243 for deer

I took a good size mule deer this fall with my .243 win. Shot him through the neck(spine) @ 40 yds, and found my 100gr Nosler partition buried over 1" into a Fir tree. The bullet weighed 63 grs after taking a large part of the spine out and sticking into the tree.

Sure was nice carrying the 84M Kimber up and down those steep Fir ridges. Also nice not having to flinch when pulling the trigger on an ultralightweight rifle.

To summarize, the .243 is an excellent choice for deer hunting. However I do recommend using a premium bullet if possible.
 
Saw three deer die between 300 and 381yds this year alone. All of them fell to a 100gr Power Point. I have shot three deer myself with 85gr Sierras; one of the shots at just under 400yds, all one shot kills. Very few exits with the cup and core bullets though. The deer I have seen shot with the 85gr TTSX have been just as decisive, with thumb size exits. That would likely be my choice of pill for that cartridge.
 
My daughter uses a Winchester model 70 mini carbine .243.She has shot whitetail and caribou all past 200 yards with Winchester 100gr. power points,all animals dropped in thier tracks.
She shoots this rifle comfortably and is quite the markswoman with it,the light wieght,low recoil account for her success.Something that I doubt would have happened with a larger caliber heavier rifle.
 
StoneHorse said:
Because it works and the law is not always right.
I never understood why guys use magnums on deer. Because they can I suppose.
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Multi use on bigger species, the ability to take angled shots and in the case of one of mine, the ability to deliver as much energy at 1000 yards as a .243 does at the muzzle come to mind.:p
 
Dogleg said:
Multi use on bigger species, the ability to take angled shots and in the case of one of mine, the ability to deliver as much energy at 1000 yards as a .243 does at the muzzle come to mind.:p
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That about says it. I'll use .300 mag for anything from antelope to moose, ALWAYS drops 'em in one
 
Dogleg said:
Multi use on bigger species, the ability to take angled shots and in the case of one of mine, the ability to deliver as much energy at 1000 yards as a .243 does at the muzzle come to mind.:p
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Doubtfully most people have "the ability to deliver as much energy at 1000yds" to anything more than the dirt nearby the animal at 1000 yds.

The .243 Win has the ability and energy to ethically take deer size animals to well over 300 yds if the person behind the trigger has the ability to place a bullet into the vitals.

I feel confident in my ability to place a .243 bullet into the vitals of a deer when I go hunting, therefore it is plenty of rifle for me. My 2 cents.
 
Jmiverson said:
That about says it. I'll use .300 mag for anything from antelope to moose, ALWAYS drops 'em in one
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I beg to differ. I have seen many animals, from deer to moose to coyotes wounded, lost or just plain missed with magnum rifles. I don't have anything against them (though I think that 308 or 30-06 is plenty for NA) but too many people can't shoot them decently. A lot more deer would be in the freezer today if guys would trade their 300 Win Mag or WSM for a 243 or other 6mm.


Jeff
 
DIESEL WEASEL said:
Doubtfully most people have "the ability to deliver as much energy at 1000yds" to anything more than the dirt nearby the animal at 1000 yds.

The .243 Win has the ability and energy to ethically take deer size animals to well over 300 yds if the person behind the trigger has the ability to place a bullet into the vitals.

I feel confident in my ability to place a .243 bullet into the vitals of a deer when I go hunting, therefore it is plenty of rifle for me. My 2 cents.
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Shortcoming of shooters, do not automatically bestow virtue on smaller calibers. The 1000 yard example is just to highlight just how much difference there can be between calibers, and just what extremes have to be to make them "equal".
 
Jmiverson said:
That about says it. I'll use .300 mag for anything from antelope to moose, ALWAYS drops 'em in one
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If you can afford only one gun or only want one gun, then go with whatever cartridge you feel is required for the largest game you intend to hunt. As long as the recoil and muzzle blast doesn't cause you to flinch and making a poor hit.

I used a 30/06 on deer for many years before switching over to the .243 Win. about 10 years ago. I have no complaints with the performance of the .243 on deer.
 
Dogleg said:
Shortcoming of shooters, do not automatically bestow virtue on smaller calibers. The 1000 yard example is just to highlight just how much difference there can be between calibers, and just what extremes have to be to make them "equal".
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Looking at the issue from the other side of the fence, another "extreme" that would make the 2 cartridges equal is to down load the .300 with a 100gr plinker bullet to 3000fps. Then recoil, shoot-ability and also precision (this is arguable), would also be equal.
 
It's a great, fast little gun. It's the gun I started deer hunting because it has little recoil, and after a few years of hunting with magnum rifles have returned back to the little gun again this year, and took down a buck opening morning a 380 yards. I have found that the premium bullets do make a differance, and shot many with the 89gr Barnse X's.
 
It's not like I hate .243s or that they can't be made to work. I've had 3, still have one. It's just that, when I'm going hunting, or varminting I can go to a selection of centerfires from .17 to .416. Most of them are excellent at something, that makes it a top choice for some use. What is the .243 best at? It's not much of a varminter if anything resembling volume is required. You can't swing a dead cat without knocking over a more versatile rifle, a more powerful rifle, or a flatter shooting rifle with still light recoil. Besides being the smallest thing that is legal in most places, what is the attraction?
 
StoneHorse said:
Because it works and the law is not always right.
I never understood why guys use magnums on deer. Because they can I suppose.
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never understood why guys use magnums on deer???

Cause more than one animal can be hunted at the same time in some areas.

This year while after moose and WT deer I passed on a iffy shot at a buck cause of too much brush in the way (30 06).
Next morning on the way in partner dropped a moose (325 WMS).

2 weeks later after bull elk and WT deer I dropped 3 deer with my 30 06.
Partner carries a 375 H+H.

In 2008 while after bull elk and WT deer I dropped a bull elk and 3 WT deer with my 30 06.

Ideals in my 2 cent opinion:D
elk 325 WSM or 338 WM if a guy is comfortable and accurate
moose 30 06
deer 6.5 x 55 SM or 260 rem
barren ground caribou 243
speed goats 243

other opinions (backed up by experience) are fine too
 
All the guy asked was if the .243 was a good whitetail cartridge. And to answer his question, yes it is! If you punch any deer through the lungs, it is dead no questions asked. Will it die quicker or easier with a larger calibre, probably not. I have also seen deer not drop to .300 wim mags and .300 weatherbys due to misplaced shots.
The .243 is a great and capable deer rifle.
Ivo
 
I also do not understand the chase to the minimums allowed in anything. While the .243 is fine - I would rather see a youngster or any novice start with a 6.5x55, 7-08 or 7x57 or similar.

The .243 - especially in the hands of a novice, while shooting at big western Whitetail or Mule is iffy if a less than ideal shot is made or required.

I would rather see a yougster, who can get bored easily, take a good shot at the one critter that they might see and get a reasonable crack at seeing a good result. Results are very important with novices.

Tracking a 243 wounded whitetail in the bush of Northern Alberta (or anywhere) is a good way to turn off any aspiring hunter.

Again, nothing wrong with any caliber -- but I have seen great hunters lose trophey animals cause they grabbed a 243 and tried to make the shot that they normally would with their say .... .300. They get a good hit on a fleeting animal -- but ----- the results may not be as quick nor will the recovery of the animal be as easy or even possible.

Again -- any caliber may miss or cause less than immediate results -- but you have to increase your odds with a good choice of weapon given the game you have tags for in the environment you will hunt.
 
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