243 big enough for whitetails?
08-29-2009 | 08:52 AM
#51
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,695
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Jeeez I live in texas and 90% of our deer dont go over a 150 lbs. If you wound our deer with a .243 your a moron and doubt you could do any better with any caliber.
Even my kids never wounded one with a .243. They've made 200 yd shots at the the age of 8 using the .243.
We have been using a .243 since the late 60's, my dad switched from a .308 because of us kids and he never looked back, between me my brother and my father and our kids we killed 100's of deer with it and havent had one single problem. Thats almost 50 years of using a .243.
If you wound a deer with a .243 your probably aiming at brown.
Even my kids never wounded one with a .243. They've made 200 yd shots at the the age of 8 using the .243.
We have been using a .243 since the late 60's, my dad switched from a .308 because of us kids and he never looked back, between me my brother and my father and our kids we killed 100's of deer with it and havent had one single problem. Thats almost 50 years of using a .243.
If you wound a deer with a .243 your probably aiming at brown.
08-29-2009 | 10:48 AM
#52
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,045
Likes: 0
From: S. NH
I said a well placed shot is fine...
I used some questions in my post to make the young fellow think about uncontrollable situations THAT do happen to hunters!
A .243 is a fine cartridge for hunting on a field or similar situations, but yes I have never used one, if that makes you happy to hear me say?
NH has big bodied deer, as most know. Many deer dress well over +200 lbs and some over +250lb. We have lots of trees and brush, so the .243 is not a cartridge often chosen in my parts.
The Bear also dress well over +300 lbs and some close to 600 lbs. Moose get up to 1,000 on occasion, but a .243 CAN kill them too, just not a cartridge I would pick for hunting up here.
As someone mentioned, if his Dad says it will then he is probably right. He too must have 30 years experience
Ha-ha!
08-29-2009 | 10:51 AM
#53
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,045
Likes: 0
From: S. NH
This isn't an argument it was a person asking for folks opinion.A person can hunt with what ever they want with provided it's legal.Speak to an outfitter in area's where the biggest deer reside and ask them for their recommendation versus an Outfitter where the deer are smaller.
On a Canadian mature buck you are giving up a lot of possible kill shot's using a .243.If the deer are smaller where this gentleman hunts than perhaps a .243 will work for him.Personally I would prefer more versatility in a rifle.I hunt big bodied deer every year with a .270 and I do it a deep driving bullet.I have never had an issue.With the bullet variations available in a 30/06 a hunter can cover a pretty big spectrum from light loads or managed recoil loads up to 220 grain bullets.
To each his own!
On a Canadian mature buck you are giving up a lot of possible kill shot's using a .243.If the deer are smaller where this gentleman hunts than perhaps a .243 will work for him.Personally I would prefer more versatility in a rifle.I hunt big bodied deer every year with a .270 and I do it a deep driving bullet.I have never had an issue.With the bullet variations available in a 30/06 a hunter can cover a pretty big spectrum from light loads or managed recoil loads up to 220 grain bullets.
To each his own!
08-30-2009 | 02:17 AM
#58
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: NW Oklahoma
If you're unsure of your shooting ability and think you need a larger caliber because you might be able to blow off a leg at 300 yards and it makes you feel better, maybe you should shoot something larger. If you are a skilled shooter and feel sure of yourself, a .243 is a fine gun.
