What about the .243 Win?

[Ru4real]

Regarding the video in post 13. How many inches is it from the shoulder to the hip on a cow elk? 30?

She hit the elk in spine just forward of the rear hip. The breeze on her orange vest shows right to left breeze. Her guide didn't give her any wind dope, but they had the drop figured pretty good. You can see the elk's front left leg running in the air as the camera pulls away.

If I shot an elk or deer in the hip I'd consider it a fail. Deer in these parts have their best meat in the rump.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Regarding the video in post 13. How many inches is it from the shoulder to the hip on a cow elk? 30?

She hit the elk in spine just forward of the rear hip. The breeze on her orange vest shows right to left breeze. Her guide didn't give her any wind dope, but they had the drop figured pretty good. You can see the elk's front left leg running in the air as the camera pulls away.

If I shot an elk or deer in the hip I'd consider it a fail. Deer in these parts have their best meat in the rump.

I think most here would agree thatbit was an irresponsible shot on several levels.

More to your point, any bullet hitting the spine will cause a drt. Yes she seems to be a good shot but definitely not a safe or ethical hunter and in this particular case there seems to be quite a bit of luck involved.

Then again maybe she is so skilled she was aiming for the spine becaus that bullet striking the shoulder or foreleg or liver would not end well.

 

[Orcon]

Regarding the video in post 13. How many inches is it from the shoulder to the hip on a cow elk? 30?

She hit the elk in spine just forward of the rear hip. The breeze on her orange vest shows right to left breeze. Her guide didn't give her any wind dope, but they had the drop figured pretty good. You can see the elk's front left leg running in the air as the camera pulls away.

If I shot an elk or deer in the hip I'd consider it a fail. Deer in these parts have their best meat in the rump.

You should watch that video again. If you slow it down you can follow the bullet trace to high on the front shoulder, right about where the shoulder hump meets the neck.

 

[Ru4real]

I did. The vapor trail distorts the picture a little, but the hair on the hump doesn't move. I see the hair near the hip move. But I won't put money on it. Video isn't perfect with that much zoom.

 

[Newtosavage]

There was a little hill and all I could see was his back. I shot him anyway.

Good man. All pigs must die.

 

[Picher]

I've loaded 80 grain Hornady GMX bullets in my .243s for a few years and they've worked well most of the time, but I told the family to keep shots under 200 yards and hit the shoulder. This year, one guy shot a 140lb buck at about 275 yards and missed the shoulder. It took another two shots to put it down for good. The GMX needs relatively high velocity to open up satisfactorily. Last year, my 140lb buck was under 200 yards and was down in it's tracks when hit in the shoulders.

I have no qualms about using the .243 for deer, especially under 200 yards, but think the .223 Rem is a bit light for Maine deer, except for smaller deer at fairly short range. Yes, experts use it well, but there's not much leeway if a shot isn't well-placed. That's why I stopped using the .22-250 years ago. One little twig and you tend to either miss or wound.

 

[Sniper66]

I load 55 gr .243 for long distance prairie dogs and coyotes and 100 gr Sierra spbt for deer. My .243 has killed 3 deer in the last 2 seasons, all shot just below the chin and they drop like rocks. i like it so much that I bought another in a slightly different configuration. Both are Remington 700s. Love the .243. Would I take it after an elk? No.

 

[Picher]

I have a Rem 700 ADL rebarreled to .243 using a Pac-Nor Super Match barrel with a 1:9" twist. It shoots all bullet weights well, but so does my 1:10 twist Tikka T3 Lite. Pac-Nor recommends the 1:9 twist because lots of people like 100 grain (or heavier) bullets. I've used 90 grain bullets, but the 100 grain bullets drop quite a bit more at 300 yards and I sometimes shoot Eastern coyotes that far away year-round, so appreciate having consistent points of impact.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

100gr 243 loads are about the ideal deer cartridge IMO.

 

[mshootnit]

What are your favorite deer loads for 243? Bullet and powder? I am using 100gr. Sierra PH and H4350 in my 6mm and 90 gr. Accubond w/ H414 in my 243.

 

[cougar1717]

I like 243 Win - low recoil, accurate enough, and you don't have to be "recoil sensitive" or "small framed" to enjoy the benefits of the cartridge. Enjoy it for a long range varminter or coyotes, but I have not had good experiences using it deer hunting. Even with good bullets and good shots, deer run further than I would like and unless you are in an open area, the blood trail can be very light. It seems like the advocates always have their special perks for hunting deer - "you have to use this bullet," "you have to shoot them right here." Maybe they're too close... or too far away, IDK. My shots were good and the bullets were good and it always seems to be something - so I stopped using it for deer. I've never had any issues when using 30-caliber anything on deer and you wouldn't think 65 thousandths is that big of a deal, but apparently it is.
So IMO, enjoy the accuracy, light recoil, and extended ranges for varmints, but I would advise to make your one shot on a deer with a larger caliber and save yourself some hassle.

 

[LoonWulf]

I remember reading some article or other on Graybull rifles a while back. It seemed like there guns are built to eek every last bit of oomph from the cases. Id bet that .243 was launching the 105 100-200fps faster than what is "standard". The article i read they recommend load they had for the 7mag in the article was a 180 berger at 3k, my 7s cant come close to that.

My major issue with using light for game cartridges, especially at realy long range, is that if you make a bad, or even marginal hit, getting a second or third becomes very difficult. Ive seen it done, but outside of 2-250yds I cant reliably hit a quickly moving target, much less hit it where i want.
The berger vlds are, from my experience, very lethal bullets and quick killers. They do pretty much what they say they will in the advertising. They will completely destroy lungs and cause significant shock with nothing but a soft tissue hit, but rarely will they punch clean thru an animal unless a heavy for cal bullet is used in a heavy for game caliber. Hitting light bone dosent seem to bother them but even the 168s from my 7mm came apart after going through the shoulder joint of a 150lb axis.

That makes the combo an no go for ME on anything larger than about 150lbs, i dont have confidence in it. Someone else might do just fine, but on anything as large as an elk id like a 7mm or larger. Again thats just me.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I like 243 Win - low recoil, accurate enough, and you don't have to be "recoil sensitive" or "small framed" to enjoy the benefits of the cartridge. Enjoy it for a long range varminter or coyotes, but I have not had good experiences using it deer hunting. Even with good bullets and good shots, deer run further than I would like and unless you are in an open area, the blood trail can be very light. It seems like the advocates always have their special perks for hunting deer - "you have to use this bullet," "you have to shoot them right here." Maybe they're too close... or too far away, IDK. My shots were good and the bullets were good and it always seems to be something - so I stopped using it for deer. I've never had any issues when using 30-caliber anything on deer and you wouldn't think 65 thousandths is that big of a deal, but apparently it is.
So IMO, enjoy the accuracy, light recoil, and extended ranges for varmints, but I would advise to make your one shot on a deer with a larger caliber and save yourself some hassle.

I've got nothing but anecdotes, but Remington Core-Lokts within ~200 yards have always done the job. These are mule deer out west, probably 100-120 pounds.

If it doesn't work for you, than by all means, shoot something else. But they've always worked for me.

 

[Slamfire]

I had bad luck with a 243 Win. It would not shoot worth a hoot. I rebarreled that action to 308 Win and am using it as a target rifle. However, even with my bad experience for the 243, I think the 257 Roberts can do everything the 243 can do, and more.

 

[Ks5shooter]

^ I agree on the .257 but I still like my .243

 

[FL-NC]

I have had nothing but excellent accuracy and results with my wal mart 700 upgraded to a Boyd's laminated stock, with a bushnell 3-9 scope and wal mart winchester 100 grain power points. 1.5 MOA.

 

[Picher]

I use the .243 Win sparingly, mostly when out for a hunt/walk in the back 40. The Tikka T3 Lite is fantastic for such duty. Deer season is over now, but coyotes are still around. There's a forest harvest going on this fall/winter, so I may not do much coyote hunting. The road down there is a real mess!

I'm thinking of trying the Winchester 95 grain Deer Season XPs for both deer and coyote. MV is 3,100 and it holds it's velocity very well out to 300 yards. It's a good compromise bullet weight that should hold well in the wind, but that's not as much a concern for deer. I don't know if it's much better than Ballistic Tip handloads, though. Testing needed next Spring! Should be fun.

 

[Hokkmike]

243win was very popular for sure. it's still fantastic for varmints and deer etc with the small and medium sized bullets

if you want to shoot the 105g or bigger, you're better off with the 6cm or 6xc or 6dasher etc

There are a lot of great "middle range" cartridges. A few are the 6mm, .260, 6.5x55, .257 Roberts, 7mm .08, and the 7x57. They will all take varmints and deer with equal aplomb.

 

[PapaG]

I suggest we take note from some shotgun gurus and call it a "caliber for experienced hunters", like they used to do for the .410. Or, change the name to something sexier like .243-08, or .243/6mm Outtasight, or .243 Walnut Hill. What can you come up with?
I have almost always owned one, though with little practical need here in "shotguncentric Illinois".

 

[Picher]

I have loading dies for .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06, and 7mm Mag. If none of those cartridges work for what I want to do, too bad! At 74 years of age, I'm not going to start using another rifle cartridge, unless I buy factory ammo for it (unlikely). Ha ha.

 

[FL-NC]

I suggest we take note from some shotgun gurus and call it a "caliber for experienced hunters", like they used to do for the .410. Or, change the name to something sexier like .243-08, or .243/6mm Outtasight, or .243 Walnut Hill. What can you come up with?
I have almost always owned one, though with little practical need here in "shotguncentric Illinois".

The 243 works for anyone who can hit the intended target, at least as it applies to deer or smaller critters.

 

[PapaG]

I'm on my fifth, first was a #1, then a M70 followed by a 700. Now on my second 77. All sporters and all MOA shooters when I was "on". The 700 was the most accurate for me, the first 77 went to one of my "church" girls who has taken a dozen deer so far. The 77s seem to favor 85 grains and up. Sierra Game King 100s the best.

 

[Picher]

I had a 6mm Rem, 700 Varmint back in the late 70's(?) but it was just too heavy to carry for miles, so got rid of it. I used it primarily for woodchucks and other varmints. It was a big improvement in wind-bucking over my .22-250. It was very accurate and the guy who bought it after me used it with good success for benchrest matches. It wouldn't have been competitive these days, however.

The 243 works for anyone who can hit the intended target, at least as it applies to deer or smaller critters.

PapaG...How about 6mm Terminator?

 

[Picher]

What's the best deer cartridge for folks that can't keep them in the boiler room?

Anything, as long as it's a BLANK! It matters less what cartridge hits a deer in the vitals, but if someone can't do that, perhaps they should practice until they can, or find some other activity.

 

[Art Eatman]

Back around 1971 I bought a little Sako Forester 19" carbine in .243. I got lazy in my handloading, using the Sierra 85-grain HPBT for coyotes and deer. It's a blow-up bullet, so I limit myself to neck shots and cross-body heart/lung shots. No angling shots. I've tagged a couple of dozen bucks with it. All of them were bang/whop/plop, no tracking needed. I don't recall any shots beyond maybe 125 yards or thereabouts. "Gimme" shots.

Took it on a prairie dog hunt one time, with 55-grain loads. Never had to shoot beyond 300 yards. K-Mart has its Blue Light specials; I had Red Mist specials.