kennygarza
Member
I love my .243, but I'm wondering what all I can use it on. I know it's a good whitetail and pronghorn gun, but what else? How would it do on hogs, exotics, etc? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
What can I harvest with .243?
- Thread starter kennygarza
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mohican
Member
harvest
wheat, corn, or alfalfa, but it would be fairly ammo intensive
wheat, corn, or alfalfa, but it would be fairly ammo intensive
Spinner
Member
I know that a .243 can be (and has been) used successfully to humanely despatch rabbits, hares, wallabies, wild pigs, thar, chamois, goats, sheep, fallow deer, sika deer, whitetail deer and red deer with good shot placement and within reasonable ranges in New Zealand. Its not the calibre that most would reccomend for those game animals ..... in fact most would only reccomend the .243 for wallabies, goat, fallow deer and maybe chamois, but that doesn't change the fact that a skilled and patient hunter can make it work.
I'd say your .243 is perfect for paper punching, plinking and game up to and including small deer sized animals. Large deer is a stretch, but its doable .... it just takes more skill, experience and patience.
Others might say something different.
Spinner
I'd say your .243 is perfect for paper punching, plinking and game up to and including small deer sized animals. Large deer is a stretch, but its doable .... it just takes more skill, experience and patience.
Others might say something different.
Spinner
kennygarza
Member
I had a Rem. 700 in .22-250 before I moved up to .243. Very accurate, but a little on the small side for deer. At the same time, I sold a Rem. 700 in 7mm mag. I wanted a good all around cartridge. So this caliber is suitable for javelina and feral hogs? Thanks.
Spinner
Member
Personally, I wouldn't reccomend a .243 for feral hogs ..... I'd feel a whole lot happier with a .308. That's not to say that some folks don't take hogs with a .243 ..... hell, most of the boys round here don't even carry a gun when they're pig hunting - they don't want to risk accidentally shooting one of their dogs so they just leap on into the meelee and stick a damned big knife in the pig instead.
Pigs have a thick grisley shield around the shoulder area and I really wouldn't trust a .243 to penetrate and get the job done in all circumstances.
To be honest, I would pick the .308 or 30.06 as being closer to an all round calibre for Nth American hunting (except for the dangerous critters). A .243 just doesn't handle enough bullet weight to reliably do the business with the larger animals. If you stick to thin skinned, lightly boned, non-dangerous critters with good shot placement (same for all calibres) and reasonable ranges a .243 will allow you to take game humanely. If its what you got, use it ..... just take into account the relatively light weight projectiles that you're using.
Incidentally, I think you're going about it all the wrong way. You've got yourself a rifle and now you're saying "Right, what can I hunt with this?". I believe a better approach would be to say "I want to hunt this, this and this. Which rifle would best suit my needs?". Having said that, you can still take game within the limitations of the rifle you have.
Spinner
Pigs have a thick grisley shield around the shoulder area and I really wouldn't trust a .243 to penetrate and get the job done in all circumstances.
To be honest, I would pick the .308 or 30.06 as being closer to an all round calibre for Nth American hunting (except for the dangerous critters). A .243 just doesn't handle enough bullet weight to reliably do the business with the larger animals. If you stick to thin skinned, lightly boned, non-dangerous critters with good shot placement (same for all calibres) and reasonable ranges a .243 will allow you to take game humanely. If its what you got, use it ..... just take into account the relatively light weight projectiles that you're using.
Incidentally, I think you're going about it all the wrong way. You've got yourself a rifle and now you're saying "Right, what can I hunt with this?". I believe a better approach would be to say "I want to hunt this, this and this. Which rifle would best suit my needs?". Having said that, you can still take game within the limitations of the rifle you have.
Spinner
kennygarza
Member
I appreciate the responses from everyone. I was using the .243 for paper and steels, and the occassional whitetail. I have in the arsenal, among others, a .308 and a .30-06. I also have a Saiga in 7.72 x 39 that may be better suited for hogs. I was mainly looking to see if the .243 would be enough gun for hogs. I may be alot better off using one of my other rifles. But I have to agree with you... it is better to find the rifle that suits your needs as a hunter, or whatever, first. I just didn't know if it would be good for hogs. This is a little off topic here, but for hogs, is it better to go iron sights? I would think so? Thanks.
Harve Curry
Member
Use your iron sights, the 7.62 should be enough with a decent bullet.
The 243w is very popular deer gun here in the west. It works.
The 243w is very popular deer gun here in the west. It works.
stevelyn
Member
Bullet construction is the key here. Using a heavier premium bullet like a Barnes X or Winchester Fail-Safe you can use the .243 on things bigger or tougher that required a caliber increase before. But understand that premium bullets won't make up for poor shot placement or extended range of the caliber's capability. Having never hunted hogs myself, I can't make a recommendation to this application of the .243. But from everything I've read on the matter by those who have, I've consistently seen heavier calibers used and recommended for hog hunting.
kennygarza
Member
Yep, fellas... I'll stick to deer with the .243, and use the iron sights of the Saiga or M14 for hogs. My buddy just bought a 450 Marlin specifically for an upcoming hog hunt, so with everyone's pursuasion I'll choose a little more gun than the trusty .243. Much thanks for all the info.
ReadyontheRight
Member
I've never done it, but I've heard that .243 is excellent for the long shots on prairie dogs.
smokemaker
Member
Let's not fall into the lefty media's use of the word arsenal for a place you store guns. If you make them it's an arsenal. If you just store the there between uses its an armory.
I'm sorry for being a jerk, but the left wing media isn't.
I've found the .243 good for game up to and including decent sized mulies if good bullets and good shot placement are used.
I'm sorry for being a jerk, but the left wing media isn't.
I've found the .243 good for game up to and including decent sized mulies if good bullets and good shot placement are used.
mustanger98
Member
I've seen decent sized- for NE GA- whitetail deer killed with .243Win and they didn't run. The loads I recall used were Winchester's 100grain PowerPoint and one distance I recall was 147yds.
My model 70 in .243 won't handle anything but the 100grain PowerPoint with the deer on the box. I tried 80grain PowerPoints- the ones with the groundhog on the box- and it didn't group. It patterned. So, while it may be a .243, that don't mean it's good for everything. I think a good bit depends on the twist rate. Mine was set up to be a deer rifle, but not a varminter.
My opinion: I'm with those who wouldn't go after bear and hogs with a .243 and I'm skeptical of using a .30-30 on them too- I'll stick to the Garand for those.
My model 70 in .243 won't handle anything but the 100grain PowerPoint with the deer on the box. I tried 80grain PowerPoints- the ones with the groundhog on the box- and it didn't group. It patterned. So, while it may be a .243, that don't mean it's good for everything. I think a good bit depends on the twist rate. Mine was set up to be a deer rifle, but not a varminter.
My opinion: I'm with those who wouldn't go after bear and hogs with a .243 and I'm skeptical of using a .30-30 on them too- I'll stick to the Garand for those.
If you can choose your shots, I have no problem with a .243 for hog. By "choose your shots", I mean to be able to tag it behind the ear on a standing shot, at under 100 yards. If you're going to be hunting deer and hog, I suggest going to a 100g or 105g load, using a sturdy bullet like the Nosler Partition (available in the 100g load).
As for javelina, the .243 is more than enough.
As for javelina, the .243 is more than enough.
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
For hogs?
I agree that a .30'06 or .308 would be a lot better for hogs than a .243. I CANNOT agree that a 7.62x39mm cartridge would be better that the .243.
A quick trip to the Remington ammo website shows:
7.62x39: 125 gr PSP bullet, 2362 fps at muzzle, 1552 ft lbs energy
.243: 100 gr PSP bullet, 2960 fps at muzzle, 1945 FPE
Now, I am NOT a disciple of FPE as the be-all and end-all measure of cartridge performance, but it shouldn't be ignored. I will note, however that the Remington PSP load is the best loaded round for sport hunting available in 7.62x39. I dare say that it is easier to make precisely placed shots with ANY .243 than with any AK or SKS type 7.62x39, at any range. Also, the .243 shoots a LOT flatter, extending your useful range quite a distance. Another observation: MOST .243s are fitted with scopes; MOST AKs and SKSs have only open iron sights.
With such modestly powered cartridges, precision placement is the ENTIRE game on hogs.
The Remington website has a very good comparison function for various cartridges. You might want to take a look at:
http://www.remington.com/NR/exeres/...AB18499B6A}&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie_test=1
and set up your own comparison.
I mean nothing personal here, but even I have fantasized that my AK or SKS might be "good medicine" for hogs in thick cover - - 10 to 30 rounds to take care of a close range "charge!" Then I realize that, essentially, I'm thinking of "Spray and Pray," and am ashamed . . . .
I like the thought of .243 for whitetail deer, antelope, varmints, and such.
The 7.62x39 is a decent anti-personnel proposition or short range deer round. I don't like the idea of stretching its capability too far, though.
Best,
Johnny
I agree that a .30'06 or .308 would be a lot better for hogs than a .243. I CANNOT agree that a 7.62x39mm cartridge would be better that the .243.
A quick trip to the Remington ammo website shows:
7.62x39: 125 gr PSP bullet, 2362 fps at muzzle, 1552 ft lbs energy
.243: 100 gr PSP bullet, 2960 fps at muzzle, 1945 FPE
Now, I am NOT a disciple of FPE as the be-all and end-all measure of cartridge performance, but it shouldn't be ignored. I will note, however that the Remington PSP load is the best loaded round for sport hunting available in 7.62x39. I dare say that it is easier to make precisely placed shots with ANY .243 than with any AK or SKS type 7.62x39, at any range. Also, the .243 shoots a LOT flatter, extending your useful range quite a distance. Another observation: MOST .243s are fitted with scopes; MOST AKs and SKSs have only open iron sights.
With such modestly powered cartridges, precision placement is the ENTIRE game on hogs.
The Remington website has a very good comparison function for various cartridges. You might want to take a look at:
http://www.remington.com/NR/exeres/...AB18499B6A}&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie_test=1
and set up your own comparison.
I mean nothing personal here, but even I have fantasized that my AK or SKS might be "good medicine" for hogs in thick cover - - 10 to 30 rounds to take care of a close range "charge!" Then I realize that, essentially, I'm thinking of "Spray and Pray," and am ashamed . . . .
I like the thought of .243 for whitetail deer, antelope, varmints, and such.
The 7.62x39 is a decent anti-personnel proposition or short range deer round. I don't like the idea of stretching its capability too far, though.
Best,
Johnny
kennygarza
Member
Excellent info, guys. I am now in hot pusuit of a Gibbs Quest rifle in .45-70 as a hog hunter. I will post a new thread on this, but any links? Thanks-Kenny
mustanger98
Member
If you want to go inexpensive on that, H&R 1871 makes an excellent .45-70 in their HandiRifle line. I know because I have one and I got it for about $200 NIB. With Winchester's 300grain JHP, it's a cannon.
patentmike
Member
I shot a hog through the vitals with my .243, it must have been about a .50 when it came out the other side. I will not hesitate to use it again for hogs white tail, or mule deer.
twoblink
Member
My friend's general rule is:
If you can tip the animal by yourself, then you can kill it with a .243. If not, then you need a 308 or 30-06. (North America)
If you need a PF to back you up, then you need something bigger definitely..
If you can tip the animal by yourself, then you can kill it with a .243. If not, then you need a 308 or 30-06. (North America)
If you need a PF to back you up, then you need something bigger definitely..
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