243 for deer
 

I just purchased a pre 64 mod 70 win 243 and I was wondering what you guys thought of a 243 as a whitetail deer round> Thank you

we use 223..dont see why a 243 wouldnt

It's the only centerfire I've owned since 1980 and I have killed close to 200 deer with mine...It works just fine...

This same topic gets posted about every three weeks, if you would do a search, you will find tons of responses to this.

I think it's "Dead on" !!!



http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.243winchester.html



http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/243.html

Absolutely nothing wrong with a 243 as a deer round. They get the job done.

Thank you guys!!!

deadon,
I love the .243, especially with the 100 grain bullets. My favorite is the Speer 100gr. Grand Slam. A bit more spendy, but I like heavy bullets. Deer (mule and whitetail), dall sheep, mt. goat; it does all this on down. I have never heard (from my hunting buddies) any horror stories about game getting away given fair distances and well placed shots. Now, I have heard of people shooting moose and bears with this round and them not having a instantaneous kill. Duh! As long as you don't expect to shoot a black bear in the paw and expect lighting bolts from the heavens, you will do fine. Enjoy!

I inherited a mid-late 70s model 70 in 243 last summer and killed one of my biggest bucks with it this year. My advice is cherish it because they don't make em like they used to

My stepfather killed a lot of deer with the 243, in Rem. 742 and Browning BLR. I inherited the BLR last year when he passed away, and he wanted my kids to use it, but since they are not really ready for it, I have used it some this year. I wouldn't hesitate to go into the deer woods with this rifle.

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.

There isn't a whitetail alive, anywhere, that a .243 can't take down cleanly. Its a great whitetail, antelope, yote gun. I love my 700 Mtn SS in .243.

I shoot a .300 WSM for the big stuff

X2! Absolutly nothing wrong with the .243 on Whitetails, ANY Whitetails!

Somewhat have to agree with this one. Not that I would not use the .243 in the northern states and Canada, but if I did I would make sure I used a good quality bullet. In the past 3 years in northern Minnesota, I shot 3 large bucks weighing in at #265, #300, and #365 pounds. The shoulders were massive on these guys. I feel really comfortable with my 30-06 in thick woods.

theres a few thousand deer that cant stand the 243.but they cant comment!lol

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.

LOL!!! End of story.

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...

I have no trouble killing deer with mine.........I use 100gr Sierra "Game Kings".....

I'd say all you need now besides that .243 is a gutting knife and drag rope.

This has been asked 3,456,196 times!(i been countin)Ask the 7 deer ive killed wida 243,they cant answer!LMAO!!

243 using a 85 Grain BTHP is wicked on deer.. Also try the 85 Grain Barnes Triple X.. Larger body deer I might move up to the 100 grain bullet.

i have a savage 243 with a bsa scope i use if for all big game its a really sick gun its taken down big elk and over a dozen 150 lb boar

.243 for elk? Really? :D

Hit them where they breeth or pump blood and a .243 works as well as anything else.

Yep. Though I wouldn't recommend the use of one on elk nor would I use one myself on elk a retired coworker of mine claims to have used a .243 with an 85 grain BTHP to take 16 elk over the years. Some pretty dang good bulls to from the pics he has shown me.

Even a .22 mag will kill an elk..............If it is placed in its ear or forehead!

I've killed bison and water buffalo with a 22 mag, plus more'n 500 beef and countless pigs its all about shot placement

Isnt wind a huge factor with that light bullet? I cant imagine shooting a 1000 yds with a 105

Definitely a death ray

We get shots on hogs and yotes out to 500 or 600 but nothing past that, thats a helluva long shot. My adl will put the trouncin on a hog that far but I get the feelin most high velocity rounds will wish i could test my **** at those ranges

.243 is my only choice for a rifle for White Tail.

243? for deer? seriously? PLEASE! Here is a picture of my deer rifle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pak40_parola_1.jpg Of course, I am a real man and can handle it.