243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

My friend was talked into buying a 243 WSSM for whitetails without consulting me first, he wanted a smaller gun with less kick. I am concerned that it is not enough gun for deer, however I admit I do not know much about the 243WSSM. I would have suggested a 7mm-08 or a 7mm mauser. should I be worried

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

From what I have read about it is is comparable to a 6mm remington or about 100 fps faster than a .243. Lots of people kill lots of deer with the .243 but I agree with you that there are much better rounds for deer like the 7mm08 as an example.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

you only need the big rounds if your not a very good shot IMHO a standard 243 is penlty for deer. Ive taken Deer and mosse with a 243. It only takes a well planced shot just becaome fimaliar with it.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

I have seen alot of deer taken with a .243 and since the short magnum version has a little more punch to it, i dont see a problem with using it. Unlike some of your bigger calibers shot placement is a little more critical with the .24's. It should do a fine job on whitetail sized game.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Do your part with shotplacement and selecting the right bullet and the 243 will do the rest, weather standard or wssm.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

While the .243Win or .243WSSM may not be the perfect choice for the beginning shooter, they certainly are perfectly feasible choices for the experienced hunter/shooter (i.e. they've handled more than a couple rifles in their life and taken more than ten shots at a target)

No, they're certainly not in the same realm as say a .30-06, nor even a .257Bobby, but you don't honestly need 2000ft.lbs. to kill a deer.

If he does his job and gets the bullet where it needs to go, there is absolutely nothing wrong with his choice.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

.243 is more than enough gun. It is a good gun for a beginning hunter. If a person canot hit a 6" circle with a rifle that shouldn't be hunting until they get more practice, and a bigger caliber isn't going to make any difference. As far as I'm concerned, a .243 with a premium bullet will knock a deer flat faster than a 30-06.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

NO! If the .243 Wincester is enough gun for deer, (AND IT IS!!) why wouldn't this new magnum version be as good? Or better??

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

I would never recommend the 243 as a deer rifle so I couldn't give a thumbs up to its slightly bigger cousin. I put the 243 in the same company as the 223 and 22-250. It will kill deer just as a 22 rimfire will but while I was guiding hunters for quite a few years I saw more deer hit and run off not to be found with the 243 than all others combined. Most of the problem was with the first bullets that came out in that caliber. A problem that for the most part does not exist any more but I got real sour on it and don't expect that I will get over it. It is however a perfect varmit rifle.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

With a .243 Win using 100 grain bullets, you can get about 1600 ft lbs of energy @ 100 yards, which is enough for a whitetail, as long as you know where to place your shots.

Here's a chart comparing .22-250, .223, and a .243

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Don't Worry Be Happy. Your friend has recoil concerns, better he shoots well with a small caliber than poorly with a large caliber. I've been using a 6mm since 1968 and taken many many whitetails. Most expire within 50 yards. :eek:

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

I agree you should have no worries about your friend's decision. Though I have not personally killed a deer with a .243 diameter bullet, I have been on a couple of hunts where other people have. The .243 Win. can kill deer cleanly, there is no reason the WSSM can't!!

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

What range will he likely be shooting at? The 243 isn't known for its range. And aren't those northern deer on the large size? Sure, the 243 has taken lots of deer, but I think the real question is whether its the most appropriate tool in your particular area. I'm with you on the 7mm-08 but he's probably stuck with what he bought at this point.

The super short magnums pretty much hit the market with a thud and haven't found the user acceptance that the WSM line did. If that doesn't change he's likely to need a reloading kit before too long. :D Even the folks over on the short mag forum seem to have written them off.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

heres a comparison of 3 calibers , .243-7-08 and 280. The .243 has about the same or better coeficciency, has more speed even out at 3-400 yds, and is flatter shooting, the only thing the larger caliber has on it is more energy which would only help if you were to hit the shoulder bone on a deer. I use a .243 Win and use Hornady bullets in 100 gr. I have dropped big hogs with complete pass throughs at 200+ yds. I'll take it over almost any caliber.
Your friend is gonna love his WSSM. You have to understand the .243 was a wild cat, it's just a .308 with a 24 cal. bullet on the end, makes for an awsome round.link to caliber comparison

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

ok now think about this....

think of how many people out there use there .223's to kill deer each year? i think everyone else will agree with me that a .243 has quite a bit more power then a .223 so there definatly isnt a problem with using the 243wssm.

like with most other guns....SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT....

personally....i would have suggested a 25-06....i hear there great deer guns...

ch312

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

First of all, its a great caliber for deer hunting with plenty of power to take a deer down.
Second of all it depends on what the shooter wants, not what other people want.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

i have killed a couple deer with a 243 and i love it. it has droped deer in there tracks. the only deer i had go over 30 or so yards was a big doe that i shot on the run in the guts. she went about 70 yards and droped. and the 243wssm is a little bit bigger so your buddy is fine. get him up to the range a couple times and your good to go!

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Well, the .243 might not be enough rifle for deer for a damnyankee, but it's sure plenty good enuff fer us rednecks! Seriously though! The Eskimos shoot polar bear, walruses and seals with .22 Hornets and .223's all the time! They're all handloaders with no money, and can't afford to burn a lot of powder.

Elmer Keith believed the .30/'06 was inadequate for jackrabbits, too, and the reason was poor bullets in the early loadings! They loaded .30/40 Krag bullets in the '06 case, and drove them 500 FPS faster than they'd stand up to. IF you use a proper bullet, and hit the proper spot, it doesn't make much difference at all as to the diameter of the projectile. A 106mm recoilless rifle won't kill anything either, if you miss the target with it.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Be sure to tell that to these bucks I killed with the .243. Some of you have probably already seen this thread, some of you havent, these were last years bucks.Link to my 2 bucks.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

not with a good 95 - 100 grain bullet. I was amzed at how WELL a 100 grain speer grand slam works on deer out of a 243.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Goodness gracious, all the deer I have took with a 243, and people are still worried that its not enough gun. If he can't take a deer with a 243, I don't think a 30-06 is going to help him.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Anything over a 243 is good enough for deer but that's the lightest I would go. Personally I'd have gone with a 270.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

JMO but the .243 WSSM is plently big enough unless your buddy can't hit a pie plate at 100yards, and if he can't not sure bigger would help anyway.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

you would only want to use the 100 Gr IMHO they will enough thump to GetR done

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

Ive seen some deer taken with a .243 but those were just couse deer. He should have went a little bigger like a 7mm WSM.

RE: 243 WSSM Concerns for Deer
 

WHAT!! a little bigger? 7WSM? Best study your periodic table of ballistics!