243 for deer
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tug Hill NY
Posts: 420
Great gun and round depending on where you are. North country (northern states, Canada) you never find it. It just doesnt have the mass to reliably anchor heavy bodied northern deer. 30 calibers reign for a reason. In more southerly states with smaller deer body size predominating, I know it is very popular.
#12
Great gun and round depending on where you are. North country (northern states, Canada) you never find it. It just doesnt have the mass to reliably anchor heavy bodied northern deer. 30 calibers reign for a reason. In more southerly states with smaller deer body size predominating, I know it is very popular.
Pfffft.
.243 100 gr bullet has an SD of .242
.30 caliber 165 gr has an SD of .248
It puts bigger holes in deer than my 140 gr 7-08
The .243 will anchor any whitetail or muley that walks the earth.
#15
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 357
Great gun and round depending on where you are. North country (northern states, Canada) you never find it. It just doesnt have the mass to reliably anchor heavy bodied northern deer. 30 calibers reign for a reason. In more southerly states with smaller deer body size predominating, I know it is very popular.
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: WY
Posts: 2,056
I've taken two elk with a .243. One head-on, the other a right shoulder quartering shot. Neither took more than a step after the shot.
There's one reason not to use the .243 on deer-sized game, but it has nothing to do with the caliber or rifle.
There's one reason not to use the .243 on deer-sized game, but it has nothing to do with the caliber or rifle.
#19
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 37
What is the twist rate on that barrel? The reason I ask is that alot of the older 243's had twist rates designed for smaller/lighter bullets. A 100gr 243 will drop a deer as fast as a vw van, but if the barrel wont stabilize the bullet, then hitting it might present a problem...shoot a couple of groups for us and see which bullet weights work best for you...85gr and up will do the trick on deer...