243 drops another!

[Panfisher]

My wife loves her .243. I handloads mild loads for it, of 34 gn or IMR 4895 and top it with a 100 gn Hornady Interlock bullet. very boring to shoot, mild report, little recoil, deer have a tendency to fall over within a few feet to max of 40 yards. Have been able to recoverify 1 bullet over the years. I like the .243 well an ought that when a Co worker thught he needed a new rifle I bought his Marlin XL7 in .243. while I don't deer hunt much any more she sure handles the killing, and I handle the grilling. plus being the go getter. when she shoots one I go get her and the deer.

 

[FL-NC]

This year, I bought a new rifle to use as my "woods" gun. I wanted something in bolt action that was short and handy, so I opted for a new Remington Model 7 CDL. I've always loved my 243, but I almost bought this new Model 7 in 260. But I broke down and got the 243 version instead. I sighted it in on Tuesday and dropped a management spike buck the very next day. I just love to brag on how the little 243 drops deer, for me at least. I'm a fairly decent sized guy, 33 years old, 6' 1" and 225lbs. I take a lot of crap throughout the year from friends and even family about how I shoot a "kids" caliber or a "girls" gun, and I'll admit it that I don't like recoil at all. That being said, I enjoy shooting my 243 throughout the year just for fun. Where I shoot hundreds of rounds of my deer caliber every year, I know a lot of guys that barely shoot over 20 rounds of their deer caliber. I know how my trigger breaks, my rifle fits me like a glove, and I know just where to slip a bullet on a deer and having practiced with it so much, I can put that bullet in some pretty tight places.

So this year, I brought my deer back to my shop to do the skinning and my neighbor helped me. He got the skin down over the entrance wound on his side and literally he started saying "oh my gosh" and "geez" and "wow" over and over. I looked over at his side and what I assumed was jellied lungs were everywhere! It was horrendous damage! He said "damn, what did you shoot this with, a 300 magnum" and I just smiled and said my trusty 243. He couldn't believe it, and based on my past experiences with skinning deer with the 243, this one was particularly gruesome.

Now switch gears to my dad, who constantly gives me grief about using the 243 and always talks about how he lost 2 nice deer with a 243 when he was younger. I always bring up the fact that it was 30 years ago when that happened and a lot has improved in bullet technology since then, but he never acknowledges that point. This year, he decides to take his XP-100 pistol in 35 Remington with him to the woods because he's so tough he's going to only carry a pistol and kill his deer. What happens? The biggest buck of his lifetime walks up behind him on his right side and slightly quartering away. He's sitting in a climber stand and because the deer is to his right, he can't twist enough in his climber and aim the pistol right to get the eye relief right. He takes a hail Mary shot at all of 15 yards and shoots right over the top of the deer! The deer doesn't know what happened, so it ran about 40 yards and stopped and looked around, still within shooting range for my dad and his pistol. So he slowly ejects the case and grabs another from his coat pocket and goes to lock the bolt down on his pistol and guess what....the bullet he grabbed out of his coat pocket was a 308 shell and he tried to forced the bolt down on it and it locked his action up! So he was forced to watch that big old buck just walk off.

So I guess the morale of my story is that you shouldn't judge others by what caliber they shoot. It's time behind the trigger and knowing your firearm that I believe is WAY more important than what caliber you should shoot. I see these threads all the time about what caliber to choose and I constantly see people who claim that the 243 is too small to use for whitetail hunting. But if you spend the time shooting and getting to know your rifle, a 243 is FAR for effective than a 35 Remington that you shoot once a year.

My wife loves her .243. I handloads mild loads for it, of 34 gn or IMR 4895 and top it with a 100 gn Hornady Interlock bullet. very boring to shoot, mild report, little recoil, deer have a tendency to fall over within a few feet to max of 40 yards. Have been able to recoverify 1 bullet over the years. I like the .243 well an ought that when a Co worker thught he needed a new rifle I bought his Marlin XL7 in .243. while I don't deer hunt much any more she sure handles the killing, and I handle the grilling. plus being the go getter. when she shoots one I go get her and the deer.

I generally use a 243 except when I'm in an area where there may be bear- then I carry a 308. The 243 has NEVER let me down on any whitetail. I've never had one run over 100 yards, and usually I find them between DRT and 50- but if they do run the blood trail is big enough for a blind man to follow. Here's a question for the naysayers- if the 243 is a "kids gun" or a "girl's gun"- does it make a difference to the deer who shot it or what it was shot with when its hanging upside down from a gambrel? And I've seen some fine trophy deer shot with the 243 by hunters of both sexes and all ages. If its stupid but it works good- then its not stupid. And for the record, I killed one 2 weeks ago DRT with a 75 grain 223 from a suppressed Mossberg MVP (the second I've taken with this setup)- just because.

 

[Olympus]

Well this was my third deer of my life killed with a 243 and all have been clean harvests that didn't require any tracking. I have been shooting reloads using the 95gr SST bullet, but last week I worked up some loads using the 85gr Sierra BTHP and got much better accuracy than the SST bullets gave me. I've always wanted to try the 85gr BTHP, so I think I'll be using that load next year. I'm loading the 85gr HPBT over the top of 40.8gr of Accurate 4350 and seated to 0.015" off the lands of my rifle.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

the 243 is a deer killer, ive killed maybe 50 deer with it.many coyotes.

i always used rem 100 grn core lokt bullets.

last year a deer stepped out that was so big i questiond my choice. massive 10 pt, maybe 250lbs on the hoof.

280 yrds massive rack, thick neck,huge body..i almost did not shoot. but this was the buck of a lifetime in my area.

had a good rest, shot and he kiked like a good shot,shot again,then he started to run and shot again, this time about 300 yrds. he dissapeared from site.

i was kiken myslf thinkin i just flubbed the the shot on the biggest deer iver ever seen. the whole time i was wondering if the 243 was not a good choice.

gave him 30 min and walked down, no blood, no hair nuttin.

long story short found him within 50 yrds. the 243 did its job but he was so rolling in fat that even the 3 quarter size exit holes hardly bled..

if i had just shot once he would be just as dead.

 

[CraigC]

So I guess the morale of my story is that you shouldn't judge others by what caliber they shoot. It's time behind the trigger and knowing your firearm that I believe is WAY more important than what caliber you should shoot. I see these threads all the time about what caliber to choose and I constantly see people who claim that the 243 is too small to use for whitetail hunting. But if you spend the time shooting and getting to know your rifle, a 243 is FAR for effective than a 35 Remington that you shoot once a year.

Proficiency will only take you so far. I believe the .243 works fine, within certain parameters. Trouble is, those parameters are rarely part of the discussion. The vocal .243 fans never tell you that they ALWAYS wait for a perfect broadside shot, or they pass. You never hear about bullet failures. Problem with the .243 is that there is very little margin for error. Folks can say they always make a perfect shot but in the real world, deer move, hunters get the fever, conditions are less than ideal and maybe offhand proficiency is less than stellar. I take great pride in my riflery but I also know that I'm not perfect. I want a cartridge that gives me some wiggle room if I don't make a perfect shot. Or if I am only afforded an imperfect presentation. I don't want to have to watch the buck of a lifetime walk away because I was using too little cartridge.

Terminal ballistics are also rarely part of this discussion. Usually no deeper than "dead deer". I say this because I've used the .243 and continue to use a similar cartridge in the .250Savage. I had a 100gr Federal out of my fine shooting Remington 700 .243 come unglued on the ribcage of a small doe. I've also had the 100gr Remington factory .250 load come completely apart in the few deer I've killed with it. I took a big doe and a fine 8pt with it 2yrs ago but the bullet was a dismal failure. These were perfect broadside shots. Had they been quartering, the results would've been horrific. I've since switched to Barnes but if it weren't for premium, controlled expansion bullets like the TSX, I wouldn't use them at all.

Simply put, there's no reason to hunt with an unnecessary handicap when a 6.5, 7mm or .30cal cartridge offers so much more capability and flexibility in rifles the same size/weight.

IMHO, proficiency is a given in any discussion. So to even bring it up, is to deflect from the real discussion. Manhood has nothing to do with it.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive had excellent terminal performance from the 100grn hornady and sierra psp. Ive shot thru shoulders and hips with both, but only on animals in the 100lb range, and def no more than 120. My load of h4350 gives me just over 2900 fps, and all shots have been inside of 100yds. The on the cow my wife shot (bout 800lbs), the bullet went thru an onside rib and held together to the other side, this didnt drop the cow it tried to walk away but didnt make it too far.....just far enough to flop in a muddle puddle. This is only what Ive experienced with the .243, I do know some folks that wont use it again do to failures in bullets and/or shot placement. I really dont consider it a good "starter" cartridge unless it REALLY is the heaviest round the shooter can use.

BUT when used properly and within its limits, I dont think there isnt alot it cant do pretty damn well.

 

[Lennyjoe]

My daughters Savage 110 and Winchester 100 gr PP has put 3 deer down where they stood at about 100 yards on average. She loves that gun and so do I.

 

[horsey300]

Well. I tried a .243 today for the first time. I'm not all that impressed to be honest. 100gr. SGK max load, gun 18" bolt action. Shot 135-150 yrds. Deer went down,. Got up stumbled 30-40 yards then laid down head up for 30 seconds till I shot it in the head. I believe the same shot with my .308 would have incapacitated the deer immediately. I think the SGK bullet was to hard as the picture is of the exit wound. It was quartered away from me and level. Entrance hole is about 2" higher and behind front shoulder. Minimal lung damage and not much heart damage either. May try a different bullet,. Kinda an experiment before the wife uses it.

With that short of a barrel your velocity was probably a bit lower I'm thinking, maybe a ballistic tip, 85 Sierra or partition or 87 hornady would be worth a try. In the 100 gr we use the pro hunters to great success but mv is still close to 3000. The 85 sgk has a reputation for a reason.

 

[T.R.]

I've hunted out west many times with my Remington slide action rifle in .243 shooting Black Hills Ammo. It's the most accurate ammo for my rifle. This pronghorn antelope was taken at approx 275 yards. At the shot, this animal toppled right over - never knew what hit him. I feel that the .243 is an outstanding cartridge for long shots at deer sized game.

TR

 

[Olympus]

With that short of a barrel your velocity was probably a bit lower I'm thinking, maybe a ballistic tip, 85 Sierra or partition or 87 hornady would be worth a try. In the 100 gr we use the pro hunters to great success but mv is still close to 3000. The 85 sgk has a reputation for a reason.

I bought a couple hundred of the 85gr Sierra BTHP bullets and recently worked up some loads using Accurate 4350 powder. I found that 40.7gr was the sweet spot for my Remington Model 7 and the accuracy was much better than the 95gr SST bullet that I have been using. So I'm going to give the 85gr Sierra bullets a try next year. The accuracy is there, but so far it's hard to beat the performance of the 95gr SST.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think the bthps might do it, I shot up a couple hundred over the last few years, been my preferred bullet f om my 6x47 and .243. I do use 100grn jsps for pigs.

 

[Olympus]

I think the bthps might do it, I shot up a couple hundred over the last few years, been my preferred bullet f om my 6x47 and .243. I do use 100grn jsps for pigs.

Luckily there are no pigs in my neck of the woods yet, but I'm encouraged by a lot of what I hear and read about the performance of those 85gr BTHP bullets on deer. I'll have to wait until next year to try them out though. I don't think the game wardens would think my "243 muzzleloader" was too funny if I tried it out for the remainder of this deer season.

 

[horsey300]

I bought a couple hundred of the 85gr Sierra BTHP bullets and recently worked up some loads using Accurate 4350 powder. I found that 40.7gr was the sweet spot for my Remington Model 7 and the accuracy was much better than the 95gr SST bullet that I have been using. So I'm going to give the 85gr Sierra bullets a try next year. The accuracy is there, but so far it's hard to beat the performance of the 95gr SST.

The sst is a bit more fragile than I care for, they seem to shatter even easier than a btip. That bthp ripped 10" lengthwise of a board laying behind my load development target stand at 100 after blowing through a 2x6, and it was NASTY! It didn't shatter or separate but the gash was incredible! A couple tiny pieces of jacket were peppered on the board and I didn't weigh it, but I'd guess 30-50% weight retained.

 

[CraigC]

The SST was totally unimpressive in the .338. Complete fragmentation and dismal penetration. Don't care for shooting big game with varmint bullets.

 

[Olympus]

I think I've taken 6 deer and 4 hogs using an SST bullet and it has never failed to impress. Every kill has been a pass-through that has turned the heart and lungs to jelly. I've used it in the 95gr for my 243 and I think 130gr for my 270. I also load it in 25-06 for my neighbor, but I don't think he's had a chance to shoot anything with it yet. My dad shoots the factory SST load for his 308 and he's taken a lot of game also. I even used to use the SST sabot bullets for my Pro-Hunter muzzleloader and took one deer and one hog that way as well.

When it lets me down, I'll stop singing it's praises. But so far that has not happened.

 

[Olympus]

Don't care for shooting big game with varmint bullets.

I guess it's a good thing the SST is not a varmint bullet then...

 

[CraigC]

I guess it's a good thing the SST is not a varmint bullet then...

Not supposed to be but often acts like one.

This unrecognizable 135gr blob is all that's left of a 225gr SST out of a .338RCM into SIMTEST. It didn't even penetrate as deep as a 100gr Barnes out of the .250. Would it have resulted in a dead elk? Maybe. Maybe not. A bullet that maintains its integrity is cheap insurance. We've seen similar results from their 150gr .30-06 on deer. It's why I don't use ballistic tip type bullets on big game and having had failures with their XTP handgun bullets along with the 300gr .405 bullet, I'm wondering why I bother with Hornady at all.

 

[LoonWulf]

I see the sst, balistic tip, amax, and berger vlds (among others) as very, very good thin skin light bone bullets. Expect 8-15" of penetration and wounding to be substantiall within that range. Great for behind the shoulder very acceptable for shooting thru shoulder. Not great quartering away, breaks hips/pelvis just fine tho. I also usually go heavy with these.

High retentions, much better at punching clean thru. Not nearly as much internal damage. Ive stoped going behind the shoulder with these, i wanna break bones.

Difference useages imo, equally effective.

I also include cup n cores with the quick expanders, but dont expect as violent a reaction.


If the caliber is marginal, than shot selection becomes more, and more important. The .243 is plenty for deer, hogs, and anything in the sub 300lb range that isnt unusually tough. Once you get beyond about 100-150lbs bullet selection and or shot placement become more and more important. Im still very comfortable shooting thru an onside shoulder, neck, spine, or hip, on a big hog, sheep, or deer with the .243. I wont take a center chest shot, or a quatering away while trying to reach the vitals.

 

[aerod1]

My grandson shot his first deer when he was 8 years old using a 223 NEF HandiRilfle . He since has taken 2 more using the same rig . His cartridge was a little 55 grain JSP (bulk bullets) over 24.0 grains of H335 . He has never had to take a second shot . He has taken his last two deer using a 100 grain bullet out of a Customized Belgian Mauser chambered in 250-3000 . All of his deer are DRT .

 

[mainecoon]

For a child starting out deer hunting, the smallest caliber worth considering is 338 Lapua. Anyone over 10 should use 50 BMG.

 

[Olympus]

For a child starting out deer hunting, the smallest caliber worth considering is 338 Lapua. Anyone over 10 should use 50 BMG.

Isn't that the truth!

I see a lot of people make comments about how 243 hunters have to take broad side only shots or how they have to wait for that "perfect" shot whereas larger caliber shooters can take sharp quartering shots, etc. Then in the same breath they'll talk about using a more "ethical" caliber. Like being overconfident in your larger caliber rifle and taking a less than ideal shot is perfectly fine because they've got enough gun.

I'll be the first to say, I take the same kind of shots with my 243 as I do with my 270. I pass on a lot of deer. Who cares if I don't get a deer at all. I'm not so financially strapped that I can't afford to buy ground beef for a year instead of using deer. It would have to be a monster buck for me to take a less than perfect shot at and so far, that's never happened.

 

[CraigC]

You're looking at it the wrong way. Using a better bullet, they are not imperfect shots. Why would you pass on a shot that would end in a perfectly acceptable result? I usually hunt with a revolver and I usually use cast bullets. That carries with it certain advantages, as well as limitations. The advantage is that I know my cast bullets will penetrate through the vitals from any angle. Now, I'm not going to be taking any Texas heart shots on does or meat hogs but if a big buck or hog is within range, I don't have to pass on what YOU might call an imperfect shot. I know going in that I have range limitations. I knowingly make that compromise, that I have to pass on those 200yds away but have no reason to pass on a quartering 50yd shot. Same goes for using a heavier, tougher bullet in rifles.

That doesn't mean I have the urge to shoot every deer I encounter. I work from home and hunt on my own property so there is plenty of opportunity to hunt. I've been letting deer walk all season. What it means is that when presented with a deer I want to shoot, I simply have more options. I have options that you do not because you choose to use a minimal cartridge.

You .243 fans seem to have a hard time admitting that you're making a compromise and working around the cartridge's limitations.

What does being "financially strapped" have to do with anything? I'm fairly certain that none of us are subsistence hunters.

 

[Hookeye]

I ran a .243 win because the rifle I bought happened to be in that (Ruger #1, was purchased to rebarrel to .35 remington).
My state regs changed so I just ran it as is. If I had hit my deer on the shoulder I think he'd have expired more quickly.
Hit behind shoulder and zipped through both lungs. That bullet I think held together a bit too good.
So I can try something else next yr (bullet wise) or just run the same stuff and adjust aiming point.

Gun looks cool, shoots good.........killed my deer dead. I find that acceptable. Expected a bit more reaction, faster downtime on the deer, but that might have been my fault as much as the bullet's. Think the load I ran might be designed for tougher angle stuff. I dunno,

If the deer is facing away in my woods, I'll just spine him in the neck. Heck that's what I did a few yrs back with the Python. Low recoil stuff does make for pinpoint placement.
But then medium stuff should be easy to do the same with.

I'm not anti .243 win. It's a great varmint round (maybe too hot). Deer? I've killed one. Need more data.

BTW, I still want a .35 Remington Ruger #1..................bad!
But I might just get a CVA Scout, since I have the other one.
Kinda want a 7600/760 in .300 Savage.

Love rifles.

But deep down something in me says "you have two deer rifles, you don't need more- just kill more deer with the ones you have".

I try to ignore that little voice.

 

[Olympus]

I ran a .243 win because the rifle I bought happened to be in that (Ruger #1, was purchased to rebarrel to .35 remington).
My state regs changed so I just ran it as is. If I had hit my deer on the shoulder I think he'd have expired more quickly.
Hit behind shoulder and zipped through both lungs. That bullet I think held together a bit too good.
So I can try something else next yr (bullet wise) or just run the same stuff and adjust aiming point.

Gun looks cool, shoots good.........killed my deer dead. I find that acceptable. Expected a bit more reaction, faster downtime on the deer, but that might have been my fault as much as the bullet's. Think the load I ran might be designed for tougher angle stuff. I dunno,

If the deer is facing away in my woods, I'll just spine him in the neck. Heck that's what I did a few yrs back with the Python. Low recoil stuff does make for pinpoint placement.
But then medium stuff should be easy to do the same with.

I'm not anti .243 win. It's a great varmint round (maybe too hot). Deer? I've killed one. Need more data.

BTW, I still want a .35 Remington Ruger #1..................bad!
But I might just get a CVA Scout, since I have the other one.
Kinda want a 7600/760 in .300 Savage.

Love rifles.

But deep down something in me says "you have two deer rifles, you don't need more- just kill more deer with the ones you have".

I try to ignore that little voice.

I've got the same Ruger No.1 in 243 also. I used it to take an old mature 8pt with last year. I've been reloading my own and using the 95gr SST bullet with devastating results. That 8pt ran about 25-30 yards and piled up in a fence row. I've been putting my shots behind the shoulder with these SST bullets and they are turning the lungs to jelly...literally. I'm not sure what bullet you're using though. The only way to get more data is to shoot more deer.

For next year, I've already worked up a load using the 85gr Sierra BTHP GameKing bullet. I've been hearing and seeing some great results with that bullet, so I'm going to roll the dice and give it a try. On paper, it's actually more accurate than the SST bullet in my little Remington Model 7. I've still got some SSTs for backup if I don't like the performance of the Sierra.

Good luck to you next year, whatever you decide to do. I've been trying to ignore a little voice in my head to buy a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 and reminding myself I already have plenty of deer rifles. The struggle is real!

 

[horsey300]

I've got the same Ruger No.1 in 243 also. I used it to take an old mature 8pt with last year. I've been reloading my own and using the 95gr SST bullet with devastating results. That 8pt ran about 25-30 yards and piled up in a fence row. I've been putting my shots behind the shoulder with these SST bullets and they are turning the lungs to jelly...literally. I'm not sure what bullet you're using though. The only way to get more data is to shoot more deer.

For next year, I've already worked up a load using the 85gr Sierra BTHP GameKing bullet. I've been hearing and seeing some great results with that bullet, so I'm going to roll the dice and give it a try. On paper, it's actually more accurate than the SST bullet in my little Remington Model 7. I've still got some SSTs for backup if I don't like the performance of the Sierra.

Good luck to you next year, whatever you decide to do. I've been trying to ignore a little voice in my head to buy a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 and reminding myself I already have plenty of deer rifles. The struggle is real!

The cz would not be a deer rifle then, it would be a backup med game rifle! I don't have a model 7 but my rem shot so beautiful with that 85 I really only went up in weight to extend distance..........and maybe I just can't help chasing the next load......