Can't decide on my next Savage .223 or .243

[phillymac23]

I have two Savages right now, a 220 in 20Ga and a 11 in .308. I've been looking at at .223 or .243 in an Axis. I have an AR so I have plenty of .223 ammo, but I'm thinking about getting into coyote hunting and I think the .243 would be better suited for it. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

[drphilwv]

243 is potentially more versatile since it can varmint and medium game as well. I know people deer hunt with 223 but its not necessarily an optimal deer caliber. I just got one in 7mm08 which is my favorite caliber. I have some 100gr. bullets that I am loading for varmints - groundhogs etc. 140gr for everything else. Anyway at $300 maybe one each? I plan to go back for a .223.

[mattm0812]

.223 get's boring quick. I found so many different bullet weights and powders that all worked almost identical.

[phillymac23]

Well I had my hands on an axis in 243 with a Bushnell scope for $299 and the wife through a fit and said I have enough guns. I guess she's going to make me do this behind her back. Sale ends today so I'll have to keep watching for a new sale.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[thermaler]

Well I had my hands on an axis in 243 with a Bushnell scope for $299 and the wife through a fit and said I have enough guns. I guess she's going to make me do this behind her back. Sale ends today so I'll have to keep watching for a new sale.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2I too have an AR in 223 (as well as 308) but have been dancing around 243 for a long time. All my hunting buddies down south bag tons of deer with it and it's a hot little round--it will probably be next on my Axis list--but now that I reload that has slowed me down on new gun purchases since each new caliber means mucho $$$ in dies etc. : )

[redman]

Any of the 308 based cartridges are excellent for all around rifles. 243, 260, 7mm-08, are all based on the 308 casing but in my opinion kick it's but ballistically.

If I were you I would just buy another barrel for your AR. Get a 24" varmint/bull barrel. It's hard to beat an AR out to about 400 yards for coyotes. Your 308 is actually a good coyote gun as well and would be good for those long range shots or short range for that matter.

This is what I would get: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/713867/dpms-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-920-muzzle-diameter-1-in-8-twist-24-stainless-steel-with-aluminum-gas-block

[david8989]

.243 would be a better coyote gun than the .308 for sure just because of it's flatter trajectory. I've been hunting coyotes down here in texas for a couple years now from 100-700yds and when you want to take a shot on that dang 'yote that never seems to stop moving it helps to have a flatter shooting bullet for a little error room. The .243 is also going to be a better caliber for distance shooting if you get past 500yds. The .223 wins out with cost per round and if your shooting will limit to 500yds

[s2mikey]

If it matters, .223 is used in quite a few semi-autos and the way things are going makes me think that any ammo used in those types of guns will get harder to get and costlier. I realize that .243 or .270(my axis caliber) arent cheap either but they are always readily available. And, they pack way more punch than a .223. Just my thoughts on it. I say .243.

[ShowMeShooter]

If you are planing on getting into coyote hunting, and plan to save the hide to sell, you may want to consider the .223. The .243 is not very fur friendly in my experience. I've been hunting coyotes for a lot of years, and have found the .223 with a 50 gn Speer TNT to be a great round and very fur friendly. I'm currently working with the Nosler BT. With that said the .243 will buck the wind better and carries more WHOP down range. You have to decide if you want to just kill coyotes, or do you want a decent check from the fur buyer.

[Nandy]

This might be a moot point but go with the 243, you can find plenty of .223 take off in good condition and with low shot numbers at the classified section in here. You will have to become a paid member but it is just $15. I have seen 223 here gone as low as $45. You will just need the bolthead for the 223, $50. Not sure if you will need to change the mag or not. OR... just buy both, I know my lady cant never keep track of my guns and I never say "look at my new gun!" I always say "I cant believe I dont shoot this gun anymore, it looks brand new, let me start using it..." lol!

[phillymac23]

Well I found an axis in .223 today for $277 and I picked it up. I have a couple hundred rounds for my AR so I have ammo to start out with. Who knows may pick up a 243 in the future just to have one, that's if the wife let's me.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[pisgah]

Currently, mine are in .223 and .270. .243 does seem to split the difference nicely, so maybe soon...

[Nandy]

that's if the wife let's me.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Repeat after me "no my love, this is not a new rifle, I had it for a while. I just don't use it much but I'm about to change That "

[ShowMeShooter]

Congrats on the new rifle, good choice for coyotes...


Repeat after me "no my love, this is not a new rifle, I had it for a while. I just don't use it much but I'm about to change That "

I tell mine this all the time....or "No babe, this isn't new, I've just been working on it for a long time and it's been under that mess on the bench"

[RatMag]

I just tell mine the truth... It's an investment. No problem.

DK

[Rogeritall]

Well I found an axis in .223 today for $277 and I picked it up. I have a couple hundred rounds for my AR so I have ammo to start out with. Who knows may pick up a 243 in the future just to have one, that's if the wife let's me.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Just my two cents worth, but I personally think you made the right choice for Coyote hunting, unless you are out West and your shots get out beyond 300 yards. I think the .223 Rem does the job extremely well on a Coyote out to at least 200 yards. If your shots are anything under that yardage you are just burning extra powder with a .22-250, or a .243.

[showmad]

My wife said if I don't sell them where is the investment,I also found out the hard way that in my youth circa 1970's it didn't pay to sell or trade the good stuff HK91,93,Uzi,Fnl,mak90 an a host of redhawks,M77,S&W etc etc.

[G-manz35]

Just my two cents worth, but I personally think you made the right choice for Coyote hunting, unless you are out West and your shots get out beyond 300 yards. I think the .223 Rem does the job extremely well on a Coyote out to at least 200 yards. If your shots are anything under that yardage you are just burning extra powder with a .22-250, or a .243.

I have to agree. The kill spot on a coyote is pretty small (6") when you start trying to hit them out past 300 yards I feel it's a bit of a hail mary shot. That being said anything inside 400 yards the 223 with a good varmit bullet has a lot of poop to knock them over. In the last year I have shot about 9 of them and the only one I had to shoot twice was about 30 yards away walking throught the bush. I accidentily hit it in the guts and had to finish it off.

I always read post of guys wanting a gun to shoot coyotes at 500+. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but before you go out hunting set up a clay pidgeon at 500 yards and see how many times you hit it without using a bench rest. I know my limit is about 300 yards and that would be using my bipod, squeezing my butt cheeks togther and holding my breath till I nearly pass out. This would also explain why I have missed only one of the last ten that I have shot at. If you want to spray bullets and hope you hit something then buy a 338 Lapua and have at er.

I think a 223 is a great choice and you will have fun with it. I have had great luck with 53gr Vmax. George

Edit: Just to be clear I'm not trying to be Holier than thou and tell people how far they should be shooting. I'm just wanting folks to realize how small their target is. The first time I knocked the hide off of a coyote I was shocked how small the chest area really was.

[ShowMeShooter]

I have to agree. The kill spot on a coyote is pretty small (6") when you start trying to hit them out past 300 yards I feel it's a bit of a hail mary shot. That being said anything inside 400 yards the 223 with a good varmit bullet has a lot of poop to knock them over. In the last year I have shot about 9 of them and the only one I had to shoot twice was about 30 yards away walking throught the bush. I accidentily hit it in the guts and had to finish it off.

I always read post of guys wanting a gun to shoot coyotes at 500+. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but before you go out hunting set up a clay pidgeon at 500 yards and see how many times you hit it without using a bench rest. I know my limit is about 300 yards and that would be using my bipod, squeezing my butt cheeks togther and holding my breath till I nearly pass out. This would also explain why I have missed only one of the last ten that I have shot at. If you want to spray bullets and hope you hit something then buy a 338 Lapua and have at er.

I think a 223 is a great choice and you will have fun with it. I have had great luck with 53gr Vmax. George

well said....:thumb: