Comments on: Is the 243 Winchester Too Small For Deer? http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer Deer Hunting Season Is Open! Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:29:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jeff http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2663 jeff Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:30:47 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2663 the 243 is a very awsome an dead on rifle my hole family hunts we all us 243 an theres been lot of deer killed with it only time it not good is if ur one of those that just shot instead of waiting on a hole to shoot threw but 243 great gun ive killed muledeer with it no prob the 243 is a very awsome an dead on rifle my hole family hunts we all us 243 an theres been lot of deer killed with it only time it not good is if ur one of those that just shot instead of waiting on a hole to shoot threw but 243 great gun ive killed muledeer with it no prob

]]> By: Kim http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2662 Kim Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:47:01 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2662 IMHO the real question is if the .243 is too small for African Elephants. Not the most proficient or avid hunter,(generally don't trust myself with a shot over 150 yds.) and there have been plenty of years here in Oregon where I never fired a shot from my M77, fixed 4X scope. But when I have, the deer season (both black tail and mule) is OVER with one shot---I've never fired more than one shot in any hunting season. And I've used both 80 & 100 grain. Both have done so much damage---that if it hits a rib ---bone fragments exit the other side of the ribcage, as one example. The shock is immediate, and entire body cavity is filled with blood. Never had an animal move more than about 30 feet after being hit. IMHO the real question is if the .243 is too small for African Elephants.

Not the most proficient or avid hunter,(generally don’t trust myself with a shot over 150 yds.) and there have been plenty of years here in Oregon where I never fired a shot from my M77, fixed 4X scope.

But when I have, the deer season (both black tail and mule) is OVER with one shot—I’ve never fired more than one shot in any hunting season. And I’ve used both 80 & 100 grain. Both have done so much damage—that if it hits a rib —bone fragments exit the other side of the ribcage, as one example. The shock is immediate, and entire body cavity is filled with blood. Never had an animal move more than about 30 feet after being hit.

]]> By: Ben DeBaise http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2661 Ben DeBaise Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:14:57 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2661 I used a 95 grain silvertip ballistic tip to take a whitetail at over 300 yards with superior penetration on a rear shoulder shot. The large doe didn't even make it 20 yards before dropping. Both lungs and heart were destroyed. Even had an exit wound. I used a 95 grain silvertip ballistic tip to take a whitetail at over 300 yards with superior penetration on a rear shoulder shot. The large doe didn’t even make it 20 yards before dropping. Both lungs and heart were destroyed. Even had an exit wound.

]]> By: Derek http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2642 Derek Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:59:52 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2642 I have been hunting deer for about 20 years now and have used mostly a 30-06 and a 30-30. I have a son that will be of age to shoot his firt deer next year. I also decided that I would like to have a gun with alittle less kick for myself. So last summer I bought a model 700 in a .243. I had one of these when I was young and it was the caliber I shot my first deer with. I don't see why people would ever say the .243 is to small for deer, infact in my state it is the smallest caliber legal to shoot elk. This year I decided to use the new .243 to fill my tags. I reload my own bullets, and used the 95 grain hornaday. The doe I shot was at 247 yard and went less then 20feet after the shot. My buck was a 160 class whitetail. My second biggest ever. He was at 268 yards and ran about 75 yards after the shot. My son has never killed a deer before but and I have no problem sending him out with the .243. I feel that it is the perfect deer rifle for any age hunter. Everyone says its all about shot placement, but dosent that go without saying for any sized caliber. You can pop a hole in the leg of a deer with the .243, or you can blow the leg clean off with a big 300wsm either way its still gone be able to run on three, only diffrence is your pry going to ruin that whole quater of meat with the 300wsm. I have been hunting deer for about 20 years now and have used mostly a 30-06 and a 30-30. I have a son that will be of age to shoot his firt deer next year. I also decided that I would like to have a gun with alittle less kick for myself. So last summer I bought a model 700 in a .243. I had one of these when I was young and it was the caliber I shot my first deer with. I don’t see why people would ever say the .243 is to small for deer, infact in my state it is the smallest caliber legal to shoot elk. This year I decided to use the new .243 to fill my tags. I reload my own bullets, and used the 95 grain hornaday. The doe I shot was at 247 yard and went less then 20feet after the shot. My buck was a 160 class whitetail. My second biggest ever. He was at 268 yards and ran about 75 yards after the shot. My son has never killed a deer before but and I have no problem sending him out with the .243. I feel that it is the perfect deer rifle for any age hunter. Everyone says its all about shot placement, but dosent that go without saying for any sized caliber. You can pop a hole in the leg of a deer with the .243, or you can blow the leg clean off with a big 300wsm either way its still gone be able to run on three, only diffrence is your pry going to ruin that whole quater of meat with the 300wsm.

]]> By: Kevin Crouse http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2641 Kevin Crouse Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:19:26 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2641 I get a kick out of all the "experts" who claim that the .243 is a marginal deer round. Most of them have never owned one let alone hunted with the round. I not claiming that the .243 is the ideal cartridge for deer hunting, but I can tell you that I have killed a pile of deer with it and only had one run 50 yards. Most drop immediately or only go a few feet. My rem. 700 is very accurate and I kill deer with it because I shoot it very well. I also have several friends who have had similar experiences as I. Only one guy I know, did not like the round and that was because He couldn't seem to hit the vitals and usually ended up with a poor hit and a long track. Stick with a good 100 grain bullet. Rem Core-Locks shoot great in mine and work well. I get a kick out of all the “experts” who claim that the .243 is a marginal deer round. Most of them have never owned one let alone hunted with the round.
I not claiming that the .243 is the ideal cartridge for deer hunting, but I can tell you that I have killed a pile of deer with it and only had one run 50 yards. Most drop immediately or only go a few feet.
My rem. 700 is very accurate and I kill deer with it because I shoot it very well. I also have several friends who have had similar experiences as I.
Only one guy I know, did not like the round and that was because He couldn’t seem to hit the vitals and usually ended up with a poor hit and a long track.
Stick with a good 100 grain bullet. Rem Core-Locks shoot great in mine and work well.

]]> By: matt http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2637 matt Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:47:01 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2637 There are a lot of good points made here,I got my first h@r 243 when I was 12. I've takin 5 mule deer bucks and numerous coyotes and prarie dogs. The biggest mule deer I've killed was a 10 point with a 26 inch spread. Wheigh 190 gutted and skinned, but of course we use an old set of cotton scales so how accurate they are no one knows. I've never had a problem with having to follow blood trails for miles all of them have dropped one shot. I wouldn't think swice of letting a "begginer" take mine out and kill his first buck. There are a lot of good points made here,I got my first h@r 243 when I was 12. I’ve takin 5 mule deer bucks and numerous coyotes and prarie dogs. The biggest mule deer I’ve killed was a 10 point with a 26 inch spread. Wheigh 190 gutted and skinned, but of course we use an old set of cotton scales so how accurate they are no one knows. I’ve never had a problem with having to follow blood trails for miles all of them have dropped one shot. I wouldn’t think swice of letting a “begginer” take mine out and kill his first buck.

]]> By: yup http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2635 yup Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:48:23 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2635 I've use a 243 for 28 years now... every deer has dropped in its tracks. I used 270 and 7mm and made the same exact shots and have had to track them. The 243 is the perfect deer rifle as far as I am concerned. I’ve use a 243 for 28 years now… every deer has dropped in its tracks. I used 270 and 7mm and made the same exact shots and have had to track them. The 243 is the perfect deer rifle as far as I am concerned.

]]> By: Colt http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-5#comment-2622 Colt Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:35:59 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2622 Everything in the article is rite on about the .243. I have killed many 50+ with my 243 youth model when i was a kid. most were small doe. But when I was 16 I shot a 200lb buck 13pt with my 243 and hit to far forward and squared the front shoulder with a 100 gr. power point. my neighbor shot the buck the following season. He gave me back my 243 bullet, perfect mushroom never penetrated that front shoulder. the buck was at 150 yards when I shot him. Had it been a .308 or larger grain bullet that buck would have been on my wall instead. Everything in the article is rite on about the .243. I have killed many 50+ with my 243 youth model when i was a kid. most were small doe. But when I was 16 I shot a 200lb buck 13pt with my 243 and hit to far forward and squared the front shoulder with a 100 gr. power point. my neighbor shot the buck the following season. He gave me back my 243 bullet, perfect mushroom never penetrated that front shoulder. the buck was at 150 yards when I shot him. Had it been a .308 or larger grain bullet that buck would have been on my wall instead.

]]> By: Jackson Latzel http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-4#comment-2621 Jackson Latzel Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:09:42 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2621 My dad got me a model 700 .243 Remington a couple years back and it has been the best gun i have ever had i shoot 100 gr. with it and i have dropped dear right in there tracks out to 300 yards. I am a young hunter and I have a .270 now and just yesterday I dropped a doe that was 800 yards away so I know what I'm talking about. So a .243 is an amazing to give a beginner hunter, its very accurate and doesn't have a lot of kick to it. it will kill a dear easy every deer I have shot with it dropped straight in there tracks. My dad got me a model 700 .243 Remington a couple years back and it has been the best gun i have ever had i shoot 100 gr. with it and i have dropped dear right in there tracks out to 300 yards. I am a young hunter and I have a .270 now and just yesterday I dropped a doe that was 800 yards away so I know what I’m talking about. So a .243 is an amazing to give a beginner hunter, its very accurate and doesn’t have a lot of kick to it. it will kill a dear easy every deer I have shot with it dropped straight in there tracks.

]]> By: Terry http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer/comment-page-4#comment-2614 Terry Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:57:15 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting/is-the-243-winchester-too-small-for-deer#comment-2614 Hi, Long post, not sure anyone will read down to this one. Just one thing to add. The heavier bullets such as 100gn can be better if your gun's twist rate will support it. With a 1 in 10 twist or slower such as with the Rossi at 1 in 12 a 100 gn bullet will probably not shoot well at 100 yards. Try the 80gn Barnes TTSX as it expands well but retains it's weight and excellant penetration is guarenteed. I accidently shot a deer in the hindquarter with one and it penetrated the length of the deer lodging in under the hide in it's chest! The deer didn't take a step. Hi,

Long post, not sure anyone will read down to this one. Just one thing to add. The heavier bullets such as 100gn can be better if your gun’s twist rate will support it. With a 1 in 10 twist or slower such as with the Rossi at 1 in 12 a 100 gn bullet will probably not shoot well at 100 yards. Try the 80gn Barnes TTSX as it expands well but retains it’s weight and excellant penetration is guarenteed. I accidently shot a deer in the hindquarter with one and it penetrated the length of the deer lodging in under the hide in it’s chest! The deer didn’t take a step.

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