Target shooting rifle caliber

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CC268

New member
I posted about a good big game hunting caliber earlier, but I am thinking about getting a gun this summer that I can truly put some range time in to increase my shooting ability. I am not considering a 22LR or a .223 as I already have a .243 and I would like something that I can shoot at longer ranges to practice for hunting (plus something that will be a little closer to shooting a bigger caliber for big game).

I am thinking the .308 is the way to go because it is cheap to shoot, good barrel life, and not a ton of recoil. I think that caliber would really allow me to get some good time in and really increase my shooting ability.

Am I wrong? What do you guys think?

Thanks
 
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Ruger480

New member
If your going to practice basic rifle marksmanship at the range, keep in mind you are essentially learning to manage the gun you have in your hand. Case in point, if you pick a 308, you will essentially be learning to shoot a 308. Yes, some of those skills are transferrable but I put forth that if you have in mind to become a better shot with a caliber you intend to hunt with, you may as well practice BRM with that caliber.

If your intent is to hunt with a 300WM, you may as well learn to shoot the 300WM.
My 22 is not my 30-06. I can practice breathing techniques and trigger pull with my 22 but it's a different ball game with my other gun. For starters, my 22 is a Marlin 39A and my '06 is a Savage. Completely different ergonomics. I hold those guns differently. Therefore, I shoot them differently. Does that make sense?
 
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CC268

New member
Yes I understand completely. However, I believe that shooting anything and increasing my skills with any gun WILL transfer in some shape or form to any other gun. Yes, it may differ slightly from rifle to rifle, but it is better to practice with something than nothing at all.
 
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P-990

New member
What's wrong with using your .243? Are you afraid of wearing it out? That will take a few thousand rounds at any rate, and you can have it rebarreled cheaper than buying another rifle. Ammo cost a problem? Learn to reload, a .308 isn't going to be any cheaper to feed. Surplus ball ammo won't cut it accuracy-wise if you're looking to improve. Does the .243 not fit well? What is the .243 lacking that you are hoping to address with another rifle?

Sorry, I have to pick at "target shooting." I read it a lot, but it really means different things to everybody and generally when somebody comes on and posts "for target shooting" they're actually referring to "plinking." Random, informal shooting sessions just trying to hit things. Not that there is anything wrong with that (do plenty of it myself), but actual, dedicated competition target shooting is an entirely different animal and will set the parameters for the equipment you're looking for.

And why don't you want a .223 just because you have a .243? IME out to 600 yards you're hard pressed to find a round that does the job as economically with the low recoil, ready availability and excellent accuracy as the little mouse gun round. See my signature line, I used an AR-15 Service Rifle tossing little .224" pills out to 600-yards.
 
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603Country

New member
Yep,get a 223. I never wanted one, thinking it was a generally worthless round, but one day I saw a nice 223 at a price I could not refuse. Now it gets used more than anything else I shoot. The big grand kids shoot it and now the little grand kids shoot it. They love blasting water bottles. Giant splash.
 
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Blindstitch

New member
I'm a fan of .308 caliber rifles but if i'm going to hunt with it i'm going to target shoot with it. All act differently. Trigger pull, grip, length, recoil, bolt handle shape and many more things.

But as others said reloading may or may not be the way to go. I have a 30-40 krag that's $40 for 20 shots vs 30-06 which has more powder and brass for $20 for 20. In this case I have to reload for the krag.

In your case I might pick up two rifles depending on your funds. Two identical ones or one used one to target shoot with that may be like or near like your final purchase.
 
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jersurf101

New member
I bought a .308 last year for the same purpose. components have been pretty easy to find and the caliber is not my limiting factor. I know there are better new calibers that will have a better BC at long range with less recoil but the .308 is tough to beat on a budget. Tooling and components are every where and the recoil is mild.
 
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CC268

New member
Alright well maybe I am just better off with the .243 and then getting something like a 300WM for big game. I try not to shoot my .243 a lot because someone on here it is a barrel burner and would only last about 800-1000 rounds. I guess I am better off just shooting whatever rifles I have that I will hunt with. I didn't have any intention of competition shooting, just becoming a better shot for longer range hunting (300+ yards).

I will take your guys' word for it and I will just shoot whatever I hunt with!
 
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makarov

New member
308 is a great choice. If you don't have a .223 that would be my first choice simply because the ammo is cheap. You might also look for a bolt gun in 7.62x39. CZ and Ruger make one. Ammo is cheap for those too.
 
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Blindstitch

New member
What kind of big game are you planning on hunting at those ranges?

I never want to discourage anyone from buying another rifle or two but the used market has a lot of guns on it that need homes and some are cheap but not cheaply made.

Beyond that I don't know the price of 300wm from store to store but a few months ago I saw a box at gander mountain for $60. Seems like you could buy a lot more 308 or 30-06 for that price.
 
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Slamfire

New member
You should not have crossed off the 223 from your list. My first thought was 308 Win as I still shoot that in competition but the 223 has advantages that the 243 and 308 does not. The 243 is a barrel burner and the 308 kicks. The 223 has very light recoil and it is wonderfully accurate. I shot a 223 any/any last month, that is prone with a sling but with a scope at 600 yards. The round is superbly accurate and the low recoil is very conducive to accuracy. I flinch with the 308 and it knocks me out of position. It is a lot harder to shoot well with a heavy recoiling caliber and you don't learn your positional errors as well with a caliber that does not knock you out of position.

I have been shooting smallbore prone and that is unforgiving for positional errors, and you see them. You pull the trigger, the gun slightly recoils, if it does not end up back in the center of the black, you know something is wrong, and the bullet went astray. Small bore prone has been great on follow through because if the gun does not recoil the same and return to the exact same position each time, you see it, and you see it on paper.
 
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kraigwy

New member
I'm the last person to say "you don't need a new caliber", any excuse is better then not getting a new gun. And the 308 is a good choice.


But don't discredit you 243 for long range practice round for hunting practice.
 
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CC268

New member
Yea I think I will just target shoot the guns I will hunt with like you guys are saying. I am sure at some point I will end up with a .308 anyways.
 
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Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
CC268 said:
Alright well maybe I am just better off with the .243 and then getting something like a 300WM for big game. I try not to shoot my .243 a lot because someone on here it is a barrel burner and would only last about 800-1000 rounds.
Click to expand...

800 rounds or so for a .243 is for uber-accurate competition use. Unless you and your gun can hold maybe 1/4" groups (real groups, not 3 shots) at 100 yards, you don't need to worry about it. You could probably triple that number before it's a real problem.

Besides, the ammo costs far more than the barrel. If you can't afford the barrel, you can't afford the ammo either. If you were saving money for a new barrel, you'd have to save $5-10 every range session with a .243 and $2-4 with a .308.

A .308 is a lot more recoil than I'd want in a target gun. Sure, it's tolerable but it's not something I want to go to the range with for a 100 round session.

A .243 can be used out to 1,000 yards (probably a good bit further under the right circumstances) and certainly any range that a normal hunter would shoot an animal.
 
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old roper

New member
I think it's good idea learn how to shoot rifle you plan on hunting with and I've yet to feel recoil when I'm shooting at elk etc.

When I go to the range shooting some of my hunting rifle I'll take along light recoil rifle it may be 222,223 or even 243AI. It kind of breaks up the recoil lets barrel cool down and I still get to shoot with same level of concentration on groups.
 
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CC268

New member
^^^ I agree...

Well at this point I have the .243 and it looks like I may pick up a 300 WM this summer. I won't worry so much about the .243 barrel life and I will start shooting the guns that I will hunt with!
 
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340 Weatherby

New member
I can think of nothing that would make me happier than to shoot enough to wear out a barrel. The trick is more guns to spread it out a little.
 
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