I don't like a 243 for deer hunting, it's not a secret and currently
I stand by my opinion. However, I'm beginning to think that I need to re-evaluate things a little.
My opinion is based on my own experiances from 20+ years ago using 100gr CorLokt's and I haven't used one since.

I still consider CorLokt's in any caliber to be junk and that will never change but that's another story.

However, the fact is that bullet technology has changed A LOT since then. I beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, I should give the 243 another go and try bullets that I have a lot of confidence in and see what happens.

Changing bullets makes other marginal rounds better, so should I give the 243 another try.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with the .243.Got several truck loads of deer with one ,But have lost a few.Mostly my fault.Took less than perfect shot.I always loaded 100gr Hornady interbonds BTSP.Then went to 85 grain sierra BTHP.That bullet is awesome you would not think the little 85 would do better than the 100.It will smoke them As far as factory I always used Hornady customs in 100 grain or Federal Premium in 100 grain.By all means give it another chance .I want to build a super duper speed of light ultra magnificant magnumrific 6mm in the near future.Maybe a 6mm-378..........LOL

If you have no confidence in a gun then I myself wouldn't want to shoot it. But if changing the bullet will give you the confidence that you need to make a proper shot with a given gun to be able to harvest an animal then by all means give it a go.

Every caliber and make of cartriage has fail to kill an animal quick enough at some time and every bullet has fail at som point. We have to look beyond the sometimes and see what the real potential is. The 243 has kill a million deer without any problems is when paired with the correct ammo will kill any deer its pointed at. The shooter is what really matters and like was said before if you don't have any confidence in it you shouldn't use it till you work that confidence up. Bullet constructin and technology has come along way in the the past 20 years making questionable calibers suitable.

I don't know nothing about no .243, trying to stay out of these discussions...

Everytime it comes up someone else tells me that you can't take marginal shots, can't take running shots, can't use in the woods, can't take long shots, can't kill big deer, can't take shoulder shots...

I do happen to have about 15 boxes of CoreLokts stuck back that are 100gr that happen to fit a .243...I've killed more with them than any other bullet going back to 1980...

I also like that 85gr Sierra GameKing HPBT, but it really shines past 200 yards...The Federal Premium 100g Sierra GameKing SPBT and the Hornady InterLokt SP are also good loadings...It's hard for me to justify the price difference in other loadings when I have complete confidence in the CoreLokts...

There are a couple of things that I really like about this cartridge...I'm right handed but have killed several deer left handed that slipped up on the right side where I couldn't stand up and turn around...Also, since it kicks so light, you never lose sight of the deer in the scope...

We kill 40-50 deer a year on our farms, my brothers, nephews and friends have .270s, .280s, 7mm-08s, .308, .270 WSM, .260s and the like...I've killed deer with their guns and skinned and tracked deer with those calibers...

When a deer is lost, it's not the guns fault, it's the shooter...
I guess if a guy is going to gut shoot a deer then a larger caliber might put the deer down quicker and leave more poop to track...

I just prefer not to hit them there...

I will say this, shoot a cartridge and gun that you like, life's too short to shoot to hang around with a gun you don't like
(or woman)...

You should absolutely NOT try the .243 again!

Stick to 20 year old circumstances and preconceived notions. It's worked for you.

Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!

The .243 is a fantastic deer cartridge. I don't know what you have against the core lokts but I simply use regular ole 100 grain soft point bullets in my .243. Speer, sierra, Hornady, etc... etc...

Plain and simple = there is nothing wrong with the .243 for deer....................



Sorry !

I have also heard the same thing about the 30-30 from an awful lot of people who have never even packed one, let alone shot one. And imho the .243 is as good of a deer cartridge as the 30-30 and millions of deer dead and gone to the 2 of them can't be wrong.

On energy and velocity how does the 30-30 and the .243 compare. I'm at work and don't have my reloading manual.

Tom