.243 hands down out of those 2.

shooting 80/85gr TSX bullets should do the job on a deer at 300-400yds.


if .260rem or 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm-08 or 308 are also legal I'd check them out as well.

I don't own either but if I were to pick one it would certainly be the .243 which can be used for many different applications and would be a fun gun to own.

Another .243 vote. I've shot deer with both, either will work fine. But the .243 gives you allot more range, and more use in my opinion. To me the .243 is a deer rifle. And it sounds like you need a dedicated deer rifle. The .44 mag is a backup type rifle, or fun rifle. I grab a .44 if I'm antlerless hunting or if the weather is crappy and I'm driving for others. I have a handful of open sight lever actions that I use for that. But if I'm serious about getting a deer I'd grab the .243 every time.
-Jake

Edit, that's a .44 in my picture there, kills squirrels and deer both just fine. But I wouldn't want it as my primary deer rifle.

Read this/found this...

For you, your wife, and daughter I highlighted what my preferences or options would be to consider.
.243 w/ 85gr TSX
.308 w/ 150gr
.30-06 w/150gr


http://www.in.gov/activecalendar_dnr...cate=syndicate


The new legal cartridges include, but are not limited to, the .243 Winchester, .30-30 Winchester, .300 AAC Blackout, and .30-06 Springfield. Additional requirements are:

• The rifle must have a barrel length of at least 16 inches
• The rifle cartridges must have a cartridge case length of least 1.16 inches
• The rifle cartridge must fire a bullet with a diameter that is
o .243 inches (or 6 mm); or
o .308 inches (or 7.62 mm)
• No cartridges with a bullet diameter between .243 and .308 are legal (such as the .270 Winchester)
• A hunter may not possess more than 10 such cartridges while in the field

Rifles with pistol cartridges that have been allowed in previous years may still be used to hunt deer on both private and public land.

Additional cartridges that are legal under HEA 1231 include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 6mm-06
• 6mm BR Remington
• 6mm PPC
• 6mm Remington
• .240 Weatherby
• .243 Winchester
• .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
• .30 Carbine
• .30 Herrett
• .30 Remington AR
• .30-06 Springfield
• .30-30 Winchester
• .30-40 Krag
• .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Whisper)
• .300 H&H Magnum
• .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
• .300 Savage
• .300 Weatherby Magnum
• .300 Winchester Magnum
• .300 Winchester Short Magnum
• .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
• .308 Marlin
• .308 Winchester
• 7.62x39mm
• 7.62x54mmR

There are other cartridges that meet the law’s specifications, and there are others that do not. A partial list of cartridges that are not allowed under HEA 1231 includes the .270 Winchester, .38-55 Winchester, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 Government.

HEA 1231 is scheduled to expire after the 2020 deer season, at which time the DNR will submit an impact report to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Contact Information:
Name: Phil Bloom
Phone: (317) 232-4003
Email: [email protected]
State calendar entry type:
Press Release State calendar entry category:
Announcements State calendar classification:
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Agency Name:
Natural Resources, Department of


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If you put a good 100 gr. .243/6MM bullet into the kill zone of ANY Whitetail Deer out to 300 yards, it is a dead deer! It is unexplainable, but I have even seen better blood trails from the .243 than some other calibers at times!
The theory that Flags mentioned makes great sense, as a heart shot deer can run 200 yards or DRT.
There are only two DRT shots, brain or spine, (neither of which, I would recommend!)
A double shoulder shot will put a deer on the ground quick, but ruins a lot of meat!
Of the two calibers you mentioned, unless the majority of your shots are <100 yards, I'd pick the .243 all day long and twice on Sunday!

A 30/30 lever action or a 308W bolt action rifle with:

http://www.remington.com/ammunition/...managed-recoil

Should cover you and your family members needs very well.