W.T.H.,
WAS THIS WHITETAIL FACING YOU AND YOU SHOT HIM IN THE BRISKET? I'VE HAD MY SON HUNTING WITH A 243 FOR YEARS. EVERY DEER THAT HE'S SHOT WENT DOWN LIKE A STONE. 85 GR SHOULD BE ENOUGH, ALTHOUGH I'D USE 100'S GIVEN A CHOICE. SOMETIMES A BRISKET SHOT WITH A HIGH VELOCITY CARTRIDGE WILL GO RIGHT THROUGH AND MISS VITALS IF THE SHOT IS CLOSE RANGE(WITHIN 100YDS)

Win 100gr SXPP, developed for deer.
I would try shooting in the neck or head.

A 22lr will drop a 2000lb Bovine where it stands. When shot in the forehead at close range!

Hmm...maybe I should rebarrel my 243. Im not much of a varmint shooter...I only hunt deer. What kind of twist rate would it take to do the heavier bullets?

Swampman, no the deer was standing broadside and i shot it in the chest very close to the neck

If your 243 is a 1 in ten like most are, that twist will shoot the heaviest bullets available in that caliber very well. Mine will shoot the 105 grain bullets with that twist. The 100 grain Hornady round nose performs very well on deer as long as the range is kept to 200 yards or so. Its not as effective as the spire points at long range . I had very good service from my 6MM Rem with the 100 gr RN. It had a slow twist and would not stabalize the 100 grain Spire Points. It was one of the early ones. 1 in 12 twist.

I have shot 7 deer with ballist tip 95 gr 5 drop where they were the last 2 ran less than 30 yards I drop 1 at 175 yards did not move!

I have not tried the Ballistic tip in the 243 as yet. Right now I am loading the 85 grain Barnes Coated X bullets. I haqve yet to try them on game.

If you want to hunt moose with your .243 go ahead. Make the shot count..........grizz?...well maybe not!