243 winchester vs 44 magnum for deer which would you pick ?

[hunterdan44]

I have a Ruger 44 auto. Have shot several deer with it. All one shot kills but placement was good on all deer. I like the 44 magnum for deer at closer ranges . It’s up to the type of hunting you do. I shot one deer with a borrowed 243 when I was a kid . Both can and will kill a whitetail deer.


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[stubborn1VT]

To many the .243 is the minimum caliber for whitetails, yet it is also Too much gun and causes massive damage and Huge meat loss?  Something doesn't add up here.  

I've shot a pile of deer with a 7mm Rem Mag and the one time I lost a bunch of meat was when I shot one square in the shoulder. 

The .243 is a fine round for a young hunter who puts in some range time.  I don't have anything against the .44, but I think it has fewer applications.  I imagine that finding ammo could be fairly difficult.  

[phade]

I really like the CVA Scout. I have the 243 and the 350 L.

The 243 has performed well for me. It has taken many deer now in the 3-4 years I’ve used it. The Legend is new just this past month.

[wolc123]

1 hour ago, chrisw said:

Yes, exactly. I failed to execute. That's all on me. I don't hide behind BS excuses. The fact that you thought you would take the opportunity to beat me while I'm down says a lot to your character. I'll take the higher road I guess and not say what I would love to say to you...

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I am sorry, and I have made more than my share of mistakes myself.  Offhand, I can only think of one shot where I hit exactly where I intended.   I have lost several with a bow, and guns m, so I know well how you feel. Good luck on the rest of your season.  I am in the sidelines until gun opens up.

[BizCT]

The only time I get to hunt with a rifle in NY is when I go to WNY. When I do i typically take the .243 win (weatherby rifle). It's light and I'm not trying to kill a 300lb Mule Deer or Elk.

[wolc123]

8 hours ago, Daveboone said:

A lot depends on where they are planning on hunting, and expected ranges. I am not a fan of either, and have shot both. A better compromise of the two would be a 30-30. Better range and flatter shooting than a .44, more mass than a .243 (yup, I am well aware of velocity differences) , and a lot of rifle options. Not to mention bullet choices. In this day and age though, I would give considerable thought to the cartridge availability.

Several years ago, when I was looking for a new Adirondack deer rifle, I had narrowed the choice to a Ruger American .243 and a Remlin 336BL.  I have yet to get a shot a deer up there, with the 30/30 that I opted for.  I am hoping to break  it in on one this Thanksgiving weekend.”””
 

[mowin]

7 hours ago, wolc123 said:

A 44 mag might have ruined half of one hind quarter, but the .243 ruined nearly all of both.  Meat damage is directly proportional to bullet velocity but not so dependant on bullet weight.  

That little .243 bullet is screaming fast compared to the .44 mag or a 12 gauge sabot slug.   The meat damage from the .44 would be much closer to that minimal loss that  I saw on my 8 point that same year with those slugs.

You really get a good feel for the meat loss situation, when you butcher a few that were killed with different types, on consecutive days, like I did that year.

All the talks of shot placement is meaningless for most short range, heavy cover type hunting situations.  A deer rifle should be able to drop a deer from any angle with minimal meat damage if I am going to lug it around. 
 

If you don’t mind eating meat that looks like grape jello, then the .243 would be a fine choice in a deer rifle.

Wolc, you have no friggin clue what your talking about.  

[mowin]

3 hours ago, wolc123 said:

 Offhand, I can only think of one shot where I hit exactly where I intended. 

And there's the problem. Taking shots you shouldn't.  

I'm no sniper, but I've killed a lot of deer offhand and hit where I intended. Most shots were under 100 yrd. 

[wolc123]

8 minutes ago, mowin said:

Wolc, you have no friggin clue what your talking about.  

Do you use a .243 ?  My only experience with that rifle was butchering those two deer that I described in detail above.  Great round on deer for a center lung shot, but not so hot when it hits solid bone.  
 

The shot that hit right where I wanted to mentioned above was well rested not offhand.  I meant “at this time” when I said “offhand” in that earlier post.

Edited November 9, 2021 by wolc123

[Hock3y24]

.243 absolutely flattens deer, a good bonded bullet and your good out to 250 yards easily. 

[mowin]

22 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Do you use a .243 ?  My only experience with that rifle was butchering those two deer that I described in detail above.  Great round on deer for a center lung shot, but not so hot when it hits solid bone.  
 

The shot that hit right where I wanted to mentioned above was well rested not offhand.  I meant “at this time” when I said “offhand” in that earlier post.

Shot many with .223, 22-250 to '06.  And a few with some oddball and newer  stuff. 

Wasted more meat with the '06, .270 then any of the smaller caliber's without hitting the shoulders. Just the blood shot that finds it's way between the muscles of the shoulders is incredible on the larger caliber's. 

Hit a deer in the hinds and clip the bone, the entire hind, both sides,  will be a huge bowl of jello encased in fur regardless of caliber

Edited November 9, 2021 by mowin

[luberhill]

13 hours ago, chrisw said:

243, hands down, no question. I guess I must be the guy who only cares about antlers? (Wolc needs therapy).

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I don’t see the 243 ruining meat ????

[luberhill]

12 hours ago, wolc123 said:

Very little, but they don’t alway get hit there.   A few years ago my neighbor, who raises beef cattle and don’t like venison, gave me two deer that he had killed with his .243.   I had the pleasure of processing and eating both of those deer. 

One was a doe fawn that field dressed about 70 pounds, and the other was a 2.5 year old 8 point that field dressed about 140 pounds.   

Each deer yielded roughly the same amount of usable meat (about 35 pounds each).  The doe fawn was struck broadside, center lung.  
 

The buck was struck twice, with the first one broadside on the hip joint.  That shot turned most of both hind quarters into something resembling grape jello, and not at all fit for consumption. 
 

He ran over to the buck, and finished it with a second broadside shot to the front of the shoulder blade, at the base of the neck.  That shot resulted in a grape jello neck roast, along with the front half of the back straps.

That experience moved the .243 way down the list of anything that I would consider for a deer rifle.  I almost bought one the year before, but am very thankful to have gone with a 30/30 instead.  
 

I don’t get a lot of chances at deer, and sometimes need to shoot them from other than perfectly broadside angles.  Most of mine are taken at well under 100 yards so I would certainly go with the .44 between those 2 from a less meat damage standpoint alone.  
 

The same year that I butchered that shot up 8 point, I cut up one of my own that was struck 3 times by 12 ga sabots, which are very similar in performance to the .44 mag.  The first 2 shots were too far back with one passed thru just under the spine on center, and the second passing right thru, paralyzing the deer.

My finisher was to the same place, the base of the neck.  The neck roast was still good on that one and I only lost a chop or two where the other two slugs passed thru.   That buck yielded more then 90 pounds of meat so we didn’t need to buy much store bought  chicken that year even though we got very little meat from those other two.

 

I’ve killed lots of deer with a 243 and have NEVER seen such a thing 

[luberhill]

30 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Do you use a .243 ?  My only experience with that rifle was butchering those two deer that I described in detail above.  Great round on deer for a center lung shot, but not so hot when it hits solid bone.  
 

The shot that hit right where I wanted to mentioned above was well rested not offhand.  I meant “at this time” when I said “offhand” in that earlier post.

And you think if you hit that spot with a 44 mag it wouldn’t “ ruin” as much meat ??

That just aint true

[phantom]

34 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Do you use a .243 ?  My only experience with that rifle was butchering those two deer that I described in detail above.  Great round on deer for a center lung shot, but not so hot when it hits solid bone.  
 

The shot that hit right where I wanted to mentioned above was well rested not offhand.  I meant “at this time” when I said “offhand” in that earlier post.

I mean im not going to argue with you but was it really that big of a difference to make a difference you know what I mean. So you got one less pound or 2 of meat out of the deer most guys would not care or notice I imagine .

[Lawdwaz]

38 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Do you use a .243 ?  My only experience with that rifle was butchering those two deer that I described in detail above.  Great round on deer for a center lung shot, but not so hot when it hits solid bone.  
 

The shot that hit right where I wanted to mentioned above was well rested not offhand.  I meant “at this time” when I said “offhand” in that earlier post.

Clara Weber killed a bull moose and a bull elk with a .243

Al killed a truck load of PA bucks with the same gun......Sako 243.  They were the reason for my love of the .243  The ammo they used was just inexpensive over the Gun Center counter ammo, NOTHING like the ammo available today.

[BizCT]

.243 absolutely flattens deer, a good bonded bullet and your good out to 250 yards easily. 

400yds


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[SpacemanSpiff]

5 hours ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

The only time I get to hunt with a rifle in NY is when I go to WNY. When I do i typically take the .243 win (weatherby rifle). It's light and I'm not trying to kill a 300lb Mule Deer or Elk.

.243 Winchester or 240 Weatherby?

[Hock3y24]

17 hours ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

400yds


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I bet you’re right, but if I’m hunting areas o can shoot that (which are very few) I just bring my .308.

[BizCT]

16 hours ago, SpacemanSpiff said:

.243 Winchester or 240 Weatherby?

.243 winchester is the caliber/cartridge. but the rifle is a weatherby. 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Biz-R-OWorld

[SpacemanSpiff]

3 hours ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

.243 winchester is the caliber/cartridge. but the rifle is a weatherby. 

Ah ok. Both are like laser beams out to 400 minimum 

[Buckmaster7600]

Jesus I think I’m dumber after reading some of these responses!

Both are darn good deer cartridges! If he’s a one rifle kind of man I would go 243 it will do everything a 44mag will and add hundreds of effective yards. If he’s got other deer rifles and is getting the scout as a short, light, nice toting gun then the 44mag would
be a great choice.

Op, I would take w@Wolk opinions with a grain of salt.

My 44mag scout shoot hornady xtp’s into very tight groups!


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[Grouse]

I had a .243 in the past, but sold it to get a 7mm-08.  To me it has all the advantages of the .243 and then some.

Had a .44 Mag lever gun years ago too.  Sold it to get a .357 lever gun, as I only use it for 50 yard or less shots in thick cover.

IMHO for whitetail a 7mm-08 and a .357 will cover all the bases.

[wolc123]

On 11/11/2021 at 4:05 PM, Buckmaster7600 said:

Jesus I think I’m dumber after reading some of these responses!

Both are darn good deer cartridges! If he’s a one rifle kind of man I would go 243 it will do everything a 44mag will and add hundreds of effective yards. If he’s got other deer rifles and is getting the scout as a short, light, nice toting gun then the 44mag would
be a great choice.

Op, I would take w@Wolk opinions with a grain of salt.

My 44mag scout shoot hornady xtp’s into very tight groups!


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Which one is going to wreck more meat if you fire it into a deer’s hip or shoulder from 30 yards away ?

[mowin]

51 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Which one is going to wreck more meat if you fire it into a deer’s hip or shoulder from 30 yards away ?

Either caliber will result in the hinds being toast.