I use a Tikka t3 varmint in .243. It is a heavy barrel gun and has almost no recoil. I have to date shot three deer with it. The closest was 30 yards and the furthest closer to 200. All were killed with one well placed shot. I also own a 30-06 as well as a .375 h&h magnum. I am not recoil sensitive...however EVERYONE shoots better with less recoil. I'd say buy a good quality .243 and fill that freezer! Mine is a joy to shoot. Maybe in time you will gain some confidence and use the old 06 again. Or maybe start handloading and Taylor it to your needs. Either way you will really enjoy the .243. I love mine. And practice lots. Well placed shots make all the difference!
243 as a Legitimate and Humane Deer Gun?
- Thread starter yakoun
- Start date
Potato boy
Regular
- Location
- North of the mountain
I shot a large bodied black bear with mine in a less than ideal shot. It went through the front leg before entering the chest cavity at 150 yards. 25 yards and dead, just like my ‘06. Personally I wouldn’t be fearful of any bear with any Center fire rifle in my hands. Even a 223 will suffice, not ideal but will get her done. Keeping your head in those situations is more important than caliber.
...you guys are hilarious
i never said brush busting...where did i say that?
and yes all i hunt is brush...the heavier the better and have done so for 40 years and gave up on all those tupperware guns shooting phonograph needles
started with a 7 mm mag...worked to 300 win mag...to a 338 mag...and threw them all away...just as a light bullet is easier deflected by wind so a light bullet is easier deflected by brush...and i have shot many animals end to end with the slow old timers and would never go back
bush buster, no
old time, yes...and does the job when 243's or even 7mm mags can't
not a myth...if you haven't done it, don't talk about it
i never said brush busting...where did i say that?
and yes all i hunt is brush...the heavier the better and have done so for 40 years and gave up on all those tupperware guns shooting phonograph needles
started with a 7 mm mag...worked to 300 win mag...to a 338 mag...and threw them all away...just as a light bullet is easier deflected by wind so a light bullet is easier deflected by brush...and i have shot many animals end to end with the slow old timers and would never go back
bush buster, no
old time, yes...and does the job when 243's or even 7mm mags can't
not a myth...if you haven't done it, don't talk about it
All bullets deflect on brush/bush/saplings, etc. You are a laughing fool to think or say otherwise. Have a nice day sunshine.too funny...your opinion against my experience and that of all slow big bore shooters!
until you've shot end-to-end through an animal which was quite common and spent a couple decades doing so then perhaps you'd have a right to voice an 'opinion'
but who am i right?
tell that to the kid i took under my wing along with his dead deer
just saying
The .243 will do just fine. I bagged a decent size whitetail this year with a .223 and all I heard on this forum was how these small calibers will bounce off deer blah blah blah. I shot him once and he fell right over so don't listen to anybody who has NO experience with the caliber you are looking at.
If using commercial loads, there is no effective difference between a .308 Winchester and a 30-06, if comparing directly across weight for weight.
Fit of the rifle and the weight of that, is going to be every bit as important as the weight of the bullets and the loads used.
There are heavier loads (200-220 grain bullets)available for the 30-06, than are available for the .308, which will recoil more, naturally.
I don't really think the OP will get what he is looking for, out of a simple switch down to a .308 from a 30-06. If he was willing to reload, he opens up a world of lower weight bullets and lighter loads, that he may just as well keep the 30-06 for.
So maybe, not quite nailed it after all. The OP already has a 30-06, and is finding the recoil difficult to manage for now. Switching to the same but slightly different, isn't a step forwards, as much as sideways.
My favorite part is "280 will do everything the 3006 can but with less recoil". Seriously? Yeah, the recoil is a bit less, but when you are trying to step down from a 3006 to eliminate a flinch, you dont want a BIT less recoil, you want a whole lot less recoil. With recoil being the key aspect, and the fact that OP was specifically asking about the 243, why anyone would suggest anything based on the 3006 case is beyond me.
4 if the 9 deer in my hunting group were taken with .243 this fall. Hell, one was even taken with 2 well placed rounds with a 22-250. Not that I’m in favour of using that caliber for deer, but one guy didn’t have time to sight in his deer rifle so used his 22-250 because he knew it was bang on. None of the deer ran more than 25 yards after being hit.
OK first of all, the response to my question has been incredible. I've held back on replying because the posts and knowledge kept on flowing and I didn't/don't want to stop that. Unbelievable amount of experience represented in this thread. Thanks to those with opinions on both sides of the argument. As I read more, I understand these caliber conversations are considered pretty annoying by some, so again - I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
What I take from all this:
- A 243 is capable of taking deer ethically under the conditions I asked about with a decent shot. MANY of you have done so many times without issue.
- There may be some situations where 243 might not be ideal - marginal quartering shots, heavy brush, etc. - but again, at this point if I'm not sure the shot is going to land where I want it, I'm not taking it. My kids aren't starving.
- Ammo selection is really important and heavier grain is a must. I'll make note of all the specific cartridge brands and grain weights that have worked well for everyone.
- The flinch is bad and I need to fix it. No getting around it. Range time with a 22, some good psychological techniques described in the responses, some accessories and maybe reduced recoil loads for the 30-06 are on the docket.
- Buying ammuntion last minute is generally not a good idea for a couple valid reasons, especially not limiting choices to Walmart stock. I've decided to use Canadian Tire as the gate for ammo. Before anyone laughs, our local stores seem to have quite a bit of choice and I'd never be stuck waiting for an online order.
- There may be other calibers to consider with light, but slightly more recoil that may be more effective than a 243, but getting ammuntion may be more of a challenge (25-06, .260, 6.5x55 swede).
So, I'm now on the hunt for a .243, but I've also decided to include the 7mm-08 in the search. The ammo IS available at CT, the recoil is still significantly lower than say a .270 or .308 (I think), and I understand that the 7mm-08 may have some advantages over the .243. I'm waiting to get moderator blessing access to the Exchange forums. I don't dare ask about particular brands and models, but if anyone has any suggestions I would welcome your private messages if it isn't disallowed by the rules of the forum.
Thanks again!
What I take from all this:
- A 243 is capable of taking deer ethically under the conditions I asked about with a decent shot. MANY of you have done so many times without issue.
- There may be some situations where 243 might not be ideal - marginal quartering shots, heavy brush, etc. - but again, at this point if I'm not sure the shot is going to land where I want it, I'm not taking it. My kids aren't starving.
- Ammo selection is really important and heavier grain is a must. I'll make note of all the specific cartridge brands and grain weights that have worked well for everyone.
- The flinch is bad and I need to fix it. No getting around it. Range time with a 22, some good psychological techniques described in the responses, some accessories and maybe reduced recoil loads for the 30-06 are on the docket.
- Buying ammuntion last minute is generally not a good idea for a couple valid reasons, especially not limiting choices to Walmart stock. I've decided to use Canadian Tire as the gate for ammo. Before anyone laughs, our local stores seem to have quite a bit of choice and I'd never be stuck waiting for an online order.
- There may be other calibers to consider with light, but slightly more recoil that may be more effective than a 243, but getting ammuntion may be more of a challenge (25-06, .260, 6.5x55 swede).
So, I'm now on the hunt for a .243, but I've also decided to include the 7mm-08 in the search. The ammo IS available at CT, the recoil is still significantly lower than say a .270 or .308 (I think), and I understand that the 7mm-08 may have some advantages over the .243. I'm waiting to get moderator blessing access to the Exchange forums. I don't dare ask about particular brands and models, but if anyone has any suggestions I would welcome your private messages if it isn't disallowed by the rules of the forum.
Thanks again!
My 16 year old daughter shoots with a 243. She got a small buck this year with one well placed shot. It went for a short run after being hit. It was about a 150 meter shot and we walkyd up to where it was standing when she shot it and there was a good spread of blood and bone. We waited about 20 minutes to start following the blood trail into the bush and didn't have to go more than 40 meters before finding it stone cold dead. The entry wound was hard to even find but the exit wound was pretty impressive. When we gutted it we found she took out the top part of the heart. She used some inexpensive 100 grain "whitetail deer" rounds. I think they were winchester which we got from Cabelas. She also got a doe with a straight on neck shot which dropped it instantly. Same ammo, same gun which was a Savage Axis scope and rifle.
elimsprint
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
Just buy a gun that fits you and you will love it. Either .243 or 7-08 are great choices. I don't know if your local CT has a good gun selection but the one in Vernon does. May be worth the hour drive.
BTW I'm a Savage fanboy so one of theirs would be my vote.
BTW I'm a Savage fanboy so one of theirs would be my vote.
Potash shooter
New member
- Location
- Central Saskatchewan. Rural
.243 is adequate for deer ( as has been explained )
My comment is in regards to the 30-06. There may be some ability to manage the recoil with upgrading the recoil pad on the firearm, or as suggested in an earlier comment, wearing a Past recoil pad.
Not sure what make gun it is.
I had owned a Remington 760 that had a sharp pop to it, mostly due to the lack of any recoil pad.
Also, got into a "bigger is better" mode and bought a rem model 7 in 300rsaum that beat me badly.
Never felt the recoil from either one when actually shooting at game, but practice and load development was less that pleasurable.
Solved both by installing a Limbsaver pad. Difference was night and day.
Also, mentioned earlier but needs to be reinforced.
Whenever you are shooting WEAR HEARING PROTECTION!
Far more flinches are caused by the noise than by the recoil.
My comment is in regards to the 30-06. There may be some ability to manage the recoil with upgrading the recoil pad on the firearm, or as suggested in an earlier comment, wearing a Past recoil pad.
Not sure what make gun it is.
I had owned a Remington 760 that had a sharp pop to it, mostly due to the lack of any recoil pad.
Also, got into a "bigger is better" mode and bought a rem model 7 in 300rsaum that beat me badly.
Never felt the recoil from either one when actually shooting at game, but practice and load development was less that pleasurable.
Solved both by installing a Limbsaver pad. Difference was night and day.
Also, mentioned earlier but needs to be reinforced.
Whenever you are shooting WEAR HEARING PROTECTION!
Far more flinches are caused by the noise than by the recoil.
crazyjackrabbit
CGN Regular
243 no problem for deer. I never had a problem taking a deer with mine.
Limbsavers have made 3 different guns I've owned a pleasure to shoot.
migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
The two deer on the back of my truck think it is.
