243 for bear
 

is a 243 big enough for black bear? is a 243 too big for coyotes?

RE: 243 for bear
 

I wouldn't suggest it but if that's your only option then you could at least try it, it will definitly have to be a well placed shot. Also, I don't hunt coyotes but I do often see many "varmint" rifles chambered for it, you can buy buy 80 grain factory ammo and if you handload you can get even smaller bullets or FMJ bullets so there's no reason not to use it for coyotes

RE: 243 for bear
 

IMO it is just right for coyotes but I would not want to pi$$ off a bear with one.
I would prefer something a bit larger with more power and of good bullet.(not that 243's don't have good bullets)

RE: 243 for bear
 

Bear? Don't know, but I wouldn't try it.

Coyote? Depends on what your intentions are. If you just want to control their population and don't care about the pelts, then the .243 with 75-80gr varmint bullets would be very effective. If you want to skin them and sell the pelts, however, the .243 might do a little more pelt damage then you might like. In that case I'd say try a .223 or 22-250.

Mike

RE: 243 for bear
 

I killed the biggest black bear i ever shot with my .243 win. He was walking side ways at about 40 yards to me, and i used 100 grain Nosler Partition!! One shot, and it was all over. BTW, this bear weighed just over 500 pounds live weight!! (yes i weighed him)

In my opinion the 6mm's are too small for big deer and the bears because there's no margin for error. I'd choose something a little bigger if possible.

I've shot quite a few foxes, and coyotes with both my .243 win, and my also my 240 Weatherby. Of course i wasn't trying for "perfect" pelts, so i mostly used hunting loads. They are rather hard on pelts!!

Drilling Man

RE: 243 for bear
 

No and yes. I wouldn't use it for Bear unless I was sure I could get a head shot. Its about perfect for large varmits. In my opinion the 243 is a Varmit rifle.

RE: 243 for bear
 

No, for bears; yes, for coyotes. Good luck.

RE: 243 for bear
 

I am the "BIG" fan of the 243 ; so I have to say it is a little small for bear. it will take a bear if the shot is perfect.I would recomend a gun that is for big game.I don't own anything bigger than the 243 so I don't know what to tell you.

as for the coyotes it is a great gun.use a gooed solid bullet and it doesn't do as much damage to the pelt.

RE: 243 for bear
 

You know I got to know and ask. Do you really not know the answer to this question? Do you really need advise on whether to use a .243 on bear?

I mean a bear is almost total muscle. With bear you want penetration. Classic bear cartridges are like the 35Whelen.

RE: 243 for bear
 

In the hands of a marksman who will wait for a dead perfect shot with the right bullet for penetration the answer is maybe. Yes the caliber is capable of doing it. The natives in alaska do it with a .223 on all sorts of game.

What bigcountry said about muscle and bone is a bear is the key. Every rifle has a use and the 243 would be not consider in use for bear by a national wide concensus.

RE: 243 for bear
 

When in Newfoundland a few years ago, one of the guys in camp shot a 400+ black bear. Broadsided 200 yards away thru both lungs, 300Winmag. That thing the guide said, was pulling himself in the black spruce. Well, they lost it. Some guides I see there won't go after a Black bear until days have passed. Well, they started smelling it. It made its way 200 yards into the black spruce. Thats a tough animal.

RE: 243 for bear
 

Boy I think I have heard it all ...one of the easiest animals to kill in the woods with hundred's of thousands shot prior to the magnum craze with 30/30's and all sorts of woods cartridges and now all of a sudden a 243 won't do the trick. If I were packing a 243 and hunting deer and happened to have a black bear tag...I wouldn't waste a nanosecond ..put the bullet where it needs to go and he drops dead simple as that. That said I would use a well built bullet and that would apply to the deer also. More than enough energy and velocity to do one in on the cartridge side...

RE: 243 for bear
 

Well, you may be right oldelk, I can't say I have ever killed one. Just didn't get that message while up in newfoundland from the guides.

RE: 243 for bear
 

BC the newfie bears are probably tougher and from reports I have heard are quite a bit larger then your average black bear you would find on the continental US with some exceptions. They are a relatively easy animal to bring down giving up the ghost quickly... A careful shot and you shouldn't worry about a thing.. After skinning one and seeing their exposed muscles you will be in awe just muscle upon muscle.

RE: 243 for bear
 

DM, how can you say that you killed a 500 lb. bear with the .243 in one sentence, and then say it's not good enough for large deer in the next?
I'm not a bear hunter, so I don't know for sure, but I had a friend that killed a couple of large blackies and he said they were tough kills even with a 7MM mag.
I do think that the .243/6MM's are excellent for whitetails though!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: 243 for bear
 

A 243 will kill a bear but I don't think anyone would consider it an ideal bear rifle. Killing a bear while deer hunting is different than deliberately hunting bear. IMO if you're serious about bear hunting then a larger caliber is need. I strongly believe that when hunting bears a 308 cal rifle is minimum. Bear hunting with hounds or over bait gives you a close range shot. I would rather have a 30-30 or 35Rem than a 243. Spot and Stalk hunting requires something with a little more range, like a 308 or 30-06. I usually still hunt bears and sometimes hunt them behind hounds. When I do, I use a 338-06 or a 308. I'm not saying that a hundred other rounds won't kill bears but I know what I feel comfortable with.

RE: 243 for bear
 

"If", you read my WHOLE post, i told you EXACTLY how!!! Here it is again!!!

"In my opinion the 6mm's are too small for big deer and the bears because there's no margin for error. I'd choose something a little bigger if possible."

BTW, i've also shot quite a few deer with my .243 win, and my opinion "stands" on why i feel something a little bigger would be better!!!

Drilling Man

RE: 243 for bear
 

I say you should buy a 30-06 and downgrade your 243 to be your varmit gun. good luck!

RE: 243 for bear
 

I couldn`t agree more.Then you could hunt every big game animal in the states.

RE: 243 for bear
 

Hi meopilite,

The .243 is a great coyote rifle. Be careful what bullet you use......if you are planning on keeping the pelt.

The .243 will kill black bear.....and leaves little margin for error. So if you want to use it for that.....get a good 100 grain bullet that shoots well in your rifle. Then quit reading these posts and get out and practice until there is no doubt in your mind you can place your bullet precisely.....all the time.....and under field conditions.

Then use your .243 on black bear!

Best wishes.

Dave

P.S. Remember, only you know your capabilities. Practice until you can answer the question "for yourself". Usually......if you have to ask?????