243 vs. 270 opinions for general purpose rifle

[Ridgeratt]

Started both boys and my wife out on 243's. One thing to consider is that you can unload the rifle without having to take the gun off safe. Like some of the older model 77 rugers

[yakimarcher]

.243 is probably the way to go if you're trying to minimize recoil

[BiggLuke]

The truth is....

.243 is smaller.

.270 is bigger.

You must decide why one is better than the other.
Do you shoot lots of smaller animals like coyotes or black tails? Or do you shoot lots of medium sized animals like White tails and Pigs?
Or do you require a cheaper ammo by only a few tenths of a cent per shot?
No one can make you decide. You must choose.
They are both awesome cartridges.
But I like my .30/06. It's all per sonal preferance.   

[Griiz]

Here is a recoil table. You can see the 243 has modest recoil compared to the 270.

Cartridge (Wb@MV)   Rifle Weight   Recoil energy   Recoil velocity
.243 Win. (75 at 3400)   8.5   7.2   7.4
.243 Win. (95 at 3100)   7.25   11.0   9.9
.243 Win. (100 at 2960)   7.5   8.8   8.7
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100)   8.0   10.0   9.0
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100)   7.5   10.1   9.3
6mm-284 (105 at 3000)   7.5   10.9   9.7
6mm-06 (105 at 3000)   8.0   10.2   9.1
.257 Roberts (100 at 3000)   7.5   9.3   8.9
.257 Roberts (120 at 2800)   8.0   10.7   9.3
.25-06 Rem. (100 at 3230)   8.0   11.0   9.4
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000)   8.0   12.5   10.0
.270 Win. (130 at 3140)   8.0   16.5   n/a
.270 Win. (140 at 3000)   8.0   17.1   11.7
.270 Win. (150 at 2900)   8.0   17.0   11.7
7mm-08 Rem. (120 at 3000)   7.5   12.1   10.2
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860)   8.0   12.6   10.1
.308 Win. (150 at 2800)   7.5   15.8   11.7
.308 Win. (165 at 2700)   7.5   18.1   12.5
.308 Win. (180 at 2610)   8.0   17.5   11.9

[Biggerhammer]

Here is a recoil table. You can see the 243 has modest recoil compared to the 270.

Cartridge (Wb@MV)   Rifle Weight   Recoil energy   Recoil velocity
.243 Win. (75 at 3400)   8.5   7.2   7.4
.243 Win. (95 at 3100)   7.25   11.0   9.9
.243 Win. (100 at 2960)   7.5   8.8   8.7
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100)   8.0   10.0   9.0
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100)   7.5   10.1   9.3
6mm-284 (105 at 3000)   7.5   10.9   9.7
6mm-06 (105 at 3000)   8.0   10.2   9.1
.257 Roberts (100 at 3000)   7.5   9.3   8.9
.257 Roberts (120 at 2800)   8.0   10.7   9.3
.25-06 Rem. (100 at 3230)   8.0   11.0   9.4
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000)   8.0   12.5   10.0
.270 Win. (130 at 3140)   8.0   16.5   n/a
.270 Win. (140 at 3000)   8.0   17.1   11.7
.270 Win. (150 at 2900)   8.0   17.0   11.7
7mm-08 Rem. (120 at 3000)   7.5   12.1   10.2
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860)   8.0   12.6   10.1
.308 Win. (150 at 2800)   7.5   15.8   11.7
.308 Win. (165 at 2700)   7.5   18.1   12.5
.308 Win. (180 at 2610)   8.0   17.5   11.9

Those are all mild.. You should try 20 rounds off the bench with a Recoil Energy of 98-99.  Guaranteed to to keep your mind off anything but driving the rifle.

[12Gauge]

Not knowing how big your youngster is, I would have to say .243.

Although I would not recommend a 243 for elk, but it has been done.   

[snowpack]

I think the 243 would be a great choice for deer-yotes-bobcats and other smaller critters.

[coachcw]

270 over the243 Sunday. if recoil is a concern then the 260 or 25/06 would be fine choices

[BOWHUNTER45]

You may want to re-think your thoughts a little ...I have owned and hunted with a .243 and .270 all my life ...would not trade them 2 for anything ...As I started to read and hear more about the 7mm-08 I finally bought one ...I now love that gun too ... you can go light FOR varmits and heavier for deer elk and bear ....I am sure a few on here would agree ...it is a sweet little gun ...

[runningboard]

REM model 7 youth in 7mm-08. And then added a full length stock. My boys grew up with it and grandkids will too. If they can get it away from grampa. Lite, manuverable, accurate and not much recoil. Will kill elk at reasonable distances and a perfect deer rifle.  Just about anything works for yotes.

what's "reasonable"? my ex got hers at 248 yards one shot from a 7mm-08.

You may want to re-think your thoughts a little ...I have owned and hunted with a .243 and .270 all my life ...would not trade them 2 for anything ...As I started to read and hear more about the 7mm-08 I finally bought one ...I now love that gun too ... you can go light FOR varmits and heavier for deer elk and bear ....I am sure a few on here would agree ...it is a sweet little gun ...

be careful about less than popular cartridges you might have trouble finding ammo for in a pinch. we can argue all day about having it on hand but it seems to be on the kitchen table when you are 1/2 way across the state

[Jim the Plumber]

OP, hands down the 243. He will get way more trigger time in before fatigue sets in, and get way more enjoyment out of a 243 than a 270.
I noticed a lot of posters 'what if', well, you were pretty clear, the rifle will be for deer and coyote.
Ergo, 243.

[crazyantler]

Thanks for all the feedback and opinions.  I agree that alot of things boil down to personal use and experience.  I am not getting it for elk as I have other caliber guns for that when the kids get older. 

[martin1]

i use my 243 for everything. it is a very effective caliber for coyotes,deer,and ive shot several spike elk with it. not much of a long range rifle but with good shot placement ive taken two spike elk at 300 yards and several deer at that far. all one shot.100 grain nosler partions work great. it is the first rifle i pick up when im headed out the door in a hurry

[bigsads]

270, or 7mm-08

[Bob33]

.270 shouldn't be in the discussion for a kid?   

Reduced recoil ammo can be used (probably should be used at first) to get the kid used to shooting the rifle.  115 gr bullet at 2700+ fps will do fine on deer and coyotes.  After the kid is comfortable shooting the gun with reduced recoil loads, he can then move up to 130 gr loads (which still won't kick very much anyway). 

Those 115 gr loads are probably going to kick similarly to 100 gr .243 loads.  What will the .243 get for MV with 100gr bullets?  2900 fps?  Reduced recoil 115 gr .270 loads will perform similarly to .243, so the .270 should be in the discussion.

By getting a .270 and using reduced recoil loads, it is like getting 2 rifles for the price of one.  Plus you get to use full loads when the need arises.

Exactly. A 270 can be loaded to milder levels than a standard 243. The simple question therefore becomes "why not get a 270?" The 7mm-08 would be (and is) my first choice for a youth rifle but the 270 or 243 will work well on deer and coyotes.