My girlfriend and I are both fairly new at hunting. I bought her a .243 for hunting, and just to shoot while we are out shooting targets. What is the furthest distance anyone recommends for taking a rip at a deer with this caliber?
Unsure Shot
- Thread starter Tycon
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Good question. I'm happy to see a new hunter asking, it shows good intent.
I'm not a hunter, I do acompany my son-in-law on most hunts.
I personally think he has respect for his prey, he practises at the range, uses the best
ammunition money can buy and strives for a humane kill.
The hunters on this forum are great, lots of experiance, they will guide you down the right path.
Start on the right foot, and you will enjoy a great sport.
Good luck !!!!!
jlovie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I havent shot a .243 but my uncle has shot one all his life on deer hunts. From other posts ive read on the forum, it is a mid range gun. What does mid range mean? My uncles stand is in thick bush with a few trails. His furthest shot is maybe 150'. Im sure more informed members will provide better info. I would trust it in a short to mid range sho.
Removing a number of factors like the shooters abilities and shot placement.
.243 Winchester, Winchester Ballistic Silvertip, 95gr
Ballistic table says at 500 yards energy drops down to ~850 and i THINK that is as low as you want to go....
Please let everyone else pipe up on this one cause I am guessing
(I am looking at this from JUST A BALLISTIC STANDPOINT)
.243 Winchester, Winchester Ballistic Silvertip, 95gr
Ballistic table says at 500 yards energy drops down to ~850 and i THINK that is as low as you want to go....
Please let everyone else pipe up on this one cause I am guessing
(I am looking at this from JUST A BALLISTIC STANDPOINT)
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The real deciding factor is ones ability to place bullets where they need to go from field like conditions; prone, kneeling, seated, using makeshift rests and particularly important if still hunting off hand. The only way to decide this is to go out and practice, among my favorite targets for these purposes are 6-8" paper plates or pie plates, the distance or position at which I can't keep all shots on this target is where I choose to either practice till I can or accept as beyond my abilities.
I personally always believe closer is better, so while I'm capable of making long shots I have never actually shot an animal much past 100 yards because I always try and get a little bit closer even when an animal is inside my comfort zone.
I personally always believe closer is better, so while I'm capable of making long shots I have never actually shot an animal much past 100 yards because I always try and get a little bit closer even when an animal is inside my comfort zone.
Practice often, change the distance of your target, you will learn at what range you can shoot.
That being said you will most likely shoot under 100m, yes your caliber is efficient at much longer range, however if you hunt in wooded area there is just too much stuff in the way to shoot longer distance.
Keep your shoot as close as possible and become a better hunter!
That being said you will most likely shoot under 100m, yes your caliber is efficient at much longer range, however if you hunt in wooded area there is just too much stuff in the way to shoot longer distance.
Keep your shoot as close as possible and become a better hunter!
Depends on your ability to hit the target in the vitals while in the field. Whatever your rest is will determine how steady you can hold which determines how far you can ethically shoot game based on your marksmanship skills and rifle/cartridge combination accuracy. The .243 cartridge is capable to 500 meters. I will not shoot deer if I can't hold steady and don't know the range beyond point blank zero. Scoped hunting rifles are normally zeroed at 200 yards so if you don't know the hold over or have a ballistic drop reticle tuned to your rifle then 225 yards is as far as you should go. It all depends on you.
The pie plate is a good starter but when I get new shooters into hunting I us the coyote xray targets that show the body but the heart and lungs and shoulder bones show over the coyote fur. I have them jog 30 yards back and then return pick up the firearm and shoot. Practice with your heart pumping. A 1" group laying over a bench turns into a wild grouping off hand with your chest pumping. Practice shooting at ranges that you expect to see deer. Use hunting ammo in practice as well. I use a 2506 and for deer won't push past 400 yards personally. The round is capable much further out
I have always considered the 243/6mm Pair 300 meter chamberings on deer-sized game.
I know deer [and larger game] have been successfully taken farther away than that, but my personal
experience leads me to believe that much beyond 300, these smaller offerings lack the decisiveness of their larger counterparts.
Some Muley and a few Whitetail bucks get to be a fair size as well.
It really boils down to the skill of the shooter, though. Placement becomes increasingly critical with these small projectiles.
Don't misunderstand this statement.....a poorly placed shot with anything is taboo, but a marginal shot with a 243 may mean more trouble.
Regards, Dave.
I know deer [and larger game] have been successfully taken farther away than that, but my personal
experience leads me to believe that much beyond 300, these smaller offerings lack the decisiveness of their larger counterparts.
Some Muley and a few Whitetail bucks get to be a fair size as well.
It really boils down to the skill of the shooter, though. Placement becomes increasingly critical with these small projectiles.
Don't misunderstand this statement.....a poorly placed shot with anything is taboo, but a marginal shot with a 243 may mean more trouble.
Regards, Dave.
The .243 is a 300 yard cartridge with 100ish grain bullets on deer sized game. 500 is way too far. Sight in 3" high at 100 and you'll be on target out to 300. You must practice with your hunting ammo, off hand, at a 9" pie plate until you can hit it every time.
For a .243 ... 300 yards maximum especially if your not really skilled. Really shouldn't need to take shots past 200.
400 yards with a basic scope is going to put you in a position where if your shot is not perfect you could likely lose an animal.
Good luck ! very responsible question
400 yards with a basic scope is going to put you in a position where if your shot is not perfect you could likely lose an animal.
Good luck ! very responsible question
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"For a .243 ... 300 yards maximum especially if your not really skilled. Really shouldn't need to take shots past 200."
Exactly right.
Get her to practice lots. Get lots of bench time in so she's familiar with the rifle and practice at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards.
When she can shoot as best as she's going to get at 100, then try 200 yards to see how she does.
And practice in field positions. Off hand is the absolute worst stance to try shooting game. I've done it, but at close range and only because I had no option.
Stress with her that to find a rest, any kind of rest is better than offhand. And practice shooting from a sitting position with the elbows resting on the knees, kneeling, and prone. You're in Alberta, you may have the option for long shots, but look at her 100 yard groups and 200 yard groups and imagine how much bigger they are going to be at 300.
300 yards is a stretch for the average hunter.
Exactly right.
Get her to practice lots. Get lots of bench time in so she's familiar with the rifle and practice at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards.
When she can shoot as best as she's going to get at 100, then try 200 yards to see how she does.
And practice in field positions. Off hand is the absolute worst stance to try shooting game. I've done it, but at close range and only because I had no option.
Stress with her that to find a rest, any kind of rest is better than offhand. And practice shooting from a sitting position with the elbows resting on the knees, kneeling, and prone. You're in Alberta, you may have the option for long shots, but look at her 100 yard groups and 200 yard groups and imagine how much bigger they are going to be at 300.
300 yards is a stretch for the average hunter.
I appreciate the advice from everyone!
She is a pretty solid shot. I'm quite confident that she can take vitals at 150-200 with her setup and skill level. We will keep up the practice, I need it too!
The heart rate test is great, thanks brybenn, we will try it next time out.
She is a pretty solid shot. I'm quite confident that she can take vitals at 150-200 with her setup and skill level. We will keep up the practice, I need it too!
The heart rate test is great, thanks brybenn, we will try it next time out.
She's already a solid shot so its time to practice shooting from field positions and certainly get the heart rate up if you can.
While I agree with most of what has been said, I would say the hardest part for a new hunter is estimating the range to correctly to take the shot.
Where I hunt (my own land) I have the possibility of a 5-600 yard shot across open field where deer are likely to be. However, through careful planning, I can usually get set up where the maximum distance is 300 yards (this is the limit I have placed upon myself for various reasons). That shot can easily be made with a 243, my hunting partner has killed dozens at that range with a .222 However, he is one of the rare individuals who has devine hand on his shoulder everytime he pulls the trigger. In his 50+ years of hunting he has lost 1 deer (and it still bugs him).
I sight my .308 for 200 yards.
But lets use the .243 instead. 100 grain bullet at 2900fps
Sighted at 100, the bullet will drop 3.3 inches at 200 yards.
0-100 is easy. 100-200 is controlling the excitement and breathing. At dead hold should be well within the kill zone.
At 250 yards, 7.1 inches of drop. At 300 yards, that bullet had 12" of drop. That will go clean under a deer, or bust his legs.
200-300 gets really difficult to estimate range as well. I acutally go out and measure the distances in the off season and shoot at those distances. If you still hunt, surveyors flags will give you quick range estimates. Otherwise, practice at various random ranges and get good at it.
Now, take that .243 and sight it dead on at 200 yards.
0-100, 1.7 inches of rise. Dead hold, clean kill
100-200 0 inches. Dead hold, clean kill.
At 300 yards, 7.5 inches of drop is easily accounted for, and a 50 yard error in range still puts you in the kill zone.
Less to think about when the adrenaline gets your heart pumping.
Where I hunt (my own land) I have the possibility of a 5-600 yard shot across open field where deer are likely to be. However, through careful planning, I can usually get set up where the maximum distance is 300 yards (this is the limit I have placed upon myself for various reasons). That shot can easily be made with a 243, my hunting partner has killed dozens at that range with a .222 However, he is one of the rare individuals who has devine hand on his shoulder everytime he pulls the trigger. In his 50+ years of hunting he has lost 1 deer (and it still bugs him).
I sight my .308 for 200 yards.
But lets use the .243 instead. 100 grain bullet at 2900fps
Sighted at 100, the bullet will drop 3.3 inches at 200 yards.
0-100 is easy. 100-200 is controlling the excitement and breathing. At dead hold should be well within the kill zone.
At 250 yards, 7.1 inches of drop. At 300 yards, that bullet had 12" of drop. That will go clean under a deer, or bust his legs.
200-300 gets really difficult to estimate range as well. I acutally go out and measure the distances in the off season and shoot at those distances. If you still hunt, surveyors flags will give you quick range estimates. Otherwise, practice at various random ranges and get good at it.
Now, take that .243 and sight it dead on at 200 yards.
0-100, 1.7 inches of rise. Dead hold, clean kill
100-200 0 inches. Dead hold, clean kill.
At 300 yards, 7.5 inches of drop is easily accounted for, and a 50 yard error in range still puts you in the kill zone.
Less to think about when the adrenaline gets your heart pumping.
Become one with the gun and ammo choice for deer and practice.
Oh and some google reading material for you too...well her at least.
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.243+Winchester.html
Rob
Oh and some google reading material for you too...well her at least.
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.243+Winchester.html
Rob
Perhaps the question requires more information.
Rifle, sights and current ammunition.
I watched a person sighting in for a deer hunting trip. At 50 yards he was occasionally hitting the left side of the target.
At 100 yards he had a poor pattern on the adjacent target to the left of his target.
He fired 10 rounds at each target.
The ammo was Remington 80 grain load, and the rifle a Browning BLR with iron sights.
Neither the hunter, the rifle nor the ammunition was suitable for deer!
The answers to this point, except for a couple of responses are "guesstimates".
Your cheapest practise will probably be Federal blue box 100 grain.
There are probably some gophers around that will be inviting targets after honing hers (and yours) on pie plates.
The Federal bullets will suffice come fall and deer season at reasonable distances.
After hunting for over 45 years, my pack contains a range finder . . .
I've done the math on this for a customer at who asked at Wholesale Sports. I think we used data for a 100gn bullet (could be wrong it was a long time ago). Anyway this cartridge still had the recommended minimum 1,000 ft.lbs of kinetic energy reccomended for large game, like deer, at 300 yards. (it's 1,500 ft.lbs for elk/moose)
Could you do the job with proper shot placement beyond 300 yards, absolutely. But shot placement becomes more critical (and more difficult) at longer range.
