.223 or .243?

Swamp_Donkey

Hello,

I currently own a .22 magnum. I go out lamping rabbits and foxes a lot. I wish to sell/trade it in for either a .223 or .243 (I'll eventually buy a .22lr semi-auto for the rabbits, fired my friend's semi-auto a lot recently and love the gun).

Back to the .223/.243...I wish to use the rifle for foxes, but I'm starting to think is it worth my while going for the .243 instead, using 58 grain for the foxes, and if I ever wish to take up deer stalking, having the option of the 100 grain ammunition for deer. Would I be granted a license for a .243 without a deer stalking license if I stated those intentions in a letter along with my FCA1?

This is the gun in either .223 or .243 which I'm considering:

http://www.shoot.ie/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_24&products_id=197

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

dax121

if you are going stalking in the future id try for the 243. put what you said about wanting it as a duel rifle unto paper. i dont know will alot of supers issue it for foxing ya mite be lucky. get a interview with ur super and explane that to him. saying you will be deer stalking in the near future. and you dont want to get a 223 and then get a 243 you would rather just have the one of them. and the idea of tradeing in the 223 for a 243 doesnt appeal to you due to the fact the the trade in wont be worth much. you just want to buy once and thats it. worth a try

Tommy87

I think you should try get talk to the super first before you apply, sit down and explain your story. There would be nothing worse than buying the .243, writing out your letter, filling the forms, and waiting 6 weeks and being led up the garden path to be told---- no. Which some supers can do. I honestly don't know why it takes some people so long to do something. I bought a shotgun and applied for the licence on the 2nd June and only yesterday got the letter in the door to say my application is under review. So that's 18 weeks to tell me it's under review and it may take up to 3 months for a decision. ��

4200fps

.243 is the best fox caliber out there imo. Flat shooter and great energy and less wind drift and 58 grain superformance at 30euro a box of 20. Accurate caliber. Good reason will get you one. I got mine like many others without deer licence and would never change from this caliber. Does everything from a fox to a deer. You won't regret trying if you get it

Swamp_Donkey

Thanks a million for your replies. I think I'll go for the .243 and just state my case in a letter along with the FCA1. I have permission to shoot on roughly 700 acres of land where the foxes love staying out of reach of the .22 magnum. We'll see if my Superintendent will understand that I don't need a rifle each for foxes and deer when the .243 can do both jobs just fine! Hopefully he'll grant me it without the deer license!

garv123

If he doesnt grant it now you could always go ahead an apply for a deer licence now and you'll have it in no time, save you having to apply twice for 2 different licences.

Witcher

Now that this problem is solved...I think I speak for everyone here when I ask .223 or .204?

dev110

Blay wrote: »

Now that this problem is solved...I think I speak for everyone here when I ask .223 or .204?

cookimonster

4200fps wrote: »

.243 is the best fox caliber out there imo. Flat shooter and great energy and less wind drift and 58 grain superformance at 30euro a box of 20. Accurate caliber. Good reason will get you one. I got mine like many others without deer licence and would never change from this caliber. Does everything from a fox to a deer. You won't regret trying if you get it

Could not agree more, not only on the versatility but on the fact I too was issued a FAC for my own one with out a deer permit.

I have the Xs7 and find it accurate with a range of ammo. Be aware of three things.

1. Internal blind mag takes a bit to get use to (IMO).

2. It is not a .22 (or .22 configuration) and any extended zeroing sessions you may do will show you very quickly how a hunting rifle like this will not maintain tight groupings over multiple shots over short periods of time.

3. If you are a person who changes out their guns regularly you may not find a good re-sale or trade in value as compared to a other make. (If like me and you never ever ever sell your guns then what the hell).

There are better guns out there........ but every morning in rush hour traffic I roll up beside a collection of cars Fords, Porsches, Mazda, BMWs etc all on the same roads doing the same thing ....driving somewhere............. as I said before on here it will always be down to personal choice on what you buy and why.

Swamp_Donkey

cookimonster wrote: »

2. It is not a .22 (or .22 configuration) and any extended zeroing sessions you may do will show you very quickly how a hunting rifle like this will not maintain tight groupings over multiple shots over short periods of time.

Could you explain that a bit more to me please?

I've handled the rifle before and I don't mind the mag, also I'm like yourself if I get it I'll be keeping it for some time.

cookimonster

I mentioned that because you have a .22 magnum and if you are like me and plenty of others who in the past before the regulations changed, enjoyed a bit of plinking with a .22 you will find a huge difference in the way the barrel re-acts after multiple shots.
With my experience shooting military guns and .22 I was in for a bit of a shock when I went to 'test fire' my new baby. Once zeroed she was a tac driver, producing tight groups but as I shot on the on the grouping began to spread out. Long story short it will lose POI and develop wider groups if you put loads of rounds down in a short period of time.
These barrels are designed to handle one or two shots at a time over extended periods such as you find in a real life hunting situation. If you wish to be throwing rnds down range at a very frequent rate then a bulled barrel is for you. But for foxes and deer this set up is perfect, light, compact and short enough.

Swamp_Donkey

Oh right! That's interesting I'll have to read more into that. Well thank god that won't effect me considering the price of the bullets! :P

garv123

Because its a centre fire the barrel will heat up with multiple shots. Its not a mid heavy or heavy barrel so if you dont leave the barrel cool down between shots the POI will begin to change after multiple rounds. A heavy barrel or fluted heavy barrel will disperse the heat faster..

It wont be drastic and shooting at 3 foxes in a field one after another it will still perform perfect. Unless you plan on a lot of target shooting it will be grand.

cookimonster

Swamp_Donkey wrote: »

Oh right! That's interesting I'll have to read more into that. Well thank god that won't effect me considering the price of the bullets! :P

Is'nt that the truth.

In my case when I went to pick it up I had weighed off the price of few boxs of various grains of ammo. So as soon as i could I was on the range test firing 15 out of the 20 round boxes of 4 different makes and grains. So in my eagerness I threw 60 rnds and approximately €120 down range. Once I got that out of my system I settled down to one brand and one grain over a much slower and conservative routine.

EWQuinn

A nice cold day is great for test firing a hunting rifle. 3 shot groups for testing a rifle with lighter contour barrel. On hot days trade out rifles in between groups, shoot the breeze with your buddies, or read a good book while the barrel cools.