I have shot over a dozen hog in last one year and have used various rifles/calibers successfully.
I've used Remington model 7 in .260, Remington 700 in .308, Marlin 1895 in 45-70 and 336 in 30-30 and CZ-452 in 22 magnum.
I would like to settle on one rifle/caliber for my hunting in a very common caliber so I don't have to worry about having loaded ammo on hand (I reload everything I shoot and I shoot my reloads almost all the time). On more than one occasion I picked up a rifle to take only to find I didn't have loaded ammo so had to change to a rifle fopr which I had loaded ammo. I want to be able to go to store and just buy a box of ammo any time.
I want a rifle/caliber that would work on hogs (even large one os 200+ lb.) and maybe deer. Range would be as close as 20 yards and out to as far as 270 yards which is the edge of my property from the stand but majority of shots would be between 50-150 yards.
I was looking at a used Remington 700 ADL in .243 at a pawn shop yesterday that was priced right. It needs some cosmetic work done and have it refinished but I can do all that at home so cost would be very reasonable. I already have a spare Leupold 2-7 powder scope and DNZ scope mount so optics is covered. I know 243 ammo is available pretty much everywhere even now so ammo availbility would not be an issue. I see that most (all) ammo I see at stores are from federal, Winchester and Remington are all 100 grain soft point type.
So what do you think of this model 700 in 243 loaded with factory 100 grain ammo as "Jack-Of-All-Trade" rifle for my purpose?
kc45,
The 700 .243, using 100 gr. Rem Core-lokt pointed soft point, has worked for me for many years. But as I mentioned in an earlier post, sometimes I don't get a pass through on a deer when shot through the shoulders and there is no blood trail. Reloading with a different bullet will be my answer for this problem. When ammo is available, .243 is usually as common as 30/06 and 30-30 in any store that sells ammo. It's just hard to beat the combination of a traditional, wood stocked, bolt action .243 with a good 'scope that is comfortable and reliable. Knowing well that there are probably many other rifles that would fit the description, "Jack-Of-All Trades" rifle, I agree with your choice. Treefarmer
If you want a single do-it-all gun invest in a quality shotgun.
You can wander the state with a pocket full of shells and kill snake, dove, squirrel, rabbit, duck, turkey, hog, deer, etc., and then use the same gun to defend your home.
That gun and caliber will work just fine . I would look at nosler partition and Barnes x bullets to reload with.
I love my .243, and I trust it (shooting Barnes TSX bullets). it is a deadly round, and I have tested it on some big hogs on body shots, and 100% pass thru and good blood
Having said that, if you want the most versatile round ever made, its the good ole 30-06. It can be loaded from 55gr saboted accelerator bullets, up to 220 grain.
I own 2 30-06's, but they are semi auto's. One day when I get the money I will have either a Rem 700 or a Howa chambered in 30-06 with German glass on top of it
