243
 

Just wondering what the max distance you would shoot a deer with a 243 is?

RE: 243
 

The .243 is certainly capeable of killing deer to 400+- yards if the proper bullets are used like a 100 grain Nosler partition.

The person behind the trigger is another story entirely

RE: 243
 

I hunt with the 243 Win all the time and wouldn't recommend it on deer over 300 yds . It drops pretty fast beyond 300 yards on a rifle zero'd at 200 yards .

RE: 243
 

Well, as noted, it is capable of 300 and 400yd. on deer, but the terminal ballistics are getting pretty low that far out. As anyone can tell from other comments I've made elsewhere, I figure the 243Win. to be best used as a varmint rifle/cartridge. Yes, it
can do for deer, but IMHO it is MINIMAL. I'd limit the range to 200yds., 250max.
Use premium ammo/bullets (ex.: nosler partitions), and broadside heart/lung shots only.

If you want long range performance for deer, get a 270Win., 270WSM, or 7mmRem.Mag.

RE: 243
 

I'm with Virginia on this one.

That doesn't mean a 243 Win. won't kill deer, but it really "is" a bit on the light side, "UNLESS" you do everything right!!

Would you be willing to pass up a nice buck standing straight away from you at 150 yards???????

Drilling Man

RE: 243
 

I have a Rem 700 BDL .243 w/ custom laminated stock. It's a fine rifle for taking deer. I would pick it any day over all these heavy magnum cartridges. Before one goes hunting he needs to learn to shoot, a good shooter is fine w/ a .243 for deer, shot placement is key. I think more people need to learn how to shoot, rather that blowing deer up w/ all these magnum loads.

RE: 243
 

Ohh sry, to answer your question to can "shoot" a deer at 1000 yds but to effectively and humanily take the deer, I would keep it in the area of under 300 yds.

RE: 243
 

I wouldn't attempt that shot even if I were useing a 300 magnum. The only shot you would have would be a shot in the back of the neck to break its spine and the .243 would do that just as easily as any cartridge made today. IMO there just ins't a large enough target to attempt that shot on a live MOVING animal.

RE: 243
 

Your obviously using the wrong bullets. Check out federals 100 gr. sierra gameking BT, or even their 85 gr. sierra Gameking HP. They both shoot flatter than just about every non magnum cartridge, with plenty of velocity and enough energy out to 500 yds great BC too, bucks the wind great.

RE: 243
 

i would say 300 yards, past that how can you correctly idenitfy game anyway?

RE: 243
 

jdreddish wrote
I second that.:D

RE: 243
 

zrexpilot

If you read the post I said with a rifle sighted at 200 yds the drop is to great beyond 300 yds , which according to Sierra at 300 it would be 7 " ,at 400yds it would be 20" and at 500 yd it would be 43" for the 85 gr and 40" for the 100 gr . Personally unless you can obtain your yardage and make sight adjustments your just poking and hoping I don't personally care to shoot that way . Hal

RE: 243
 

i would say 200-250 yards

RE: 243
 

Big bulls,

My post said "standing", not moveing..

This is the very reason i like to use NP's, i want a bullet that drives deep, and hopefully all the way through. Once i shoot at a game animial, if it runs i'm going to keep on shooting as long as i have a safe shot to take!! If it's 200 yards away running straight away, i'm going to shoot!!! I "always" assume i've already hit that animial, as i wouldn't take the origional shot unless i'm sure i can make it!!

As for my "origional" question.... I wouldn't take that shot with my 243 Win., but i've made that shot more than a few times with bigger cals. useing NP's, and the bullet drives on through going into the chest!! I aim right on the rump hole, and a NP up the poop shoot will go all the way into the chest (ruining very little meat) and do it's job... A hit a bit low will still do the same, a hit higher will break the back, or hit the head or neck, all good killing shots for me!!! Like i said, i use "enough" gun and Nosler partitions, so i know the gun/load is up to the job!!!

These days i've been useing an 8x57jrs, but my 30-06 or 280 Rem. is easily up to this task!! (as are many others) You don't need a magnum, you need good expanding bullets!!!

My origional point was, will these guys useing 243 Win.'s, turn down a shot at a nice buck because he's standing wrong, and they have a 243 in there hands???????????????? I doupt it!!!

I'm NOT saying this shot is for EVERYONE, but i have full confinence in my ability to make it!!

Zrexpilot,

I've used both of those Sierra bullets in my 243 Win., and they just didn't off enough penetration on anything but the best shots, so i quit them... My 243 Win. didn't start to turn into a decent deer rifle, untill i started useing 100 grain Nosler partitions in it. It's the only bullet that gave decent penetration!!

Drilling Man

RE: 243
 

you got the 100 gr right, however federal says the 85 gr BTHP. zeroed@ 200 is -5.5 in @300 -16.1@400 and -32.8in @ 500. Even with the 100 gr. 20 inches of drop@400 is better than most all other calibers You say it like the .243 drops a ton when in fact its quite flat shooting, specially with the 85 gr. BTHP. In fact the 85 gr. shoots flatter than a 7 mag. with around the same wind drift.



DM thats hard to believe, I havent had any penetration issues with the Sierras by federal. In fact my son shot a doe this year(125lbs'er) straight on with her feeding, head down, it went completely through her including spine and guts, and out the pooper area.

RE: 243
 

I love my .243 but don't base your holdover on ballistic charts. They're figured by computation not real shooting. Most will show a .243 in the 18"-22" range (drop at 400) but my findings show it's much more severe than that. It's holds it's own out to about 325 or so then......the wheels fall off. I think 300 is a good max. I killed one this fall ay 230 and the BT did a real good job..the deer just didn't know it. I thought I missed! So I shot again..this time in the shoulder. Dropped in a couple steps. The first shot did great just no oomph! It was obvious that I wasn't shooting my 7 mag. Whack-em!

RE: 243
 

If you handload and use premium bullets shoot as far as your accurate, 400+yds. with factory premium I'd say out to 400yds, with cheapo factory loads 300-350yds. Someone mentioned that the wheels fall of beyond 300-325yds, look at any high power caliber and guess what....thats where they really start to drop.

RE: 243
 

DM. I hated the 243 for deer until I started using the Partition bullets. Other bullets worked sometimes but the Partition works every time. I would not even carry the 243 out the door without Nosler Partitions. I use them in most of my rifles although I use the ballistic tip in some of my bigger rifles. I would limit my own shots with the 243 at deer to 250 yards Max. I don't like shooting game much past 300 yards with any rifle.