Is the 243 Winchester Too Small For Deer?
243 Winchester
Okay, I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but I think it's something that needs to be discussed. I know it's discussed every hunting season by at least one Outdoor magazine and in every Gun Shop and in every Deer Camp.
The topic of these discussions/heated arguments in deer hunting circles is...
Is the .243 Winchester Too Small For Deer?
The simple answer is Yes...and...No.
First of all, the 243 is a necked down 308 that uses a .24 caliber bullet (6mm). As everyone knows, the 308 is a great round for Deer and other Big Game. That doesn't make all of it's offspring great Deer rounds though!
I've owned a .243 and a 6mm. The 6mm was a Ruger 77V and was without a doubt the most accurate rifle I ever owned. But I only used it for Varmints and never once tried it on Deer sized game.
I did use a 243 with 100 grain bullets one year to take a small buck at about 60 yards. He was feeding along, calm and perfectly broadside. The shot was perfect double lung and he leaped forward at the shot and piled up 50 yards later. Not everyone has had the same experience with this round.
In the past, the 243 suffered from poor bullet construction. Sometimes the bullets blew up on impact, sometimes they didn't expand at all while other times they did exactly what they were supposed to do.
Bullet construction has come a long way over the years, but I still do not consider the 243 an ideal Deer cartridge, especially for beginners. Deer hunters can improve the performance of the 243 by reloading the round with premium bullets.
Sadly, the 243 Winchester is what beginners are handed a lot of the time as their first Deer rifle.
When the 243 Is Not Right For Deer Hunting
One of the problems I see now is beginners headed out to the field with the light 55 to 85 grain loads for the 243. Most of these loads have fragile bullets as they are intended for thin skinned varmints, not a tough old ridge running Whitetailed Buck Deer.
Part of the problem is that so called 'experts' behind the ammo desk and Gun writers are pushing these rounds on unsuspecting Deer hunters because they think lighter and faster is the way to go.
Another problem is that if you're not practicing regularly, you may not be as familiar with the rifle as you should be. Many beginners (okay, most) will get a terrible case of "the shakes" when it comes down to the moment of truth when that buck deer comes into view. Heck, even most of us old timers do! The difference is, those of us who have hunted for years and are experienced, have learned how to control "the shakes" and focus on the shot.
A poor hit on a Deer is made even worse when using a small bullet in a round like the 243. The extra damage caused by a .26 or or 7mm caliber can mean the difference between finding a marginally hit animal or not.
In my opinion, the minimum caliber that should be allowed for Deer hunting is the 243 with a 95 grain bullet. I can't believe the States that allow 22 calibers to be used for Deer. Yeah, I know they'll kill a Deer but so will the 22 Rimfire and even the little 17's. Why not allow them to be legal rounds to hunt Deer with? Having said this, it doesn't mean I think the 243 should be used by beginners. To me, the 243 is to Deer rifles what the 410 shotgun is to wingshooting. Sure, it will get the job done, but it's not for beginners!
How many of you that consider the 243 the ideal rifle for beginners would consider the 410 ideal for beginners to use Goose or Turkey hunting? Even though the 410 is used every year to take both, I don't know anyone who would put 410 in the hands of a new hunter when going after those two birds.
The fact of the truth is that the margin for error is nil when using a small caliber like the 243. Everything has to be just right and everything, including the bullet, has to do it's job. There are other low recoil rifle rounds that give you extra "knock down" than the 243 Winchester round. (FYI: this is no measurement of "knock down" power, just of .ft .lbs of energy)
Speaking of bullets again, if I were going to be hunting Deer with the 243 Winchester, I'd choose either the 95 and 100 grain bullets in a strong design like the Nosler Partition. Forget about using fragile bullets like the Ballistic Tip, even in the heavier bullets, for Deer sized game. A hit on a shoulder blade or other bone could cause the bullet to explode on impact.
When the 243 is Right For Deer Hunters
In the hands of an experienced and seasoned Rifleman, the 243 is more than adequate for Deer sized Game.
I once read an article by an Outdoor writer, I think it may have been Jack O'Connor or Jim Carmichel, that told a story about a man who used the .243 for Elk. He killed Elk every year with his rifle, everyone being a neck shot. He saw no need to buy a "real Elk gun".
Does this make the 243 an ideal Elk Rifle? Me thinks not!
However, in the hands of that Gentleman, it certainly was.
And so it is for Deer Hunting. I know a guy who kills 2 deer a year for his freezer. It doesn't matter what they are as long as they're legal. He has used a 243 Winchester for over 20 years and it's the only "Big Game" Caliber rifle he owns.
Every deer that I've seen him kill has been a neck or head shot. He's hunted out of the same two stands year after year for the last 20 years. His shots range from 30 to 300 yards. In his hands, the 243 is the perfect caliber for Deer.
A seasoned hunter knows how to control his/her excitement when they see their buck. The seasoned hunter has the patience to wait for the "perfect" shot placement opportunity. The seasoned hunter knows which bullets perform best in his/her rifle and they can put those bullets where they need to go at the moment-of-truth.
Many new hunters can not do these things due to a lack of experience. They don't have the experience to wait and to recognize when a Buck is nervous and about to bolt. They haven't learned how to control their breathing when putting the crosshairs on a Buck.
It's for this reason and mainly this reason alone, that I do not consider the .243 Winchester an adequate rifle for Deer hunting in the hands of a Beginning Deer Hunter. As I stated above, there are other great choices of low-recoiling rounds for deer hunting that pack a bigger punch than the .243. Check 'em out before buying your potential new hunter a .243. Nothing's worse for a new hunter than to shoot a deer and not be able to recover it because of a marginal, or a poor, hit. Put the odds in their favor by using a larger round!
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Again, good points. I’ve watched my grandpa kill deer for years, using his .243 The lighter recoil allows him to continue hunting. However, accuracy is paramount with ANY caliber.
I agree that accuracy is the key with any rifle, but it’s the most critical with smaller calibers. And we all know that we’re not really steady when that old buck comes strolling along!
[...] here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!After writing about how the .243 Winchester was not a good round for the beginning deer hunter, I received a number of emails asking me which [...]
I agree with you on the .243 with factory loads and no bench time pre-season. I’ve shot 19 deer since 1975 and my 3 sons have all bagged their first deer with the old model 700 and we’ve never had one go over 200 yd before dieing. With good ammo and practice it can be very good deer rifle.
Think about this: People who think the .243 is too light on deer don’t shoot deer with it. That’s fine. Those of us who think it is adaquate for whitetails kill a lot of deer with it. Sure you have to use deer bullets, but that goes with any caliber. My 12 year old 100 lb. grandaughter wanted to hunt this year. I got her a T/C Encore with a .22RF barrel and a .243 barrel. We shot a lot this past summer. The recoil from the .243 bothered her so she shot the .22 more. Once it got cold and she wore a coat she got good with the .243 making 1″ 3 shot groups from a rest at 100 yds. Opening morning she shot a nice little 150 lb. doe at about 80 yds. The deer went less than 50′
The 100 gr Federal bullet did OK. Those of us who use the .243 keep on using it because it works, it is accurate, and it is just plain fun to shoot. Those who prefer something bigger are free to use something bigger. But, don’t try to tell me that a .243 is too light for deer. It has killed way too many deer to say such a thing.
You are on the money. Anybody with serious buck fever needs and extra margin of bullet weight and a bipod!
I have killed many deer with a .243. I have a Sako and a Cooper.
I like the .85gr Federal and shoot them in the ear; they do not move horizontally. A standing deer will almost always turn it’s head and hold it for at least 3 – 5 seconds. NEVER shoot at a moving target, it is not worth the misery of tracking a gut shot animal. Which means I have also watched a lot of deer walk or run away.
A short barrel, like my Sako Forester (20″) does NOT like 100 gr. bullets and spreads them out… Has something to do with the twist.
My old instructor at Ft. Benning said “If you don’t know exactly where the bullet will go; do not pull the trigger. If you need more than one shot, you should not have shot in the first place.”
well there is a lot of good deer rifles out there but, The main thing is bullet placement,You can have a cannon and still have a animal get away from you,now for penetration take the 243 witha 100 gr bullet and the 06 with 180 gr shot at a half inch piece of steel and see which one goes through.meatand bone is a lot softer than steel.take it from here.
i beg to differ on many of those points. i’m a begginer (kind of) and i’ve killed all 4 of my deer with a 6mm or .243. igot 2 this year with my .243. one was a button buck at 100 yards with a ballistic tip. you say ballistic tips will blow up on the shoulder, but this went through BOTH shoulders without blowing up.it dropped. the 8 point i got with it dropped. and the pig i got last year dropped (headshot). this is by no means a marginal cartridge with a good bullet and confident shooter. a point i do agree with you on is that it is’nt as good on gut shot deer.
I’m in total agreement. In fact if you haven’t practiced at the range at all you shouldn’t be shooting at any deer with any caliber.
i am now 12 years old i now use a 243. when i started out hunting with a gun i use a 410 slug i shot at a 4 pointer runing and shot over it. a year later i got my 243 on the very last day of hunting i killed my first deer. i thank if you r going to shot a 243 you need to sited it on at 100 at 2″ high. but i thank a 243 is a good rifle.
On the comment of a .243 being in sufficent in killing deer
i would have to say what about the hydrostatic shock? Its a deer hunters best freind there is you variance of a couple of inches.
I have used the 243 for years and now my son is using it.The best bullet i found for hunting and long range shooting is the 105 gr speer,now you talk about a race horse decined bullet is this one.All the big mulie bucks i have shot with it have fallen in thier tracks,And never moved.I shot a huge black bear with a 100 gr seirra the bear measured 7’6 ihit him right behind the shoulders,He only ran 25 yards and i found him stone dead.the 257 roberts has fallen by the wayside when the 243 was introduced to the hunting and shooting crowd,the one i have imust have got lucky because it shoot all different bullets all the same,I have shot elk and moose with this calibre,and i know alot of other people who have done the same thing .A friend of mine tild me of the time he got a cow moose draw and was out looking for her,I had hand loaded him a box of 90 gr seirra,s.He was up on a hill and seen cow moose come out approx.150 yds from him he shot and moose diappeared so fast he thought he missed,then o there it is in the same place he shot again and the same thing he went down ther and he had 2 of them.Its not a practice i would use,But i would never back down from a bull moose with 105 gr speer,you have to confidence in your rifle and your shooting ability,My son in the last five years has havested a bull elk every year with this 243,So as far as the 243 being to small for deer is nuts,All you hunters with this calibre try out the 105 gr speer you will glad you did.Good hunting and be safe
The main thing that must be remembered here is that when the word “deer” is used here, it means whitetail; a comparitively small, lightly built animal. Here in Victoria (Australia), we mainly hunt sambar (deer). The minimum cartridge allowed (by law) is a 270 Win, with 130 gn bullet. Many experienced hunters think the 30-06 with a 180gn bullet should be the minimum. Sambar have been recorded up to 700lb, and have been known to carry 2 or 3 chest hits from 338 Win Mags (or bigger!!) for 200yds or more. For the record, I use a 375 H&H, and so far all 1 shot kills, with nothing going more than 30yds. The use of premium bullets, an accurate rifle and plenty of practice is critical to sucessful hunting any medium to large game. But, I’ll be trying out the 243 this season I hope, but only on fallow deer (about the size of a whitetail) and I’ll be loading with Noslers, Grand Slams or similar.
Happy (& sucessful) hunting.
.243 too light for deer? Hitting the target and knowing the kill zones are far more important than the caliber. The older I get the more I like my 243. My .300
Weatherby Mag will do the job too. Most would say it’s too much gun for deer though. The .243 wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t good enough. Bigger isn’t
allways better. I can recall few instances (none) of a hard charging buck attacking a hunter. Leave your .600 Nitro Express at home. Deer aren’t that hard to kill.
Practice, practice, practice prior to your hunt.
Advocating using a larger caliber to compensate for marginal hits is irresponsible. A bad hit is a bad hit no matter what the caliber. A .260 Remington or 7mm-08 isn’t going to be any better than a .243 to a person who finds the recoil of the larger calibers unpleasant. A beginner (even with the shakes) is much more likely to make a good hit with a soft recoiling caliber like the .243 because they are concentrating on the shot, not the upcoming recoil and I’d rather see a new shooter make a good heart/lung shot with a .243 than gut shoot a deer with a larger caliber because they weren’t concentrating 100% on shot placement.
As for using ‘too-light’ bullets, unknowing folks are led down that road with many other calibers as well. I’ve seen fellas recommend using 90 gr. varmint bullets in .270′s because they think extra velocity and energy is the holy grail of successful hunting and its just as wrong as using a varmint bullet in a .243.
Nosler lists two different types of Ballistic Tips – Varmint and Hunting. The 90 and 95 gr. Ballistic Tips are of the Hunting variety which are constructed heavier and are recommended for deer by Nosler themselves.
What is too light for deer is not the.243. However the correct ball for the application and familiarity with the rifle are givens. If you can’t place the bullet the cartridge choice is irrelevant. Let me tell you a story. Back about ’74 I was in Dawson City and some people were getting together a search party (which I joined) for a road construction guy who had gone missing at approx. mile 50 on the Dempster Highway.We found him sitting with his back to a tree, The right side of his head was Gone. on His lap was a rifle chambered for the .257 Roberts, their was an empty in the chamber.
Back about 1930 in the Spring a trapper was coming off a deadfall on the Stewart river 30 miles or so downstream from Mayo. He was charged from 30 yards or so by a large Grizzly. His rifle was a 30-30. he fired twice, the first round upon examination of the body did little damage, it was a 170 gr flat nose. The second however was a Solid ( he had been shooting rats) it went through the scull and lodged in the fourth vertabrae.
In 1990 I spent some time working on the Beaufort Sea. One of the people I met there was An Innuit who spent his winters Trapping, he was about 28 years of age and of a good size. We were great friends, one day I asked him what rifle he carried on his trapline. He said .257 Roberts. i said where do you shoot a bear with a .257 Roberts? he said you shoot a Bear In the Neck.
you have some good points but i have a 243 and every deer i killed with it they droped so your not tottaly right sryy man it is the best deer rifle
I think you should have shortened your article to about 2 or 3 sentences and spent the rest of the time stating what makes ANY cartridge successful for deer hunting, and that is bullet construction and shot placement. Bullet weight is not as important as bullet construction. I’ll take a Barnes TSX at 85 grains over any 100 grain bullet you can find. A 95 grain Winchester XP3 isn’t too bad either, but still, it is shot placement that kills better than bullet weight.
My wife has taken 41 mule deer with her model 600 Remington–all shot from 75 to 150 yards–I load up a 105 Speer—H4831 powder—Federal 210 match primers—none of he deer has went over 10 yards—in her hands this is the ideal rifle and caliber— but she does use our rifle range quite a bit—
I have killed all but my first deer with my 243. It is my belief that the only shot that should be taken on a deer is a neck shot close to the head, regardless of range. the neck near the head give you 2 targets, the veins and arteries and the spinal cord. A shot here will either put the dear down and he’ll stay down or if you get veins he’ll bleed like crazy and you’ll find him. If you graze him, he’ll live till next year. Body shots of any kind are risky regardless of caliber. Makes the animal easy to hit but easy to wound. If he jumps when you shoot he’s gutshot. with a high neck shot, if he jumps, you miss clean.(most likely). I don’t even like headshots because there’s too much stuff around that you can hit that will kill the deer in a week but not right now. I shot a doe in the head when I was a youngster, hit in the lower jaw, (bloody corn all over the place), we trailed her for 3/4 of a mile. I guarantee that she died of starvation weeks later. Thats when I stopped shooting deer anywhere but the high neck. If your gun is powerful enough to break an animals neck, then its good enouch for the animal. A 243 is plenty of gun. You have to learn how to shoot. You might suffer if you don’t hit where you want to, but the animal won’t.
DPS
I don’t have a problem with light rounds, I guess MN just lowered calibers for deer. I got the chance to hunt deer in ND last year and was so happy to be able to see what I could do on the open range. I shoot a 300 Win Mag, its the rifle I have ever owned and i bought it for the simple fact that it was cheaper then others and I wanted something larger for Black Bear. I was hunting with a group that laughed at how large of a bullet i had when two of the 3 were shooting 22-250′s and the other was a 6mm or 7mm. I had two one shot kills that droped the deer within 100yds of being hit. and that was a clean heart shot. The small rifles had to hit deer 3 times just to make a clean kill. My feelings are larger calibers are needed for long hunting situations like an open field, but not from my deer stand in the north woods where my longest shot is 70yds. However I have long shots when we set up drive and pushes around swamps so I love my large gun over any small round. I guess my point isn’t that you can’t kill a deer with a 243, you can kill on with a 17mm, but when you pull the trigger on a deer and 150yds its diffrent then a gopher at 150. Hunters need to make ethical choices using light ammo. In North Dakota our party had to finish off a deer that had been shot 3 times and wouldn’t run even though we were 10yd away from it, that was pure horror and there was no one in sight following the poor thing. I know if I miss, it won’t be a long time till i can finish the job, it won’t take off running for miles with a Win Mag through the guts. Shoot what you want, take the caliber for your skill and distance, Please.
I started hunting at age 12…the earliest I could, and as a beginner I used a 410 slug to hunt deer. Crazy, I would never think to waste my time on that. I upped it to a 3030 after two years and loved it and now am using my Winchester 243, and I think it works fine. I sighted it in on 100 yards and was less than cm off but that could be me shaking. I love the 243 perfect for me!!!
i have used a .243 since i was 8 on deer and varmints. and i have never had any trouble with the knock down power and effectiveness of this round and is not too small for deer yeah its at the lower end of what u want to use but little kinds cant take the harsh recoil of a 7mm or 300. the recoil my not be to bad for adults but it will rock the little kids world. so you dont want them scared of guns and a .243 doesnt kick very much and can shoot just as fast as larger calibers and will kill a deer just as fast. my grandpa told me if u cant kill a deer with a .243 get out of the woods because you dont know what your doin because its a fast flat shootin round that hits pretty herd for its size and its got alot to do with shot placement there wont be no difference if you shoot a deer through both lungs with a .243 or a 300 H&H mag. the deer will die in both cases and i have shot deer with both and the 243 killed the deer faster thenm the big 300 did and i was farther when i shot the deer with my .243 so you dont know what your talkin about!!
The .243 winchester is a very capable big game cartridge. Not interested in “One time I…..”, or “I heard……” Just do the math: A 100 grain bullet moving at ~2900 fps through the 6-8inch vital area visible on a broadside presentation = a dead deer every single time! I’m not worried about the shoulder either.
Great article!
As someone who has guided big game hunters in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado since 1981, I have to say your article is spot on!
I get the chance to perform dozens of “field autopsies” each year on big game. Certainly more so than the average joe. Your conclusion that the .243 Winchester is not adequate as a rifle for beginners or the less experienced hunters is enlightening. I’ve been saying this ever since I began guiding.
I can’t tell you how many beginners and inexperienced hunters I see show up at camp and proceed to put 5 rounds in a tight group at 100 yards. Then when the moment of truth comes to drop the hammer on a game animal, they couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. I’ve had to track more than a few poor hits on Deer that ran much further than they would have if shot with a larger caliber.
I’ve also seen my share of bullet failure on the 24 calibers. In fact, I believe one person in the comments above stated he shot a buck through both shoulders at 100 yards with a .243 Winchester with Ballistic Tips. If that is the case, I’d think that would be a great example of bullet failure. The Ballistic tip isn’t designed as a bone crusher.
I’ve seen premium bullets from the 24 calibers blow up on impact and I’ve seen them act like FMJ bullets with little, if any, expansion.
Sure, the .243 and others like it will take Deer, but then again, so will a .22 LR. I also believe that the .243 should be the very minimum allowed for Deer, with beginners and inexperienced hunters starting out with something like the .25/06, .270 or even something like the .260 if they are sensitive to recoil.
Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more articles.
Dwayne
the 243 win. is very capable of killing a deer. this year i got my first buck using a 243 with 80grain shells from 174yds in one shot . My uncle shot a deer at over 200yds with a 243 and got it. even though the 243 bullet is smaller than 30caliber rounds such as the 30 06 it has higher muzzel valocity than the standerd 30 06 round.So you older guys shooten 2 and 3 shots at deer are just bad aims .
The 243 is a fine round for deer!!! YES- Bigger is better!, but I have let me girls shoot deer, and hogs with a 223 with great success! The main factor is to let kids practice BEFORE hunting. To make a good shot on the animal is more important then the caliber! As long as you have 1000 foot pounds of energy in a bullet at the range you will be shooting him then the gun will work! Good luck…
I agree with the fella who mentioned that the 243 Winchester would not have survived if inadequate for deer. I know for a fact it kills like lightning! And, head and neck shots aren’t necessary. I have had more deer drop in their tracks with my 243 than I have had with my 444 and 30-06…no kidding. Just plant 100 grains of simple, basic Winchester Power Point ammo in the vitals. If they don’t drop, they won’t go far, usually 50 yards or so.
The only problem I have with this writer is his statement about how tough a deer’s hide is. I once shot a doe with a Bear bow set at 63 lbs.The deer was 40 yards away and the alluminum arrow went completly through, breaking a 2″x2″ slab of rib on exit.So much for tough old deer hides.
Alright… I own a .243, and its the only gun i shoot. Last year i shot two deer. I shot a 170lbs spiker, and a 140lbs doe. They both dropped on impact. I am shooting 100gr. bullets. When you guys are all arguing about bullets, and bigger is better. Girls always say… “Its not the size of the ship that matters… Its the motion of the ocean”. Think about it, bigger bullet = better? Umm… No Its all about the shot placement. All u guys that need these big rifles are only able to shoot 5-10 rounds through target practicing without whineing about ur shoulder hurting… Us using the .243 can shoot all day and not whine once! BIGGER ISN’T BETTER!
I shot my first rifle deer last year. My rifle is a Rossi 243 Win. I am using some “old” bullets I got from my wife’s uncle. They are American Arms Ammo in a 100gr. Anyone ever heard of them? Anyway I only had a 25yd. shot and the 117lb. doe ran maybe 20yd. after I hit her. What I noticed was the entrance and exit holes looked exactly the same….that robably isn’t good right? I guess that means I had no expansion at all. These bullets I am shooting have got to be 20 years old. I hunt medium woods, not to thick and not to thin. What bullet should I invest in?
I own a Browning A-Bolt .243. I have been using this gun for the past 16 years for deer. I use 100 grain remington core lokt bullets and i have dropped quite a few deer in there tracks at different yardages. All of them went in and out destroying the heart and lungs. This gun is as good on deer as any. And as for any caliber for deer, it is shot placement that counts.
@ Chuck,
Congrats on your Deer.
It does sound like the bullet failed to expand. Something that is one problem of the older .243 rounds as I stated in the article.
I would invest in a box of Premium 243 ammo. I’d first take a look at Federal Fusion in the 95 grain bullet. I’ve heard of many 243 shooters having good results with it. You can find them online by clicking here.
You can also take a look at Hornady’s Light Magnums in 100 grain or their Custom Ammo line with a 100 grain bullet.
You should also look into Federal Vital Shock ammo with 100 grain Nosler Partitions. Their other 100 grain Vital-Shock ammo with 100 grain boattail should also do great for you.
Good Luck,
Don
My niece is shooting 95 gr. hornadays in hers.She killed the buck but it went 125yds with double hit.the problem we had is it we had no blood for about 65 yds , and that was just a speck.We need better blood. They don’t go down all the time.Been told the nosler partitions, anything else to try?
Those who say the 243 isn’t big enough for deer are people who never take the time to place a good kill shot. I’ve seen deer walk away from an 8mm mag shot. Only because the shot was poorly placed. If the 223 is good enough to kill humans at considerable yardages, the 243 is certainly big enough for deer with the 100 grain bullet. The 243 is being looked at as a new round for the military, because of its ballistics.
@Joe
Blood trails can also be a problem with small rounds like the 243 Winchester.
The Noslers would be a good choice as would any of the ones I recommended to Chuck in the comment above yours. One I’ve heard people having good results on are the Federal Fusion with the 95 grain bullet.
@ Van
Again, I never said the 243 Winchester wasn’t adequate for deer hunting. I said it wasn’t a good choice for inexperienced deer hunters.
As for the 223 being “adequate” for humans, you’ll find many, many Servicemen who would disagree.
In fact, there was flap about a year or so ago about the 223′s because the bad guys were taking body shots and not going down quick enough. Sure, at long range with a well placed shot, any round would be adequate.
There’s a story out on the Internet about the Marines doing an internal investigation because they had a high instance of head shots. Some do-gooders thought that the bad guys were being executed. As it turns out, the Marines were taking these guys out from several hundred yards.
But again, if you could get a 22 long rifle bullet in someones ear at 300 yards, it would do the trick.
The performance of the 223 on humans may be the reason the 243 is being looked at again as a Military round (it was looked at in the early 60′s as well, but the Military chose the 223)
Sure the 100 grain is “good enough” for deer, but only with well placed shots. A little off the mark (liver, high lung, etc) and you can end up with a lost deer.
I think that the .243 Win is a very capable cartridge for deer in the right hands. The light recoil is conductive for more precise shooting. I would probably put a 7mm-08 or .308 in the hands of a first time hunter to have a little more security in the event of a poorly placed shot.
With that said, I have taken many deer with a .243 from ranges of 15-400 yards and have never had to shoot twice, and have never had to track more than 50 yards. I use Hornady Light Mag ammo in 100 grain interlock bullets and that keeps my groups tight and adds a little punch for long range applications. I am able to consistently shoot 1 inch groups at 200 yards. While I may be on the lucky side for a stock model 700, I have never seen a .243 shoot poorly.
I will continue using my .243 for deer. When it comes down to it, I know where it will shoot and can ensure good shot placement.
I nailed a nice medium sized 6-point Texas buck last year with a center chest shot at about 130-yards with a Ruger Model 77 with a Winchester using a 100-grain Winchester Power Point bullet. What impressed me most was the lack of meat damage, but I’m telling you everything in front of the diaphragm was destroyed. The lungs poured out in small chunks like a can of stewed tomatoes and the heart was completely severed from the aorta. With the exception of the meat damage the damage to the internal organs (heart and lungs) was a about the same as a similar hit I had made on a similar sized deer the year before with a .30-06 (Federal loading – my sporterized Model 1903-A3 loves them – I get dime sized groups at 100-yards with it) using a 165-grain Sierra Game King bullet. Both deer went about 40-feet before fading to black. Sorry, I don’t buy the “kill ‘em with cannon” approach. Anybody who needs the super powers of a magnum caliber probably needs Viagra, too. The calibers I use the most are the .30-06 (the biggest common sense caliber any deer hunter should ever need), .30-30, 6.5x55mm, and the .25-06. Last year I used my oldest sons .243 (the first time I had ever used a .243 to hunt deer) and I was very pleased with the results. The second deer I shot with it (.243) was a medium sized doe at about 70-yards. She dropped in her tracks. The .243 Winchester is entirely adequate for deer – period. It’s not what you shoot with that matters – it’s where you put the bullet that matters.
just because one man has a disslike for a certain caliber does not mean his word is gospel!!!!
I would never attempt to shoot another deer with a .243. I’ve shots lots of deer and had great luck with .270 and even 30/30, some running so shot locations weren’t always great. I’ve shot many deer with .243 and 250/3000, both are worthless IMO. If you like traling deer all over creation and then finding them the next morning all swelled up, use a .243.
i agree with some of this but just last week my friend and i were hunting deer he was using a 25-06 and i was using a 243. 85 gr. i was just before dark and we both hit deer at 450 yds. so yea 100 gr would do the trick but 85 gr is not too small.
I began using a .243 when I was eleven. I shot a doe at over 200 yards for my first deer. The shot wasnt that great on my part, however, the bullet did the trick and went through both shoulders and out the other side. It literally broke both legs and left one shoulder hanging by skin. The next year, I had a shot on my first buck and he had spotted me. I shot him head on and he took one jump and collapsed. We found the bullet stuck between the ham and hide on his backside. The bullet went almost completely through the deer and about an inch from coming out. Since then, I have taken a lot of deer with the .243 and dropped one or two here and there with lung/heart shots. I usually go for head shots these days, but only if the deer are within fifty yards are so. My shots are better now, and I have the experience to take broadside shots and not risky head on shots. I have since then moved on to a Browning BAR in .30-06 just because I found one at a deal and liked it. I love the new gun and havent had a deer move yet after being shot with it. However, on a lighter note, Dad took over the .243 when I began leaving it behind and he has retired his .30-06. The .30-06 will quite literally knock a deer backwards, however; the .243 is the more accurate gun in our house. It shoots less than one inch groups at 100 yards (remington model seven youth) and the BAR does good to stay within a 3 inch group. We do have 400 yard fields surrounding my house, and when it comes down to long range hunting, the new Savage model 10 (yes, we purchased another .243) is the weapon of choice. It shoots even tighter groups than the Remington and I have recently placed an old Redfield 3×9 scope on it (thanks to the retired .30-06). And as far as hunting deer with a rimfire such as discussed earlier (it is illegal and I havent done it) I would much rather tote the .17HMR than the .22 LR. That little bullet hits hard. Still a little weaker than ideal for deer though.
Just another note, even though i ranted on the greatness of the .243, i must say that it let me down yesterday. I shot a doe between 150 and 200 yards and aimed about 3 inches high. The doe jumped and bolted hard after the shot and I figured that it was a decent hit. However, on inspection by myself and Dad, there was no sign of a hit. No fur, no blood. We searched the woods she had left in and found nothing to confirm a hit. It could have been a clean miss, however, from the distance, they normally stand alert when there is a miss. Maybe it was a miss, maybe i didnt have a pass-through shot. Needless to say, the .243 will probably stay in the house for the rest of the year and the BAR will get to have fun with me. Any thoughts?
Harry, don’t shoot them in the guts then!
I’m 53 yrs old and have been deer hunting since I was 16. I guess most of you naysayers have never heard of the great outdoor writer and hunter Byron Dalrymple. He used nothing but a .243 to kill mule deer and whitetails out west, claiming it was “perfect” for deer. I’ve switced from heavy calibers to the .243 in the last 15 years and have killed more deer, never losing one. Again, it goes back to marksmanship, and with little recoil, the .243 fits the bill for the serious hunter. If you’re a bad shot, then get yourself a heavy caliber.
I’m certainly glad i stumbled upon this article,and chat session.I recieved a rem. 770/.243 as a X-mas gift from my wife.I’ve been around .243′s,and i’ve always wanted to own one.I’ve also had to help fellow hunters track wounded deer,that’s why i delayed getting one for so long. but I was also impressed with the internal destruction a 100gr rem.core loct will do to a deer.I normally hunt out of stands over bean and corn fields in the tarheel state.I think this little piece will do just fine.It’s all in the bullet placement as we all know.I’d really appreciate any tips on sighting it in (ie.2″ high or 3″ high at a hundred yds.)etc…
I dropped my first deer, a spike buck with a .243 Winchester. It was from about 90 yards away, and it didn’t run anywhere. BAM! It went straight down. I also got a large doe with the same gun from 140 yards, she only ran about 15 yards before dropping.
It’s about shot placement. If you aim about two inches above the rear of the front leg, you’ll have a double lung and heart shot. Anyone suggesting shooting at the neck or head is an idiot. Anyone suggesting using large ammo as an excuse to be a bad shot so they can shoot a deer in the gut is an even bigger idiot. I’d hate to have to field dress a deer shot in the gut, disgusting!
Learn to shoot and use a scope, and you won’t have any problems.
Of course I wouldn’t intentionally gut-shoot a deer, nobody would, but anyone that has hunted alot has made a poor shot at one time or another. I’ve even made good shots with a .243 and had them run for hundreds of yards. At first I thought the bullet wasn’t holding together, so I tried 95 grain silvertips. They were even worse, very ineffective. I have an uncle in Montana who has killed more deer than anyone I know. When I showed up out there with my .243, he told me it wasn’t enough. I disagreed at the time, but have since learned he was right. Like I said, I’ve recovered every deer I’ve shot with my .270, if they don’t drop immediately they don’t go far.
I own several guns, one being a 243. I have only shot two small bucks and a pig with it. First deer was at 40 yards and I hit him in the shoulder with a federal brand loaded with 100 grain sierra game kings at an advertised 2900 fps. It separated the shoulder and blew up. Deer ran 40 yards and died. The second deer was face on at 100 yards. Bullet went in the front of the neck, bounced off the spine and came out the side of the neck. Bullet performance in both cases was POOR. I handloaded Hornady 100 grain round noses at 2600 fps and took a 200 pound hog behind the ear. It put her down on the spot. Bullet did not exit. I shot an 8 point with my 30-30 last weekend. Bullet passed clean through with massive internal damage and a 50 foot blood trail that was splashed all over the ground. Yes, I will use my 243 again. But the shots must be perfect. You blow it with these little bullets (and no exit hole) you will not have a blood trail to follow. I don’t think it is a good “kids” gun.
A properly aimed shot from a .243 will drop a deer, if not in it’s tracks pretty damned close. the only reason it would run any distance would be that it had not been shot in the heart/ lung area.
@ James Johnson,
Since you’re hunting over fields, I’d sight the rifle in to shoot 3″ high at 100 yards. That’s how I sight most of my rifles in. They should be close to being dead on at 300 yards. But do check a ballistic table to make sure.
@ James
Sounds like you hit the deer to me. In my experience, any time a Deer does a high kick after the shot, most times it’s hit in the boiler room, and many of those are in the heart.
@ Pat
Well said!
@ Tracker
I guess I’ve been an idiot for many years. Any Deer that I take strictly for the table gets a neck shot if I can get it. If not, then a double lung to do minimal damage to the meat.
I’d go one step further and say if you’re not comfortable putting a bullet in a Deer’s neck at any given range, then it’s too far for you to be shooting or it could be because your rifle isn’t accurate enough.
For those of you who have said that marksmanship is the only thing that is needed to kill a Deer, I’d point you to the many replies above about poor bullet performance with the .243.
Does it happen to everyone? Certainly not. And I’m sure it happens a lot less today with the quality of ammo that is on the market, but it still happens. I wouldn’t take a chance with a round knowing it has a spotty past where bullet performance is concerned.
I wonder how many of you who believe the .243 to be good ‘beginners’ gun would put a .223 in their hands? Yeah, there are those who also swear the .223′s and other Varmit rounds are ‘perfect’ Deer rounds.
Some of you are taking me all wrong. It’s not that I ‘hate’ the .243, because I don’t. I think it’s a very accurate round. My beef is those of you putting them in ‘beginner’ hands. There are just to many chances for something to go wrong when it’s in a newbies hands.
Kinda like putting a new 16 year old driver in a NASCAR car and telling him to go out Sunday and drive with the rest of the boys at Daytona. Sure, it will work and he may make it through the race, but what’s the chances of something going wrong?
Whether you agree with me or not, I appreciate everyone’s input on this subject. Thanks to everyone for posting their opinions! This is one thing that makes this Country great. The freedom to express our opinions and the freedom to express our opinions about the Guns we shoot. (at least for now??!!)
Don
I know many of you have hunted most of your lives. Some may have only done so for a few years. I have used a wide variety of guns and ammunition and I don’t claim to be an expert on any. My experience with the 243 has left me with a so-so feeling for it.
Bullets and ballistic data are funny things. I have some life experiences maybe someone can shed light on. I use a 300 grain XTP sabot on top of 90 grains of powder in my muzzleloader. Everything I shoot dies on the spot. My buddy uses a 400 grain buffalo bullet with 100 grains of powder and his deer all run away. All of these were hit through both lungs. Another scenario. My 30-30 is loaded with 150 grain Winchester power points. My deer drop within 20 to 30 yards at most. My buddy shoots deer with a 30-06 with 180 grain bullets. His deer run 50 to 100 yards shot through both lungs. Ballistics tables would indicate that my buddy’s guns should do better than mine. Yet they don’t. Why?
Regardless, bullet performance with these guns is better than my 243. As stated before I shot two deer and a 200 pound hog with it so far. I hit the hog behind the ear at 40 yards. I cut the head open yesterday and the bullet (100 grain hornady round nose) had disintegrated on the spine. It damaged it enough to kill it but did not go through the bone. In the last 4 years I have had one deer and a hog present me with a classic broadside shot. All the rest have been quartering away through thick brush. With a 243 you cannot get way with these shots like you can with a bigger caliber. I will definitely use my 243 again next year, but only after I get some meat in the freezer. As for my daughter, she will be hunting her first year with a 30-30.
I have deer hunted with numerous calibers over the years 6 mm Remington up to .450 Marlin and 45/70 and I have discovered that in many cases a deer hit through the lungs can travel considerable distances sometimes several hundred yards. I mostly hunt in wooded areas that do not require long range shots often. There are many thickets and a deer traveling 100 yards can be easily lost without a good blood trail. Most of my shots are taken at 100 yards or less. I have shot many deer with 30/06 and a .270 and most will run 50 yards or further even if hit well. However, I have shot many others with large caliber rifles such as .44 magnum, .450 Marlin, 45/70 and even .338 magnum. Those shot in vital areas with the larger calibers drop in their tracks no death run. As someone said everyone occasionally makes a bad shot. This season I shot a deer in the gut as the 45/70 bullet glanced off of some brush and hit the deer too far back. It still dropped in its tracks. I conclude from my own experiences that deer drop faster at close to moderate ranges from bigger heavier bullets.
I’ve hunted whitetails for 30 years with many different rifle calibers. I am primarily a trophy hunter, and I agree with you completely regarding the need to bring enough gun. Sure you can kill deer with a pellet rifle if you shoot them in the eye, etc. I consider myself a good marksman, however regardless of shot placement and caliber, I have seen spooked deer run pretty far. If they do, you’ve got the chance to lose them. I’ve also dropped then in their tracks. My priorities are to bag my desired buck and do it humanely. In my humble opinion there’s no substitute for the .30-06/.308 unless you have a physical or financial issue.
ive use the 243 winchester for deer, bear, and yes even moose..not the size that matters
Pat,
One thing people don’t consider when all of these ballistic tables and data are developed is the fact that the individual deer is not taken into effect. From my experience, from my fathers words, and from conversation with peers, it seems to me that some deer just have that extra “want” to live. I have shot more than a few deer with calibers ranging from .243-7mm mag, and I must say that the deer hit with the 7mag ran farther than any other. We had a blood trail over 100 yards long and the hit was right in the heart lung area. I have had deer that ran for a decent distance after being shot with the .243, yet I have also seen them drop in their tracks. As far as the most steady performing gun, my BAR 30-06 has never let me down. Every deer I have shot with it has dropped. This again is just a strange trend. The bullet placement matters and the size of the bullet matters; however, I think the theory should be observed that some deer are just tougher than others in a Clint Eastwood kind of way. I would love feedback on this if posible form anyone who may or may not agree with this theory.
Also, in response to the 30-30 for the daughter, I cant say nay about this decision. We have one in the household, yet it has never been shot more than a couple times as far as I know. We bought it at a deal, and it sits in the safe now. My first deer gun was a remington .243, and after seeing the work it did on the deer and the tiny groups on paper, my Dad bought a Savage the same year for a “joint” Christmas present to me and my little brother. I have never brought myself to shoot the 30-30 because I am in love with accuracy and long-range shooting. This is odd, especially in North Carolina, where the only long shots we see are on powerlines and fields. Most of the hunting here is brush country; yet I live for the long shots. My longest shot on a deer with the .243 was 365 yards(not quite midwest, but a heck of a distance around my home). The deer stumbled for a few steps and collapsed after traveling maybe ten yards. This kind of experience has made me very biased towards the .243 and 30-06 (not the best for long range, but then again, check out the snipers in WWI and WWII). Im sure the 30-30 is sufficient for deer, and would guess that the numbers taken over the years from the caliber range into the multimillions.
And as far as the bullets not coming out, I have seen the same thing with “good” (expensive) bullets. We now shoot PMC and Rem Corelocks exclusively (the cheapest we have found) not for the price, but because they seem to group better in our two .243s, not to mention, I have yet to see a single shot from either of the two bullets listed not go through a deer. As far as Hornadys and Federals, they only lasted a season in the deer woods because of a sheer lack of punch. I now practice with the left over bullets because Dad has a warrant out for my butt if I shoot up his PMCs (they have discontinued the 100 grain .243 because they are now loading for the war in the middle east, and had to shut down some of their lines to fit this need).
Pat,
The best theory I can concur for your question is one I has occured to me for many years. It seems that some deer just “want” to live more than others. I know this seems childish, but it sure seems to be true at times. Anyone that has hunted for any significant amount of time has seen deer drop in their tracks after being hit by bad shots. The same person has more than likely seen deer hit by a perfect shot that managed to run a couple hundred yards before expiring. I honestly think that there is no remedy for killing deer as far as shot placement goes. There is no exact spot to shoot that will drop every deer out there. I have never seen a head shot move afterwards, yet I have heard of them running before expiring. Undoubtedly, the heart/lung area is the best shot choice, yet it will have different effects on deer. Some will drop, some will run. I have had a veteran hunter friend to tell me that he believed that some deer run “dead”. He backed up his theory with things like muscle memory and instincts. Im not quite sure about that, but I entitle him to his opinion and wont dismiss it entirely. It seems to me that some deer are just tougher than others. Any football coach will preach on the aspect of playing with your heart. If a person wants something more than another, passion can beat talent. I think the same can be applied to deer. Some deer have more heart than others and a will to live. They make a harder try at getting away. I know this sounds childish, but I have thought upon your question many times in my own life, and this is the simplest answer I have ever developed.
Id like to know what anyone thinks about this opinion if possible.
Just thought I would add something. I know that the heart/lung area is the best shot choice in deer hunting. What I mean to say is that shot placement is not the only factor affecting the kill to run ratio. undoubtedly, a good heart/lung shot will kill any deer and cut down on the distance travelled when tracking deer. however, not all deer respond to the same shot in the same way. It really hard for me to convey what I want to say is this sense. I dont want to write a formal english paper, but it would help in clearness on this topic. I will save those for this semester.
i killed a 10 point 200lb, buck at 150yds with a 100grain winch. power point it entered right shoulder and stopped on opposite hip it weighed 60 grains when recovered. a friend in colorado has shot elk sheep deer lion with 243 i shot an elk with 338 and it ran a mile good shot nosler part. who knows? barnes touts their triplex as an elk round
Greater velocity and foot pounds than a 30-30 at 100 yards-how can you trust such a round. Flatter trajectory and better accuracy at 100 yards than a 30-30. Lets put 30-30s in the too small for deer category as well.
I have been Police Firearms Instructor for over 20 years. One thing I’ve learned is that way too much emphasis is placed on “what you shoot” I’ve learned it’s “how well you shoot” A 300 Win Mag that misses a Deer may as well be a 16″ round from the USS New Jersey. A caliber like a 243 Win is easy enough to shoot so that the shooter can PRACTICE with it and get good with it. The 1st Deer I ever shot was with a S&W Model 15 38 Spl with a Rem 125gr JHP. I killed a 208lb Boar with a S&W Model 65 with a Federal 357 Mag 125gr JHP. What you use is not as important as how you use it. “Firepower” is no excuse for ACCURACY and METAL PREPARDNESS when you squeeze the trigger!!!!
243 win is a deer cartridge. It was designed with that purpose in mind. That said 234 is one of the smallest calibers allowed in many states for deer.
The point about experience I don’t agree with. A bad shot is a bad shot. I have seen my father in law shoot a deer with a 300 win mag hit a little far back we found that deer the next day still alive but unable to get back to its feet. The deer had traveled around 700 yards we estimate. If that deer had been shot with 243 I think we would have had the same result. Today we have seen many deer, elk and black bear taken with 243. Bottom line is if you can’t put your shot on a pie plate you will be unhappy with your shots on deer. If you are unable to make your shot because you have not practiced, improving the diameter of your bullet will not make things better. That logic has led to many lost deer IMHO.
I Have never had a problem killing numerous deer with the .223 Remington chambered Mini 14 let alone my Ruger model 77 243 Win.Just last year I jumped a 4 point Muley bedded down and sent an uphill shot at him running from about 40 yards.The 80 grain Federal Power Shok factory load had no problem desroying his heart,both lungs and shattering a rib bone upon exiting his soon to be corpse.A completely practical weapon.The firearm is light and easy to pack around.The bullet shoots flat,fast has very little recoil and in these times of expensive and limited availability of ammo in other calibers theres every reason to utilize the .243 Win and not many reasons not to.If your shot placement is so poor that you cant harvest game with a 243 than you probably have no buisiness even handling a firearm.Take care.Brad in Montana
I’ve hunted for years with my 308 and so far no deer has gone more than 25 ft. That wasn’t because of alot of tissue damage it was because of precise tissue damage. I bought a 243 for my son to use, my original plan was to give him the gun when he gets his first deer. Plans have changed-now this 243 will have to be wrestled from my hands. My son is using the lighter rounds for practice, the 100 gr’s point of impact is just slightly lower at 100yrds. I haven’t shot a deer yet with my 243 and have no doubt with the accuracy it is giving my son and I that we will be saying, “Meats back on the menu boys.” We finished our 3rd box and will probably shoot a couple more just because it is fun to shoot.
I was reflecting back on my years of hunting and realized that of the many deer taken 15 of them fell to the .243 and I’ve never lost a single one to that caliber. They’ve all dropped instantly or nearly and I’ve shot them as close as 20 yards to as far as 300. One buck at about 80 yds and a hard quartering angle fell instantly from a 100 gr
nosler partition that shattered the left femur/hip
(I shot a bit right of aim) continued through entrails, liver, lung/heart, and lodged under the hide of the off shoulder. A 180 gr slug from a .30 caliber couldn’t do better! For me anyway, the .243 just plain works.
This has been a great set of opinions to read. I am planning to buy a Rem. 700 in.243 in the next week or so for several reasons. I am a 100% disabled vet with arthritis in several major joints and back and neck. For years I’ve been using a good old fashioned .30-06 and it does really good work. It is a killing machine without question. But, at 53 yrs of age with frequently very sore shoulders, that thing kicks like a mule. Because of my condition, my ability to walk miles and miles has become a thing of the past. I agree that it’s vital to “use enough gun” and in New Mexico long shots are frequent. The .243 fits better into my plans of dusting off the military sniping skills and sticking in place to hunt both varmints and deer. I don’t see any problems with the .243 as I’ll be able to practice more with less damage to my own shoulders. More range time means better shot placement and better familiarity with the weapon. Would I use it on bear or elk? I kinda doubt it. That .30-06 provides plenty of whallop for such critters. Is a .243 able to take bear or elk? No doubt it will. As with any hunting there are several points to remember:
1.)Don’t take major long range shots unless you are absolutely positive, by way of actual experience, that you know where that bullet is going to go. Study your range tables, heck study several, but then go out to a range and prove that they are accurate with your rifle and your hunting bullet. Don’t skimp, don’t save, don’t lie to yourself or others. Make sure that the bullet is doing what is claimed in your own rifle.
Save the B.S. for around the campfire after the day’s hunting is over. Bigger, faster, flatter, better….great fodder for debate.
2.) Don’t skimp on cheap bullets. Get premium well made bullets that are not going to let you down and that will not fade into powder on contact with your game. If in doubt, go for the heavier bullet. Mass times velocity always equates to impact energy and a good Barnes X-bullet or Nosler partition are gonna thump hard and heavy at the terminal end of a shot.
3.) Both of the other items call for a thorough understanding of both your weapon and ammunition. This means that you MUST practice till you’re sick of it and then practice some more. (I recommend reloading your own and building the perfect ammunition for your particular rifle.)
4.) Finally, do us all a favor as hunters. If you aren’t absolutely comfortable with your shot, don’t take it. If you aren’t certain that your bullet is going to kill your target, don’t send it down range. I get sick and tired of anti- hunters complaining about gut shot animals being left to die in the woods because some mean ol’ hunter only wounded it. Save the backroom bravado about shooting at an animal 750 yards away on the off chance you might accidentally hit it. That kind of nonsense leads to wounded animals that die nasty deaths after days of suffering. Spend the money on a decent rangefinder and verify your yardage if you plan on long range shooting.Then make absolutely sure that your rifle/bullet combo is gonna provide enough terminal energy to kill your target.A real Macho man doesn’t have to prove he’s macho with 9 mile shots. He proves it with a clean kill and meat on the table. ( That goes for you ultra feminine Ladies too. Welcome to the woods ladies!)
Thanks for letting me state my case. I plan to enjoy that new .243 when I get it.
Been killing deer for 40 years with a .243. Distances from as close as 10 yards out to 300 yards. Always use a large lead (90-100 Grs). Now I am using a single shot NEF .243. One shot….one kill….. Practice….practice…Practice….. You don’t become a good shot by shooting your gun a few times before the season starts…..
I’m the proud owner of a Ruger no. 1 in .243 win. I used it to take many whitetail deer, including my first. I agree with the writer when he says that bullet chose is very important for fast smaller size calibers. Experienced and new hunters will sometimes encounter less than perfect hits but it isn’t something that should turn you away from a perfectly good caliber. I don’t know if the “shakes” causes many bad shots but I’m willing to bet recoil is responsible for more lost or injured game. If somebody shakes behind a .243 they might shut their eyes behind something heavier.
.243 Is my top chose for new deer hunters.
If one cannot quell a whitetail with a .243 Winchester with a proper 100 grain Speer Grand Slam bullet with a 3000 fps powder charge at the muzzle, one is not aiming properly. At 50 yards to 200 yards, it should be a no-brainer! Going afield without a properly-sighted rifle, would be the main culprit here. A sledgehammer strike from a 2100 ft/lb .243 round will have the mozy to outright kill an living whitetail. cliffy
I become tired of people advocating .300 Winchester Magnums for whitetails. Talk about overkill and meat destruction . . . cliffy
I believe you are way wrong! With well-constructed 90 to 100 grain bullets the .243 will humanely and cleanly dispatch the biggest deer extant. It has been and continues to be the perfect first deer gun for beginning hunters far far more effective than the vaunted 30-30 winchester. the 30-30 has taken more deer than all other calibers combined and you say the .243 is not adequate? Your argument holds no water. It is well-known that a poor hit even with a .458 magnum can result in a wounded deer. The .243 is the perfect deer round, flat shooting and hard hitting. It is accurate and has proven itself in the field. The true experienced hunters will confirm that the .243 is a great deer round. Proof in the field is more telling than mere foolish words by a mis-informed writer.
I’ve seen nilgai shot, and killed with a 243. These antelope average about 300 to 600 pounds, depending on whether its a cow, or a bull. As with any caliber, shot placement is the key. A 243 works just fine on deer, and people who criticize the round obviuosly have never seen what kind of damage it can inflict.
Well the article was sort of a cop out in that you go towards, “If your an inexperienced hunter don’t use this, use a cannon, if you know what your doing then of course you know its a good round.
I’ve been hunting 40 years, never got the “shakes” when pointing at an animal…it should be shaking not me, I have the gun..
I dont feel recommending a 45-70 with a 400gr round for a deer is “cause its bigger” is good advice. No the advice is: Learn to shoot well with a rifle that is confortable to shoot, say a bolt action .22. After you do that, get a weapon that you like and one that fits you well. I primarily use a 7mm rem mag for deer up, but I have a .243 for Cougar, Deer, and yotes. Compare the ballistics of the .243 to just about anything down from a 7mm rm. A .243 has more than enough speed and energy for any deer.
Saying a .243 isnt a good round if you dont shoot accurately is silly. Your not going to hit anything with your 300win mag either if you cant shoot well, and your shoulder will hurt while practicing, thus you’ll never get to be a good shot. Suggesting go out with a bigger gun cause you might only wound it and hopefully it will bleed out….geeesh..what are you thinking.
Educate them about the grain to use, how to practice before they hunt…
I fully disagree with you belief that the .243 is really not a excellent choice for deer. I’ve shot Blacktails and Mule Deer at distances out to 300 yards and never had any buck go more than 50 yards. All but 3 out of 15 or so have dropped in their tracks. I have shot factory loaded 95 grain Noslers and Win. Ballistic Silvertips both with mind blowing results. It all comes down to shot placement with any gun-if you dont hit the vitals, neck or head you will be tracking a buck whether you shot him with a .243 or a 300mag. Guns like the mags should be used on Elk and bigger animals only. Save some meat for the table, after all thats why you should be hunting in the first place. Horns are secondary if your a true sportsman.
A .243 Winchester packs a deadly punch at 300 yards with a 100 grain bullet. Upgrading to 105 Speer Soft-Point Spitzer adds to the severity of the wound. The recoil upgrade is only a minor result, yet still mild considering the SMACK of a 30/06 Springfield. Alliant ReLoder 22 is a smooth, shoulder-friendly powder perfectly adapted to 105 Speer fare. For handloaders, this combination is the ultimate whitetail medicine. Cliffy, the Meek. I only use 45.8 grains of RL-22.
Considering the number of friends I have that regularly dispatch deer with .243s, .223s and even a .204 Ruger, I really don’t see how anyone can claim these calibers are too small. I hunt with a .454 carbine, not because I preferred it, I don’t really considering the luck and clean kills of my buddies, I needed a heavier bullet for mama bear up here in the north country.
Much of the debate over calibers is annoying. Does dear departed Bambi realize when he is shot with a 7mm-08, 6mm Creedmore or .257 Roberts as opposed to the .243? Lots of difference on paper, not much difference to Bambi, all else being equal.
Now, the difference between a .243 and the .338 that has been mentioned once or twice is noticeable, for sure, or probably between the .44 mag and .45/70… What it boils down to is you and me.
I enjoy the discussion of caliber choice for game, but realistically, many calibers are so virtually identical in performance that choosing between them is symantics. Factory cartridge choice in individual rifles is crucial. Powder choice and weight in handloads is a lot of fun and maximizes the potential of the load. But realistically, shooting a deer succesfully should be the goal, not various ego boosting comparisons of little actual consquence.
Thanks for listening…
caliber does not mater nearly as much as being comfortable with your firearm.you must be certain where your bullet is going to hit or it doesent matter if youre shootig a cannon or a b.b gun.
I am 27 years old and have been hunting deer and hogs w/ a Winchester Model 70 featherweight chambered in .243 since I was 15. In the last 12 years I have taken 10 deer and at least 20 feral hogs with my .243 at various distances ranging from 5-250 yds and have never lost an animal. I agree with everyone who has pointed out that it’s all about the shot placement and using the proper bullet type(ie. not one designed for varmints). I personally do not own any other deer rifle and do not plan on wasting my hard earned money on one, the rifle I have works perfectly well for me. With my scope set on 12 power I can shoot a golf ball off the top of a beer bottle at 100 yds with my .243 time and again. With a weapon capable of that kind of accuracy there is no need for more power as long as you understand the anatomic build of the animal you are targeting. As far as blood trails go I have seen some times where there was plenty of blood to follow and other times where there was none, but I also have never had to search an area with greater than a 200 yd radius to locate my fallen game. Really not that far to search if you think about it and if you’ve got a dog with a good nose that’ll go a long way to speeding things up. Anyway, ANYONE who thinks a .243 is not “ADEQUATE” for deer hunting is “ignorant”(meaning that they don’t understand what they are talking about) most probably have never attempted using one for deer hunting and are running on an assumption and you know what assumtions do. Those that have used a .243 and came to the conclusion that it was “INADEQUATE” for deer probably made a bad shot and it doesn’t matter what type of weapon you choose, a bad shot is a bad shot. No creature deserves to have to wander for hours bleeding to death internally. I understand that everyone can make a bad shot, (obviously no one is perfect) but you shouldn’t have to rely on a larger bullet doing more damage to make up for being a bad shot. If you have doubts about wether you can make a clean kill with your weapon then I suggest you get to the range and practice!
Yea the first gun my dad has ever gave me for deer hunting is a 243 and i been using that for about 4-5 years ever deer I shot at went down atleast 50 yards where i shot them…100 Grain
My Dad has a 300 win short mag he had to shoot his deer 3 times before it started to show a sign of a hit and it still took off 100 yards where it has been shot at The first shot hit the liver :/ he uses balistic tip
Well i’ve read all these comments so i guess i’ll give my own opinion, which we all know everybody has one…..i’ve killed deer with about ten different calibers ‘some dropped in thier tracks some ran. bullet placement and construction and maybe a little luck,play a large part. as long as we do our part like not taking a marginal shot it usually turns out ok.
Will a .243 kill a deer? Absolutely, no question. But when a fatally struck deer runs 100-200 yards in the rain with no or a small exit hole and little or no blood trail, recovery becomes key. Under right conditions, fine rifle and cartridge. Thick, wet cover, I want a hole through both sides leaking lots of blood. And all these mentioned head and neck shots, yep, fine when things are just right, poor choice for a shot when moving or moving through cover.
Recoil should not be a factor in the decision to use a certain cartridge. Using a small cartridge for big game because of its light recoil is like putting a small engine in a race car because you can’t handle the speed. Match the cartidge to the game, then learn to accept the recoil. It goes with the territory.
So what, pray tell, are these shoulder friendly superior calibers you reference?
i had shot my first deer with a .243 and it went at least 15 yards and dropped. i had also took it to the range great accuracy all in the bullseye. i used it as a kid so i suggest it to kids 12-18 once u get older u should probly get somthin bigger like a 30-30 or somthing
I just love to read articles about 243 not being an adequate deer cartridge. For the record I mostly use my Ruder m77 chambered in 270win. It is my favorite gun caliber has nothing to do with my choice. First of all a dad shot is a bad shot regardless of caliber. to say that a bad shot can be made up for by using a bigger gun is irresponsible as is to send a kid or new hunter out with out proper practice.
Lets use real numbers shall we. 234 win muzzle Ke with 100 gr bullet Is around 1950 fp depending on the manufacture. 30-30 the most popular deer rifle ever made has around 1900 fp of Ke at the muzzle with a 150 gr bullet, Again depending on the company what loaded it. Would you consider 30-30 to be too little gun?
The best way to debunk your article is to just look at the fact that 243 has been considered to be a great deer cartridge since its inception 54 years ago.
Quite simply If you can put led on your target what caliber you use is insignificant. A two lung or a hart shot is a kill no mater if it is a 243, 300mag, 50bmg, or a sharpened stick.
The more I read this article and the comments left by its writer the more i have problems with it. Just what would you say is the best cartridge to make a bad or to use your word marginal shot with? Or just what would say is a good gun for an inexperienced hunter? Can you tell me that a deer shot in a vital area is going to live Or die depending on what caliber bullet it was shot with.
May hunters blame A bad shot on the gun or bullet and that is furthered by people writing articles like this one. Let me ask you one more question. Have you ever seen a deer shot in the vitals with a 243 and live or a deer shot with a bigger gun in the rear hips die?
The fact is that you hole article is based on, what if you make a bad shot. And the worst part is that your answer is to go to a bigger gun instead of just making the point that the vast majority of lost deer are not lost due to the caliber of gun but to lack of time spent on the range.
sorry for the rant, I have just grown tired of people advocating a bigger gun to make up for lack of ability.
The .243. Well, I have to mostly agree with you on just about everything you said, especially on the beginner point, except you left out the point about training. Beginning hunters shouldn’t be sending rounds down range at any game without spending hard time on the range. With that said, and with the price of ammo these days, one should invest in spending at least 300 accurate rounds at a non-breathing target before “wounding” a deer. A little research would help to. Placement is the point, and training is the only way to place a projectile properly. The type of projectile is the next important thing. You need it to do what it is designed to do. Even having a seasoned shooter present helps. You need someone to observe and criticize your technique.
Just shot my first 137lb buck with a new 243 encore/95 gr balistic tip nosler. One shot no run kill. Have used a 270/130gr for years with a much less dramatic result. Good optics and good bullets, dead deer.
I can truly see that whoever wrote this article has no clue about the 243. He talks like a typical whitetail has a chest cavity 3 feet thick…Give me a break. I have shot over 40 deer with a 243 and never had to shoot one twice. I get so sick and tired of people who dont have a clue about firearms, trying to give me their 2 cents about caliber choice. Get you nose out of the poorly written books my friend, and go out and actually kill something……. Wake up !!
Your exactly right about what you said. But im a beginner hunter and i was using my grandpa’s .243 that he handed down to me and i killed a 4 point buck from a fair distance. you are right about what you said about the yung ones getting “the shakes” and i agree. But i’v shot the .243 and i think that its nice for beginners because of the kick. It barley kicks and i love shooting it. meaning that i can stay very steady when i shoot it because of its weight and size. In my prefference the .243 is a great gun for beginners.
The .243 isn’t too light for deer. I suspect you simply haven’t been around enough hunting camps in enough parts of the world.
I’ve seen the .243 used as a meat getter in Africa, and all manner of animals much larger than deer fell to it on a regular basis. I’ve seen many one shot kills not only on wildebeast and lion, but, here in American, on Elk and moose, as well.
I don’t think anyone is fosterinmg light weight bulets on deer hunters. Just about any deer hunter knows enough to select the bullet according to the game being hunted, be it a woodchuck or a deer. Give people some credit for being at least as smart as you are.
Nor does a .243 make poor bullet placement worse. A deer hit in the wrong spot with a .375 H&H is still a deer hit in the wrong spot, and is just as likely to run away and never be found.
The .243 is an excellent deer rifle, and when there’s a problem, it’s from the man holding the rifle, not the rifle itself.
When your shooting Blacktail or whitetail deer it does not take much of a caliber to do the job.Iv’e shot both with everything from .223 to 300win mag at various ranges.and the only difference was the exit hole.Being these deer are not much bigger than a large dog as long as you hit them somewhere other than the rearend there going to die fairly quick.So people can “church up” calibers and perfect shots all day long and it all comes down to What you prefer, they all do the same thing.
I was a sniper in the 502nd of the 101st for 6 years. I do love my .308, .333, and my recently purchased .408. But all of them can and will tear up meat. I have marked 1250 meters with my Winchester model 70 pre-64 with a hand lathe turned barrel. But even before the custom ultra match barrel, I was easily marking 800 and 900 meter shots, with a 1.75 MOA that is easily an acceptable froup for a rear temperal lobe head shot. I have only made 2 head shots on a white tail deer down in the Ms. delta. I love hunting in the area because of all the long range opportunities. But 2 years ago I killed a little over a 300 pound 14 point comming out of the swamps with a heart shot. As said before it is all about shot placement. If you dont know shot placement and are willing to hit an animal in the rear end and still want it to go down in my personal opinion you should not be behind a long range piece of weaponry. I do love my .243 although it does not have the knock down of any of my other weapons, but the trejectory is very flat, and is very accurate in the hands of an experianced rifle man, as well as unexperianced. 75% of the time I shoot with my .243 even if at beer cans, when it comes to long range shooting with buddies. If I really want to show my tail I will break out my M400 .408 although in a year in a half i have only done that maybe 4 times. and i have only put 10 rounds through the weapon. Learn the benifit of shot placement, and for almost any game in north america a .243 is as large as you will have to go, given you put a well placed round at a safe distance. I do not going grizzly hunting and expecting a close encounter with only that, that is just ignorant. But if you are making a 700+ meter shot with the right placement you will have no problem. But still I recommend carrying a backup weapon. For that I have fallen in love with my .500 bear gun.
Exactly Greg, My friend and I tracked a whitetail for over 2 miles that he shot standing right beside me with a 30-06(his pride and joy). We were walking to our stands at the time, he hit it low front shoulder, only because he was faster than me at pulling his gun up. He made a bad shot and it did not drop the deer.
All but two of the deer I’ve killed have been with my .243, which was handed down to me by a friend of my dad’s who had been killing deer with it since before I was born. I’ve never had one run more than 30 yards. As for the other two, one was with buckshot, the other was with my AR-15 .223, same result. A good shot means everything. I have been shooting since I can remember, and do recommend plenty of practice prior to hunting. A .243 is perfect for a beginer. I’ve had two surguries on my shoulder and will not shoot a gun that kicks more.
I shot my first buck this Thanksgiving (14 pointer) with a .243 at dusk, and he dropped within 15 yards. Two days later I shot a doe and she dropped even quicker.
I have been to shooting ranges, but am not nearly as experienced as you suggest one needs to be in order to use this weapon properly. Because I am a small person (5’2″ female) this weapon works perfectly for me.
However, I think that shot placement is imperative, with any weapon. I hit both of mine directly behind the shoulder in the ribs from at least 60 yds with the 243.
So at least this “inexperienced hunter” says the .243, like any weapon can be highly effective if used properly, (and I don’t see a problem with whitetail deer hunting).
Killed my first deer this year with a .243 100 grain
8 point
I bought my son a model 710 Remington 243 2 years ago. I will admit I was a little skeptical about how good of a job it would do on a whitetail. My son got his first deer when he was 8 he is now 13. He got his first 3 deer with a muzzleloader. Well this year he took 2 with his 243 and one with a muzzleloader. Yep he tagged out this year. The first he got with the 243 was a 9 point about 3.5 years old. Not a huge buck but a real nice one for a kid. I was right there when he shot it the buck was about to get away I couldnt get the buck to stop walking so he shot it walking. It was a quatering away maybe a little more steeper angle than that. He shot it a little to far forward for that angle The buck ran about 60 yards and piled up. When I skinned the buck I found the slug just under the skin on the oposite side shoulder it had went through the ribs at the quartering angle and went all the way throug the opposite shoulder. I WAS SURPRISED!! It didnt knock the deer down, but it did really well. Then the 2nd deer he killed with it was a big doe. It was a perfect broadside standing shot about 30 yards. He put a perfect shot on her took the top right off her heart. The bullet had a nice sized exit hole and went all the way through she only went about 30 yards and piled up.
Now ive always used big calibers deer hunting even when I was a kid. When I was 7 years old I used a 303 british. Then I used a 30.06 Up until about age 18 then I got a Model 100 308 winchester. My dad had one and it was a dandy deer round. I beleive the 308 with a winchester Silver tip is the best Deer round there is Bar NOne.
But anyway back to the 243 I got Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips in 95 grain in CXP2 style. After the way Ive seen this little gun with this ammo perform I would not be afraid to recommend this gun to a beginner at all. With any caliber though the shooter needs to be able to put the bullet in the kill zone no matter what. I work with my sons shooting mostly with a 22 I have him shoot at very small targets. We will shoot at about 40 yards at targets about the size of a ping pong ball. We work on Breathing and squeezing the trigger not jerking it.
I think the ammo you use in a gun is really more important than the size of the gun. Ive seen deer shot with a 30-06 that went for miles because the ammo was not good.
I would rather a bullet do massive damage and not make an exit hole rather than just go right through the deer and not do anything. In my opinion Remington power point ammo does just that. It would probably penetrate through a block wall, but When a deer is shot with it it just zips right through. I want a bullet to separate and do major damage.
We used in our 308′s the old Silvertips not the Ballistic Silvertips but the old style thats been around for years. Ive seen many, many deer shot with these and 95% of the time they dropped in their tracks, and about 80% of the time the bullet would not even exit the deer you would see and entry and that was it, but when you open the deer up that is where the damage is. The vitals would literally just run out of the deer if they were hanging up they would just be pulverized. Now that is nock down. You dont get knock down from a bullet penetrating all the way trhough doing no damage.
On the 243 though you would want to make sure and use a bullet that will penetrate because of being a smaller caliber, but you want damage in there also. That is why We use the Winchester Supreme ammo Ballistic Silvertips CXP2′s They are designed for deer and they are good 243 and this ammo will work anytime on deer. And do a darn good job.
I don’t think many of the posters are necessarily advocating a bigger gun (in terms of ft-lbs), just a better combination of velocity, bullet weight, and bullet type. As I said in my previous post, I’ve shot deer in the vitals with a .243 and had them run off for several hundred yards, only to find them later half spoiled after suffering for hours. One of my hunting buddies uses a .243 and is happy with it, but he only shoots standing still deer in the neck or sometimes head and of course they drop right over. One poster here suggested putting the 30/30 in the same category as the .243 – ineffective for deer. I completely disgaree with that. A 30/30 would be my choice for a beginner’s gun, especially where most shots are 100 yards or less (wooded areas). A 30/30 may have less ft-lbs at 100 yards than a .243, but there’s definitely something about the heavier, slower bullet that makes a 30/30 much more lethal on deer.
I’ve been hunting for 45 years and purchased a Remington Model Seven 3 years ago in.243.I’ve shot 8 animals(white tail,prong horn&mulies)with it and I’m a beleiver! Most recent 195lb whitetail and none have gone over 100 yds.Great for us older hunters.
i bought a 243 as my first deer rifle a H&R single shot and it was super accurate but it was too light in brushy areas where i hunt one twig would throw the bullet off path but it had no problem killing deer with 100gr cor lokt rounds soo if your hunting in open areas i think its as good as anything else but if your hunting in think woods like i am in connecticut go with a heavy slow bullet like a 30/30 with 170gr bullets even though there is no business trying a shot in thick brush. but one twig 50 yards away you cant see is not uncommon and will send that little 6mm bullet god knows where. soo ill keep my 243 for hunting in fields for deer and coyote, but for the most part ill use the marlin 336 30/30 or my old sporterized 30/40 krag in the thick woods
If your going to use a .243 use 85 gr at the least. I prefer lapua boat tip 110 gr. works great!
I bough my son his first .243 and we live in the mountains of Arizona and he killed a deer at 320 yards with it NO PROBLEM! 100 gr. 2009 nov
What ammo is better for a 243 winchester silvertips or federals vital shock, any information would be greatly appreciated
I draw for the doe license every year and it is the perfect rifle. Your most likely going to be able to get close to the deer. I dont think it is a good rifle for bigger game. It is a rifle for closer shots. Its perfect for what I use it for.
I have use a .243 winchest out in Nebraska for several years now. I have shot 2 mule deer and 2 whitetails and the farthest they have gone is 40 yards top. It does the job with a remington cor lock 100 grain bullet. Farthest shot was 140yrs perfectly behind the shoulder ran 20yrs piled his ass up!
The 243 cwill kill a deer just fine. I have used it three times on big mule deer and it put them down without any problems. I use a 100 frain hornady SP bullet and it does just fine.
My firearm is a remington 700 bdl with a pentax 3-9×40 scope. I can’t miss with it! I had to shoot one of the deer twice, the other two were one shot kills. One died right where I shot him, nearly a hundred yards away with my lazer reange finder. The second was 144 yards away, one shot also. The third was 172 yards away. He took two rounds, but he piled up when I hit him the second time. Nothing wrong with the .243 at all.
Bullet construction is the main thing with the .243.Go with a Barnes 85 grain TSXBT and the deer will begin falling for you.Not to worry,it will happen.The Nosler 90 and 95 grain ballistic tips will do the same thing.The 100 grain Nosler Partition will also do a fine job.Larger bullets don’t make up for poor bullet placement!
I’m from idaho, and i’ll tell you what… our big mulleys will take a magazine full of 243 if you dont hit the heart. ive shot one 3 times with a 270, the first of which being a double lung. out in texas and elsewear with the petite veriety of deer.. a 243 is plenty. but those are only 90 pounds. ask anyone over 12 and under 70 from here what they hunt with and its time for 270 vs. 3006. you should do an article on why 223 is far to small for use by the military. humans are bigger and 10 times meaner than deer and getting shot by varmint rounds.
The .243 is fine for taking out deer, im only 16 and ive taken out deer at the range of 160 meters tops and it was fine for that, how ever if you have a larger caliber gun then i would recomending using that because i only shot them when i took the .30 06 out aswell to make sure if it wasent a one shot kill then we used that just to make sure it wasent sufering
I have killed two deer with my .243. One was approx. 110 yrds with an 80grn. fed. and the other about 50 with a 100 rem.
The 80grn did amazing damage, shattering the front leg and leaving a baseball size exit wound. The 100grn. did the job as well, however it did little damage. Shot placement was good and the deer didnt go ten yard.
All situations are different. A .22 mag. to the head would have done the job as well. Personally, I would not go smaller than 6mm. but I will never believe that you need a cannon for upclose whitetail.
There are many variables and situations. Open range wooded areas etc….A .243 in the vitals is just as effective as anything. Shot placement over energy.
It ain’t the club, it’s the swing. Every criticism (in the negative) you make of this cartridge is based not on the cartridge but the poor performance of the rifleman. It is not a fair account of the cartridge, which is a highly effective, hard hitting round in the heavier weights and given the lighter weights, very versatile. Without exception, the same poor rifleman behind absolutely any cartridge is as much a problem as behind this cartridge. It is well up to the task and one could argue is better, (and not just for beginners) as better shot placement is possible due to lighter recoil. We all have favorites. Being objective and responsible is key when considering taking any game.
Personally i think that the person that wrote this article is full of it.. seriously if you are going to make comparisons make sure they are apples to apples.. turkey and goose hunting for shot gunners would be like moose and brown bear for rifle hunters.. tough think skinned or feathered and difficult to kill without the proper. Would a 410 do the job under the right circumstances of course it would just like you can kill elk and moose with 243, I know because I have seen it personally. lastly the 243 is an excellent rifle for beginners. It is light kicking with plenty of lethality to kill deer sized game out to 300 yards. Fr begginers it is more important to get them comfotable shooting and hitting the vitals rather than have them worried about getting there arms jacked around from 30/06 type rifles. Seriously this was one ofthe worst articles I have ever read and wonder if the fella whow rote this knows anything at all about hunting
My first deer was with a 7mm Remington mag with a 150gr remington corloc the deer was 150lb spike at 100yards quartering away i put the bullet right in front of the hip the bullet exited the center of the chest. the deer turned walked toured me a few steps turned broad side and I nailed him with a second an inch behind the shoulder. even with this big caliber and two well placed shots the deer went about 30yards. The next year I harvested a button buck with one shot from my 243win with 100gr remington corloc the deer dropped in its tracks didn’t have a chance.this was with a neck shot. so going bigger is not always better.
I would have to say that the caliber used depends on where, how, and what you hunt. When I want meat, I take my 223. But when Im going after a trophy whitetail, I take my .300. What gun do you keep in your house for protection? a small 22? I dont, I have the biggest one I can get. If I see a 180+ inch deer I want to put him down. I might not have time to get a good rest, or it might be windy or another million things that could affect my shot. For a perfect broadside shot at 100-200 yards, with a solid rest, anything will do. But hey, thats just me. I want the best odds agains a trophy whitetail. Ath the end its each hunters desicion. Saludos!
58gr v-max, cause i dont believe in a pass thru, eight deer with’m, none took step, put it where it counts, head, neck, heart via a shoulder, be smart dont listen to editors or TV personalities, find out for yourself!
Thanks for a good range of info on the .243. I am in the market for a .243 for small deer and goats ect, and i have found all the comments and info very helpfull.
Cheers,
There are a lot of “ifs” in applying a sub-30caliber bullet to anything from deer up. IF you are committed to serious practice. IF you use a VERY accurate load that reaches the upper edge of ballistic performance for that cartridge. IF the bullet is properly designed. IF you are disciplined enough not to take a questionable shot and ready to pass up shot after shot that would be “easy” with a .270 for example and finally IF you know the deer’s anatomy better than your own it all adds up.
I have a VERY nice Sako Forester (1969 vintage and MINT) once owned by Kenny Jarrett of Jarrett rifles. The action was carefully glass bedded and it is insanely accurate with the right loads. The 1 in 10″ twist and slightly heavier then normal barrel help.
My cousin in DE has taken an auditorium full of deer with a Remington Model 760 slide action in .243. These include a permit doe nailed at a later measured 180 yards (standing broadside) across a pond. She jumped like she’d been stuck with a hot poker and ran less than 50 yards. She was stone dead with her heart blown to confetti.
-Ray
Shawn,
Remember, the gun you shoot WELL with beats any gun that you CAN’T shoot well with.
Ray
I’m looking at getting my first rifle which will be used mainly for Red Deer in New Zealand. I’m a bit of a beginner, having been hunting about 5 times and bagging 3 deer, my last a nice red 10 pointer at 150 yds. All of my deer hunting has been done with a Browning .223 and I have never had a deer get away on me. I was taught not to take the shot unless you knew it was a kill shot. Anyone have any good suggestions on what rifle I should be looking at for a nice entry range .243?
It’s not the caliber or the rifle it’s the shooter. What it boils down to is 99% pilot error and 1% bad luck. I have shot many deer with three great calibers 243, 308, 300 win mag. It’s just how when and where.
I’m 14, and have only been hunting for 2 years, and I shot 6 deer, 3 bucks over 200 lbs, and killed them basically instantly with my savage edge .243………. With 55 gr. accutip bullets
after aging a couple years and seeing this thread still active, i feel the urge to flame someone in a respectable way. using an 85 grain bullet in a .243, i have dropped a 450 pound boar (granted, a headshot)at 100 yards. using ballistic tips, i’ve gotten pass throughs on two deer, one through both shoulder blades. i disagree with using varmint bullets of any caliber for big game(ruins the meat) and headshots on anything not likely to kill you. however, as some here have said, anyone who disses the .243 probably hasn’t hunted with it much, or, no offense, is a bad shot.
Good article. I do belive that a more powerful cartridge does provide more room for error, but however i belive the .243 is more than powerful enough to stop any whitetail in his (or her) tracks. Shot placement is what counts more than anything. Think about it this way. I am a serious bow hunter and i have killed, and have have friends than have killed serious bucks with nothing more than an arrow. if you hit an animal right with the .243 with the right bullet it is far more deadly than a bow. case and point.
Ha, what a perfect point AJ. If you can’t kill a deer with a .243 you need to stick to the grocery store. Early man didn’t even have guns, to this day folks still kill deer with arrows. A beginer hunter is either ready or not. No matter weather he has a .22 mag in his hand or a 45-70. When the moment comes if he makes a good shot, he is bringing home some meat. Only difference is with the smaller gun he’ll have more left. It’s been fun keeping up with this thread. I like to shoot even more than I like to hunt and my .243 ruger is more fun to shoot than all my bigger rifles. A gun that is fun to shoot is one that you get good at. All of yall asking about getting a .243 for a starter, you will not be dissapointed unless you don’t practice enough before hitting the woods. Keep the comments coming!
i have killed many many deer with my .243 and i use 100 gr all the way to 85 gr bullets. i can drop a deer up to 350 yards if shot placement is perfect… you cant just asume the gun is small and it wont kill because i have taken 220 lbs mule deer with it,,, best gun i ever owned….
I am 67 and started deer hunting at 21.I used a 30/30 for 25 years and got 16 with it.I used a .243 since then and got 35 with it.I lost 2 deer with the 30/30 and none with the .243.I like the bullet to expend its energy inside the deer and not beyond the deer.
I liked everything you said. But i have to disagree on it not bieng good for beginners. Ive been deer huning for many years, started out with th 243 and still use it. And it has perfect accuracy up to about 150 yards. Where i hunt itd be very had to get a shot on a deer more then 70 yards out. In my opinion it is a great calliber for beginners and old timers. And the shakes thing, it doesnt really matter what gun calliber you use, thats just something yo learn to deal with after a while.
my brother got his first deer with a 243 Winchester although it was only 120lbs it blew a huge hole out of the chest i could fit both my hands in it i think a 243 is a perfect rifle for deer hunting i mean people have brought down big deer with 223/5.56mm i mean if a 5.56mm has enough power to kill humans it wont have a problem taking down a deer i think a 243 is pretty much a guaranteed kill i know a person that took a 216lbs 12 point buck down with a 243win. with one shot
and also people who say white tail are as big as a large dog i know large dogs i have a german sheppard and ive seen many other large dogs but i saw a 9 point white tail last season couldnt get a shot off cause the brush but it had to be pushin 230lbs and ive never seen/heard of a dog that big