243 Win and Deer Huting

[eagle rider]

Anyone use a 243 Win for deer hunting? I ordered a barrel for my TC Encore Prohunter in 243 for 'yote shooting, but I thought I could double its purpose for deer as well.

[RangerClay]

I bought a Browning BLR in .243 for my daughter. Until she gets old enough to shoot it I use it occasionally. If you choose the right ammo, its a great little deer gun.

[noahmstone]

My father used a .243 for years and got a lot of deer with it. When he quit hunting he gave it to me and I have shot a couple with it. I never had an exit hole but was lucky enough that I never had one take a step after hit. I upgraded to a 30-06 this year but would feel fully confident in taking the .243 out. as a matter of fact i still took the .243 out a few time this past season

[ants]

I used one for a few years. It will kill any deer but makes a very small hole and often dosent exit. So theres not much of a blood trail if any at all. I switched to a 7mm-08

[phade]

I think it is a capable deer caliber. Stick to the heavier bullets imo...95-100 grains.

[the blur]

They say the velocity of the .243 is so fast, that the exit hole is like an orange.

[G-Man]

my friend uses one to great success but stick with heaviest bulletts you can. he uses 105 grain..

[Grouse]

If the barrel you bought has a slower rate of twist designed to work well with lighter weight varmint bullets, you may not get good accuracy with bullets of 100 grains or more. Heavier bullets need a faster rate of twist to stabilize. Check the twist rate in the barrel if you want to use it on deer.

[ants]

If you want to take it out I say go for it...Just make sure you put a good hit on the deer, and expect a very small blood trail. It will work

Edited March 10, 2012 by ants

[eagle rider]

1 in 10's were designed around the 100 gr loadings.

[RobC]

When hunting with a rifle I don't believe a blood trail is necessary anyways. Ive never had a deer go more then 40 yards or so. Even with a .243. Worry less about the caliber and more about the accuracy.

[ants]

I've had a few run pretty far but was able to watch where they went from the stand. None of them left any blood and if I didn't see where they ran it would of been a tough track. It's just me

[Uncle Nicky]

I've killed a few with a .243. It works, but I like to drop them in their tracks.

[noodle one]

Believe me the 243 WIN will. take down any deer or black bear that you see, If you hand load ,you want to load 105 gr. it will stop them in there tracks.

[Uncle Nicky]

Same old argument...I could kill a deer or bear with a .22 LR if I put the right shot on them, no question in my mind. But things can go wrong, and often do. Why would you want to go into the woods under-gunned, unless you have a bad shoulder & can't handle the recoil?

[ants]

I agree 100%. A 243 will kill deer but it is still a small bullet. The farmer I hunt with uses a 223, which is a round I would never consider. If low recoil is what you want, there are better rounds out there than 243. BUT if it's all you have ,it will work.... IMHO

[jusputtn]

Do any of you think that the NYSDEC promotes unethical hunting? It is legal to use "any centerfire rifle" for a reason (page 24, Implement Descriptions for Big Game Hunting in the prospectus).

The unethical part comes in if a hunter isn't aware of the ballistics of the particular firearm being used (i.e. shoots to far), is in denial about their own shooting abilities (takes a shot that it is unlikely to place their bullet where it needs to be from the particular shooting position they're using) or makes a poor choice on the shooting situation (i.e. uses a lighter caliber on a quartering toward animal which even with a large caliber magnum is a waste as it would destroy a lot of meat, confuses their firearm with a bush hog, etc.).

You double lung a deer with a 223, 243, 300 win magnum and you'll get the same result; dead deer not to far from where it was shot.

[Lawdwaz]

Do any of you think that the NYSDEC promotes unethical hunting? It is legal to use "any centerfire rifle" for a reason (page 24, Implement Descriptions for Big Game Hunting in the prospectus).

The unethical part comes in if a hunter isn't aware of the ballistics of the particular firearm being used (i.e. shoots to far), is in denial about their own shooting abilities (takes a shot that it is unlikely to place their bullet where it needs to be from the particular shooting position they're using) or makes a poor choice on the shooting situation (i.e. uses a lighter caliber on a quartering toward animal which even with a large caliber magnum is a waste as it would destroy a lot of meat, confuses their firearm with a bush hog, etc.).

You double lung a deer with a 223, 243, 300 win magnum and you'll get the same result; dead deer not to far from where it was shot.

I'd be careful giving the DEC too much credit. <grin> <LOL>!!!!

Other than that, I'd say your post is spot on. As always, its the bullet and placement that beats all.

[ants]

I agree a double lung, with any round will result in a dead deer. But a double lung does not always mean the deer wont run a good distance before it gives up the ghost. Im sure im not the only one out there who has spent time looking for a deer that I knew was dead but lost the blood trail. Bigger bullet=more thump, more of a blood trail to follow. IMHO

[moosemike]

Same old argument...I could kill a deer or bear with a .22 LR if I put the right shot on them, no question in my mind. But things can go wrong, and often do. Why would you want to go into the woods under-gunned, unless you have a bad shoulder & can't handle the recoil?

Some shooters indeed are undergunned with a .243. Some aren't. Some should probably take up golf instead.