357smallbore
Member
Anyone here think using a 243 with 100grn partitions is to light for mule deer at shots no further than 300 yrds?
243 on Mule deer too light?
- Thread starter 357smallbore
- Start date
- Status
mgmorden
Member
It wouldn't be my first choice but I wouldn't say its too light.
Basically if you haven't bought the rifle yet, I'd buy SLIGHTLY bigger bore (eg, 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08, .25-06, etc). If you have it in hand already - don't sweat it it'll do fine.
Basically if you haven't bought the rifle yet, I'd buy SLIGHTLY bigger bore (eg, 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08, .25-06, etc). If you have it in hand already - don't sweat it it'll do fine.
Riomouse911
Member
No, the partition is a tested bullet. As with any smaller caliber bullet, if your placement is good the .243 partition bullet will kill a muley. 
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
tominboise
Member
No. the 243 has killed truck loads of mule deer at those ranges. It all presumes one can shoot and put the bullet in the right place. The 243 lends itself to accurate shooting in the field due to the light recoil.
OP
OP
357smallbore
Member
I have the rifle. It's a 1983 Stevens topped with a fixed 4x 22in barrel.
I'm going to use it for varmint with 75gr boattails and next deer and antelope season will use if for them with the 100 gr partitions. I roll all my own ammo.
I'm going to use it for varmint with 75gr boattails and next deer and antelope season will use if for them with the 100 gr partitions. I roll all my own ammo.
Last edited by a moderator:
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,957
Lo-Profile
Member
Will drop them all day long at sub 300 yard.
wbm
Member
No.
Risky buisness
Member
Uhhh..... No, it most certainly is not to light. In my view, it's a nearly perfect combination. My .243s have taken multiple species, some closer, some further away with a 100 grn projectile quite handily.
JFrank
Member
Only if you do your part ( all day)
JFrank
Member
To speak the truth, I’ve never tried to shoot a Mulie with a 243/6mm .
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
With the right loads yhev243 will have almost 1000 ft lbs energy at nearly 400 yds you are good to go, that's more than enough for 400 and in.
Nothing wrong with that.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
It sounds like you have discovered the primary reason the 243 win & 6mm rem were developed and marketed by the manufacturers.
I feel 243 is a good minimum cartridge for deer size game. Not because it is borderline, but because for 22 caliber cartridges to be successful shot placement is critical. With the 243 you have more room for shot angles and less than perfect placement.
MacAR
Member
Not too light at all, IMO. I use a .243 for a lot of things, and you'd darn well better be able to put your bullet exactly where it needs to go, but it does the job on AR whitetails very well. My current large game load is an 87 gr Remington SP over some H380, and it kills well. I also use a 60 gr Sierra HP over more H380 that toasts smaller stuff, and will kill our smaller deer in a pinch. My only concern for you is that you might want to go a bit bigger on the scope; 4x is alright out to about 100 yards for my eyes but I would rather upgrade to a 3-9 in your situation. My Weatherby wears a 3-9x40 Leupold VX Freedom. It's a darn good scope for the money, and I'd definitely recommend it. Of course, if you can hit your target with your current set up, disregard that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Mac
Mac
I would, but never hunted mule deer, so my input has little credibility, or experience, but I don't even use .243 for Maine whitetails, which are a lot smaller. If I were going to hunt mulies out West, I wouldn't use anything lighter than my .270 Win, which killed a nice Maine Bull Moose at about 280 yards with one shot to the lungs.
(I was sitting on my stool and fired a quick (shot without a rest) as it crossed what I could see in a narrow haul road. I hit in the lungs/shoulder with a special handload. (Nosler 140 Accubond with hefty amount of RX22 (Lyman Manual), CCI 200 primer and new Winchester cases.
Last edited:
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
The 243 is as close to perfect as a deer rifle can get.
Deer are not hard to kill if you shoot them where you are supposed to.
Many veteran Iowa shotgun hunters will argue with that. They tell stories of bucks that went miles after being shot multiple times, in the ass, with 1oz. slugs.
Also, a 243 is a vastly better choice for deer than a 12 gauge and slugs.
Deer are not hard to kill if you shoot them where you are supposed to.
Many veteran Iowa shotgun hunters will argue with that. They tell stories of bucks that went miles after being shot multiple times, in the ass, with 1oz. slugs.
Also, a 243 is a vastly better choice for deer than a 12 gauge and slugs.
thats funny!
dranrab
Member
No, the partition is a tested bullet. As with any smaller caliber bullet, if your placement is good the .243 partition bullet will kill a muley.
Stay safe.
What is the lower caliber limit for poor shot placement?
I have similar feelings and inclinations. I hunt muleys and large whitetail. I use, 25 Cal with 117 gr. SP and 270 Cal with 130 gr. SP. I tend to aim for heart/vitals just behind the shoulder. Not on the shoulder usually,(to save meat) though high shoulder shots at longer range work really well for me. Shots taken with 257 Weatherby and 100 gr. factory ammo (hornady bullet) at 275 yds or so, well placed, drop them. 130 gr. out of 270 WSM works with great effect. Seems like overkill on does at 100, but fast killing in all situations.
6mm 100 gr. is fine. Only if presented with a large deer quartering away at distances close to 300 would I wish for something bigger. But even in that case I would not be bothered taking the shot with a good bullet and stiff load in a 6mm. When you sight in the 243, if it bucks on your shoulder you know you have a pretty stiff load. Some 243 100 gr. loads are a little more docile. I reload too.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
There isn't one.
Don't place shots poorly.
MachIVshooter
Member
.243 win, 6mm rem, .257 Roberts,. 25-06 rem are ideal deer rounds. A little small for larger critters like elk, though usable at reasonable ranges with very good shot placement, especially the .25-06.
The low recoil of these rounds and similar definitely promotes better shooting.
The low recoil of these rounds and similar definitely promotes better shooting.
Riomouse911
Member
There is none. If the OP is good enough with the rifle-load combo to 300 yards to be confident in his his shot placement, the .243 with partitions is perfect for the scenario the OP put forth. So are dozens of other caliber-bullet combos.
Poor shot placement with a .338 mag is as likely to result in a wounded-or lost and wasted deer as a .243. Don’t want that.
So be familiar with where it hits so you can put it where it counts, and your tag will be filled with the .243/partition.
Stay safe.
Last edited:
- Status
