RE: .243 for deer
 

Agreed ! but talk about small holes.

RE: .243 for deer
 

What I am trying to figure out is why is so many people these days desiring to use real small calibers for deer? Sure, you can beat the dead horse until it rots to nothing about can it kill, is it good. Sure its a gun, it kills. No big secret.

But what I am trying to understand, is why the big push for it in the last 2 or 3 years. 10 years ago, you never saw a guy with a 222 deer hunting. The average deer hunter had his 308, 30-06, 270, 243. They work great, reliable, never had to worry too much about "is that the right bullet".

Are hunters wanting a new challenge?

RE: .243 for deer
 

Heck, I can remember when the .257 Roberts was the one!:)

RE: .243 for deer
 

but then along came the .243.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Like I said before. Obsessed. OCD

RE: .243 for deer
 

That's a good question big.
After reading alot trying to get into this sport I have an opinion that is based on my very limited experience.

It seems like some years ago alot of magnums were introduced and lots of gun writers in magazines and somepeople on boards like this became obsessed with flat shooting long range guns. There was a "need" to shoot deer at 6000 yards. A problem with "needing" to shoot that far was that it would take a great amount of practice to do it with any success. Practicing alot with some of these long range guns created another problem. Recoil.
It is possible that still wanting to shoot flat longer range guns but not wanted to get beat up doing it produced the "infatuation" with guns like the 243, 25-06, 6.5 etc.
These guns could certainly allow someone to feel like they are long range deer killers with the potential to take deer out to 300-400 yards but not have to endure the pounding it wouyld take to practice with the bigger magnums
Then again I might just have no clue what the heck i just tried to say.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Well, Danny, I totally disagree with most of that. I don't think anyone every said a 30-06 was going to shoot 6000 yards or even 600.

I think alot of it, is one, some on here its thier first and only gun. Its all they got to compare, and talk about. fair enough.Two, some chest beating. I mean, I when I kill a deer, you never hear me say what i killed it with. Its a moot point. But then you have someone come into the checking station with buck, and they feel the need to tell you, that they did it with a 223. Why they decide to tell me I can only guess. Maybe it makes them feel better. Who knows. I myself dont' know anyone that uses a 300win mag on deer. Most all of my friends and family used your 270 or 308 or 243 or even 30-30. Most of us started out with a 243. I know I did. Some start with the turdy turdy.

Several years ago, there was severalshows onthe outdoor network of guysfrom TX killing whitetail with 22-250's. Since then, it seems everyonewant todo it. Maybe people are bored. I highly suggest people in that category go forlong bow or something. Itjust seems the hunting public goes one wayor the other. WSM for100lb bucks, or 223. It just not cool to kill with a 270 anymore.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Did you even read what he wrote or what.
He is saying that for a time that everyone wanted a flat shooting magnum. 6000 yards was just an exaggeration of how far people thought they needed to shoot with whatever gun they had. He just means a long distance. Now he thinks people still want a very flat shooting gun like a 223 243 without the recoil of a magnum round. He didnt even mention a 30-06. I dont know if he's is right but what you wrote really doesnt make sense about his post.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Sure, I read it. But it was a a post to him, not you. And what I meant, is I don't remember that time besides right now in the present where people feel the need to reach out 6000 yards (ie long distance to you). He said many years ago. I don't remember this time. I mean I was there, but most of my aquaintances, hunting buddys,whatever,never used a winmag on deer. I know I wouldn't.

If you want to reply to him, go for it. But I was replying to him.

My original post about the subject states poeple 10 years ago used 30-06, 308, 270's etc, which is all I remember "many years" ago as he stated.

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:DHey BC, my buddy CamoCop uses a.300Winmag here in FL!:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

I am sure alot of folks do it. It will kill em dead dead. And reliably dead. I know my first hunting partner used a 300Weatherby on little WV deer around 100lbs. We were young, and thats the gun every kid said they wanted. He since only uses it in Northern Canada and uses a typical 270 on deer.

But what amazes me is why people are trying to push the limits. I mean there was an article I believe in Guns and Ammo several months back about taking game in Africa with a 204? I just don't understand why people are going this way. I mean a 243 with 100gr bullet and you will have venision in the fridge. Why go smaller? If someone can't handle a 243's recoil, they got other issues. I guess for me, I don't want any excuses when that buck of a lifetime come around. Like my older friend this year who shot a nice with a 22-250 and a partition and lost it. Now he goes around swearing off the 22-250. He used it for years.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Yes. when I said 6000 I was exaggerating and I you did quote (twice) that I said "many" years ago. Which i did not.
Not the point though.
I am saying that it is possible that some people are looking towards the smaller recoiling, lighter bullet, flat shooting guns so they can get into the long range killing game without having toget beat up by the biigger caliber guns

RE: .243 for deer
 

Yea, everybodys really beatin that dead horse on the 6000 yard thing. Guys I got it the first time.

Maybe, but all the ones I know personally are usually big braggers. The older fellas I know that use em religiously, seem to constantly talk about how they only use a 22-250. They go on and on making sure everyone knows. They are affective. But no moreaffective than your typical 270 user. Maybe less, causethey pass on shoulder shots and stuff.

You said "some years ago", talk about splittin hairs. One can only assume it wasn't last year. Bud amI right abou that statement???And I reported I don't know what your talking about some years ago, or many years ago. its only been recently in the last 2 years where people started wanting WSM's and RUM's for deer. At least you can tell me what you have noticed over the last 20 years your hunting.

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:D:DWhy do anglers like to take a 25lb bass with 10lb test line?:D:D:D:D:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

Cause they were crappie fishin when that big ole bass took the minny.:D:D Well, you may be lucky enought to take 25lb bass with that fl strain, but in the north, a good old 7lb bass is a whopper.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I'll match them!:D:D:D:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

Boy I would move to Fl just for the fishin if it wasnt' for that urban renewal every other year around the August timefrme. Nice fish man.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I know I'm hi-jacking thisthread, sorry guys!

My area is starting tobe all developed![:@]

RE: .243 for deer
 

Delete

RE: .243 for deer
 

You're right BC. I said some because I had no idea when the WSM RUM thing caught on . Like I said I am new to this, last year actually, and all I know is it was before then.
I don't have an extensive collection of guns in fact it's fairly puny. 22lr, 30-30, 243,270 a muzzy and a shot gun.
When I first started reading about this sport trying to get into it, I read magazines. I came away thinking I needed a 300 WM or 7mm mag. Rarely were there articles about deer hunting with a 30-30. Oh, it might have been mentioned as an "old warhorse" or something like that but certainly not what was "necessary" in the real hunting world.
Then I found this site. It was guys like you, Reb, Zrex, and others that made me realize that as long as I wasn't hunting brown bear that the above mentioned collection was a very good start.
Will I one own a 300 or 7mm one day? Heck yes. You just can't have enough guns you know.

RE: .243 for deer
 

My gosh, just starting out, you got an arsonal. I started out with a winchester pokestalk 410. Then at 12 got a 870, then got a 243 years later.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Yeah, jumped in with both feet.
So far i have a deer with the 30-30 first then the 270 and then the 243. They have all done a good job so far. I expected nothing less based on what I knew from the folks on here going in.
Plus If I only had 1 gun i'd wear it out. The 30-30 and the 270 have over 700 rounds through each of them in the past year. I just got the 243 about a month ago in its getting a workout too.
Love to shoot

RE: .243 for deer
 

Where do ya hunt? I used to hunt Wayne county pretty heavy years ago. Around the 12 pole area right above mingo. Also off of 52.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Here Danny, this SS Ruger M77.243 has killed many deer around Valrico untill I bought the Ruger M77 6.5mmSwede and took the scope for it!

RE: .243 for deer
 

BC.
I hunt Beech Fork in Wayne, a small piece of private land (22 acres) in Mason. and another small piece (50 acres) in Cabell. Not too bad hunting. I have never seen anything with big antlers but a fair amount of doe around.

Reb,
Nice looking gun there. I just got my 243 and it is great to shoot. I could shoot it all day long. Man I had no idea there was even hunting around my house when I lived in Valrico. I lived right across the street from Bloomingdale High. Never even knew anyone that hunted except for a guy that hunted gator

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:D:DWhen I huntedValrico, it was nothing but woods! There were a couple ofshopping centers in west Brandon and nothing untill you got to Turkey Creek Road on HWY 60 in Plant City. The 465lb boar that I killed in Picnic,Fl is not to far from Valrico. Allthat was owned by Cargill Phosphate Mines.
I have a buddy in Palm River that hasabout 12-15 deer mounts all taken with the .243.. We use to hunt behind his home on 500 acres owned by Tower Dairy.

Back then we use to go to Spicola Hardware south ofHwy 60 on 19th street, (before they built the Cross Town that tookCampamor Dairy that we hunted also), and buy Rem 1100's for $146!:)

RE: .243 for deer
 

Holy crap Big...was your 243 a 700 Rem?? If it was our first three guns were exactly the same thing..lol. Then after the 243 I went bigtime with the 742 :D

RE: .243 for deer
 

Man Reb, If I had only known back then I'd have had a jump on this stuff and not waited until I was 43 to start hunting

RE: .243 for deer
 

Wish you were still here Bro! Ihave a 200yd range on my place, butwas ordered by the country acouple of years agoto seize fire![:@]

:D:D:D:DWe use to shoot skeet and trap off my driveway!:D:D:D:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

It's a great place.
Mom and dad still live in Spring Hill. Aunt, Granma, and Cousin still live in Venice, Mom in law in Sun city center.
I was just down there in November for a wedding. I try to get down there as often as possible

RE: .243 for deer
 

damn rednecks !