They Said the .25-06 is better than the .243 and is the popular caliber like thats a reason to buy one. I always heard a .243 was good rifle for to start a person out on for deer hunting. Also they told me that the .270 And 7mm mag are better than the .308 & .30-06. Especially the 7mm mag for elk rather than a .30-06. What do you think is this true or is that just their opinion. |
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Considering that .30-06, .308, and .223 represent 85+% of the rifle caliber market, I'd have to disagree. Any cartridge is a compromise. It will be good at some range of uses, and less good at others, and totally inappropriate for yet others. Plus, important factors like cost, widespread availability, options of bullet style & weight, reloading suitability, number and type of rifles that chamber the cartridge, and many other factors determine how well a cartridge will be received. It sounds to me like the people you were talking to have a very narrow focus on what they believe shooting to be, and are certainly biased. As I say over and over, before you can best choose an appropriate cartridge/rifle/pistol/shotgun/car/boat/whatever, you must first define the role(s) the item will be used for, and any other important criteria that it must meet to be acceptable (to you) for that purpose. Only then can you make an intelligent choice. -Troy |
Yeah. Except for cultists such as myself, the .243 has taken over the whole area once roamed by the excellent .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, and 6mm Remington rounds. I don't care for it much myself, but it's a good and extremely practical cartridge and I doubt it's going anywhere soon. The other two are surely much sturdier yet. |
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30-06 is the most popular big game cartridge in the USA by a long shot, and it is growing in popularity. IIRC, 32% of deer hunters use 30-06, 17% use 270 and 8% use 308. The only "new" cartridge in the top five is 7mm Mag. For every guy retiring his '06 in favor of a 300 or 7 Mag, there is another guy putting his 30-30 in the closet in favor of a 30-06, and another cherry hunter buying a 30-06 at Wal-Mart. In my experience, the 7mm Mag is definately not superior the 30-06 as an elk cartridge. In fact, I would say the opposite is the case. Big holes are good. So are 200 grain bullets. Not that the 7 Mag is inadequate, and it does give you a little bit of extra range. They are both good cartridges, but a 338 is better yet. I think 308 is in decline somewhat because (1) although it may theoretically be more accurate than 30-06, the later is a better sporting cartridge, (2) the "gun nuts" are buying more AR-15s than FALs or M1As. But it is still a damned fine cartridge. I am not sure about the .243. It is a little light for deer, and maybe a little much for varmints. |
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Just my .02- The .243-no grown man around here admits to shooting one-strictly a kids/wife/newbie setup. The .308- basically a compromised 30.06, made to fire a shorter case, so as to fit in a shorter/smaller action weapon. The 30.06- still the standard every ting else is judged by. 7-MM Mag-favored by the 'trophy hunter set'. Damn unpleasant to shoot- wouldn't take one for free, unless I could trade it for a 30.06 later. These guys seem to be compensating for a 'short-coming'- if ya know what I mean. In 6MM stuff, how about the 6.5X55 Swedish? Had a Gustof Mauser spotrer with a 3 digit serial #. |
Thats what I started with 14 years ago when I was 12 for PA whitetail.... Still have one in a model 7. I have yet have to track down a deer I shot. Some were dead before they hit the ground. Shot placement is more important, but I don't take "pot shots" either, thats how people get hurt. The 85g hpbt going 3200fps works just fine. Plus its a nice and light rifle to carry all day. Yep.. I know, I will get it for this one...  |
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The .30-06 is not so popular - any sporting goods store, no matter how small, that you walk into anywhere in the world is more likely to have .30-06 on the shelf than about any other cartridge, except perhaps .22 Long Rifle. The .308 is not a compromised .30-06. It has about 100 to 150 fps less muzzle velocity in most loads, and it is consistently more accurate. All 3 cartidges will be around for a lot longer than your advisers. The comment is likely biased on a "western" hunting cartridge idea that faster (.270 Winchester) and harder hitting (7mm Remington Magnum) are the "best" cartridges for the long shots and big animals out west. Phooey! If you can't decide, get a .30-06. Check out a reloading manual at the library and look at the enormous number of loads from light to heavy that are available; I'll bet you can't find a more versatile cartridge. |
Like Troy said it is always a comprimise. You can have too much cartridge. Where I hunt in south Georgia, at times a 30-06 can be way too much cartridge! When shooting the massive collie size deer we have here you can wind up just poking a .30 cal hole in the deer and it runs off like nothing happened. It overpenetrates and does not significantly damage the deer. No I am talking about ranges well under 100 yards here, the property we hunt on is heavily wooded and to see something beyond 50 yards is impossible. In these conditions a .243 or .270 is awesome! And I have killed a real nice doe with a 64gr Winchester out of my AR15 down here as well!! |
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Here's a quote taken from "America's Favorite Deer Cartridges" by Chris Christian "The question as to which caliber is the most popular among deer hunters is easier to answer — just say .30-06. Despite the fact that it is approaching its 100th birthday, it is not only one of the annual leaders in ammo sales, but according to RCBS, it is the clear leader in reloading die sales among deer rifle calibers. It is followed (in sales orders) by the .308, .243, .270, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and the .30-30." Here's the link for the whole article: www.gunsandgear.com/Targets%20&%20Trophies/lead.htm coyote3 |
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.243 is still a pretty big cartridge around here. Alot of them pulling 'yote duty. I love mine as you can go light for prarie dogs to heavy for deer or antelope (not that we have antelope and we cant rifle hunt deer). It is a great little light cartridge. There is no way the .308 or .30-06 is dead. These are the two biggest rounds in the mid to lower end of the heavy range. I think they will far outlive me. |
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