243 for deer?

[shrek]

Think it'll work? What grain bullet? I've heard mixed reviews. Whatda think?

[wildweeds]

Worked just fine for me on more than a couple deer before I got a 7MM rem mag.That was over 30 years ago and the bullets then were not anything like they are now.A recent article in the NRA Rifleman mag or hunter(I get them both with the old ladies membership) had a good write up on small caliber bullets and the engineering behind them that expands them to 30 caliber size and the great weight retention.If I remember right the performance on the .243 bullet was par with a 30-06 which helps new shooters sensitve to recoil but helps with anchoring the game through improved bullet performance.I shot 100 grainers 30 years ago,My .243 is a coyote shooter now but would not hesitate to use it on deer/antelope.

[high country]

Pert near any bullet over 55ish grains has been used. 85 gr pills have killed thousands if not millions of deer.

The Montana favorite for deer is fast 22's......you will be fine, just keep the shots under 700 yards....

[splitshot]

  i shot a lot of deer with a ruger kids model till my granddaughter liked it a lot.  100 gr pills did the job.  never lost a deer.  mike w

[bobcat]

Sure it will work. Just as good as any other cartridge.

Bullets anywhere from 80 to 100 grains. I like the 85 grain Barnes TSX.

[bobcat]

you will be fine, just keep the shots under 700 yards....

  

 I'd say 300 yards would be a good maximum range for the 243.

MAYBE 400 yards if you're really good.

[deerslyr]

The Montana favorite for deer is fast 22's......you will be fine, just keep the shots under 700 yards....

I know alotta ranchers that kill elk with a 22-250 every year, not too mention deer and antelope....

[JLS]

I like the 85 grain Barnes TSX.

Good minds think alike! 

Bobcat, 300 yards, you're joking right?

[wildweeds]

I whacked a couple of muleys over by tonasket at least 300-375,was always nervous about it because my uncle who had grown up shooting that gun always said " Get another one in it QUICK and shoot again"
 because he never killed one with it with under 5 shots.I used it to kill half a dozen and never shot more than once,it always flipped up hooves up.My uncle is easily exciteable and me maybe not so much,plus I took grandpas advice on shooting stuff.........."Son just imagine a balloon hanging from his withers,the objective is to put the bullet through the  center of the balloon no matter the angle". It always worked so I never messed with the recipe.

I like the 85 grain Barnes TSX.

Good minds think alike! 

Bobcat, 300 yards, you're joking right?

[high country]

you will be fine, just keep the shots under 700 yards....

  

 I'd say 300 yards would be a good maximum range for the 243.

MAYBE 400 yards if you're really good.

That was my effort at sarcasm. There are plenty that think the 243 is too small for anything bigger than a coyote, course' those are the guys that see #600 bears too.

[marlin]

Ive seen plenty of 800 lb. black bear.. And I would'nt use anything less than .338 Lapua for blacktails 

.243 has been killing deer ever since it was invented in 1955. Natives killed buffalo with longbows.. you think a .243 wont do it?

[Bob33]

A 243 has about as much energy at 300 yards at a 30-06 does at 500 yards. Use as directed.

[Jingles]

243 will do just fine for deer I personally have dropped deer with my Remington Model 600 but due to the short barrel length I kept shots under 200 yards. Got my Black bear with a 243 100 gr Nosler partition

[uplandhunter870]

i hunt deer and bear with a 243 and it does the job perfectly. me and my 243 have killed deer out to 300yds and they wound up just as dead as my hunting buddy's deer that he killed with his 300wsm.

i shoot 95gr bullets, nosler ballistic tips.  just as with all things shot placement is key and knowing your max range. max range being determined by both the abilities of the gun and your shooting abilities. personally with my 243 shooting 95gr pills and my shooting ability i feel comfortable out to 350yds

[JoeE]

During deer season this year the scope fogged up on my 300wsm so I had to borrow a 243 last minute. I picked up some Remington 100gr ammo sighted in and took to the woods. I was worried about using the 243 as I always thought it was too small. Well, I got the chance at a bear and that 243 dumped it right in its tracks. So yeah, I would have no problems using it on deer.