.243 for whitetails
08-22-2007, 06:04 PM
#42
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Baileysville, WV
Posts: 2,925
RE: .243 for whitetails
Just a beginner here..lol. Only 3 of my 125-150 whitetail killshave been with the 243. So I guess my opinion could be overlooked. Ill be 37 tomorrow...God forbid 
I do a lot of still hunting and 8 times out of 10 get some kind of quartering shot and I like a bullet that doesnt give me any surprises. Seen some weird things out of the 100 grainers at closer ranges (30 yards and in). The 130 power shoks out of the 270 do it occasionally but not nearly to the same degree and the 140's from the 7-08 havent done anything weird yet. This is just close range still hunting in Northern WV. Your hunting situation may and probably does differ. This is just my experience...might not be yours so carry what ya enjoy
I do a lot of still hunting and 8 times out of 10 get some kind of quartering shot and I like a bullet that doesnt give me any surprises. Seen some weird things out of the 100 grainers at closer ranges (30 yards and in). The 130 power shoks out of the 270 do it occasionally but not nearly to the same degree and the 140's from the 7-08 havent done anything weird yet. This is just close range still hunting in Northern WV. Your hunting situation may and probably does differ. This is just my experience...might not be yours so carry what ya enjoy
08-22-2007, 06:48 PM
#43
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: .243 for whitetails
Well...Happy Birthday.....
I hope it's a good one...I'll be 52 on Sunday...
Kinda reminds me, closest I ever killed a deer was 3 steps from the base of the tree, shot him in the back of the neck...I hope I am lucky enough to go that quick...
I hear guys talk about see through mounts, and close shots I was using my .243, which is a bolt with a 3x9x40 Leupold, didn't have any problems finding the neck...But, that is a good reason to learn to shoot with both eyes open.
I hope it's a good one...I'll be 52 on Sunday...
Kinda reminds me, closest I ever killed a deer was 3 steps from the base of the tree, shot him in the back of the neck...I hope I am lucky enough to go that quick...
I hear guys talk about see through mounts, and close shots I was using my .243, which is a bolt with a 3x9x40 Leupold, didn't have any problems finding the neck...But, that is a good reason to learn to shoot with both eyes open.
08-23-2007, 01:19 AM
#44
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 178
RE: .243 for whitetails
The guys who think you need atleast a .30 cal to take down a whitetail either were lied to as a child or cant shoot worth a darn. A .243 is a perfectly capable whitetail cartridge. Shoot a Nosler partition or a 100gr. Sierra Gameking and you will have no problems with any whitetail of any size (if you know how to shoot).
08-23-2007, 04:23 AM
#45
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 129
RE: .243 for whitetails
I use an '06 and shoot very well. I recently got back into hunting and could only afford one rifle this year. I got something that would work well for deer as well as huge hogs.
My daughter an I are in a hunter safety course as we speak(I've never had on here in GA) There are some in that class that have never even fired a high power rifle. When asked about caliber choice the ranger teaching the class says he only uses a .243 for deer, period. His reasons are stated above. If it's good enough for him it should be good enough for you.
My daughter an I are in a hunter safety course as we speak(I've never had on here in GA) There are some in that class that have never even fired a high power rifle. When asked about caliber choice the ranger teaching the class says he only uses a .243 for deer, period. His reasons are stated above. If it's good enough for him it should be good enough for you.
08-23-2007, 10:04 AM
#46
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,695
RE: .243 for whitetails
Please stop confusing people with facts.
LOL
ORIGINAL: Todd1700
Almost all lost deer are due to a bad hit. And a bad hit is a bad hit whether you make it with a 243 or a 300 short mag.
I have never seen any scientific study that found a slightly larger hole in the intestines killed deer markedly faster than a slightly smaller one.
Put your shot in the vitals and a 243 will kill a whitetail graveyard dead every time. And if you can't keep your shots from a 243 in the kill zone
then moving up to a harder recoiling caliber probably won't improve that situation. I never lost a deer I shot with a 243.
quote:
and all of the deer (about 1,000 kills) 95% of the deer lost were hit by very small calibre bullets where it didn't go through bone,
Bullet type has far more to do with penetration than caliber size.
I'd trust a 100 grain nosler partition out of a 243 to give me an exit hole and penetrate bone more often than a
130 grain ballistic tip out of a 270.
Almost all lost deer are due to a bad hit. And a bad hit is a bad hit whether you make it with a 243 or a 300 short mag.
I have never seen any scientific study that found a slightly larger hole in the intestines killed deer markedly faster than a slightly smaller one.
Put your shot in the vitals and a 243 will kill a whitetail graveyard dead every time. And if you can't keep your shots from a 243 in the kill zone
then moving up to a harder recoiling caliber probably won't improve that situation. I never lost a deer I shot with a 243.
quote:
and all of the deer (about 1,000 kills) 95% of the deer lost were hit by very small calibre bullets where it didn't go through bone,
Bullet type has far more to do with penetration than caliber size.
I'd trust a 100 grain nosler partition out of a 243 to give me an exit hole and penetrate bone more often than a
130 grain ballistic tip out of a 270.
08-24-2007, 06:55 AM
#47
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Up State NY
Posts: 167
RE: .243 for whitetails
What about a .243 WSSM. Anyone like them? It's a little quicker than the std .243. I just bought one, was planning on using it for yote hunting, but might try deer w/ it too. haven't shot it yet.
I have a .300WSM too and DAMN she KICKS!!
I have a .300WSM too and DAMN she KICKS!!
