.243 or .270?

S

sundance43.5

New member
I'm trying to decide between these 2 calibers for my new bolt gun. I do a lot of varminting, but I have the opportunity to go mule deer hunting, and possibly antelope hunting. Which caliber would be the most versatile and which is the least expensive to reload? Basically, which is better?

Thanks
 
For mulies, the .270 would most likely be better. For varmints and pronghorn, the .243 would work fine. The .270 would kill any of them, but the .243 would be too small(bullet weight) for me to use on anything much larger then PA whitetail. Neither is 'better', both are fine hunting rounds. The question you need to ask yourself is how you plan to use it. But, FWIW, a .308 would be some good middle ground.
 
I would suggest either a .260 Rem or a 6.5x55 Swede. Either one is the ideal all around rifle cartridge, with a wide aray of excellent bullets available, and a reputation for excellent accuracy for the two cartridges is another good point.

Both cartridges would be, for all practicle purposes, the same cost to reload.
 
243 v 270

The 243 is an excellent varment and White Tail Deer gun. I am not positive but the heaviest bullet may be around 85 grains.

The 270 is a multi-purpose gun. It has the same basic cassse as the 243 but not cut down. The lightest bullet is 90 grains while the heaviest is 150. Years ago I shot a brush bucking round nose 170 grain by Speer. You need to read what Jack O'coner said about the 270. The 270 is good for 300 to [maybe] 500 yards.

My biggest consideration would be can you stand the extra noise of the 270? If yes, get it.
 
.243 vs. .270 seems pretty much a wash. Madison, 100 grain bullets are available for the .243, including factory loads. Sundance, given your comment that you "do a lot of varminting" but have "opportunity" to go for mule deer, I'd favor the .243. The .243 with a heavier, controlled expansion bullet would be adequate for mule deer - shot placement is everything. If primary application were mule deer, I'd go to something bigger than the .270. But given your choice and intended application and assuming one gun, I'd give the edge to the .243.
 
It depends on what you mean by varminting and what rifles you already have. High volume prairie dogs with a heavy caliber would become tiring in short order but lower volume groundhog and coyote hunting is a different matter.

If limited to only one rifle, I would choose the .243 and load 55 grain bullets for varmints and 100 grain premium bullets for larger game. But if I had a .223 for varmints, I'd buy the .270 to give me the extra edge on larger game.
 
I think sooner or later you'll want to expand on your hunting experiences; the .270 would be the more flexible option. I own both, but the .270 gets taken out far more often than the .243.
 
Sundance, I'm going to assume that this opportunity has come as a result of someone you know inviting you out west to hunt? If so, ask if he has a spare rifle you could use. that way you can just buy the .243 and use his spare rifle for that week or so.
 
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