What was the shot placement like on the buck you did find? Any idea why it got away for so long?
Is A .243 Too Small To Take Down Large Game.
- Thread starter DBASTOCK
- Start date
What was the shot placement like on the buck you did find? Any idea why it got away for so long?
The 257 Roberts is based on the 7x57 case while the 243 is on a .308 case. I own one, so I personally would recommend the Roberts anyday, but realistically it would be a lot harder to find one and factory loads are fewer, choice wise.
It never ceases to amaze me the problems people have with recoil. It seems to me that any healthy shooter w/o any physical limitations should be able to shoot any caliber up to a 30/06 w/o problems. Buy lighter loads and work up. The 270 is a better game caliber than the 243 offering heavier bullets. Recoil with a 270 should not be a problem esp with 130gr bullets.
.
I've known a few fellows who have taken elk and moose with 243's. usually the distance does'nt exceed 200yds, and typically the shots were broadside and into the boiler room.
(22" bbl velocities with factory 100gr. ammo seldom surpass 2800fps)(1000ftlbs+or-@ 300yds, 1200ftlbs+or-@200yds) {makes one wonder what 20"bbl. ballistics could be like}
The problem with the 243 as a big game caliber is it is more the caliber of an expert as opposed to the caliber for a novice.
Shot placement has to be fairly precise, and raking or quartering shots typically can lead to long and frustrating tracking jobs.
I would rather see novice or beginers with a 257Bob, 260Rem, 6.5x55, 7x57, 7mm-08, or even a 270Win with a reduced recoil loading as a couple of factories offer.
(22" bbl velocities with factory 100gr. ammo seldom surpass 2800fps)(1000ftlbs+or-@ 300yds, 1200ftlbs+or-@200yds) {makes one wonder what 20"bbl. ballistics could be like}
The problem with the 243 as a big game caliber is it is more the caliber of an expert as opposed to the caliber for a novice.
Shot placement has to be fairly precise, and raking or quartering shots typically can lead to long and frustrating tracking jobs.
I would rather see novice or beginers with a 257Bob, 260Rem, 6.5x55, 7x57, 7mm-08, or even a 270Win with a reduced recoil loading as a couple of factories offer.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The .243 has been used successfully to take big game. Does that make it a good choice for big game, not necessarily. The game you intend to hunt, the range you are likely to shoot from, and your level of experience all come into play. There is more to killing a big game animal than flat trajectory, pinpoint accuracy, and light recoil. I think when mouse guns are chosen for big game they should only be used by folks with a good knowledge of game anatomy, and a good understanding of how bullets kill. I think the choice of the .243 for the beginner because it doesn't kick hard is a mistake. To my way of thinking 130 gr bullets are a good minimum. Still, folks seem to be able to make the .243's and even .22 CF's work regardless of what I think.
When the 243Win first came out, there was a lot of controversy as to its effectiveness.
Elmer Keith, of course, felt it might be adeqate for gophers. But that was only his opinion.
I remember reading an article in one of the now defunct magazines, on the effectiveness of the 243Win.
The article described a polar bear hunt in the NWT and a combined moose, caribou and grizzly hunt in northern BC. They didn't bother with deer as they had already tested it extensively on muleys and whitetails in the US.
They found the cartridge to be very effective and definately had a few of the Inuit guides convinced of it's capabilities.
The 243Win is like any other cartridge of comparable capacity and bullet weights. Use the right bullets of good design and well built for hunting rigors. Learn to shoot it well and maintain the rifle properly so it continues to shoot well for you and above all, PRACTISE and more PRACTISE.
Once you feel capable of placeing your shot in the kill zone of your animal, you will be ready to hunt just about anything in North America with that 243Win. No matter what the nay sayers spout.
With the great hunting bullets available today that rifle will do just fine as long as you do your part.
It's all about bullet placement. I've seen a couple of moose put down by a 12 year old girl and her mother two years in a row with a 243 Win. They share the same rifle. The mother got the rifle for her 16th birthday and has never used anything else.
She says the moose don't seem to mind or know the difference.
bearhunter
Elmer Keith, of course, felt it might be adeqate for gophers. But that was only his opinion.
I remember reading an article in one of the now defunct magazines, on the effectiveness of the 243Win.
The article described a polar bear hunt in the NWT and a combined moose, caribou and grizzly hunt in northern BC. They didn't bother with deer as they had already tested it extensively on muleys and whitetails in the US.
They found the cartridge to be very effective and definately had a few of the Inuit guides convinced of it's capabilities.
The 243Win is like any other cartridge of comparable capacity and bullet weights. Use the right bullets of good design and well built for hunting rigors. Learn to shoot it well and maintain the rifle properly so it continues to shoot well for you and above all, PRACTISE and more PRACTISE.
Once you feel capable of placeing your shot in the kill zone of your animal, you will be ready to hunt just about anything in North America with that 243Win. No matter what the nay sayers spout.
With the great hunting bullets available today that rifle will do just fine as long as you do your part.
It's all about bullet placement. I've seen a couple of moose put down by a 12 year old girl and her mother two years in a row with a 243 Win. They share the same rifle. The mother got the rifle for her 16th birthday and has never used anything else.
She says the moose don't seem to mind or know the difference.
bearhunter
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
^that nailed it
i think that if someone has enough knowledge and experience to feel confident in using a .243 to shoot a moose, they will just go out and do it. if you feel you have to ask in a thread on the internet whether or not it will be sufficient then the answer is most likely a resounding NO.
One thing to say about the 243 is that it is perfect for these threads! We want controversy and something to argue about, we got it. Pick either side you want on the 243/moose/big game subject, and you will have plenty of company.
Who could argue with those who say it is too light for anything except deer? Bearhunter and manbearpig can, and they put up a very convincing argument!
I have shot game with the 243 and if I took the, "it's OK for any game side," I would certainly put in a proviso that a premium bullet, meaning one that won't readily blow up and not penetrate, should be used on larger game. I like the 100 grain Nosler Partition, which I have chronographed in my 22 inch tubed Ruger at 3100 fps.
And speaking of recoil, I have just been once to the range since I installed a Limbsaver recoil pad on the Marlin 45-70, but I am very strongly convinced! I will estimate that a Limbsaver on a 30-06 would reduce the felt recoil down to about that of the 243, maybe less, with just the usual solid rubber pad on the 243.
Who could argue with those who say it is too light for anything except deer? Bearhunter and manbearpig can, and they put up a very convincing argument!
I have shot game with the 243 and if I took the, "it's OK for any game side," I would certainly put in a proviso that a premium bullet, meaning one that won't readily blow up and not penetrate, should be used on larger game. I like the 100 grain Nosler Partition, which I have chronographed in my 22 inch tubed Ruger at 3100 fps.
And speaking of recoil, I have just been once to the range since I installed a Limbsaver recoil pad on the Marlin 45-70, but I am very strongly convinced! I will estimate that a Limbsaver on a 30-06 would reduce the felt recoil down to about that of the 243, maybe less, with just the usual solid rubber pad on the 243.
If anyone just wants to shoot at the deer rather than aiming, then buy the largest most powerful cartridge available. Maybe the muzzle flash will blind the deer so you can get closer for that second shot
. Velocity and bullet diameter does not make up for poor shot placement. As for the .243 Win, IMHO it is a fine medium range deer round when using proper big game bullets and shot placement. As for larger game than deer, I personally would prefer something in the 7mm to 8mm non-magnum cartridge.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
im not experienced enough with either the .243 or moose to pick either side, although i would tend to want to NOT use something that leaves any doubt with regards to its effectiveness.
i just opined that if you have to ask whether or not a debatably lightweight cartridge is appropriate for big game then IMO the answer is already no.
i just opined that if you have to ask whether or not a debatably lightweight cartridge is appropriate for big game then IMO the answer is already no.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
i dont own a .243. my only personal experience with a .243 is on groundhogs each spring when a buddy and i generally swap rifles for a bit -- but the guy who owns the .243 in question uses it every year to fill his deer tag despite also having a .30-06 in his cabinet.
so far everyone ive spoken to that shoots a .243 claims that it is close to an ideal deer cartridge.
what type of ammo were you using?
.243
I got a Savage .243 with accutrigger. It is my favourite gun to shoot, even though I bought it for my son. He got his first deer with it last year at 100 yards. One shot down dead. No blood trail; it was more like a pool of blood where it fell. : ) I did pass up on a very nice big buck at about 300 yards where I wished I had my 7mm Rem Mag because I felt the energy at that distance might be minimal. I still tend to carry that gun more than the 7mm or .308 or 30/06. Quite a few deer, one shot. Longest was two hundred yards. (The one in my avatar picture.) It went down in it's tracks. I think if you have a gun you are comfortable with you will shoot more and get better and have a higher likelihood of getting good shot placement and clean kills.
Hermen
I got a Savage .243 with accutrigger. It is my favourite gun to shoot, even though I bought it for my son. He got his first deer with it last year at 100 yards. One shot down dead. No blood trail; it was more like a pool of blood where it fell. : ) I did pass up on a very nice big buck at about 300 yards where I wished I had my 7mm Rem Mag because I felt the energy at that distance might be minimal. I still tend to carry that gun more than the 7mm or .308 or 30/06. Quite a few deer, one shot. Longest was two hundred yards. (The one in my avatar picture.) It went down in it's tracks. I think if you have a gun you are comfortable with you will shoot more and get better and have a higher likelihood of getting good shot placement and clean kills.
Hermen
Yes sir. Been there, done that
.
Yes, you are right. The .243 Win is a fantastic deer round when using bullets designed for deer shot at moderate range with proper bullet placement. Go for it. Keep for 30/06 for larger game loaded with 180 grain bullets and have at her.
