243 caliber for deer?
 

I am looking at deer rifles for my girlfriend she is of a smaller frame so only youth models would fit her. All I see in youth models for rifles are 243 caliber. I know that they come with 100 grain bullets usually is this a good caliber for deer it seems small to me but i like bigger calibers. would it work and to what effective range.

JOE

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

Yes it works...Out to 300 yards...Good Luck...

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

how woulda 20 inch barrel work for accuracy and speed.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

I'd say a .243 would be perfect IMO.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

20 inches is just fine...One of my buddies is kinda short, he bought the .243 youth model 700 with a 20 inch barrel, I sighted it in for him...It put the Hornady Custom 100grs into a nickle at 100 yards...If you want more speed you can go with the Federal Premium 85gr BTHP, it gets about 3320 out of a 24 inch barrel...

New hunters shouldn't be shooting much past 150 yards or so anyway, any of the 100gr loads will be plenty fast out to that range...

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

All but one of my deer has fallen to the 243.. Using the 85 Grain BTHP.. Shots ranging from 100 to 246 yards.. You got plenty of gun.. The gun I have been using for the past 20 years has a 20" barrell on it also..

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

I got my grandsons just a cheap breech load New England Firearms .243 and put a Bushnell Elite 4200 on it and it is a deer killing rifle. We use the Hornady 100 grains also. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with it myself. Be sure to get her a quality scope and not an el-cheap o.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

.243 works, if you want more, but still less, 7mm-08 is agreat round. or .260 I'm considering a .243 or 6mm for antelope round which would be plenty good out to 500 600yds I feel, and maybe muleys, not sure though.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

My Daughter shot a nice Doe with her single shot .243 Rossi Youth Gun,she used the Remington 100 grain shells and her gun has the Tru-Glo Red Dot scope.I though you could get a longer barreled .243 with the shorter stock?If you Girlfriend can handle a Rifle pretty good I would consider looking for a .243 with a longer barrel......look into the Remington Rifles....if I'm correct the make a very nice Rifle in Camo with the shorter stock for smaller/younger Hunters!

I think the heaviest bullet you can get for a .243 is the 100 grain bullet?I shoot 100 grain Hornady bullets in my Browning .243 Rifle and I have shot several deer with it including 2 nice 8-Point Bucks so far.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

.243 is fine, i've taken deer with no problem with a .223. shot placement kills, not magnums.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

remington model 7'sor ruger model 77 compact nice bolt guns in a small package. Many choices for chambering. .243 w/ 100 gr sierra gk. works every time.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

.243 is a great round for youth and females who don't like recoil. as far as a 20" barrel goes, it should work fine.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

So, if you are 52 years old and 6ft 5 inches, 250 pounds, you shouldn't shoot a .243???:D

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

I am 5'10" and weigh about 225 , and am 43 years old.... I own a Model 7 in 7mm-08 and a Ruger M77 Compact .243. The Rem. barrel is 18 " and the Ruger is 16.5 ..... And I LOVE both of those guns. They are light , easy to carry and manuver in tower, ladder, or climbing / hang on stands. So no, they are not just for women. And for the record, I have several full size / length rifles, but I use the shorter one much more.

And if you feel you just have to have more energy and velocity, then shoot Hornady Lite Mag ammo. Thats about all I shoot in any of my guns these days. It is accurate and the deer D.R.T.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

my daughters remington 700SPS youth is a great gun I use it alot when its wet out( due to synthetic stock) and it shots great,I killed a doe this year at a ranged 368yards she never made it out of the field,with good shot placement the 243 is an excellent deer caliber.Her rem. loves federal fusion 95 grainers.My savage 110 loves the 100grainers.these are great guns.If you really want a neat little gun that would be good for smaller people like me look at the ruger compact I own one in 223 and it's sweet,and a good shooter,they come in 223,243,260,308,and maybe 7mm-08 not sure about that one,but these are good little guns and smaller than the remington youth models,they also have nice checkered wood stocks,or laminated in stainless or blue,nice guns.rem sps-$459 ruger compact-$549 est. price.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

Given the choice, I'll grab a short barreled rifle 99% of the time. They are just so much handier and easier to carry and maneuver, I could care less about what precious little velocity I may be losing. I've never had a deer or varmint complain about my barrel length.:)

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

Never had anywhitetails complain about my barrel length either but cant say the same for some of the ex gf's :D:D

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

If you're on a budget a Howa 1500 youth is a great gun. You can get it in .243 with a composite stock. Light, short, easy handling and less than $300. Better than a lot of the guns mentioned. And much, much less expensive. .243...a great caliber for deer. Ammunition where ever you go. Only topped by a 30.06 as far as ammo availability.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

You might also want to check out the 95gr Combined Technology Ballistic Tip. It does wonders on deer. ;)

I have alot of guns in my safe, and every deer season I grab my 243, and its always a Bang FLOP.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

Joe,
The 243 win is a great chose. My daughter,son,Me and last year for the first time my grandaughterall use 243s. THe only thing we don't agree on is what bullet to use. My son likes the 95 gr BT,My daughter likes the 100 hornady sp ,I load the 85 gr Barns tsx for my grandaughter and my favorite is the 100 gr hornady round nose.

RE: 243 caliber for deer?
 

I like 243. but i use a 22 hornet deer rifle. it has sso much power. no kiding.