Thread: 243 for deer hunting

Yeah, I can testify to that first-hand And what's bad, is I knew better.

When I traded for my .300, the guy threw in a box and a half of Failsafe 180's
Guess where this is going? They were just so PURTY what with those nickle
plated cases and black lubelox bullets, I went ahead and used them for awhile
knowing all the time it wasn't a good idea. Nearly lost one after shooting
through and through him twice, said enuff is enuff and went to a light
constructed 150 gr and problem solved.

I shoot a 243 as well as my dad, son, and brother.... they are deadly on deer. I have killed 37 with mine, dad has killed 11, brother has killed 40 or so, and my son killed his first this year....
The 243 is a mean machine to put it lightly... I only shot federal 100 grain boat tail soft points for years,, killed all but two graveyard dead.... found the other 2 within 20 yards...
This year against my better judgement, I shot the remington accupoint ballistic tips...Dont get me wrong i killed 5, but they all ran 40-60 yards...No more plastic tips for me....

It dont take an elk cannon to kill a whitetail......

I have hunted with the .243 for many years. Shot 47 deer with this caliber. Used many different cartridges from core lokt to ballistic tip to silver tip to boat tail to sierra soft point etc...I keep records on the deer as to how far they were, where the bullet hit, how far the deer ran afterward etc....my experience is that the Remington cor lokt in 100 grain soft point is the best cartridge for me. Only other caliber for white tail that I have found that matches the .243 (and I have used 30.06, 25.06 30/30, 270 at various times in my hunting career) is the 7mm/08 in 140 grain bullet. It stops them quickly too.

The 100 grain bullet in .243 is best for whitetail regardless the ammunition brand.

My grandfather got me started deer hunting with a .243 when I was 10 years old. I killed several deer with mine and I always used the Remington CorLokt 100 grain bullets. It worked great for me but I have gotten to the point now that if it doesn't sling an arrow and broadhead I don't want to hunt with it.
Blake

If your looking for a light weight gun with some knock down. Check out a Browning A Bolt Micro Hunter in a 7mm-08. I use this gun and love it.

bought my son a 25.06, seems like a good little gun but wishing i had bought a 243, probably try to get one for my 9 yr old

I'm a 56 year old man and I shoot a 25.06, 100 grain ballistic tip. I make shots at well over 200 yards on a regular bases for deer. The 25.06 is a great round for deer!

Originally Posted by mike_3720

I'm a 56 year old man and I shoot a 25.06, 100 grain ballistic tip. I make shots at well over 200 yards on a regular bases for deer. The 25.06 is a great round for deer!

+1 on the .25-06. The Ballistic Tips are a good choice but for deer you cant go wrong with Nosler Partitions. I hand load everything I shoot and as far as weight retention goes, in my opinion, you cant beat Partitions. Billy

Never tried them, my friend does the reloading and ballistic tips is what I sighted the rifle in with many years ago and I just feel confident with that load...I may try yours next. Several years ago we were sitting on the front porch at our hunting club when we saw a doe walk out into the pasture at 355 yards. My buddy got his 25.06 out of his truck and shot the doe at that distance, the doe nerver ran only folded up. Before the next season I sold my 300 mag and I bought a 25.06, one of the best things I've ever done. We hunt creek bottoms and wood lines in hugh pastures, long shots are normal. F

If you are shooting does over a corn pile a 243 will work. I find it totally inadequate for mature bucks in rut . They dont just lay down. Some people are recoil sensitive and i can understand that. We are hunting not target shooting. 270and 7mm have a mild recoiland work much better. get yourself a Sierra or a Hornady reloading manual and check the ballestics. If your rifle cal. cant put 800 to 1000 lbs of energy on target you are light. No one in there right mind would ever shoot through brush. Regardless of what cal. you shoot, try the Nosler Accu-bond. they are great, hit hard and very accurate. This is not home spun philosophy. This is facts not BS. Remember , shot placement is most critical.