Your experiences on medium/big game with .243 cal rifles?
- Thread starter Joel
- Start date
Kinda pleasantly surprised lol thought the very first post would say "don't!" with no info along with the opinion when the questions actually "what have your experiences been?" Not the second haha. Interested in what has or hasnt done well for deer too. Medium/big game.
Cat,
Seeing what the Scenars can do has been a big eye opener. Would not have thought they are as capable on game as they are but tons of pictures show otherwise.
Sounds like what happens often enough with moose with many bigger cartridges too, tbh. That doesn't say anything about bullet choice either.
BCs in the mid 400s-500s going 3000 fps + are going to do what needs doing here in the wind.
Not being argumentative/nitpicky, just saying, there are lots of inappropriate bullets to hunt big game with and we don't really know what was being used here in any cases. Deer running 300 yards with hits in the vitals with a good bullet seems...anomalous, to say the least.
Definitely less margin for error, agreed. But people tell me 100gr 6.5mm bullets are too small too, and I'd like to see them guess what cartridge/caliber made kill shots IF its a good bullet...
- Location
- Western Manitoba
The very first rifle that I "built" was a Remington 788 in 243 Win - shortened that barrel to 19" and full length epoxy bedded it - there was much whittling on that stock, to make it shorter and smaller pistol grip to fit to my wife - including my first attempt at "basket weave" carving, instead of chequering. Was circa 1977 or so. We used 85 grain Speer bullets. My wife got a decent mule deer buck with it - a single shot through the chest. Some years later our son got his first white tail with that one. Perhaps 25 years after I had built it - by then with a 308 Win barrel - our daughter got her first white tail with that rifle. A local fellow is often found with a short barrel Ruger in 243 Win - I think he has used it on everything - wolves, coyotes, deer, black bear and moose. Not sure that he could tell you what brand or weight bullets are in there - I do not think it matters to him.
Perhaps a bit like driving 3 1/2" framing nails - can use a crib axe, a framing hammer or an ordinary carpenter hammer - miss the nail head and hit your hand with any and hurts like hell, and nail still not driven. Around here, I suspect a 243 Win is used about like a 22-250 Rem - but I notice most shooters only have one or two rifles - so make what you have to work - whether it is "best" for the task or not.
Perhaps a bit like driving 3 1/2" framing nails - can use a crib axe, a framing hammer or an ordinary carpenter hammer - miss the nail head and hit your hand with any and hurts like hell, and nail still not driven. Around here, I suspect a 243 Win is used about like a 22-250 Rem - but I notice most shooters only have one or two rifles - so make what you have to work - whether it is "best" for the task or not.
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Were you happy with how that one turned out? Cool how it stuck around in the family so long!
And apparently in his use it hasn't really made much difference...have a feeling its "whatever was cheapest at the store" territory there lol.
Had one report of "it sucks, shot a moose with it and couldn't find it" from a guy I know in person but once again, where was it hit? With what bullet? No idea. Certainly doesn't hold a monopoly on losing moose. Sadly.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
That rifle is now at Campbell River, B.C. with my wife's brother - still has the 308 Win barrel, the last that I saw it. It has a 2-7 power Leupold scope on it - probably a Vari-X version or similar. For many years, when it was in 243 Win, it had a fixed power Weaver K3 scope.
"Killing" and "recovering" animals may be different - my first elk was at least a 3 hour tracking job after I took my first shot - before the finishing shot. I was using either Speer HotCor or Federal Premium factory ammo - do not recall which - was 165 grain bullets from 308 Win. My first shot did not land where it should have - too far back on that animal - rear end of one lung and liver - I have tracked wounded white tails for many miles - seems a bit more learned each time that happens - sometimes shot by me or sometimes initially shot by others.
"Killing" and "recovering" animals may be different - my first elk was at least a 3 hour tracking job after I took my first shot - before the finishing shot. I was using either Speer HotCor or Federal Premium factory ammo - do not recall which - was 165 grain bullets from 308 Win. My first shot did not land where it should have - too far back on that animal - rear end of one lung and liver - I have tracked wounded white tails for many miles - seems a bit more learned each time that happens - sometimes shot by me or sometimes initially shot by others.
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Friend's father, now passed, used a 243 for everything. Moose, elk, deer, bear, wolves, pronghorn, coyotes and cougars. It worked. 100 gr bullets, usually Winchester, he wasn't a reloader. - dan
Prairieoyster
New member
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun, Sask.
Started hunting at age 12 using a .243 and 95 grain Noslers. Used it exclusively for the next 25 years. I shot a lot of whitetail, mule deer and antelope with zero issues. It's very effective if you put the bullet where it's supposed to go. That being said, I always stepped up to a 30-06 for moose and elk, so take that for what it's worth.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Your comment about "stepping up to a 30-06" - was what my Dad carried for everything - 150 grain for deer and 180 grain for bigger - I think he once got a box of 200 or 220 grain for a moose hunt. Towards the end, was all 165 grain - he took several elk with those - I got a mule deer with his rifle and those factory loads. After that first elk with 308 Win, I "stepped up" to 338 Win Mag - 225 grain - and shot my next couple elk at ranges that a 30-30 would have worked fine - guesstimated at less than 100 yards.
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My kids shot alot of deer with 100 grain Partitions out of .243's... they died, but personally I start my medium game hunting at 6.5mm... not that 6mm doesn't work, it just has less margin for error, so unless it is your only option, then why? I certainly wouldn't look down on anyone using a .243 for deer or bear... I wouldn't be thrilled if the quarry were moose. You can blade a wedge on a 200 yard approach on a par five, but they do make clubs for that shot. JM2C
Personally I haven't hunted with one. My cousin ran one for several, Roger full stocked carbine. Shot the biggest whitetail he ever got with it, 300 plus yards, 100 grain factory, not sure of brand. He eventually went to 308 due to losing a couple deer due to lack of bloodtrail, no exit wound. But maybe hit poorly as well.
I use a 243 with more horsepower, the 240 Weatherby Magnum. My rifle is custom made with a 27” barrel. This rifle killed four big game animals: mule, whitetail and antelope bucks x2. All fell DRT. The possible reason why: shot placement, 90 grain Nosler Accubond, muzzle velocity of 3,660 FPS. Alliant #26 is a wonderful gun powder for many cartridges, gives more horsepower.
Would I hunt moose, elk or bear with it, NEVER!
Would I hunt moose, elk or bear with it, NEVER!
Shot placement is the ultimate factor, but wow that much speed must help too!
Thank you!
Its a lot more "if the opportunity presented itself" than "I'mma set out to do this" if that makes more sense.
I have shot a few Deer with the 6 MM REM cartridge - All died with lung shots no problem . 95 gr Partitions . As I always say a GOOD bullet and a WELL placed shot is the Key to a Killed animal ! JMO RJ
I’m looking forward to killing a deer with my 240 WBee . I have great 90-95 gr loads at 3600 plus fps with RL26 powder .
