.243 or .308?

[Ledslnger]

Originally Posted by 3/2 STA SS

I am a .308 Bolt action man myself...Lever action I would stick with the tried and true .30-.30.

Crackheads can outrun 30-30 bullets they move so slow.

[3/2 STA SS]

Originally Posted by Ledslnger

Crackheads can outrun 30-30 bullets they move so slow.

I saw alot of Crackheads when I was a deputy....30-30 would have done just fine!!

[Albtraum]

If ammo cost is a factor, .243 would be cheaper initially, in low quantities, but if you buy bulk... there's plenty of .308 surplus deals around, so .308 would be cheaper in the long run... if you buy by the hundreds. I don't have shooting experience with either though. Both should perform just fine for your needs, it just comes down to personal preference.

[hardluk1]

308 is cheaper than most all 243 loads out there. Even buying bullets many are cheaper in 308. There 2308 is simple made in higher nembers to help with cost.

[soundguy]

Originally Posted by 3/2 STA SS

I saw alot of Crackheads when I was a deputy....30-30 would have done just fine!!

if ya like lever and want more than a 30-30.. go 35 rem.

if need less.. 38/357

[CCHolderinMaine]

Originally Posted by BlackEagle

Thanks again, guys.

Just FYI...

The UK gun licensing laws dictate pretty carefully what guns I can have. When I first applied for my license I asked for a range of guns, trying to cover all the bases. I asked for, and got, permission to have a .22, .357, .223, .243, .308 rifle and a .44 black powder revolver. I've been filling my license over the years; so far I have the .22, .357 and .223 and the black powder revolver. If I want to add anything else I need to send my fire arms certificate in with a £25 administration fee for a variance. Processing this on a good day takes about a week. Then I can get my new gun. I can request a switch, for no extra charge.

So, at this point, I can get a .243 and .308. However, I would like to get another .22, so if, for example, I send the form in with a request to exchange the .308 for a .22, I won't have to pay anything extra.

I got a moderator/silencer with my .223 and had to get that added to the certificate, for £25. I could pick up the gun, but had to leave the silencer until the new certificate came through.

I have an understanding firearms officer, who gave me relatively generous ammunition allowances. I can have up to 1500 .22's and up to 500 of the other calibers. He gave me the larger .22 allowance after I found out I could get a price break for 1000 rounds.

I am allowed to target shoot only at this point, until I can find a farmer or someone who will let me hunt his property. Then he needs to send a letter to the police, they inspect the property, and tell me what guns I can use to hunt on that property. Whenever I buy ammo I need to have it registered on my certificate, and the store keeps a record of that sale, to go to the police. Reloads: a little more flexibility, but I keep a diary to show the police whenever they come around to inspect how much of what I have been reloading.

They check my shooting frequency because I've logged in at the range every time I shoot, and this justifies my having the guns I have.

Guys, don't let them take your second ammendment rights away.

this is where the libs are trying to take us. little by little inch by inch. i'm sure that virtually endless list of regulations didn't come all at once. each came with it's own "good" reason. then the next with it's "logical" restrictions. then the next, then the next until you arrive at that ridiculous set of hoops.

Remember, exchanging freedom for security only assures you wind up with neither.

[BlackEagle]

CCHolder, you are right.

What I posted is what happens once you get the firearms certificate. Getting the certificate is a little easier than what Emily Miller went through in Washington DC to get a gun permit but it is still an ordeal.

We got to where we are not largely as a result of two incidents. Dunblane was the catalyst to eliminate hand guns. See for example, http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/n...assacre/7.html .

The first two pages tell most of the story. The last two paragraphs on page 6 are a significant summary of why stricter laws don't work.

Another incident in Hungerford sealed the fate of semi-automatic center fire rifles.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/n...yan/index.html is a place to start.

The Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_pol...United_Kingdom, gives an overview.

[Inthewind1976]

Caliber wise, the .243 and .308 FOR SHOOTING TARGETS, are not very different at all. There are match grade factory loadings for the .308 that are not available in .243, however. If you are rolling your own, the difference in cost for components between the two probably wont buy you something off the Dollar Menu @ McHeartattack's drive thru.

From the accuracy stand point, as noted above, the BLR actually has a rotating bolt head, like the old Winchester 88, that makes it, for accuracy, as capable as a bolt action. The lock up consistency and "tightness" are on par with a bolt because mechanically, thats really what they are. On a somewhat similar note, I once owned a Winchester 94 AE (pre idiot safety) with a Leupold 2-7 on it, that would print under 1" at 100 yards digesting the "cheap" (old Red/White, now Silver/Red box) 150 grainers. I once shot the head off of a snake at 100 yards with that combination. That sort of accuracy is not usually considered "normal" for a Winchester/Marlin type rear locking slide bolt lever action, but it IS possible. Either way, a BLR should NOT be a handicap from an accuracy stand point.

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, Inthewind1976 and others. I'm leaning heavily toward the .243 at this point. Will make final decision in the next day or so.

The info re: BLR action is encouraging. Thanks againl.

[Plinked]

.243's need a tight twist in the barrel ( 1:10 ), especially for the heavier bullets. My Valmet hunter shoots nice with 80grains but starts to wander with 100gr

[CJ_56]

I gotta echo the fact that it's great to live in the USA when it comes to gun laws. From what I hear the Brits are fighting to get some gun rights back because the crime rate has went up so much. Good luck with that. I'm guessing they will drag their feet and not let you have that big jump in rights that scares the pants off the bad guys. When we got CCW in this country the bad guys had a cow and the crime rate dropped big time at all the places the CCW laws first went into effect. I don't think it made as much difference elsewhere because bad guys already had it in their head that they might draw down on someone that might shoot back. Nothing the fear of flying lead to put the fear of God into the bad guys. You guys deserve your right to self protection. Clearly the government won't do it for you. They don't even operate that way. They don't try to protect anyone. They only punish people after they have already done the damage. That makes no sense to me. Let the people protect themselves. I still think it's a God given right myself. Who are they to take away that right?

[Zane71464]

deleted...wasmt on 2nd page...

[BlackEagle]

CJ, thanks. Actually in Scotland the Scottish Parliamant is almost worse than what's in the White House now. They are making noises about further restrictions on gun ownership. They want to limit us to 3 guns and tighten up other restrictions for starters.
Then they are determined to redefine family, power the country with windmills and dispense with anything nuclear. They want an independant Scotland...don't get me started.

[BlackEagle]

Originally Posted by Plinked

.243's need a tight twist in the barrel ( 1:10 ), especially for the heavier bullets. My Valmet hunter shoots nice with 80grains but starts to wander with 100gr

Thanks, Plinked. From what I can see, the BLR .243 has a 1:10 twist.

[soundguy]

Originally Posted by BlackEagle

CJ, thanks. Actually in Scotland the Scottish Parliamant is almost worse than what's in the White House now. They are making noises about further restrictions on gun ownership. They want to limit us to 3 guns and tighten up other restrictions for starters.
Then they are determined to redefine family, power the country with windmills and dispense with anything nuclear. They want an independant Scotland...don't get me started.

ouch!

[BlackEagle]

Finally decided, and it arrived today.
Browning BLR in .243. It came with a Redfield 9-16 scope and extra mag. I'm happy; eager to try it out.

[CCHolderinMaine]

Originally Posted by BlackEagle

Finally decided, and it arrived today.
Browning BLR in .243. It came with a Redfield 9-16 scope and extra mag. I'm happy; eager to try it out.

Attachment 66850

Gratz!

[soundguy]

nice lookin gun!

[Plinked]

Congrats
Be sure to post up your shooting results

[jbmid1]

Beautiful gun. Should be a perfect combo with that 16x scope. .243 is a pretty versatile round. Great for varmints/small game with the lighter bullets, fine deer rifle with heavier rounds, and you can shoot all day without damaging your shoulder.

[Airdale]

Beautiful gun. Always had a soft spot for lever actions. Never a bad day when you can add one to the family...Congrats.

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, guys;

Range report when I can get out to sight it in and shoot it.

[BlackEagle]

Got out to the range finally; was able to sight in my new (to me) BLR.

After that, precision...

This is using factory Sako 90 gr Speedhead at 100 yards

First string of 4:


Second:


Third. Barrel is warming up; group scattering--that's my theory, anyway.


I'm reasonably happy with the results; once I get my die set and other bits I'll start developing loads.