243 at 300 yrds on Dall Sheep and Caribou

[D.B. Cooper]

It occurs to me that, at a certain point, we are no longer talking about 243 but more about hunting skills. I read a lot of comments to the effect of "I wouldn't try it." My hunt partner shoots a 270, but he won't shoot anything beyond 100 yrds. He is a much better hunter than I am. He can patiently move to within 100 yrds of a game animal. I'm a much better marksman than I am a hunter. I'm comfortable taking much longer shots than he is. I limit my shots to 300 yrds not because it's too far, but because the bullet velocity drops to a point that the bullet won't expand at about 325 or 350 yrds.

So for those of you who limit yourself to x yards, that's fine, but recognize that it's a limitation you place on yourself (and probably for good reason and every ethical hunter has a limit and should know that limit), but recognize the limitation is yours and not that of the cartridge.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've had super good luck with Gamekings at reasonable velocities. Something under 3,000 FPS impact velocity using a reasonable SD of about 260 or better. They open quickly and they tend to retain enough weight for long enough to get the job done very efficiently on thin skinned game.

 

[Whizzbang]

In a strange turn of events this thread has turned bullet selection. I’m very surprised by this. Not a .243 but since it involves ‘bou I’ll throw it out there. This one started out as 165 gr .308 out of an ‘06. Starting velocity 2700 ish. Shot was 160 yards this was the second of 2. First one was a pass through behind the shoulder. This bullet entered the right ham and wound up in the left shoulder after obliterating the humerus. I’m sure it would have traveled full length and kept going if it hadn’t been for that bone at the end. No dink either she was a very large cow.

 

[Rabble_Rouser]

My $0.02, I wouldn't have any reservations with that. 100g bullet out of a .243, should be MV of around 3000fps, and still 2200-ish fps at 300 yards. Plenty of energy left, especially with the right bullet. Nosler Partition I would say is a fine choice.
Glad to hear you're placing a 300 yard limit on your end of the equation. Know your limits and stick to them.
Enjoy your hunt.

 

[Rabble_Rouser]

Enough Already!!!

That was an impressive, clean drop.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

That was an impressive, clean drop.

Yeah the only caveat to my using that video as evidence to the efficacy of 243 Win at long range is that they used a 107 grn VLD projectile, which means they also used, probably, a 1:7 twist barrel, which is not a standard barrel on an out of the box hunting 243. The more standard 1:10 barrel will only stabilize up to a 100 grains.

I personally wouldn't have taken that shot, but it obviously worked. I wonder what the impact velocity was and wha the minimum velocity for proper bullet expansion was.

 

[Gordon]

I like my .243 Mannlicher Schoenauer 20" Carbine for Ca. Blacktail and it kills them well to 322 yards was longest shot ever. 100 grain Game Kings at that . I shot hogs over 200 yards pretty regularly with the short barrel .243 with 100 grain Corelokts with great results. I would feel ok around my place in Oregon with the whitetails and mulies around here under 300 yards with it . I am thinking about moving to a .25-06 because a 100 miles away are antelope, tho small those critters are usually far away , up to 500 yards where a hot 117 grain boat tail is big medicine still . Allthough never went hunting sheep or goats I'm pretty sure the .243 will work well with a good hit with a proper bullet out to any sportsman like range.

 

[Offfhand]

If anyone is interested, this is what dall sheep look like at about 300 yds. The pic was taken over my shoulder just before I fired. I was NOT using a .243. .

 

[dranrab]

This is a 6mm 105 VLD at 688 yards. That should answer the question.