.243: Okay for whitetail deer?

[Sharpie1]

I recently posted a thread requesting suggestions on what new rifle to purchase, for hunting whitetail deer.

I took my first deer with a .243 Win that was given to me by father as a birthday gift when I was about 12 years old (about 10 years ago or so). I used a 100 gr bullet.

I have been told by some that I should upgrade the caliber of the rifle for my primary deer-hunting purposes. I *did* make a mistake last year, by attempting to take a deer with a 65gr ballistic tip bullet with this same gun. That was regrettable.

Is the .243 (when using 100gr bullets or heavier) really an adequately effective deer gun, or just marginal? Is it worth buying another gun (aka .280 for deer), or is it unnecessary?

Are there loads available for the .243 Win that are heavier and still effective range-wise that are larger than 100gr?

Helpful suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,

--tadyson

 

[Sisco]

I don't have a .243 so I can't help out with loads, but I know a lot of people who take whitetail & mulies every year with one.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The .243 is a fine deer gun. Use bullets designed for deer, hit them right and you'll have no problems.

There are people who would have you believe that if it isn't a magnum, it won't kill mice. They're wrong.

The .243 is easy to shoot accurately and that alone makes it a better deer rifle than most of the magnums.

 

[rugerfreak]

The .243 and a 100gn bullet is plenty for deer---just as long as the shooter does his part and makes a clean shot.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've taken over 20 deer with my .243. I use Mr. Sierra's 85-grain HPBT, but I'm picky about my shots and the distance. I pretty much stay with neck shots, or heart shots if the deer is standing broadside to me. I don't guess any of my .243 shots have been much over 125 yards or so.

I'd really recommend a 100-grain bullet, since it would allow a quartering shot and still get excellent penetration. There are many choices among the various brands.

Open country where shots might run to 300 or so yards, and definitely-largish bucks, and I might move up in bore diameter. At least, I always have.

Art

 

[Marty Hayes]

Art:

The 85 gr HPBT is the same bullet I use for my 6mm x 45mm, and I took a little blacktail with it through the neck. Great exit wound.

I also would recommend the 100 gr though, in a good soft point.

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

I have a friend that I hunt with that has an old Savage bolt gun in 243. He has used only this gun to deer hunt with for the last ~25 years or so. This old rifle is uglier than 2 mother-in-laws, but he takes 2 to 4 deer a year with it, and has ever since he started using it. He has never had to take a second shot, and only used Remington 100 grain Cor-Lokt factory loads. Shot placement is the key. A bad hit with a 300 Mag will let a deer get away, while a double lung shot with a 243 is meat in the freezer. On top of that , they are so much easier to shoot, especially for the guy that shoots a half dozen sighters the weekend before season opens, and then one or 2 shots during the season. I have been the 30/06, 300 Mag route, and for the last 5 years or so have hunted with a 25/06 or 243. They are so much more pleasureable to shoot.

 

[keano44]

I don't own or shoot a .243. But, my uncle, and his son, my cousin, have used a Savage lever action .243 for deer hunting for as long as I can remember. Together they have taken more deer than I can count with it. The .243 with proper bullets, and more important, proper bullet placement, is a very good round for deer. Personally, I prefer larger calibers, 7mm, .308, .44 Magnum, but I can't argue with what I've witnessed many times. When hit with the .243, "they don't go far." Its just a matter of personal preference, I guess.

 

[Zak Smith]

It's important to use a bullet designed for larger game. For example, Nosler sells 6mm bullets design for game, and more lightly constructed bullets designed for varmints.

-z

 

[Mike Irwin]

I've always thought it to be a tad light, but that's because I was raised on a steady diet of .30 caliber.

In truth, with the right bullets, such as the Hornady partition, the .243 has more than enough power to cleanly harvest deer sized game.

 

[Mannlicher]

tadyson,
The .243 can, and will take deer. My son and I have taken at least 6 deer with he Ruger 77 .243. I think all were shot with the Federal 100gr Hi-Shok round.

If all you are going to go after are small Whitetails, then the .243 should do just fine. If you may try your hand at something larger, Mulies, or Elk someday, you may opt for a more powerful caliber. Personally, I would just buy another rifle later if that were the case.

 

[pinetree64]

My father-in-law, a 70 year old farmer in Alabama has used his 243 to take more big bucks than I'll probably ever see.

Side note, he is not a gun guy and just grabs a box of shells. He doesn't always use the right bullet (i.e. HP varmit) and sometimes has to track. I'd suggest a quality bullet and practise.

tjg

 

[Nero Steptoe]

Don't know about big bucks, but a young cousin of mine took a 275# buck with his .243...one shot, I might add.

 

[pdt203]

I have used a .243 Woodsmaster for about 15 years. Took it out this morning to the range for a few shots on the paper targets. She still runs like a champ.


Johnny in Huntsville

 

[Midnight]

Johnny, what range did you take it to? Since Swan Creek has been closed I've had to go to Jackson Co. to shoot.

 

[TallPine]

The buck I shot last fall didn't seem to mind the 243 ...

...he just fell right over and died. Chest shot - both lungs just sort of evaporated.

I know a guy around here that even uses a 22-250 and never has any problem with one-shot kills.

 

[243_shooter]

Mine's never let me down with 100gr... Core-Lokts both my parents have hunted with .243's longer than I've been alive with great success.. my grandfather always used a .243, but he considered it to be a bit to much gun

Leo

 

[ftw46]

I have killed over 25 deer with a Ruger 77 243. I use Hornady 100 gr Spirepoints that I handload. I have never used more than one shot and I have never had a deer go out of sight and 85% dropped within 10 yards.

I wait for the right shot and shoot them right above the front leg.

My friends say when they hear the little"pop" they know I have a deer down.
In my opinion, if you will wait for the right shot,or pass it up, it is an excellant deer cartridge out to 200 yards.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

if you're trying to justify buying another rifle then ...

.243 is just to small, certainly a larger caliber is in order.....

but if you're not looking for a new gun.....

.243 is fine

 

[El Rojo]

My cousin has killed pigs with his .243. So if that will do for pigs, it will do for deer.

Like someone else said, there are lots of people out there that think one thing and that is the way they tell it. They are convinced that you need magnum for everything. Be wary of these people, they seem to know it all, and the facts usually are they don't. I would like to think that best gun advice is given from a humble source. Also look for words like, "I have or I use". Anyone that tries to push off their newest joy toy as the must have, is probably biased. As you can see from this thread, there are many on here that give you their humble opinion and their experiences. You have been given good advice.

Just don't use your varmint loads on deer anymore! I shot a pig with a Speer 125 gr. TNT HP out of my .308 once. Not the ideal big game load. I hit him just right in the back and he was out instantly. I have shot coyotes with the same gun, but with Sierra 168 match kings, watched the coyote run away with a limp for several hundred yards until he disappeared. Same spot, near exact same shot a few months later but this time with a Hornady 110 gr. V-max. Coyote went 5 yards and stopped. The right bullet makes a world of difference on the right game.

 

[RandyB]

Stick with the 100 grain bullets. As you can see quite a few folks hunt deer with a .243 with no problems. I prefer the .308 myself, but that is not in anyway a put down on the .243.

 

[Smoke]

I guess the question is.....what size deer are you after?

Around here we are overpopulated which means we have a whole bunch of itty-bitty whitetails. .223, .22-250, .243 are very popular. I use my 22-250 more often than any other.

If I were hunting South Texas Whitetails or Muleys I'd up to a thirty cal of some kind.

What kinda deer ya' got in VA?

 

[Wildalaska]

Good caribou round too..

WildjustanasideAlaska

 

[cracked butt]

I've taken 5 deer with a .243, none of them needed a second shot for a clean kill, though one ran about 75 yards after she was hit- the deer didn't know it was already dead and kept running.
I used 100 NP's with the .243. The shortest distance was about 30 yards, the longest was a shade over 400 yards- in this case a mature whitetail, double lunged him and still left an exit wound large enough to fit a golfball inside of. Anyone who says a .243 is inadequate for Whitetails has never shot a whitetail with a .243.

 

[shooter10mm]

It's more of a moral issue than an adequacy issue. I've killed plenty of deer with a 220 Swift and 22-250. but most were head/neck shots where, if I could have hit them with a 22 magnum it would've worked. But do you want to pass on that inopportune shot on a quartering away(Quickly) big buck at 200 or 300yds? My little girl uses one only until I can move her to the .260 or .257 Roberts or one of my .25-06's. Just an observation that you need to consider before sticking with the lighter caliber bullet. You can easily move up to a medium caliber bullet and not have much more recoil while increasing your effective range also. When your Impact Energy drops below 1000fpe you need to move up. So if your planning any long shots, a fine .25-06, .260, 270 or 7mm-08 may be just the ticket if you decide to go that way. If your an accuracy nut, I can just tell you that the .25-06 is it and kills deer with lightning like effectiveness.

Good Luck!