.243
 

what would be the furthest u'd shoot at a deer with a .243 with a 80 grain bullet

RE: .243
 

1,000 foot-pounds of energy is considered by many to be the benchmark for deer-sized game,( others say 1200, and given the size of this caliber would lean that way myself). Given that # it would all depend on what kind of bullet you are shooting.

For example an 80gr SPEER HOT-COR SP, falls below 1200 at 200yds
Yet the 85gr Sierra GameKing BTHP, holds that till just passed 300yds
*Federal Ammo Loadings

RE: .243
 

First is there any particular reason you have to stick with a 80 grain bullet? I like, and won't use less than, 100 grain bullets on deer with a 243. A heavier bullet would retain more downrange energy than the lighter one as well if range is an issue. With a 100 grain bullet I have killed deer out to 300 yards. I agree that a good rule of thumb is the 1000 footpounds of energy level. A 100 grain 243 bullet is still above 1000 at 300 yards. The 80 grain has less than 1000 at that distance.

RE: .243
 

I wouldn,t try anything farther than 300yds at most. vangunsmith

RE: .243
 

With the right bullet it's capable of 300 yds easily, but is the man behind the gun ? 300 yds is a long,long way. I've made some 250 yds shots off a good rest. Dont think I would try farther than 300, with any caliber.


P.S. Have you ever tried to find the exact spot a deer was standing when shot from 2 or 300 yds away. I have this problem in one area I hunt here in texas, (brush country) This is the hardest part of recovery, finding the exact spot and sign of blood, and from 2 or 300 yds, its really, really tough. Ive spent hours looking for blood on deer shot from long range because you just cant pinpoint where exactly he was standing, but after finding blood my deer were found very quickly, only 20 to 50yds from there. I shoot a .243 myself and it's all I ever need. Works damn good too.

RE: .243
 

200 yards max if I was to use the 243 for other than varmits.

RE: .243
 

I wouldn't shoot a deer with a .243 unless I was taking a head shot. If you want to take long shots do it right and get a .300 Winchester Magnum. 500 meter shots are no problem if you have the training and discipline.

RE: .243
 

If you wouldn't shoot a deer witha .243, then you'd have no business shooting deer at 500 meters either! With anything!

RE: .243
 

Win .243 100gr SuperX Power Point>Energy @ 200yds--1332fp
Energy @ 300yds---1089fp

Like some said, keep it at 200yds and try head and neck shots.
It is still good for 300yds with less energy, but 900FT is close to
40 acres long. Practice hitting an 8" aluminum pie plate @ 900ft and
see how you do before you shoot any deer at 300yds with your .243.
If you use a scope with Duplex Reticle,next time you go to a sporting
goods store and they have a practice life size Archery deer, measure
one from Nose to Tail.Cut yourself a piece of Plywood to those measurements
and set it up to see where the sides of the Plywood touches the darker
post on the Reticles on scope.This will give you and idea of Deer distance
at a broad side.Best thing is to know some Archer that has one and will loan
it to you so you can do it at all angles and yardage using the scope Reticle.
This is with the scope set at it's lowest setting...3-9x44...set at 3.
Let's JUST say the plywood edges touched the dark edges of the Reticle @ 300yds.
If they pass the dark posts about an 1/8" or more @ 300yds, you know it is within your range.
You won't need a ranger finder scope or a hand held ranger finder.
Mount your rifle, look thru the scope and if it is past the dark post, take a deep breath
and squeeze the trigger.
I have one just for me and friends to use for getting an idea with different
scope Reticles.
The smaller the plywood gets,the further the deer will be,
but aleast you will have an idea how far you will be shooting.

RE: .243
 

Some interesting replies here.

Personally I have used a 243 for many years and I would not hesitate to take a good shot out to 300 yds, given the right conditions. My longest one on a deer is 225 yds. I use 100 grain bullets. I don't know how an 80 grainer would perform.

RE: .243
 

please do not try head and neck shots at 200 yds. Sorry but thats bad advice. Put it in the vitals at those distances.

RE: .243
 

If he knows how to shoot, he'll put in it's Ear!
I have been doing it for years.

RE: .243
 

For what its worth i have been shooting a 243 for 30 years. I tried 80gr. Win. PP one time, i shot a Doe about 60 yards on first shot. I ended up putting 5 shots into her before it piled up. After complete cleaning job, i found the bullets fragmented badly. So after that i have shot only 100 & 105gr. bullets and they do the job, cleanly harvesting my game! [&:]

RE: .243
 

Smokepole,
I said 100gr!

RE: .243
 

243Win. for deer: 200yds., and forget the 80gr. bullets. Move up to 100gr., and
preferrably a good one like Nosler Partitions, Trophy Bondeds, etc.
80gr. bullets are for varmints.

RE: .243
 

At 300 yds ? Pfffttt ! Ya right

RE: .243
 

Zrex, go back and read what I advised him. I told him to try and stay
at 200yds, not 300.
Can't you put them all in a 8"pie plate @ 300yds.I can, everyday and
even on Sundays.

RE: .243
 

I guess everyone has thier favorite bullet weight , myself I use the 85 gr Barnes X bullet and have no trouble keeping them in a 4" bulleye at 300 yards . Took two bucks with the 243 win this year , both one shot kills at over 200 yards . They were both complete pass throughs and neither deer took a step . I've never tried the heavier bullets after a tech at Sierra told me the 85 gr was the best weight for the 243 .win or 6mm .

RE: .243
 

RebelHog, i did not take issue with your advice, i just answered his ? of 80gr. bullets & my unfortunate use of them. I use Nosler spitzer solid base 100gr. for my deer hunting. In close range i sometimes use the 105gr. round nose bullets with great results! I should have made it clear i was advising redneckbulldog. Seems this topic doesn't reply to the original person but to whom ever was writing before! So i hope this has been cleared up. [&:]

RE: .243
 

You are correct, and despite my best effort, some people still don't understand that they must read the post, not the header, to figure out who a post is addressed to and make very defensive responses to posts not even directed at them. Perhaps if people would read the posts more critically then could assertain the intended recipient of a reply. I had no problem understanding that your post was directed at the original poster, and that you were trying to relay your bad experience with 80gr bullets and not accuse someone else of using them. I wouldn't take it personally.

Mike

RE: .243
 

10-4......SMOKEPOLE

RE: .243
 

8" circle would be the vitals, a 2" circle would represent the head. Your telling me that you have been shooting deer in the head @ 200yds for years ? Thats a 2" moving circle, at 200 yds ? Like I said , Ya right.

RE: .243
 

if you can hit a P-dog ( basically a 2" moving target) at 200 yards with a 243. why couldnt you hit a deer in the noggin at that distance. Ive been neckin doe out to 200 yards with my 308 for along time now, saves more edible meat. Bucks on the other hand I dont want to damage the rack so ill shoot them in the vitals.

RE: .243
 

Yeah, But can you hit them behind the back with a mirror:D......LOL just playing around ( You to Rebel Hog)200 yds. with any good centerfire should not be a problem if you can shoot. Some people are just naturally better shots than others.We are always ready to doubt the ability of some individuals.Some of these guy's on here could probally pop you in the coconut at 2000 meters no problem.I shoot pretty danged good and would not hesitate to shoot a deer at 2oo ,probally 300 with a .243. But I would make darn sure my rifle and myself were up to the task before hand.Rebel Hog's idea about the plywood deer is about the best way to get to true hunting conditions there is.Try it from your stand and every position that you can.Hell the guy's around here have 500,600 and even 1000yd shoots at EGGS.That's a little smaller than a deer .BTW I have a Win.Model 70 bull barrel .243 with a straight 36 power scope so thats kinda like cheating.I have pieces of round currancy that has .223, 7mm, .308,.243,.22-250 size holes in them from 100 and 200 yards.

RE: .243
 

The are bullets that are designed for varmints and there are bullets designed for deer. While it don't hurt much using deer bullets on varmints, the opposite ain't at all true. I'm not familiar with any 80 grain bullet designed for deer, there may be some but I don't know about them. The 85 grain Sierra Game King and the Hornady 87-grian Inter lock are the lightest game bullets I've seen actually used. I once killed a nice antelope at 325 long paces with the Hornady, but there was some up and down in that so I don't know the distance the bullet traveled. My Dad might have had a failure with the Sierra, but my brother just thinks he missed. Who can tell what 80 somethings are seeing? :eek: