Re: Flat Shooting caliber
you have gotten some good advise here if you really want a 243 get a 243 , but as I and a few other's have said it is very close in performance to the 308 for a close range hunting round ie inside 300yd's , but if thats what you want get what you want
get it because you will not be happy with what ever you get if it's not what you want .
once you have it go and learn it .
That being said glass help's me a lot with my night shooting I did a lot of spotlighting when I left school about 11yr's ago I went contract shooting I did a lot of night shooting I started with CMC Mountaineer .223 I cant remember what scope I had on it but it was in the 3-9x50-56 objective range as it was a great rifle for shooting fox's in low light I shot it out. I also had a rugger M77 chambered in 270win with a leupold 3-9x40 scope on it I remember as it cost me $1500 to set up that rifle with scope reloading die's and everything needed to go shooting .
I used that 270 a lot culling donkey's horse's cattle goat's and deer , but my main stay was my 223 for night shooting out of a vehicle that was my tool of choice it was effective cheap to run and could get what ever I need done .
I did buy a 22-250 it was a WIn mod70 I used it for a wile but sold it later it cost me a bit more to run was dam loud when i sold the 22-250 I bought another Ruger M77 mk11 this time chambered in 308 with a Tasco 2.5-10x42 I still own this rifle it's on it second barrel , I just like this rifle I don't think I will ever sell it , it has to many story's that are all mine .
I also owned a Brono 601also chambered in 308 that I shot out and had rebelled , I sold it to a mad yank he wanted it and offered me more than it was worth I wish I still had that rifle , I
have been looking for another but have not found one yet .
I also used a Brono 22lr a lot especially when I went down to NSW shooting at night still have that gun two , roo's out to 100 yards are no problem with this rifle , as long as it's not to windy .
At the moment my only 223 is a SPS tactical that is toped with a USO SN-3 it is a pretty good rig , I am still working on it I would like to put a new stock (A5) on it but it shoot's ok so I am not in a rush .
get good glass is probably more important than any thing else spend at least as much on glass as you did on the rifle , sometimes more . illuminated reticules are worth it to , you don't need one but they do make life easer .
are you shooting out in desert or plain's ? That is about the only time I had a bit of trouble ranging as there was noting to reference but you will learn as you get more experience , remember the shot's are all pretty close it's not like you are trying to shoot a roo at 850yd's on the hop .
If you are ever in Mt Isa let me know .