Does the 243 win have a place in Africa?

[115grfmj]

I have to admit on of my favorite rifles is an H&R 243. I know, I know.....it's not exactly a high dollar custom gun, but as a famous person once said "Only accurate rifles are interesting"
Well....this one can shoot, a real tack driver, and with the satin finish and basic stocks I haven't been afraid to put it to hard use. I personally would be taking a No1 or cz550 in an apropriate caliber, but two of my four children have expressed an interest in going (11 and 8). I was thinking it would be a great rifle for them to hunt with. Does the 243 have any place in Africa....specifically Namibia??

Thanks very Much

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have to admit on of my favorite rifles is an H&R 243. I know, I know.....it's not exactly a high dollar custom gun, but as a famous person once said "Only accurate rifles are interesting"
Well....this one can shoot, a real tack driver, and with the satin finish and basic stocks I haven't been afraid to put it to hard use. I personally would be taking a No1 or cz550 in an apropriate caliber, but two of my four children have expressed an interest in going (11 and 8). I was thinking it would be a great rifle for them to hunt with. Does the 243 have any place in Africa....specifically Namibia??

Thanks very Much

On the smaller PG species it absolutely has a home in my opinion. Impala, springbok, blesbok, reedbuck etc it would be a great choice. Moving up into wildebeest / kudu / waterbuck sized game, while I'd guess it's been done and can be done, this is where I'd separate "could" from "should" be done.

 

[Red Leg]

Phil has it right. In Namibia springbok are very common and many of the fenced operations will have blesbok and impala. A .243 with a deer capable bullet of 100 grs will work fine on those animals and give your kids a great experience. Under perfect consditions and with perfect shot placement, it will handle the next class of PG such as kudu and gemsbok. But I personally wouldn't use it for such game, and I certainly wouldn't burden a child with trying to make a clean killl with such a demanding caliber.

 

[BnC 04]

On the smaller PG species it absolutely has a home in my opinion. Impala, springbok, blesbok, reedbuck etc it would be a great choice. Moving up into wildebeest / kudu / waterbuck sized game, while I'd guess it's been done and can be done, this is where I'd separate "could" from "should" be done.

I think a 87gr SST or VMAX would do wonders on the smaller PG..Ideas Ideas

 

[115grfmj]

I was actually thinking of smaller plains game...or at least deer sized game. That THEY could hunt rather than just watching their Dad hunt. Is this caliber legal for hunting anywhere in Africa? My own personal favorite for medium game on this is plain old remington corelockt 100gr. my rifle shoots these into 1-1/4" at one hundred. With the twist rate in my barrel it def shoots the 85 grain stuff better (less than minute of angle) but with the extra weight, and penetration, I can live what corelockts provide as far as accuracy. How is my thinking on this?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I was actually thinking of smaller plains game...or at least deer sized game............ Is this caliber legal for hunting anywhere in Africa?

Yes, it is legal to hunt with.

The caution; You wound it you pay for it.

My own personal favorite for medium game on this is plain old remington corelockt 100gr. ........ with the extra weight, and penetration, I can live what corelockts provide as far as accuracy. How is my thinking on this?

Stick with the 100's for the reasons you state.
Core-lokts are not the "hardest" bullets.

My biggest concern in Africa is the bush deflections.
If you are very careful you should be fine.

 

[RogerHeintzman]

Don't think too heavily on the subject, you will drive yourself crazy. The .243 100gr. will be just fine. The kids are comfortable shooting it and you are comfortable with their placement "Go get "ER" done!"

If you love stalking and want to get close, Africa is the place.

A family adventure, AWESOME!

"A Dream can be relived, again and again in Africa."

 

[peras]

The .243 is actually a very popular calibre amongst local hunters for springbuck and blesbuck. Like you say yours is a real tack driver,correct shot placement on the animals mentioned you will be fine.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Yes, it is legal to hunt with.

Wayne, I thought the minimum for plains game in Namibia was 7mm? Am I off here?

 

[RogerHeintzman]

The small calibers are legal, even .223.

 

[Code4]

The .243 size is a perfect calibre for Africa. Not all PG is large and resilient. In fact most are smaller or equal to deer in size and provide fantastic hunting.

My 14yo son took his Parker Hale Mauser '98 .243 to Africa and will again, even though he is now many years older.

Loaded with 100 Partitions he took, Dassies, Spring Hares, Porcupines, Blesbok, a Rowland Ward Steenbok, 2x Bush Pig and 2x Impala. This is cheap volumn shooting and hunting. Most PH's love to see the young ones get involved (future clients ?).

He hopes to expand into the Small Five or Tiny Ten on each return trip. It would be a perfect cartridge for Springbok.

I have often considered an H&R rifle for Africa due to its compact size, light weight and ability to break down into a suitcase size package.









GO FOR IT.

Five years later: In the right hands it will handle larger game as well. You don't always need premium projectiles. This small male batchelor Camel was shot with a 100 Sierra SptBt, which is the most accurate projectile in that same Parker Hale .243.

 

[enysse]

I think the .243 Win with Core Lokt ammo will do just fine, mine loves 100 gr. power point ammo from Winchester.

 

[G Skinner]

We do a lot of varmit hunting here in Canada and I think a .243 55/58 grn would be wicked for Jackal .
Glen

 

[BRICKBURN]

Wayne, I thought the minimum for plains game in Namibia was 7mm? Am I off here?

Technically yup.

My .270 made it in to Namibia and protected me from vicious plains game on two occasions, without issue.
Uh oh, they may come and get me now.

This is what NAPHA posts. However. Focus is more on the energy than anything else.


Smallest calibre 7 mm.
Minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity):
1350 Joule for springbuck, duiker etc. 995 Ft lbs.
2700 Joule for hartebeest, wildebeest, kudu, gemsbuck, eland etc. 1991 Ft lbs.
5400 Joule for buffalo, elephant, rhino etc. 3982 Ft lbs.
.......

Posted Energy
The 100 grain 243 in Remington Corelokt
Muzzle 1945
100 1615
200 1332
300 1089
400 882


So, on the small stuff you are good to 300 Yards.
Apparently you'll have to stab the Kudu with the Barrel to kill them with a .243.

 

[115grfmj]

Technically yup.


Apparently you'll have to stab the Kudu with the Barrel to kill them with a .243.

Hehe....are you advocating fixing a bayonet to my 243 for Kudu???

 

[Just Passing Through]

Technically yup.

My .270 made it in to Namibia and protected me from vicious plains game on two occasions, without issue.
Uh oh, they may come and get me now.

This is what NAPHA posts. However. Focus is more on the energy than anything else.


Smallest calibre 7 mm.
Minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity):
1350 Joule for springbuck, duiker etc. 995 Ft lbs.
2700 Joule for hartebeest, wildebeest, kudu, gemsbuck, eland etc. 1991 Ft lbs.
5400 Joule for buffalo, elephant, rhino etc. 3982 Ft lbs.
.......

Posted Energy
The 100 grain 243 in Remington Corelokt
Muzzle 1945
100 1615
200 1332
300 1089
400 882


So, on the small stuff you are good to 300 Yards.
Apparently you'll have to stab the Kudu with the Barrel to kill them with a .243.

This is NOT the law in Namibia, but rather just a recommendation of the guides association. Ask Jerome for clarification.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Hehe....are you advocating fixing a bayonet to my 243 for Kudu???

As far as those suggestions are concerned, it might be an idea.

 

[BRICKBURN]

This is NOT the law in Namibia, but rather just a recommendation of the guides association....

True.

Being me I looked it up.

THIS IS THE LAW


Nature Conservation Ordinance

Restrictions in regard to fire-arms and capturing apparatus

42. (1) No person shall use a revolver, pistol or automatic fire-arm when hunting game or use a
fire-arm of which the bullet has an energy at the muzzle of the barrel which is lower than the following
when hunting the species of game indicated thereunder:

(a) 5400 joules:
Buffalo.

(b) 2700 joules:
Eland
Kudu
Oryx
Wildebeest
Hartebeest
All species of exotic game.

(c) 1350 joules:
Springbok
Duiker:

 

[graybird]

I would have zero reservations taking my 243 with 80 gr Barnes TTSX bullets running about 3415 fps. This combination is my go-to load for whitetails and antelope.

Good luck!!!

 

[PeteG]

Definitely, a 243 with a 100gr will be good for a bunch of plains game.
its been successful for me on crocs, puku, reedbuck, impala, bushbuck, duiker, warthog, an old female kudu (cull).