Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

My lil girl is 8 years old, i bought her a single shot new england .243, she shoots it great. Im actually impressed at her 4" groups at 100yrds.Problem is, this weekend was youth weekend, and her first time hunting. She shot a doe at 127yrds, dropped him on the ground. Deer gets up and runs off, found 3 drops of blood, never found the deer. Next day, she shoots a small buck, drops him at 200+ yrds, he spins in circles flopping. Then , yep, gets up and runs off. Never found any blood, grrrr. So my question is, does this rifle pack enuff punch to kill a deer? Any of yall had any luck with this caliber?

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

What ammo were you using?

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

The .243 is a great minimum cartridge for deer, with good 100 gr. hunting bullets, that is!
Sounds like poor shooting, and/or bad bullet selection!
I'm not trying to be critical, but you just can't blame a caliber, for poor shooting!
If its not the bullet design, have you taught her exactly where to aim for? Aiming at targets, is not the same as aiming at an animal! Many times new hunters, or people with "buck fever" aim at the deer, not a particular spot on the deer! Also, 127 yards and 200+ yards isstretching it for her first deer!
Get her back on the range, and practice too! Sometimes we do kids a disservice, by putting them in the drivers seat before they are ready to drive!

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

4 inches at 100 yards is 8 inches at 200 yards. Limit her shooting to 50 yards and as she grows up, increase the range. I have taken over 50 deer on 3 continents with my Sako 243....as a practiced professional hunter/shooter.IMHO, you cannot expect much from a pre-teen boy or girl over 50 yards. You need to have her practice alot more until she is 100% confident in the shot. When she can shoot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards, then let her shoot at the real thing at 50 yards. How old were you when you killed your first deer? You will ruin her desire to hunt unless you figure this out real fast. Good luck and regardsRick.

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

I hate to be critical of you also but if she is shooting 4" groups at 100 yards then no way would I let her take a 200+ yard shot on an animal. You said he was "floppinf" around. She probably shot it in the front leg and broke it out from underneath him.

The .243 is more than enough cartridge for any deer alive. It's not the cartridge.

Bottom line is that you need to have her practice a lot more and until she can consistantly make long shots on paper limit her shots to less than 100 yards.

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

The .243 is a good gun for anybody.I can only agree with the others Practice!

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

I hate to be critical of you also but if she is shooting 4" groups at 100 yards then no way would I let her take a 200+ yard shot on an animal. You said he was "floppinf" around. She probably shot it in the front leg and broke it out from underneath him.

The .243 is more than enough cartridge for any deer alive. It's not the cartridge.

Bottom line is that you need to have her practice a lot more and until she can consistantly make long shots on paper limit her shots to less than 100 yards.

DITTO!

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

ditto what everyone else has said about yardage, age and skill... i know an elderly gentleman whom i hunted with since i could hunt... he used a 243 long before i was ever around and still does... there are more horns in his den than i've ever been able count and those i have been around to witness didn't go far... personally i don't like the 243 soley because it is WAY too destructive IMO, especially at close range..

plus wounding an animal and not making every attempt to find it is unacceptable... not saying you didn't but i know way too many people who look for an hour and call it a day if they can't find a critter... maybe it is discouragement, laziness, lack of tracking skill or lack of ethics.. who knows... if it takes 2 days to find it combing every square inch of the area so be it... if you find the wounded animal it is your duty as a hunter to put it down... if the critter is dead at least you found it and know it is dead and not limpin around with a bullet in it...

if you are going to be a hunter then you also have to be a tracker... part of the package...

not trying to be too critical... JMHO

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

Thanks for all the info guys, She was using Hornady Custom bullets, 100grain. And you are right, i will limit her to 50yrds on shooting. And btw, we found the small 6 point she shot at 200yrds this morning! he was hit in the front shoulder. Never found any blood,but happen to walk up on him in a dry creek bed.But from now on, im gonna limit how far she shoots.
Thanks again!

RE: Is a 243 rifle good for a kid?
 

The dreaded shoulder shot. Some guns like a slug gun at close range, I love the shoulder shot. Massive damage, drops like a hammer. But for other guns with say BT's or SST's, in my 270, or 7mm-08 or even 308I won't do it. But if I am shooting Barnes or partitions, and all I have is shoulder shot, you bet ya I will be eatin venision that night.

For that bullet, a boiler room shot is a must and devistating if it reaches its mark.