A Few Quick Questions

[Lee7588]

I'm leaning towards 243 myself.
Shoot flat out to 300 yards, less kick, and can still push a reasonable weight bullet. Certainly a significant amount more 'ooomph' than my 30-30, without trying to blow me off the saddle. It's an old round, developed back in the days of my grandfather, and still sounds like a great shooter. Some of the ranch hands, a lot larger than me, carry a 243 as their horse/quad gun. The boss always keeps a lot of ammunition in stock for it here, so anytime that I want more, I can just go to his gun room and take more.

If doing the BAR in 243 light recoil quick follow up shots, and nice and accurate. 243 is thought by some as the perfect deer caliber, not ideal for bears but may still scare off a blackie

 

[C-130 Dude]

I'm leaning towards 243 myself.
Shoot flat out to 300 yards, less kick, and can still push a reasonable weight bullet. Certainly a significant amount more 'ooomph' than my 30-30, without trying to blow me off the saddle. It's an old round, developed back in the days of my grandfather, and still sounds like a great shooter. Some of the ranch hands, a lot larger than me, carry a 243 as their horse/quad gun. The boss always keeps a lot of ammunition in stock for it here, so anytime that I want more, I can just go to his gun room and take more.

The 243 will serve you well. But don't try to take moose or bear with it.

 

[sp6x6]

243 my first rifle, my sons too, handed down.We both shot elk with it

 

[M77Fan]

A .243 would be a good choice for what you describe. Classic cartridge, still popular so ammunition is commonly available, won't knock you off your horse, no need for a brake. Pleasant for practice shooting. A bottomless ammo supply is a big plus As a short action the size is already trimmed down, and the package can therefore be a little smaller. For us smaller folks, even a quarter inch counts for something in fit. The shorter bolt throw is also a little faster for a reload. In a lever action it ought to be pretty fast. There can be an advantage to having many or most of your rifle actions the same or very similar, as in an emergency you will first do what you have been training to do. Move your wastebasket and see if that is not true.

One thing I have found, and am frequently reminded of, is that my muscle memory is faster than thought, much like a reflex. When I change actions I stumble or fumble just a little. That can cost seconds. Thus, my working rifles are virtually all identical in model/action, scope physical size, LOP, etc.. I know me, so I work with that limitation.

Lever actions are fun. If you like a lever action, great. Train with that so you are "unconscious" on followup shots. Well placed hits are always better than fast misses.

Enjoy.

 

[hesse]

Thanks, looks like a fun scope.

I don't think that a 308, 30-06, 7mm, or such will be my next gun though.
A 243, 6mm, or 6.5mm is most likely.
The less recoil of the 243 and 6mm are appealing, but the extra punch of the 6.5 would be nice, and it still has far less recoil than a 308 or 30-06.
I also really want it to be a lever though, so that seems to eliminate the 6mm.
So when I do buy my next rifle, do I go 243 or 6.5 creedmoor has become the question?
Also Browning or Henry?
Both can be cut down some to fit me, and a good recoil pad added to the cut stock. I would use a slip on style recoil pad, so its easy to remove. Then if the balance is off and I need to add weight to the back, I can drill holes in the end of the stock and add lead weights to restore balance.

I have done the Boyds At1 stock it is an adjustable stock . I have done it for 4 different ladies that needed a shorter length of pull but didn't want to go to a shorter barrel on a compact gun love the 6,5 also

 

[jjmp]

while the 243 is great in a lever action I'd steer you to a Browning lever and not necessarily a new one,another rifle would be a Remington model 7 in 243 wcf= Winchester center fire ,never short stroke a lever action it can cause a jam,especially with older Winchesters . Scope for your lever action 243 Or bolt, I'd say don't over scope it, a 2.5x8 is very nice and tough,I'm sure your going to be limited on Scope choices, get a good gunsmith to cut your stocks down ,maybe a ranch hand can do it on a good chopsaw, bandsaw, etc,etc.buy some one inch recoil pads same make and brand on all your rifles , once you know your length of pull make it the same on all your rifles . Many parents fail while trying to forc their children into jobs that they think are perfect,but there not they just look that way . I'm proud of you for what life changes you have made ,you go girl your doing wonderful ,cheers.

 

[JustMe2]

The Sheppard scope is dated, not a bad idea.But its a one size fits all and you really do need a LRF with it for best results.The circle are a certain size, so for elk or deer its different, they live and same mountains I hunt.And you have to verify load works with there ballistic curve.Ist very lacking the further the shot and on yardages in between.Nothing like a good LRF and dial.A LRF WITH AB ballistics.The Sheppard takes no account for angle either.I had one-20 years ago

She's talking bear protection and coyotes to 300 yds, not long range deer or elk hunting, so your comments don't apply.

It is NOT a one size fits all scope. Each reticle subtension is TAYLORED to your rifle ballistics. You determine what bullet you want to shoot in your cartridge of choice and then match the Shepherd reticle to that ballistics. No, you can't use a Shepherd reticle designed for a .243 on a .22 rimfire, but it can definitely be tuned for your particular rifle and ammo.

Since she wants to use it for bear protection which most probably is at very close range, the size of the circle doesn't matter. She also stated she misses QUICK shots at coyotes at 300 yds or there abouts. Consequently, I'd probably get a circle the size of a coyote for those quick shots since she said she has another rifle to use for elk and deer hunting. Fit the scope to the task. She's not looking for a long range hunting scope.

 

[sp6x6]

All she needs for that is a 243 with a 300 zero.I still have a Sheppard scope.Familar with them.The circle only fit a SAID sized animal, animals very, elk much bigger than coyote.

 

[jjmp]

Good points above and I'll add,the BDC retical works very well for me out to 625 with practice isn't that how we get proficient just saying.

 

[sp6x6]

I shot a pile of game with a BDC,and that my sons main set up he's taken elk to 750, but he dials off last hash

 

[JustMe2]

6x6, you are still missing her question. She does not want an elk hunting setup. So, why are you stuck on talking about elk?

She wants bear protection and QUICK coyote engagements. Stick to the subject matter.

I think your idea of using a flat shooting .243 with a 300 yd zero is a good idea. Should be able to hold middle of coyote from 50-450 yards. Maybe instead of a Shepherd, a scope with a medium sized red dot reticle sighted for 300 yds would be ideal. Not a battery operated red dot that needs to be turned on, but a red dot that uses sunlight. The red dot would be ideal for very quick target acquisition especially a red dot against a black bear.

Also as they quickly discovered in WW2 and the thick jungles of Vietnam, a semiautomatic or pump action was the fastest and best protection in a rifle action. Do you want to be nostalgic using a lever or bolt action or do you want to be quick and protected?

 

[jjmp]

Sp6x6 is giving and example it could be deer or bear ,everyone's giving good advice .

 

[sp6x6]

My son took his first bear, elk,and deer at 12 all with 243.Nice mtn bull and a 150 + whitey.Still gets used

 

[Small Lady]

6x6, you are still missing her question. She does not want an elk hunting setup. So, why are you stuck on talking about elk?

She wants bear protection and QUICK coyote engagements. Stick to the subject matter.

I think your idea of using a flat shooting .243 with a 300 yd zero is a good idea. Should be able to hold middle of coyote from 50-450 yards. Maybe instead of a Shepherd, a scope with a medium sized red dot reticle sighted for 300 yds would be ideal. Not a battery operated red dot that needs to be turned on, but a red dot that uses sunlight. The red dot would be ideal for very quick target acquisition especially a red dot against a black bear.

Also as they quickly discovered in WW2 and the thick jungles of Vietnam, a semiautomatic or pump action was the fastest and best protection in a rifle action. Do you want to be nostalgic using a lever or bolt action or do you want to be quick and protected?

I am open to a pump action.
Who makes a great quality pump 243?

Didn't know that there were red dot scopes that didn't require batteries and being turned on.
Whatever I buy eventually, I had thought about zeroing it for 200 yards, thinking that should about cover everything.