.243 on deer sized game

7mm-08

7mm-08

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Selkirk,Manitoba
This is for the hunters that hunt deer size game with a .243.What brand/grain do you consider most effective? My daughter has only used the winchester power point 100 grain,it did a good job on the yearling she took last year.Blew out the heart walked maybe 10 yards and dropped.The deer had an entry and exit wound but there was very little blood.The shot was around 150 yards.Any input on factory ammo. would help,as I do not reload.
Thanks!
 
It's a little more expensive, but I've had good luck with Federals 100 gr Nosler Partition load. If it will shoot accurately in your rifle, it will do a good job on medium sized deer at reasonable distances. I've used it on two Whitetail does, years ago, both were one shot kills, at no more than 150yds. Hope this works out for you guys.
 
I've dropped numerous white tails with my .243. Last year I was comparing the dammage done between a .243 and a .308. The deer hit with the .243 looked like it had been hit with a Mac truck compared to the dammage from the .308.
 
Posts: 15 I've dropped numerous white tails with my .243. Last year I was comparing the dammage done between a .243 and a .308. The deer hit with the .243 looked like it had been hit with a Mac truck compared to the dammage from the .308.
Click to expand...
The reason for that is the bullet used, a premium barnes would be in order. The speeds a .243 travel without a premium bullet will expand far to much at closer ranges.
Frank
 
Hi,

I can't argue with hunters that cleanly took deer with their .243, and neither can't I say that it's not a proven caliber for deer but I beleive that shot placement is a MUST with these light 90/100gr bullets.

The only deer I couldn't retreive was the one that was shot with a .243, 100gr bullet. Lots of blood and pieces of bone but no deer.

Probably poor shot placement, and lack of knowledge of the capacity of the .243 were probably the cause.

Also, when someone is used to shoot heavier bullets from bigger caliber, they tend to expect similar result and sometimes take a shot that would be lethal with a 30cal but not necessarely the case with the .243.

It does indeed work for deer size animal but it's no more a choice of mine.
 
I've harvested many deer with my Browning BAR in .243.

As with any caliber, know it's limitations before shooting and shot placement is crucial no matter what your shooting for a humane kill.

As for bullet selection, I'm of the theory that for big game, I always buy a premium bullet. IMO the extra $$ for extreme reliability is worth it. For White tail, I like the ballistic silver tips from winchester. If $$ is an issue, the FUSION bullets from Federal are a good choice.
 
Definately stick with a premium bullet. I've had the standard ones explode on impact at close range. Shot placement is definately the key factor with the smaller calibers that shoot the lighter projectiles. The 243 will do what you ask of it, if you do your job well. What it won't do is kill from virtually any angle. Shooting a premium bullet, a 243 will effectively take a whitetail at 300 yards on a broadside shot.
 
I use 95 Grn.Nos.Parts .handloaded to just over 2900 fps.My Browning BLR.does not seem to like 100 grns.With this round I have killed 2 Blackbears and many large Mulies and Whitetails.They drop as quick as when I shoot them with my 7M.M or 308.I limit my range to 300 yds.or less.
 
I use Hornady Custom factory loaded 75 gr hollow point in my Winchester 88 and 100's.Have used Win 100gr sp and gone looking for game that went 100's of yards everytime before falling over.Nothing but Hornady Customs for me now.A bit more $'s than most shells but it only takes one shot and I don't have to look any further than where I sqeezed the trigger at.
Just my findings !
 
I have shot a few deer with the 6mm (slightly bigger brother of the 243) with 80 and 100 gr Winchesters, 100 gr Federal, and 105gr handloads. The only deer I ever lost was with the handload.

The Win and Fed were the standard factory loads which all did the job nicely. I felt the 80gr was a little light, and was an experiment when I first got the gun, but dead is dead, it actually dropped a rather large doe in her tracks but she did get up and hobble 20-30 yards. The 100 gr shots included a head shot, spine shot, liver shot and a few chest shots, most dropped in their tracks with one chest shot going 30 yards or so.

If in doubt try the premiums but the standard loads have never failed me. But then again you don't get much choice with the 6mm unless you reload.
 
Personally, I would never want to use a 243 on big game, preferring 260's or 7mm08's. Having admittedly never used a 243 on big game, you may want to take my advice with a grain of salt. If I did decide to go 243 (limiting myself to deer-sized game) - I'd probably want to go with a 90gr Scirocco II - looks to provide the best balance between expansion & penetration. A Partition, IMHO, would not offer enough expansion and over-penetrate. Other Ballistic tips often offer too much expansion, coming apart entirely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom