243 in the "big woods" for deer - feedback needed
- Thread starter buckchaser
- Start date
The .243WIN is on my shortlist. I was going to start with it, but went with .308 instead. I will own a .243 though. Not sure I'd ever use it on game though. The .308 would be better on deer, and I'd probably do .22-250 for coyotes/varmints.
I like hunting over the .243, use a good bullet (I use 100 grain partitions), and try and put your best shots into use.
Im not sure what happened, they were shells I had given to me from a friend. She used them on her bull elk in 2013 and he went 35 yards and piled. All I know is ill never use those bullets again for whitetail.
tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
Maybe you have small deer where you come from but the 10 point buck I shot last fall was in the 300 on the hoof range. Shot w a 260
An update - I did purchase the 243 this summer and used it for my "big woods" deer hunt last week. Even though I had to use 95 grain Federal Fusions instead of the 100 grain Nosler Partitions I was looking for (stock non-existent in my area over the past several months), they performed very well.
I harvested a 3 point buck with a 35 meters shot (double lung hit, complete penetration, tremendous blood trail for 100 meters to the animal) and finished off a wounded 6 point buck (helping a partner track it) with a shot through the shoulders at 40 meters - put him down right away.
In all, very happy. There isn't a whitetail buck walking that I would hesitate to shoot with the 243 based on what I saw this week.
In all, quite impressed by the performance of the 243. It's such an easy caliber to shoot
I harvested a 3 point buck with a 35 meters shot (double lung hit, complete penetration, tremendous blood trail for 100 meters to the animal) and finished off a wounded 6 point buck (helping a partner track it) with a shot through the shoulders at 40 meters - put him down right away.
In all, very happy. There isn't a whitetail buck walking that I would hesitate to shoot with the 243 based on what I saw this week.
In all, quite impressed by the performance of the 243. It's such an easy caliber to shoot
I have hunted heavy brush with a scoped Savage 99 chambered in .243 using 100gr Partitions. Good bullet selection and placement have always resulted in dead recoverd deer.
That said I refrain from shooting through brush unless necessary to down a shot, running deer. The only time I did so there was a blood trail and the deer was recovered, albeit a distance away.
My preference is to stalk and spot on the ground. Nice thing about my .243 set up is its lightness. I can hunt all day without my arm muscles getting too tired from carrying my rifle. (at the ready or semi ready)
That said I refrain from shooting through brush unless necessary to down a shot, running deer. The only time I did so there was a blood trail and the deer was recovered, albeit a distance away.
My preference is to stalk and spot on the ground. Nice thing about my .243 set up is its lightness. I can hunt all day without my arm muscles getting too tired from carrying my rifle. (at the ready or semi ready)
I don't mind 243's, good enough rifle I guess.
I am slightly impressed at several fella's owning up to losing deer; you don't see that on here much.
I've lost 1 or 3 but I don't think I can blame it on the caliber. Heck, I've gotten deer with calibers that in hindsight I would not use again.
I commend your honesty and humility. It carries much further IMO than a boastful anecdote.
Dad shoots his deer every year with his 243 or sportered 6.5 mauser. Lately the Mauser more so as the Remington Varmiter HB is getting to be a coyote calling rifle; too heavy for Dad, he'll be 73 in the spring.
I am slightly impressed at several fella's owning up to losing deer; you don't see that on here much.
I've lost 1 or 3 but I don't think I can blame it on the caliber. Heck, I've gotten deer with calibers that in hindsight I would not use again.
I commend your honesty and humility. It carries much further IMO than a boastful anecdote.
Dad shoots his deer every year with his 243 or sportered 6.5 mauser. Lately the Mauser more so as the Remington Varmiter HB is getting to be a coyote calling rifle; too heavy for Dad, he'll be 73 in the spring.
I shoot a 6mm Rem and 100gr Nosler Partitions, just shot a whitetail @ 80 yds last week. 2" exit hole, good blood trail but it only went 30 yds and piled up. Use a good bonded or partition style 100 gr bullet , stick em in the ribs or shoulder and you will have your deer. They aren't made of kevlar 
Good that you went ahead and are happy with the new gun! Keep practicing and hunting and you will find the .243 to be an excellent choice for deer at moderate distances. The advice on shot placement is worth repeating. Avoid bony shoulders and frangible bullets. Avoid shooting through brush. Aside from that, I use both Partitions and Ballistic Tips, depending on the deer and conditions, and have had excellent results on well over 30 deer.
Those X-bolts are nice rifles too. My wife might love her micro hunter more than me some days.......
Those X-bolts are nice rifles too. My wife might love her micro hunter more than me some days.......
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
There should be nothing but clear air between your muzzle and any hide of any animal.
This is self explanatory.
This is why I don't get the "bush" gun thing, gun itself for handling, of course, chambering for bucking debris and obstacles, I don't get it.
No reason a .243 won't work at all.
This is self explanatory.
This is why I don't get the "bush" gun thing, gun itself for handling, of course, chambering for bucking debris and obstacles, I don't get it.
No reason a .243 won't work at all.
I was reading an article over at Rifleshootermag.com, and they did a test on "bush busting"
The general result was faster cartridges tended to deflect less, not the general opinion of slow, big cartridges deflecting the least.
