.243 or .270 which is best for deer
02-02-2005, 07:21 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 361
.243 or .270 which is best for deer
Just wanted so input from others as to which they think is best for whitetail deer. I have a 30-06 that I use for deer now but I want to go down to a smaller gun. All I hunt is whitetails. Thanks in advance
02-02-2005, 07:55 AM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
Not really a lot of difference in a .270 and a .30-06. The .243 will definitely handle any deer in North America if you are wanting a smaller caliber.
02-02-2005, 08:08 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N-E PA.
Posts: 1,787
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
ORIGINAL: timbercruiser
Not really a lot of difference in a .270 and a .30-06. The .243 will definitely handle any deer in North America if you are wanting a smaller caliber.
Not really a lot of difference in a .270 and a .30-06. The .243 will definitely handle any deer in North America if you are wanting a smaller caliber.
02-02-2005, 08:20 AM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
In your 30-06 you have one of the best deer rifles going. Certainly far better than a 243. The 270 would also be much better for deer size game than the 243. However If you are looking for a good Coyote and varmit rifle THEN the 243 would be a good bet.
02-02-2005, 08:52 AM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location:
Posts: 107
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
Both will work, my mom and her husband both hunt with the .243 and haven't had any trouble downing whitetail with them. Another of the guys who hunts our place uses the .270 WSM and dropped a nice buck with it this year. Use whichever you shoot better, they are close enough in performance that accuracy and shot placement are more important that caliber. My personal choice is the .30-30.
02-02-2005, 09:10 AM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: La Grange, TX
Posts: 324
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
As stated there is no reason to move from an 06 to a 270. They are basically the same.
I"ve had good luck with the 243 and proper bullets. Yet at home I can pick and choose shots and pass up shots. I"d always lean to more horsepower, especially in a trophy hunting situation. I can't see going wrong with what you have. Yet for whitetails I often hunt with a 300 mag and if I shoot a deer end to end, the bullet still won't always allow total penetration.
Kinda a take your pick situation here. Depends on exactly why you want a new round. FWIW I always feel that a 270 kicks worse than any 06 that I"ve shot too.
Jeff
I"ve had good luck with the 243 and proper bullets. Yet at home I can pick and choose shots and pass up shots. I"d always lean to more horsepower, especially in a trophy hunting situation. I can't see going wrong with what you have. Yet for whitetails I often hunt with a 300 mag and if I shoot a deer end to end, the bullet still won't always allow total penetration.
Kinda a take your pick situation here. Depends on exactly why you want a new round. FWIW I always feel that a 270 kicks worse than any 06 that I"ve shot too.
Jeff
02-02-2005, 09:22 AM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
I've used a .243 since 1980...have killed over 130 deer with...most drop in their tracks...and I have never lost one...I have "converted" two buddies from a 30-06 to a .243..both are happy with the change...That being said...
I have two brothers, both have 17yr old sons...they use a .280, 7mm-08 and 2-.270s...they don't shoot as well as I do, and don't always hit the deer in lungs/shoulder....They "need" a larger caliber...I use my .243 all year...crows, groundhogs, foxes, coyotes...etc...I sight in my brothers/nephews guns....I feel like I shoot better..because I shoot more often, and the recoil in a .243 is minimal....I feel like my brothers/nephews would shoot "better" with a .243...but I don't try to "sell" them on this, because...if they lose one with a .243...I might get the blame...They lose more deer than I do...but they know they can't blame the size gun....
So....what I'm saying....if you are the type hunter that shoots a half a box of bullets a year with his deer rifle....maybe you shouldn't get a .243...
If you bow hunt/muzzleload hunt and do some off season varmit hunting...know how to take a rest when you hunt...don't take marginal shots...and can execute the shot when it becomes avaliable...in other words...IF you are a decent shot, and a careful hunter....Then you will enjoy the benefits of the low recoil and inherent accuracy of a .243....
Good Luck...nchawkeye
PS...If you are developing a flinch with the 30-06....and it takes a big man to admit this....definately get a .243...or even a 25-06....
I have two brothers, both have 17yr old sons...they use a .280, 7mm-08 and 2-.270s...they don't shoot as well as I do, and don't always hit the deer in lungs/shoulder....They "need" a larger caliber...I use my .243 all year...crows, groundhogs, foxes, coyotes...etc...I sight in my brothers/nephews guns....I feel like I shoot better..because I shoot more often, and the recoil in a .243 is minimal....I feel like my brothers/nephews would shoot "better" with a .243...but I don't try to "sell" them on this, because...if they lose one with a .243...I might get the blame...They lose more deer than I do...but they know they can't blame the size gun....
So....what I'm saying....if you are the type hunter that shoots a half a box of bullets a year with his deer rifle....maybe you shouldn't get a .243...
If you bow hunt/muzzleload hunt and do some off season varmit hunting...know how to take a rest when you hunt...don't take marginal shots...and can execute the shot when it becomes avaliable...in other words...IF you are a decent shot, and a careful hunter....Then you will enjoy the benefits of the low recoil and inherent accuracy of a .243....
Good Luck...nchawkeye
PS...If you are developing a flinch with the 30-06....and it takes a big man to admit this....definately get a .243...or even a 25-06....
02-02-2005, 10:13 AM
#9
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 361
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
nchawkeye
You hit the nail on the head I have a flinch with the 30-06 and no matter how much I shot I still can't get rid of it. I bought my son a 12year old that shots really well a .243 and he and I both like the way it shots and I feel like I don't flinch with it. What I have happen with the 30-06 is kind of like target panic when shoting a bow I try to get it on target but can't hold it well when I shoot and I punch the trigger close my eyes and flinch all at once. The 30-06 is also I very special gun it was my grandfathers that died when I was 8 and I just don't feel comfortable with it always worring if I will mess it up my father passed it on to me and I will pass it on to my son when he is at the right age and so know he will take care of it. Thanks for all the help I think I am going to go with a .243.
You hit the nail on the head I have a flinch with the 30-06 and no matter how much I shot I still can't get rid of it. I bought my son a 12year old that shots really well a .243 and he and I both like the way it shots and I feel like I don't flinch with it. What I have happen with the 30-06 is kind of like target panic when shoting a bow I try to get it on target but can't hold it well when I shoot and I punch the trigger close my eyes and flinch all at once. The 30-06 is also I very special gun it was my grandfathers that died when I was 8 and I just don't feel comfortable with it always worring if I will mess it up my father passed it on to me and I will pass it on to my son when he is at the right age and so know he will take care of it. Thanks for all the help I think I am going to go with a .243.
02-02-2005, 11:10 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 120
RE: .243 or .270 which is best for deer
Both calibers would be good for any size Whitetail Deer. However, I prefer the .270 due to its slightly higher stopping power. The .243 is a flatter shooting rifle than the .270 but will not easly bust through brush or a limb on the way to your target. Hope this helps
