A few years back I picked up a Rem 788 in .243 at a gun auction. I got it for my daughter and son to start deer hunting with. I put a 3 to 9 scope on it and got a couple boxes of 100 gr. Federal shells and headed for the range. What a pleasent little gun to shoot. And very nice groups to boot. I had a mule deer doe permit and desided to break in the .243. I hit her well in the chest and she walked off toward some bush so I hit her again. She went down dead but there was no blood trail at all in the snow. Then my daughter shot a whitetail doe and the it only went about 50 yds. and was dead. But no blood trail and we had a bit of a time finding it. Then I shot a nice whitetail buck (they are big bodied in Alberta just like Sask. as Skeeter pointed out) He only went about 60 yds. but I did not find him till two days later. No blood trail or sign of a fit at the place he was shot.

I have since talked to a friend that suggested I use Nosler partition bullets for better results. Thats what the kids are hunting with now and we will see if they work better.

I usually use a .264 win. mag. and have never lost an animal or had much trouble finding a shot critter.

Robin.

i got the info out of guns and ammo 2002 anual.
i have shot deer with both and have sean deer\bear\and hogs shot with both. the dammage the 30-30 does to me is grater. most of the 30-30 were pass throughs on the deer and some on the hogs. none of the 243 were pass throughs.

i will hopefull see my wifes 6mm in action this year and it may change my mind. but i dought it.
L. O. D. Charter member and L.O.S.

Well BT, I have witnessed just the opposite. Most of the deer I have seen shot with a 30-30 just keep walking for at least 100 yards. One hole in, one hole out with not much damage. The 243 on the other hand makes jelly out of the lungs on every deer I have seen shot with it. Most stop in their tracks or within 40 yards. Try using a premium bullet in your wifes 6mm and you will see what I am talking about.

the only 100gr load that we could find was the 100gr rem cor-lock.

most of the animals i have sean shot with thoes 2 cal. were under 100yd. that may make the differanc. i dont know.
i have had pass througs with sholder and spine shots using the 30-30. all with the 170gr load.
i dont realy like the 150's
L. O. D. Charter member and L.O.S.

Well i will say another thing about the 243. my son has killed another buck with his and i can assure you it is lethal!!!!!!!
I have only one complaint the ballistic tips i loaded don't leave a blood trail. last year he shot a doe with it useing 100 gr rem core loks. good blood trail and she didnt go far. both deer he has shot this year didnt go far but no blood. using B/T's .
he shot one last evening and the deer ran . he was hunting alone . when i got there he said the deer ran and pointed the direction. i looked for blood and saw none . i started combing the area and never found blood. after a 15 minute search i found the 8 pt dead as a hammer. just about 40 yards from where he said he shot him. the deer only bled from his mouth and he had made a good lung shot.
i may try another bullet like a 100 gr soft point to see if it helps with creating a blood trail. it's hard to find a deer if you have nothing to follow.
But i will say the 243 is very lethal on deer. i won't doubt it's abilitys.

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL

I agree it's a great LADIES GUN, go ahead show your gender...

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