meopilite

is a 243 big enough for black bear? is a 243 too big for coyotes?

js444

I wouldn't suggest it but if that's your only option then you could at least try it, it will definitly have to be a well placed shot. Also, I don't hunt coyotes but I do often see many "varmint" rifles chambered for it, you can buy buy 80 grain factory ammo and if you handload you can get even smaller bullets or FMJ bullets so there's no reason not to use it for coyotes

aunsaber

IMO it is just right for coyotes but I would not want to pi$$ off a bear with one.
I would prefer something a bit larger with more power and of good bullet.(not that 243's don't have good bullets)

driftrider

Bear? Don't know, but I wouldn't try it.

Coyote? Depends on what your intentions are. If you just want to control their population and don't care about the pelts, then the .243 with 75-80gr varmint bullets would be very effective. If you want to skin them and sell the pelts, however, the .243 might do a little more pelt damage then you might like. In that case I'd say try a .223 or 22-250.

Mike

DM

I killed the biggest black bear i ever shot with my .243 win. He was walking side ways at about 40 yards to me, and i used 100 grain Nosler Partition!! One shot, and it was all over. BTW, this bear weighed just over 500 pounds live weight!! (yes i weighed him)

In my opinion the 6mm's are too small for big deer and the bears because there's no margin for error. I'd choose something a little bigger if possible.

I've shot quite a few foxes, and coyotes with both my .243 win, and my also my 240 Weatherby. Of course i wasn't trying for "perfect" pelts, so i mostly used hunting loads. They are rather hard on pelts!!

Drilling Man

James B

No and yes. I wouldn't use it for Bear unless I was sure I could get a head shot. Its about perfect for large varmits. In my opinion the 243 is a Varmit rifle.

handloader1

No, for bears; yes, for coyotes. Good luck.

Tree climber

I am the "BIG" fan of the 243 ; so I have to say it is a little small for bear. it will take a bear if the shot is perfect.I would recomend a gun that is for big game.I don't own anything bigger than the 243 so I don't know what to tell you.

as for the coyotes it is a great gun.use a gooed solid bullet and it doesn't do as much damage to the pelt.

bigcountry

You know I got to know and ask. Do you really not know the answer to this question? Do you really need advise on whether to use a .243 on bear?

I mean a bear is almost total muscle. With bear you want penetration. Classic bear cartridges are like the 35Whelen.

cherokee_outfitters

In the hands of a marksman who will wait for a dead perfect shot with the right bullet for penetration the answer is maybe. Yes the caliber is capable of doing it. The natives in alaska do it with a .223 on all sorts of game.

What bigcountry said about muscle and bone is a bear is the key. Every rifle has a use and the 243 would be not consider in use for bear by a national wide concensus.