243 WSSM, 300 RUM Performance

[Guest ronin]

I had the opportunity to follow my son and a friend around during their hog hunt with California Hunting Guide, Mark Williams. I asked the guys to use two of my recent rifle purchases to test their performance.

The first was a Savage 116 Weather Warrior in 300 Remington Ultra-Mag topped with a Leupold VXIII B&C reticle. I handloaded 165 Gr Barnes XLC bullets, 97 Gr. of RL25, Winchester cases and mag primers. My son was packing this rifle.

The second rifle was a Browning A-Bolt Hunter in 243 WSSM scoped with a Bushnell 3200 Elite WD reticle. I handloaded Barnes Triple Shock 85 Gr X-Bullets with 43 Gr of H4350, Winchester brass and primers. My buddy carried this rifle.

We spotted 3 pigs from our perch on a mountain top and watched them from about 1475 yards...according to my Leica Geovid RF binocs...for about two hours. Once our guide was satisfied he knew where they were going, we set out to cut them off. I stayed on a hillside below to radio in pig changes of direction if necessary.

The guys found the hogs in their wallows and the ambush was on. My friend whacked two with the 243 WSSM while my son finished off the third as it was making a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, I could not watch the drama from my location but I did get the particulars about rifle/bullet performance from the hunters and helped clean the pigs:

The 243 WSSM dropped both hogs instantly. The first was shot behind the left shoulder and the bullet exited the other side. The hog rolled into the pond and expired there. Distance was 80 yards. The second hog took one in the neck and it dropped without a step. Distance: 50 yards. This bullet was also a complete pass through.

The third hog took the 300 RUM in the left shoulder blade at 130 yards. The bullet made a complete pass through, exiting the neck. The performance of the 300 was a little more dramatic. It was explained to me that the hog, when struck, was lifted off it's feet and flipped over on it's back. The splatter marks from the exit wound seemed to exemplify that remark. The rocks and grass behind the pig appeared to have been spray painted red with an air brush approximately 6' in diameter. Thankfully, the bullet path of destruction was away from the vast majority of good meat.

It appears that the 243 is very versatile as mentioned on this forum time and again. Shot placement is always important but I'm not so sure that it is absolutely critical with this bullet as I have often heard suggested. However, this was the first time I got to see the results.

The 300RUM is truly a long-range weapon. 130 yards was too close if the shot were to hit anything with good meat on it. The hog hit with this bullet was absolutely devestated forward the shoulder blades. It kind of reminded me of a bag of gravel.

The verdict is that my son still prefers to hunt hogs with his M-1 Garand and the tried and true 30-'06. He turned over the 300 with little to no fanfare.

My friend, on the other hand, just put in an order for a 243 WSSM. He loves the light & little package with an easy action and low recoil.

[AJ]

Re: 243 WSSM, 300 RUM Performance

Sounds like everyone had a good outing. Looks like some good eating sized pigs. I remember hunting hogs and deer in the summer out there.

[Guest ronin]

Re: 243 WSSM, 300 RUM Performance

The summer is brutal but the hunting is fine! We also ran into three herds of elk in the area. I was able to get them on DVD.

[Shaun_300]

Re: 243 WSSM, 300 RUM Performance

Great story! They sound like excellent performing rifles.