• You are using the old Black Responsive theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

Advice please

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

skynyrd1911

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
215
Location
Jonesboro, AR
Would a .243 be adequate for whitetail? Or do ya'll recommend something larger. Deer would be the largest animal, I'd be hunting. Thanks
 
Just me personally but I'd start at .270 - in fact my deer rifle is a 760 in .308.

That said - I load a 105 Speer spitzer JSP for my Savage 99c in .243 and would not expect that to be other than most effective with good placment. Just ain't tried it yet. Factory loads seem to be 85 most of time but 100's are available and I'd choose those.

Within 100 yards I'd say yes - the .243 will do it but - higher cal gives a better margin.
 
The .243 seems to be more popular out west where you're looking at much longer shots. It's a good flat-shooting reach-way-out-there cartridge, but most people in the east prefer something that hits a little harder.

If you're going to buy one for hunting in Arkansas, I might suggest something different (.308 and .30-06 being my favorites) but if that's what you've got to hunt with, there's nothing wrong with it. Lots of deer every year are killed with .243's.
 
In Idaho, .243 is a popular caliber for mulies - lotta long shots. I prefer an '06, but that's just me.

Biker
 
.243 is a good caliber for whitetail. It's plenty of rifle out to about 300 yards, no problem. An awful lot of deer have fallen to the little cartridge in Texas. The deer here ain't that big, but I think the .243 could handle anything in the north, too. Just go with a good 100 grain bullet/load.
 
If you already have the rifle, I'd use it. If you are buying a rifle, I would look for something a bit larger like the 270. There are people who use 223's for deer and believe it is big enough, so the 243 is okay. Just take good shots.
 
I took two deer this year with .22 centerfires (one with a 22-250 from 360 yards and one with a 222 from about 80 yards) so I would have to consider the 243 very adequate. It's inherently accurate to and good for the various varmints you may wish to hunt.
 
Thanks Guys! I already own a .30-.30..........I just have an itch to buy another rifle, even though I can't use it in my zone. Shotgun only in NE Arkansas, but down south and the ozarks rifles are allowed.
 
Ive seen deer dropped with a single heart shot from a 243. And Ive seen deer that take 19 rounds of 243 to stay down. I would rather use something a lil bigger iffin it were me.





one shot one kill
 
Using the right bullet is essential. There are all kinds of good 6mm diameter bullets that are designed for deer sized game.
"...can't use it in my zone..." That makes this moot in one area, but a good 100 or 105 grain bullet carefully loaded for your rifle will drop a deer with no fuss.
 
I'd say that the only downside to a .243 would be an angling shot on a large deer. A 100-grain premium bullet would likely take care of that particular problem.

I've killed around 20+ bucks with mine, and the majority were one-shot, DRT.

Art
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top