.243 taking down big deer?
 

Just for your guy's opinions. Is a .243 a good big whitetail, muley rifle? How far does the gun go? I have a 30.06 and can't stand the kick anymore. I'm wanting to get a Savage .243

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I have no problem with either a .243 or 6mm for deer, even larger deer. However, my preference would be for a .25 caliber, like a .257 Roberts ora .25-06. Both are capable of shooting 120 grain bullets accurately, yet recoil is still mild. These calibers (both .243 and .25) are capable of taking a deer at nearly any range you are comfortable shooting.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Sounds good. I love the .243's, it's a good women's gun IMO

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I wouldent hessatate to take white tail with it I dont know about mulies
there a little bit bigger, but other than that its a pretty capable cartridge
for medium sized deer.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

:)OOPS! My Bad!!I thought Zrexpilot was a male!
My applogies Z!

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Consider a 7mm08 ...not as much recoil as the 06 but about the same muzzle velocity

dd

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

OOPS

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I prefer the (1.) 6.5mmSwede, (2.) 7mm-08, (3.) .243

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Depends on how dead you want him. Seriously a .243 will take any deer you want to shoot as long as you do your job with shot placement. A friend of mine says they use to shoot elk in Idaho with a .243.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I have killed more deer with a .243 then any other gun. If you can shot its a dead deer. If you can't shot then get a bigger gun....its what most people do.....

-john

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I've killed over 130 whitetails with mine in the past 25 years...I would guess 8-10 were in the 275 to 300 yard range....I guess it would do in a pinch...
I have 3 buddies that have retired their '06s in the past 5 years...They both thought the .243 was too "marginal" when they started hunting with me 15 or so years ago....after helping skin a couple of dozen deer shot with my .243 they kinda changed their mind....

One thing I have noticed....they shoot more than they used to...kinda enjoy going to the range more....grab the .243 for a little groundhog/crow/coyote hunting in the off season....I wonder if this is why they seem to make better shots when a deer presents itself........

A .243 will kill a deer just as fast as a .270...if you put the bullet in the heart/lung/shoulder area....One of my brothers has 2-.270s...one for him, one for his son...I have helped skin and track dozens of deer killed with both...Both kill quickly if hit properly....If you plan to gut shoot them...go with a larger cartridge.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Whitetail, have you tried the new Managed Recoil loads from Remington or the similar low-recoil loads from Federal? I have a .30-06 and have been using them in my rifle so that my daughter can shoot it. With the Remingtons, the recoil is about the same as a .243 and Remington uses a 125 gr. bullet designed for ranges up to 200 yards. So if you're not shooting long range, you might want to take a look at them. I haven't tried the Federal offering yet. The Federals use a 170 grain bullet instead of Remington's 125gr, so the ballistics are different. At least if you go this route, you can still use your current rifle.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

N.C. how old are you ..man your a killing machine !!

dd

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

NC, who plans to gut shoot them?:eek:

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

DD...I turned 50 in August...I'm pretty lucky...grew up in Eastern NC...Family has 3 farms...about 850 acres...We sell peanuts to Planters..also raise corn/wheat/soybeans...We kill 40-50 deer each year just to keep the population in check...

Rebel Hog...It never ceased to amaze me the lack of shooting skills of some hunters...My niece is 15..and I swear I believe she can outshoot most of the grown men that we have come hunt with us...I don't know if its lack of practice or buck fever...I hate skinning a gut shot deer...I feel like a highway patrolman when it comes to hearing all the excuses for poor shooting, anyway it seems that gut shot deer do happen...

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

thats a lot of deer!!!!! Do u eat it all or give it away??!

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I have a 7mm, but I like big hard kicking guns. My bro in law uses a .243 for deer and has never had one get up and walk off after being shot. He said he killed one at 275 yards with it but he had to shoot it twice.

I don' tknow about anyone else but when I have my sights on a deer and shot, I don't really feel the kick. The only time I can even feel a kick is when I am just targe shooting.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

BTW, sometimes I wish I would have bought a 243 or 270. Ever seen teh price of a box of 7mm shells? 30 bucks !!!!!!!!!!!

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I've killed a lot of deer with a .243. Isn't anything wrong with it. But after using a lot of different calibers, I've found the .308 as the best deer caliber, IMO. When personallyrating the cartridge in a lot of different areas, the .308 outscored the rest.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

hmmmmmmm....lets see...I'm about 5'1, maybe 5'2 with shoes...weigh about 110 points (probably more now due to darn college....nuttin better to do but eat), but gots lots of muscle ;). I'm not saying I can't handle the 30.06, (unless I'm sighting the darn thing in, then it's a bruiser), but last year I missed one because I jumped to the right when it shot...this year I used my boyfriend's .243 (lol, go ahead and laugh), and I shot one (with one shot)and went down at 150 yards.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

whitetail...We don't waste any of the deer we kill...I am from a big family and have alot of cousins/nephews/in-laws/friends...Growing up in the country you know everbody and we have several families that are glad to see us drive up with a deer for them...

Using a .243 doesn't have a thing to do with your size...I'm 6ft 5 inches and weigh 235...I've heard that "stuff" all my life from my 2 brothers...I just tell them that they aren't good enough to hunt with a .243...In the '70s I actually useda 22-250.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I know this is getting small, but I've seen people kill a deer with a .223! shot placement

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

And many with .22-250!;)

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Like others said, they can be killed with a 22 rimfire and in some states they are legal. I like a 25 caliber minimum but thats just me.;)

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

its go-to-jail-for-long-time here if you shoot a deer with anything smaller than a 243. I tried to have a guy arrested for shooting a doe from his truck with a .22 but there wasn't enough proof, just my word against his. I met him at the local gas station a few weeks later and gave him some "good" advice/GW-won't-be-called-the-next -time-around"about what could happen to him the next time I seen him do that. I've never seen him since.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I agree. However there are some states that allow 22 Rimfire. That makes them Legal but it don't make them deer rifles. In our state the 223and up are legal deer rifles.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

I think MO is .243 & up, maybe a 223...don't quote me on that though.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

James, Florida says center fire.....I quess we can use .17 Rem.
Smallest I have used is .243....

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Whitetaildeer,


Try installing a Sims Limbsaver recoil pad on your '06. Those things really tame down recoil.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

243 will do just fine my last deer was a 170 pound mule deer taken at 200 yards with a 243 and he took 2 steps and dropped dead.

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Come on James, you would'nt use that 6.5mmSwede, just .5mm larger than the .243?:)

RE: .243 taking down big deer?
 

Most crows I have seen was on road kills and trees, You don't shoot at them up in the trees do you? With a high powered rifle that bullet can travel pretty good distant even when it goes thru a crow. This is just from what I observed over many years in my area.