Then again you also don't float fish for panfish with a downrigging rod...
.243 is plenty for any deer.
243 as a Legitimate and Humane Deer Gun?
- Thread starter yakoun
- Start date
Then again you also don't float fish for panfish with a downrigging rod...
.243 is plenty for any deer.
Exactly. Id rather a well placed shot with a 243 then a poor one with a 3006. The -06 might give you more angles with which you can reach the vitals from, but a bad shot from a 3006 that doesn't hit the vitals will still lead to lots of tracking and a high chance of a lost deer.
Shot selection is important with any cartridge, it just becomes more important with a smaller cartridge.
I caught a little sole with a 9' trolling rod and 50lb braid... Lol
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
By a comment like that, you and others I suspect have no respect for taking game. I have let many animals walk when not given a proper or iffy shot, regardless to the size of boom-stick I'm using..
elimsprint
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
I believe 1:9.25 but I have never measured it. It stabilized 95gr Fusions just fine, I have never tried anything heavier. Maybe if I was going to hunt elk or something with it I would but for deer/dogs, 87gr all the way. Plus it shoots both loads to within 1.5" of each other so if I see a dog while deer hunting I can throw in a V-Max round and just use a little "kentucky windage" so I don't have to waste a Berger.
ComradeVlad
Regular
- Location
- To the West
Pretty much sums up what I'm saying about .243
ComradeVlad
Regular
- Location
- To the West
Uh huh...You keep telling urself that lie. You'll continue to sound all ethical until the day comes that the "perfect" shot u think u made somehow didn't go according to plan, and now ur tracking a deer with a leg shot off. There's a reason why most places in Africa don't allow anything under .338 for dangerous game fud.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 243 for deer and this right here pretty well sums it up.
If you don't practice or get the dope on the ammunition you are shooting maybe you shouldn't be taking a shot past 150 yards anyways. Obviously shot placement is key no matter the caliber and I would suggest that bullet weight and design alongside the caliber is what really matters.
Listen to people who have seen the direct results of certain loads at different distances. You most certainly do not need a bigger gun for deer. Practice, shoot lots, dry fire way more. Get snap caps if you are worried about your firing pin.
And I might be the first one to say it but....
muzzle brake.
Yes you will still have a loud bang but you can reduce recoil again by 40% or more. I have personally benifitted from a brake on my 308 and installed one on my wife's 243. this way you can live fire as much as you please without any shoulder damage, this can be important for anyone with a flinch or an injury.
Read about proper shooting technique and position.
Dry fire lots
Reduce recoil. Whether that be a smaller caliber, reduced loads, muzzle brake
Live fire lots, shoot groups at different distances to find your dope and gain confidence with group sizes and the knowledge of knowing your rifle and your load.
Good luck and have fun.
Me and my friend used to hunt together. He used a 243 and I had a 30-30. Both were more than adequate for deer inside of 200 yards. The 243 probably out to 300 yards. My Winchester kickd about the same or less but also weighed almost a pound less that his rifle. Doesn't sound like much until you start doing a lot of walking.
And you can go ahead and throw away the extra damaged meat.
With a good bullet a 223 can effectively take deer. Why would the 243 be marginal with like 75% more energy? Simple, it's not.
Wtf does deer have to do with dangerous game? Also, the requirement of 338 or bigger has nothing to do with making marginal shots, it's about delivering a minimal amount of energy ON A GOOD Shot so you don't have to go tracking a lion through tall grass... (also 338 isn't allowed for most dangerous game, that usually starts at 375)
According to this, the 243 recoils less not more than a 30-30 in guns of equal weight. Things like stock fit will change perceived recoil though.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
- Insert your favorite caliber HERE: a _____ = "will have no trouble turning out the lights of any deer if you hit em in the right spot.."
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
243 is extremely popular for deer in my circles in mb and sask. You tell me where the whitetail bucks get bigger tougher bodies then here and we will both know. It's about the right bullet in the right place not what it's fired from.
I'm not afraid to bet that 25% of deer shot in rifle season in my circles are shot with the 243. I occasionally use it along side the 7mm mag, 3006 and 270. Wait for a broadside shot and there is no difference between the 4 I find. Distance ran with lung shots averages the same. The 243 with the 4 bullets I listed earlier do more damage and exit on a broadside shot than any muzzleloader bucks lungs I've ever seen. No-one will argue that a muzzleloader and 250 gr bullet is too small or inadequate.
I'm not afraid to bet that 25% of deer shot in rifle season in my circles are shot with the 243. I occasionally use it along side the 7mm mag, 3006 and 270. Wait for a broadside shot and there is no difference between the 4 I find. Distance ran with lung shots averages the same. The 243 with the 4 bullets I listed earlier do more damage and exit on a broadside shot than any muzzleloader bucks lungs I've ever seen. No-one will argue that a muzzleloader and 250 gr bullet is too small or inadequate.
OP has a 30-06, so growing into something isn't really necessary. Once he gets over his flinch and gets used to the recoil of the 243 he can step back up to the 30 cal.
What do you suggest as a better choice for recoil/effectiveness though?
Seems many guys will tell you the 243 is too small for them for deer. At the same time and sometimes the same breath they say its great for the ladies and youths. So I would assume that means they shoot bad. This is my gun store experience to date. I always figure bigger is better but would not hesitate to use the 243 for everything with the right bullets... bla bla bla
