I've only ever shot one big animal with that cartridge, and it was a long time ago... but i gotta say that while i'm sure it'll do the job if you stick it in the breadbasket, it seems a little bit light to me. I guess if you loaded it right.......
243 for bear
- Thread starter willy11
- Start date
Check out that pic of a dead blackie from the 243. That should be evidence enough for anybody that it works. I often wonder why people think that a certain smaller caliber is okay for the ladies or the youngsters, but wouldn't use it themselves for the same critters. :?: Oh well, this is the eternal debate at any campfire right?
Say do you think that the so and so caliber is big enough for the such and such animal?? :roll:
Say do you think that the so and so caliber is big enough for the such and such animal?? :roll:
Crashman said:
Yes, and it folded up right on the spot. :shock:
I was coaching her on the shot, while her husband took video. Originally in some brush feeding, we waited until the bear walked into the open. It took a few minutes and he decided he would save some battery power and swithched the camera off, just as she squeezed the trigger. :roll:
Too bad, it was an absolute bang-flop. Would have been impressive to watch at home................ or post in this thread.
Ted
- Location
- Lakes District BC
Foxer said:
why we have to escort you out hunting :wink: :lol:
After you have shot a few big deer and Blackies you guys may change your mind.
Bigger is not always better.It seems that the new breed of hunter has to tote a cannon into the woods to shoot Deer and Black Bears.I call it big gunitis.The animals are not any harder to kill than they used to be no matter what a lot of you guys may think.Save your cannons for Moose and Grizzles.They are very much overkill and still do not make up for poor shooting.By that I do not mean the 7 M.M
s or 30 06 type rifles which have been doing a good job on most everything for years.Just my thoughts and I am an old fart who has spent many years hunting
and never been et by anything yet.Long live the 243.
Bigger is not always better.It seems that the new breed of hunter has to tote a cannon into the woods to shoot Deer and Black Bears.I call it big gunitis.The animals are not any harder to kill than they used to be no matter what a lot of you guys may think.Save your cannons for Moose and Grizzles.They are very much overkill and still do not make up for poor shooting.By that I do not mean the 7 M.M
s or 30 06 type rifles which have been doing a good job on most everything for years.Just my thoughts and I am an old fart who has spent many years hunting
and never been et by anything yet.Long live the 243.
The only rifle my dad carried was a 243. Shot everything with it, coyotes, beaver, deer, bear and even moose. I have just read so much lately on the importance of humane killing and was curious as to what you guys thought about the smallest of big game calibres. I'll admit, I am recoil shy. I enjoy shooting and hunting, but do not enjoy having a sore shoulder. We are going for bear this week and wanted to know some opinions on the 243. Thanks for all the input and thanks especially for that pic of the blackie that was dropped by the 243. Evidence enough for me.
if the .243 is what you have, use it. the average hunter killed black bear isn't very big.
my total experience with the .243 is one coyote, dropped him in his tracks, and having a 4 pt elk in the sights at 80 yards for perhaps 10 minutes. my uncle has taken something like 15 deer (whitetail and muleys) with no problems.
my neighbour killed a black bear with a 22-250 a few years back.
all that being said, the 243 isn't my pick for anything. too much jam for coyotes, not enough for the elk that could be run into at any time where i hunt.
my total experience with the .243 is one coyote, dropped him in his tracks, and having a 4 pt elk in the sights at 80 yards for perhaps 10 minutes. my uncle has taken something like 15 deer (whitetail and muleys) with no problems.
my neighbour killed a black bear with a 22-250 a few years back.
all that being said, the 243 isn't my pick for anything. too much jam for coyotes, not enough for the elk that could be run into at any time where i hunt.
.243 is a great little round, I've witnessed over a dozen blackies toasted with this round. I would not prefer to use it in brushy areas or thick areas. I have only seen one follow up shot required, bear was going to die, but required a final killing shot (was a bear spined at about 275yds in a field). I would however prefer to use a larger rifle for most of the areas I hunt, it is a comfort thing. Crawling through rabbit tunnels in the willows and alder with a .243 is not a fun experience, especially when a grouse flushes :shock: The bear was dead 20yds from where he was shot, but it was thick and we spent a 1/2 hour looking for him.
Don't be afraid to use the .243 though, it will do the job.
Don't be afraid to use the .243 though, it will do the job.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I'd prefer a 30-30. :!:
I used to shoot blackies with my 243 on Vancouver Island, but it was mostly up close and personal and I'd get them in the neck.
I shot one behind the front shoulder once and it dropped then ran and I never saw it again, despite trying to find a blood trail for hours.
Thinking back now, I might have been using 75 gr. bullets, not a good idea, i realize now.
I did shoot one front and centre in the chest once and it spun around and went the other way and I was able to track that one down dead.
I shot one behind the front shoulder once and it dropped then ran and I never saw it again, despite trying to find a blood trail for hours.
Thinking back now, I might have been using 75 gr. bullets, not a good idea, i realize now.
I did shoot one front and centre in the chest once and it spun around and went the other way and I was able to track that one down dead.
If you've already got the .243 and intend to use it and are comfortable with it then go ahead. I myself just don't have the confidence with it. I like to shoot over baits, and prefer bullet diameter and mass over velocity and trajectory. I'd probably take a .308 if I was recoil sensitive.
Why not? I've known guys to shoot a 8 foot plus nanuq(polar bear) with .223 calibre rifles! Everyone here seems to be all about BIG calibre rifles when it comes to hunting ... some real KNOW IT ALL's here too ... whatever I say to that shizznat from them! :roll:
Example,
Otokiak ... 8)
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
p.s. good luck and happy hunting with your .243 there "willy11" as I'm sure you'll do fine with your choice of rifle ... :wink:
keep in mind if you shoot a polar bear in Nunavut with a small caliber rifle you can watch it run across ice bergs for 50 miles and follow the blood on the snow with zero problem...
a little different than say shooting a black bear in heavy cover with a 243 :roll:
a little different than say shooting a black bear in heavy cover with a 243 :roll:
I've shot plenty of black bears. Most black bears shot by hutners are probably around 150-200 lbs, not a huge animal. Just as there is a big difference between killing a small blacktail spike and a huge northern mulie 4 point, there is a difference between a 200b bear and a 500lb bear.
A .243 or a .223 is fine when everything goes right, but doens't leave much margin for error if something goes wrong.
That's the whole point of using something bigger.
A .243 or a .223 is fine when everything goes right, but doens't leave much margin for error if something goes wrong.
That's the whole point of using something bigger.
Gatehouse said:
Agreed! There's no argument about that. 8)
Friend of mine's teenage son shot a huge bull moose up here with a 243 five years ago. Everything went right, and he killed the bull with one shot.
The bullet entered between two ribs, went through both lungs, exited between two ribs and carried on into the willows behind the moose. Took less than ten seconds and the moose was down. Pretty impressive!
The rest of the story is that his dad was standing beside him with his 375 H&H.
Same with the big bear in the picture. I was coaching the lady on the shot, and had my old Sako 375 with me. :wink:
Ted
peckerwood
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- PalePony, Yukon
I would most definately not want to use a lighter calibre gun on an animal that I would normally use a heavier calibre for protection against. Preferably 30-06, 308win, 303brit, 7.62x39mm, and 30-30 are all common and genuinely usable for both black and griz.
But the only reason I would dare with the .30-30win or the 7.62x39 is that I can get them in a Lever action or a semi-auto just incase the SHTF and one might need extra backup shots quickly. The other calibres all can be found in semiauto or bolt actions with detachable mags for quick reloads...ie. M1 Garand, Norinco M305, Enfield SMLE, etc.
Best to be prepared than to have your you-know-what hanging in the wind for the bear to slap. :lol:
p.s.There is an old joke that goes like this:
Me: Would you use a lever 30-30 for protection against a bear?
Him: Sure, who wouldn't?
Me: Then you had better get the sights shaved down...shave them down flat
Him:Huh? What the heck for?
Me: Cause it is gonna hurt like hell when that bear shoves that thing up your backside :lol:
:wink:
But the only reason I would dare with the .30-30win or the 7.62x39 is that I can get them in a Lever action or a semi-auto just incase the SHTF and one might need extra backup shots quickly. The other calibres all can be found in semiauto or bolt actions with detachable mags for quick reloads...ie. M1 Garand, Norinco M305, Enfield SMLE, etc.
Best to be prepared than to have your you-know-what hanging in the wind for the bear to slap. :lol:
p.s.There is an old joke that goes like this:
Me: Would you use a lever 30-30 for protection against a bear?
Him: Sure, who wouldn't?
Me: Then you had better get the sights shaved down...shave them down flat
Him:Huh? What the heck for?
Me: Cause it is gonna hurt like hell when that bear shoves that thing up your backside :lol:
:wink:
peckerwood
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- PalePony, Yukon
todbartell said:
I find that I am quite a good shot at differing ranges but that my accuracy and stability are greatly reduced when shaking and pissing like a small poodle because a 1200 lb hairy, clawed, exorbitantly toothed beastie has decided upon my impending doom and is rushing to finish the deed :shock:
When that happens I tend to hit more trees than flesh :lol: hence the desire to have a gun with many more rounds and an option for quick replenishment of said extra rounds...Especially once being mauled and munched upon whilst on the ground...
And if the topic might happen to assuade in the direction of pistols perchance, I would best add my two-bits now...I would keep a 1911A1 loaded with 240gr Jacketed Hollow Points moving at close to 900fps so that when I run out of rounds and the bear is on top of me I can end my misery quickly with a single shot to my ear :wink:
Also I to this day have yet to see a semiauto in 338 :wink:
p.s.The pistol idea was handed down to me by none other than Paul Rogan himself...best to give credit where credit is due.
- Location
- Lakes District BC
peckerwood said:
browning BAR , theres a few out there nowadays :wink: :lol:
oh and sks's were never bear deffence guns, they were actualy chinese military rifles for wounding people in a war :wink: :lol: :lol:
