.243 for deer
 

I was thinking of trading in my one of my.270WSMs(savage weather warrior 16flss) and buy the same rifle in .243.It will be a back up to my other .270wsm(browning micro hunter) but will also be used for coyotes and cheaper target shooting and will have the accu-trigger. also any info on factory loads for it
Bill

RE: .243 for deer
 

Bought a Savage 243 a few weeks ago. Shot my first deer with it a few days later. 151 yards, large doe, double lung exit wound was the size of a nickel. Deer barely moved afterwards.
Actually, I do not have much experience with the 243 however it was through postings here that I decided to pick up this gun. From what I read it is an excellent deer/varmint caliber.
I'm sure you will get much more information than I have provided

RE: .243 for deer
 

The only question I would have for you is why not??

RE: .243 for deer
 

just this past hunting season we took 3 deer with a 243 none of them took 1 shot after being shot. one was neck shot that droped the other was a sholder lungs droped then the other was heart shot. Its a great deer caliber. all were shot using 100gr serria gamekings. this was from two sperate rifles and hunters. shots were from 125 to 175 yards on big alberta mulies.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I talked to two guys in the last week that use .243s. One popped a six-pointer in the Adirondacks of NY, the other is an apple farmer in Columbia County of NY that uses his .243 for "pest control"--he's got two in the freezer right now. Both say that it drops them like they've been hit with mallets.

It's all where you put the bullet . . .

RE: .243 for deer
 

Speaking form experiencethe little .243 is a dynamite deer cartridge with the 100 gr. bullet loadings. I've shot many deer with this cartridge and only one ever needed a second shot. Most of the deer dropped where they stood. I guess the little bullet delivers a good bit of hydro-shock. The only other cartridge I've found that seems to drop a deer faster is the .270. I would bet the 7mm mag also would do the same but I have no experience with this chambering.

RE: .243 for deer
 

With a signature like that and you have to ask why? WHY?

RE: .243 for deer
 

Sig is a quote from a movie.

243 is an awesome deer caliber my bud has been using a Model 7 with 80grn Sierra Blitz bullets and has killed more deer then I can remember. He's a straight up outlaw and prob kills 20 or so a year and never has a prob dropping them. He's shot them from everywhere from their head to ass and loves the cailber.

I have shot a handful with my 6mm using 90grn Nosl BT's. Irecently purchased a 243 wssm which I am very confident will take out what I put the x-hairs on, gonna try some 85 grn Nosl Part. in it.

Youll be very happy with a 243.

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

The 243 is a good gun 4 deer and antalope and any animal thats was small than those 2....... shot use good shot placement and the gun will do the rest

RE: .243 for deer
 

Predator.
Oh and ya the .243 is an outstanding gun for deer.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I like it for large varmits like yotes and bob cats. I don't use them for deer.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Its my weapon of choice for squirrels! :D

RE: .243 for deer
 

This is michigan whitetail #17 with this 243. 100gr siera gameking SBT have worked wonders for me.

RE: .243 for deer
 

what modelgun is that?

RE: .243 for deer
 

Looks like a Browning with a BOSS.


I have shot several deer with a .243. It works great. Very accurate cartridge and these days there are some fantastic bullets available.

RE: .243 for deer
 

The ol 243 is a great deer gun and also makes a great coyote gun. I got tired of toting my 7mm around so I started shooting my 243 last year on deer and it kills them just as dead as my 7mm did, with alot less weight to pack around.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I got a big doe with my NEF 243 this year and it is good medicine for them. I have heard a few folk saying they wont do the trick, those folk cant hit the broad side of a barn! EJ

RE: .243 for deer
 

IT WORKS AS WELL AS THE 223.

RE: .243 for deer
 

James, hush your mouth!:D:D:D:D:DYou use the 6.5mmSwede andit has the same case and is only 1/2 of a mm bigger than the .243!:D:D:D:D:D

RE: .243 for deer
 

223 is to small for deer. you can kill one with it, but i wouldn't recomend it

RE: .243 for deer
 

He's being sarcastic, or he's been toooting on da crack pipe again

RE: .243 for deer
 

The Swede does not use the same case as the 243. The 260 does however. The 264 has bullets 60 percent or so heavier than the 243 and there is really no comparison when it comes to bullets. I have had about equal performance with the 223 and 243 on deer. Both have got the job done when bullet placement was exact and conditions perfect. Between the two since both are legal in our state, I could flip a coin between the two and expect to accomplish the same thing. HOWEVER, The 6.5 is head and shoulders way above both of them.

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:D:D:DYep!

RE: .243 for deer
 

James what do you mean when you say good shot placement? What I mean isnt where to shoot a deer but what shot placement do you consider ok with a larger caliber but not the smaller. I read alot of posts about the smaller guns and shot placement where do think its ok with whatever caliber you like to use compared to a243. Also lets say both guns have Nosler Partitions to make it EZ.

Im not trying to make a point that the 243 is better then your caliber of choice, Im just trying to see know I understand what you mean.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Good shot placement is the same for any caliber. Larger calibers or should I say heavier bullets will penetrate and or break bigger bones to get to the vitals. Some shot angles take more penetration which also comes down to sectional density and bullet construction. High velocity while it has its good points also makes bullets expand more thus sometimes reducing penetration. Having shot deer and other big game animals with a wide varity of calibers, I have come to prefer moderate weight bullets at medium velocities for deer hunting. The 6.5x55, 308, 7MM-08 are good examples of my choices for deer. I like the 270 lloaded to about 2700-2800 fps with 130 grain bullets. The 30-06 loaded to about the same velocity. I had pretty good luck with the 243 and 6MM Remington with Nosler Partitions and Hornady 100 grain Round nose bullets. Some of the early 243 bullets either shot pinholes through deer with no expansion or were to fragil and would blow up on shoulders and even ribs. There have been improvments in bullets since I first tried the 243 which was when it first came out. To me there are just to many better calibers for big game.

RE: .243 for deer
 

It is a browning Eurobolt in 243 with boss CR

RE: .243 for deer
 

delete

RE: .243 for deer
 

what ever happen to the euro bolt my best bud used to have one I liked the way they looked

RE: .243 for deer
 

I guess that because I bow hunt alot I have the sametendencies with bullet placement as arrow placement for the most part. Other then the head and neck shots with a gun, I dont shoot deer with a rifle anywhere I wouldnt shoot them with a bow. So that may be why I dont have a prob with the smaller calibers/guns on deer(I dont shoot enough large game animals to comment on anything but deer).

I still cant see a larger caliber letting me shoot a deer anywhere I wouldnt with a smaller gun. Unless your just talking about maybe a running deer and a plain bad shot even then Im not sure if a bad shot is any better with the big gun.

Im not saying your wrong Im just making sure I understand what you mean.

RE: .243 for deer
 

I agree. Good shot placement doesn't change with caliber. With today's bullet technology, either the .223 or the .243 are more than capable for whitetail. Don't get me wrong, all I'll ever hunt whitetail with is my .308 BLR. It's obviously superior to any caliber ever developed.:D However, it doesn't make the deer any more dead.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Smart man !
I never could or wont understand the " margin for error" crap I see here on the board.Ive said it before and I'll say it again. A .223 to the vitals is 10 times more lethal than a .300 mag to the gut.

RE: .243 for deer
 

10-4 Good Buddy!

RE: .243 for deer
 

There is no doubt that a well placed shot is the key nio matter what you shoot. I only point I was trying to make is that sometimes a heavier bullet will reach those vitals that may not be reached with lighter bullets. That on poor shot angles or big bones to shoot through. I say this because I have seen it happen quite a few times where light bullets do not penetrate tough shoulders and such. If you pass on those shots and can always wait for the right angle and a clear shot at the vitals then its a mute point. Hunt long enough and you will see what I mean. If I had nothing else I would surely hunt deer with the 6MM Remington. I just have many better choices.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Bah humbug !
Are we talking about the same animals, cause deer arent that tough a critter. Anything from a .222 and bigger will have no problems reaching the vitals of a deer. You act like the damn deer are wearing bullet proof vest or something, Jeeeez.
Are you talking about trying to reach the vitals through the damn ham or what.
Freaking arrow can go through the shoulder of a deer. .243 aint gonna sweat doing it. Puhleeeease !

RE: .243 for deer
 

:D:D:D:D:DIs that TexMex?

RE: .243 for deer
 

Me either. A deer gut shot with a 30-30 isn't going to die any faster than a deer gut shot with a 243. And as far as driving a bullet through bone or to the vitals on a hard quartering shot, well if I were taking those type shots, I'd be more concerned about bullet type rather than bullet caliber or weight.

If I had to shoot through a deers shoulder blade or through his back ham in order to get to his vitals and my choices were a 30-06 with 150grballistic tips ormy 25-06 with 115gr nosler partitions. I'd take the 115 grain partitions every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

RE: .243 for deer
 

Crap, We can't hunt on Sundays here in WV
I hate when that happens

RE: .243 for deer
 

Damn straight !
True Blooded Texican

RE: .243 for deer
 

The 6.5x55 with 140's will penetrate like you wouldn't believe.