Beast...the only game on continental Oz that I wouldn't use a .243 for is buff...anything else I reckon you can handle with it...with the right bullet/load combination.

All in all...I believe the .243 to be the best all round hunting calibre for Australian game.

Cheers, Vince

For !@#$'s sake, just make up your !@#$en mind.
If your going to buy a !@#$en centrefire just be resolved to the !@#$en fact that one rifle isn't going to be enough.
No matter what you buy there are to many options and desirables to have so you will need more and more.
So just buy one, it doesn't matter what it is.
Buy it, shoot it, have fun with it and then buy another.
Then when you have a bolt, lever, pump and single actions,
all in different calibres then you can think about shotguns.

tikkat3 wrote:

For !@#$'s sake, just make up your !@#$en mind. If your going to buy a !@#$en centrefire just be resolved to the !@#$en fact that one rifle isn't going to be enough.

Whoa.....that's a bit harsh mate. Beast is trying to get as much info as he can about the rifle that will best meet his needs or desires.

We welcome people here to ask questions and gain as much information as they can so they can make a well informed decision. Remember...the only silly question is the one you don't ask.

I agree with what you are saying about "many options and desirables"...but not everyone can afford to go out and buy another, then another and yet another rifle. I am one of those guys, and believe me when I say I procrastinated for many weeks over what rifle to buy before I decided on my .243 Weatherby. I visited every gunshop within 200 kms of Brisbane and even considered going down to Sydney to do the same.

So, go a bit easy on Beast mate....he is only trying to learn.

Cheers, Vince

hey cobber(mr beast)ill make a decission for ya.i want a remington model
700 vtr in 223 cal.you buy the same make and model but in 243 cal.
this way i guess we could be related.
MR VINCE,do ya think its a good idea

HA HA HA HA HA

Well, I suppose that's one way of "solving" the problem. But what happens if you find that the .223 is not enough gun, and Beast finds that the .243 is too much gun? Hey...I know...swap 'em over.

Seriously though...I think that the only way Beast will make his decision is through informed guidance...that, and getting out there and hopefully trying a few different rifles at his local Gun Club or similar to see what suits him.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks a lot for the constructive help there tikkat3, if I had an unlimited budget you'll be the first person I'll ask for advice, but until then pull your bloody head in.
The more I think about it the more a .243 sounds like the way to go. Like you say Vince can be used for just about anything.
I get the feeling you're a bit partial to the old VTR there Menace, I think you should go get yourself one(just don't tell the missus, or maybe buy it for her birthday)

Well...If we wait long enough the Auzzies will self distruct.. ..I'd go with the .243...Of course Mummy Vince will step in to referee...

Nah....I won't let it happen mate....well I'll try very hard to not let it happen.

Cheers, Vince

Hey!! Good morning Vince...

We haven't had a good donny brook sense what's his name (oh yeah, Wildswalker) was evicted...

Vince wrote:

Beast...the only game on continental Oz that I wouldn't use a .243 for is buff...anything else I reckon you can handle with it...with the right bullet/load combination. All in all...I believe the .243 to be the best all round hunting calibre for Australian game. Cheers, Vince

I gotta say, Vince has the "Been there, done that" experience in Australia so I'd lean heavily on his advice in this case.

Bushy, no comment...

Aah come on, Pumpkinslinger...Be a sport...

'Mornin' Bushy...well its morning here mate.

Yep...no blues for awhile now....which is really how it should be, although I never really had a problem with Wilds.

Cheers, Vince

I'd go 308

tikkat3 wrote:

I'd go 308

Funny.. thats what I go too..
But this is entirely my choice - not because 243 is bad, its because I like 308 better.

Yeah I'm pretty definate now on going with a .243, just gotta decide witch one, still got a few gun shops left to visit, and I gotta say I'm looking forward to checking out their wares