Looking for feedback from those who use or have used a 243 in brushy country. I am looking for a rifle with a removable magazine and came across a BLR in 243. We hunt with dogs and the action can be pretty quick so im looking to swap out the old model 94 for something I can mount an optic on.
243 for brush hunting?
- Thread starter mike t
- Start date
Short answer don't, a 243 is NOT a brush calibre. The bullet will be deflected off course by any gads , twigs, and brush it encounters on its journey from the barrels end to the deer. Any projectile can be deflected. But a 95 to 100 gr. 243 at 3000fps doesn't take much of a twig to deflect it off course. Best result is you miss the deer, worst case you end up wounding the deer and loosing it. I shot at a deer several years back at 25yds with my .243 loaded with 95 gr Nosler partitions. There was some tiny maple gads/brush between me and the deer, not that many either. The bullet never reached the deer. He ran off about 60 yds., stopped, turned and looked back in my direction and then left. Shot a deer from the same stand with the .243 the next day, but this time I waited until the deer was on clean ground and not a thing between the end of the barrel and the deer but air. Dead deer without issue. The .243 is a fine cartridge and is very capable of killing deer provided you have clear air between the gun and target. In my experience it is definitely not for shooting at deer in brush of any sort under the conditions you described in your post.
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The whole "deflecting off brush" thing is such a marginal factor, I would not take it into consideration when choosing your cartridge... the handling characteristics of the platform are far more important. While I have used .243's for a few decades, and they will do the job just fine in the woods or meadows. Having said this, I have abandoned 6mm cartridges for deer and start my medium game rifles at quarter bore.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I could not agree more. I have never encountered a bullet that can plow a straight line through branches to the target. Use what suits your hunting and shooting style best.
RancheroMan
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherwood Park, AB
My step mother runs a BLR in .243 and it's a great bush gun. It's short, light, and quick handling. When waking through tough country, it's great peace of mind to leave the chamber empty and the lever pops a round in mighty quick, basically as you shoulder the rifle. I'd not feel under gunned with a .243 in the bush and may be thankful you have it if a 250 yard shot across a dry slough bottom presents its self.
I say great choice.
I say great choice.
^^ THIS ^^ ...... The old "brush buster" myth just refuses to die. Kinda like the 30" shotgun barrels have more "reach" than the 28s story. < insert eyeroll here >
I carry my 257Roberts in the woods all the time. With Nosler Partitions, it will shoot through a 6" birch and keep on going to the target w/o deflection or loss of velocity.
I carry my 257Roberts in the woods all the time. With Nosler Partitions, it will shoot through a 6" birch and keep on going to the target w/o deflection or loss of velocity.
You know you can smoke them with hickory "AFTER" the shot, eh?
300_savage
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
I've shot a couple at close range in the woods with my 6mm Remington model 700, seemed to work fine, was confident in its ability to get the job done, wasent much brush in the way though. 100 gr hornady rn. Both were double lung shots, they did seem to run a little bit farther before dropping dead than ones I've shot with the 30 06.
Have hunted with .243 since my first 243 in 1980.
Never had a "bush" issue. I subscribe to the you either have a shot or he walks until you do have a shot.
"Deflection" is slightly counter intuitive and it would likely surprise you how far the core will travel accurately thru even a solid barrier depending on composition and density of the barrier.
Purchase and enjoy your 243 with confidence as you would with most any deer caliber.
Never had a "bush" issue. I subscribe to the you either have a shot or he walks until you do have a shot.
"Deflection" is slightly counter intuitive and it would likely surprise you how far the core will travel accurately thru even a solid barrier depending on composition and density of the barrier.
Purchase and enjoy your 243 with confidence as you would with most any deer caliber.
I have a 243 BLR in stainless laminate stock and take down, Great gun, wouldn't hesitate to take it deer hunting or coyote hunting. As some one else pointed out on a different thread the takedown option makes taking the rifle with you so much easier as you can pack it in a suit case
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The "brush busting" myth has been tested by everybody from Francis Sell to Ross Seyfried and the result has been the same time and again there ain't no such thing as a brush busting cartridge or caliber!
You 243 will do fine as long as you shoot it well
Cat
You 243 will do fine as long as you shoot it well
Cat
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I agree...
Many years ago a test was done with the.44 magnum thinking it would be a great 'brush' gun... it deflected as bad or worse than the higher velocity cartridges...
Don't shoot brush with anything if you want to hit your target.
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243 is one of them handy rounds I have Friends that use 243 on moose ,deer, coyote and wolf all the time one of the do everything rounds like the 30-06 ,308 and 270
If there is grass or twigs in your way don't shoot regardless of the calaber it's simple
I still think that shooting a heavy slug through grass and twigs will do better then a light bullet but it still will be deflected and there's no way to know wear that bullet is going just like ricocheting a bullet off water
If there is grass or twigs in your way don't shoot regardless of the calaber it's simple
I still think that shooting a heavy slug through grass and twigs will do better then a light bullet but it still will be deflected and there's no way to know wear that bullet is going just like ricocheting a bullet off water
I used to hold the 243 in very low regard.
I think it was the 25cal snob in me that prompted this, but eventually realized that the 243 is as perfect for deer as the 257 and in some respects better. Loaded with 100gr bullets, they are pretty close together. Factory ammo and brass is a whole lot easier to find for the 243, not to mention it fits better in a short action.
I think it was the 25cal snob in me that prompted this, but eventually realized that the 243 is as perfect for deer as the 257 and in some respects better. Loaded with 100gr bullets, they are pretty close together. Factory ammo and brass is a whole lot easier to find for the 243, not to mention it fits better in a short action.
