Lets talk about hunting with the .243 winchester

I think the .243 is probably the perfect cartridge for doing double duty on deer and coyotes. I don't currently own one, but the old man has one in one of those crappy budget Remington 770's. It's killed a number of both animals, and despite the rifle being completely displeasing both aesthetically and in physical operation (stiff bolt, poor feeding, lousy trigger) it is accurate as all hell. It's taken deer up to 400 yards, a hit anywhere in the vitals is a clean kill. Shoots as flat as anything but the fastest .22's and magnum .25's, with negligible recoil. There's really very little to complain about.

I suspect it would do quite well on black bear, and probably even moose at moderate ranges with a sturdy bullet leaning toward the heavier end of the available projectiles. There are some cartridges loaded with thin jacketed varmint bullets, those would need to be avoided for any sort of game hunting.

The old man loads plain old Hornady Interlock spire points, 100 grain I think. They're plenty adequate for deer and coyote, apparently out to at least 400 yards and as close as 25.
 
I've crashed a few animals (ground hogs, coyotes, wolves, mule and whitetail deer, and black bears) with the 243/6mm/243AI and think it is a phenomenal cartridge. Carried one hunting stone sheep as well.

I would have zero hesitation using it on any whitetail that walks the planet. I've used or seen used first hand the 80TTSX, 85TSX, 100gr SP, and the 105 Amax. I think you would be hard pressed to go wrong using any of the dedicated deer bullets out as far as you can ensure the appropriate velocity window for bullet expansion.
 
I totally forgot about the .243 Win...I think I will go this route instead of the .30-30.

just need to find bullets that will open up from short to long ranges at extreme velocities to more moderate velocities. :yingyang:
 
Mr. Friendly said:
what bullets would you all recommend for close, medium and long range hunting shots?

from reading, Nosler Partition for close and Barnes TTSX for long range...how about moderate ranges? between 100 - 250 yards?

also what other bullets that retain most of their weight will open/expand properly at close range with an extremely high velocity?

I'm thinking about options in the 100g weight range.
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Mr. Friendly said:
I totally forgot about the .243 Win...I think I will go this route instead of the .30-30.

just need to find bullets that will open up from short to long ranges at extreme velocities to more moderate velocities. :yingyang:
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Are you trolling cause it certainly seems like you might be. I'd probably choose the Partition or Accubond, although the Nosler Ballistic tip, TTSX and Fusion also have good reputations. Of course if you are talking nothing larger than a deer, then most factory cup and core 95-100 grain loads are likely going to give satisfying results unless you miss the vitals.
 
no trolling. as mentioned, many are comfortable taking something as big as Moose with the .243, which I would definitely consider to be fine, if you're willing to take Black Bear.

also mentioned (in the .22-250 thread) is how bullet and placement are more important than the actual cartridge used anymore.

so cartridges meant to open at short range high velocities will not work so well at moderate and longer ranges when their speed has bled off. hence a question about bullet options that will perform at the moderate to long ranges. hopefully one can find bullets in the same weight range so they don't have issues with drop when bullets may be switched depending on the targets range. :)

if I were to shoot something like Moose, I would want a heavier bullet...hence my 100g bullet weight query.
 
I've splattered a few coyotes with the 243 (100-170 meter range), and with lighter bullets, great performance and a heck of a mess on the other side. My gal shot a deer (double lung) about 70 meters away, and it ran probably 50 meters and piled up. I couldn't tell the difference between that and my 30-06 I was using at the time. That was plain jane Federal blue box 100 grain ammo.
 
A .243 on game deer sized and larger needs to be used "surgically". And I understand that everything should be used surgically, but I also firmly believe that a .300 Win used surgically is without doubt more "overwhelming" on game than is a .243 used in the same way. So I think a .243 user needs to be careful, but if you put a heavy for caliber, well constructed bullet into the proper place, moose and elk will die very quickly. I prefer something larger for deer, but I have been present when others have used a .243 on at least 20-25 deer, and have to say it worked very well in those cases. I believe black bear are well within its capabilities as well. I load 100 grain Partitions as big game loads for two rifles at present.

A .243 is a devastating coyote round, but it tends to be hard on hides.
 
I bonked a few deer with a Remington Mohawk that I had back in the 70's and was quite happy with the accuracy of that carbine. The factory 100 gr loads I found to be too wasteful on meat due to the velocities they were pushed at, so I just worked a load with 4831 that tossed a 100 gr Speer along at 2500 fps. Accuracy was still fine for the close ranges I preferred & the penetration on deer was enhanced a fair bit on shoulder hits. A lot less meat gelling too boot.

As mentioned above, nothing wrong with the .243 as ye can tailor it to the game intended within reason.

A side note: I was in me favorite LGS back in '75 and 2 fellers from the BC Forrest Service came in bought up the entire stock of .243 Win 80 gr loads that were on the shelf. The reason? They used them for knocking clumps of pine cones from conifers for reseeding & study purposes. I must admit that the factory 80 gr loads worked dang well for pruning purposes.
 
rral22 said:
A .243 on game deer sized and larger needs to be used "surgically". And I understand that everything should be used surgically, but I also firmly believe that a .300 Win used surgically is without doubt more "overwhelming" on game than is a .243 used in the same way. So I think a .243 user needs to be careful, but if you put a heavy for caliber, well constructed bullet into the proper place, moose and elk will die very quickly. I prefer something larger for deer, but I have been present when others have used a .243 on at least 20-25 deer, and have to say it worked very well in those cases. I believe black bear are well within its capabilities as well. I load 100 grain Partitions as big game loads for two rifles at present.

A .243 is a devastating coyote round, but it tends to be hard on hides.
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I disagree with saying it needs to be used "surgically". One should always take broadside shots through lungs/heart, or if your good enough spine. All shots I've taken on deer through the lungs, which is pretty large, are a dead deer. They run further with a 300 win mag, I've seen it so many times. It's more about bullet selection than anything.

North
 
North of 7 said:
I disagree with saying it needs to be used "surgically". One should always take broadside shots through lungs/heart, or if your good enough spine. All shots I've taken on deer through the lungs, which is pretty large, are a dead deer. They run further with a 300 win mag, I've seen it so many times. It's more about bullet selection than anything.

North
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I don't know how you can disagree with using a rifle "surgically". I always try to imagine the bullet making a "surgical" pass through the vital parts of the game animal.

And, although I would love to "always take broadside shots through lungs/heart", anyone who says that is always what he has done, has not done much hunting. You're right that bullet selection is important, but to suggest that a 165 grain .308 caliber bullet from a .300 Win through the heart/lungs at 3200 fps will NOT be more decisive than a bullet of any weight from a .243 through the same lungs means you just haven't seen both scenarios happen. If you have "many times" seen deer shot with a .300 Win run further than those shot with a .243, I would suggest the .300 shooter you watched is quite likely using the wrong bullet, as you pointed out as being important. My experience is that a .300 Win (or Wby, or Ultramag) is more devastating on deer than a .243. I don't see how such ballistic truths can be denied.

That does NOT mean the .243 is inadequate on deer, and I have said so. I maintain, however, that it is on the small end of the scale of ideal deer rounds, so heavy for caliber bullets, careful (may I say surgical) placement of the shot, and reasonable limits on range (partly so you can be more sure of the surgical bullet placement) will make for fewer unfortunate outcomes from its use.
 
You can hear "stories" about every caliber ever made and the specifics will vary like the temperature. But generally speaking the .243 is a good caliber in my opinion. The first game caliber rifle I ever owned was a .243 and everything I pointed it died when I squeezed the trigger. Bullet selection is important and using a heavier bullet is a better option for large game.

The first moose I ever shot with my .243 absorbed my entire magazine full of 100 gr lead then started walking away. In desperation I asked my friend that was with me to commence shooting while I re-loaded my blind magazine. He emptied his Rem 700 in .308 into the bull then we both watched with our mouths agape while it walked off into the bush. It had gone down and stood up again at least 4 times while we were shooting it. I thought I was living an episode of the Twilight Zone!!! We reloaded then fast walked 160 yards through the muskeg to get up to the bull. He was laying dead about 30 yards into the scrub spruce. I was so winded I missed a "make damn sure it's dead" head shot then my friend hit it, but the bull was stone cold dead. When we skinned it out the entire boiler room and everything in it was hamburger. I started thinking about buying a Win 338 magnum.

The very next year I was out hunting with my Pa and I still had my .243 because I did not have enough money to buy anything else at 16 years old. It was a cold November day with snow falling and the bush was silent and beautiful. My Pa pushed a cow and a bull right up to me and they stopped and watched him go past them on a trail about 50 yards away from me. I was so nervous about shooting another moose without a back up rifle that I had a major buck fever attack. I had to wedge my rifle between a leaning log and a tree just to get steady enough to shoot. I held tight behind his shoulder the same as my first moose and squeezed the trigger. It went down like it had been hit by the Hammer of Thor and never even twitched.

Over the years I shot a wide variety of game with that rifle and the same hand loaded 100 grain bullets and not one of them acted like that first moose. I have heard a fair number of guys talk about bumping into that seemingly "invincible" animal and I can't explain it. If I was deliberately going out after moose, elk or bear anymore I don't think that I would reach for my .243 first. But I would shoot any of those three if the .243 was all I had in my hands when I saw them.

My current recommendation for a reduced recoil, large enough, flat shooting, all around, single owned caliber would be a 6.5x55.
Dave.
 
I've killed two deer (3 pt buck and mature 6 pt buck) at close range (30 - 50 meters) with 95 grain Federal Fusion rounds. No complaints as both bucks expired quickly and a solid blood trail was left.
 
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rral22 said:
I don't know how you can disagree with using a rifle "surgically". I always try to imagine the bullet making a "surgical" pass through the vital parts of the game animal.

And, although I would love to "always take broadside shots through lungs/heart", anyone who says that is always what he has done, has not done much hunting. You're right that bullet selection is important, but to suggest that a 165 grain .308 caliber bullet from a .300 Win through the heart/lungs at 3200 fps will NOT be more decisive than a bullet of any weight from a .243 through the same lungs means you just haven't seen both scenarios happen. If you have "many times" seen deer shot with a .300 Win run further than those shot with a .243, I would suggest the .300 shooter you watched is quite likely using the wrong bullet, as you pointed out as being important. My experience is that a .300 Win (or Wby, or Ultramag) is more devastating on deer than a .243. I don't see how such ballistic truths can be denied.

That does NOT mean the .243 is inadequate on deer, and I have said so. I maintain, however, that it is on the small end of the scale of ideal deer rounds, so heavy for caliber bullets, careful (may I say surgical) placement of the shot, and reasonable limits on range (partly so you can be more sure of the surgical bullet placement) will make for fewer unfortunate outcomes from its use.
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Or, did you ever think that I have done my fair share of hunting and only choose to take guaranteed broadside shots? Call it surgical or whatever you want,you shoot a deer in the lungs or heart with a 243 and its a dead deer. Make ethical shots and it takes the guesswork out of it. Your idea of surgical and mine seem to differ, no worries. If I wanted to get surgical it would be brainstem shots but why risk it? You owe it to the animal to take the clean kill. I don't just pick the biggest caliber and fire away till it's dead. 1 shot 1 deer.
 
<200 yards is all I would ask of that caliber on game. Otherwise you are in the best guess category imho...I own one and have seen the lethality at closer ranges however if I expect to take a shot at ranges >200 I'm taking my .25-06.
 
NHunter said:
<200 yards is all I would ask of that caliber on game. Otherwise you are in the best guess category imho...I own one and have seen the lethality at closer ranges however if I expect to take a shot at ranges >200 I'm taking my .25-06.
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To be fair, the 95gr fusion from a 243 has 1000+ftlbs energy out to around 340 yards. The 25-06 120gr fusion has over 400ftlbs more energy at that range mind you (it also starts nearly 500ftlbs higher from the muzzle, and energy at 400 is equal to the 243 at 200)...

I feel like the 243 is capable beyond 200, but i know what you mean, I generally pack a 270.
 
Mr. Friendly said:
no trolling. as mentioned, many are comfortable taking something as big as Moose with the .243, which I would definitely consider to be fine, if you're willing to take Black Bear.

also mentioned (in the .22-250 thread) is how bullet and placement are more important than the actual cartridge used anymore.

so cartridges meant to open at short range high velocities will not work so well at moderate and longer ranges when their speed has bled off. hence a question about bullet options that will perform at the moderate to long ranges. hopefully one can find bullets in the same weight range so they don't have issues with drop when bullets may be switched depending on the targets range. :)

if I were to shoot something like Moose, I would want a heavier bullet...hence my 100g bullet weight query.
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I would want to try and keep any shot at a moose or elk that was not wounded to 200 yards or less and it would have to be a calm animal broadside or very close to it.
While it doesn't have the fancy high BC's or ###y ogives of some newer bullets the Nosler Partition has set the standard for reliable, predictable performance on game from in your lap to beyond most hunter's abilities and would be my top choice for an anything bigger than 400lbs, 95 or 100 grain whichever shot best. TTSX or TSX would be right on its heals and if it shot better I'd run it, just keep in mind they don't always expand reliably at lower velocities. I am sure the Accubond, GMX, and ScirrocoII could also be pressed into similar service if required.

Now for my purposes of deer, coyote and moderately (<300lbs) sized black bears I am confident the 95 grain fusion or 100 grain corelockt will do the job as far as I can confidently place my shot, 250 yards is my confidence zone with this rifle. I am carrying it with the fusions this spring for bear.
How far is your version of long range?
 
My longest shot would be 250 yards. Most of the time my shots are within 100 feet.
 
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