243?

[Bob33]

Mike, the difference between a .243 caliber bullet and a .257 caliber bullet is about 14 thousandths of an inch.  Most deer aren't smart enough to know the difference.

However, if you follow that logic then a .277 bullet isn't much larger than a .257 bullet, and a .284 bullet isn't much larger than a .277 bullet, and a .308 bullet isn't much larger than a .284 bullet....

If bullet diameter makes absolutely no difference, then elephant and grizzly bear hunters would use .243s.  They don't, and for good reason.

There's nothing wrong with using a .243 on deer.  A .257 caliber bullet is just a bit bigger, and everything else being equal, a bit better.  

By the way, 6mm is about .244.

[bobcat]

Mike, the difference between a .243 caliber bullet and a .257 caliber bullet is about 14 thousandths of an inch.  Most deer aren't smart enough to know the difference.

I like the way you put that!   

[6x6in6]

That was good Bob. See sig.   

[Hangfire]

I have used a .243 on white tail, black tail and pronghorn. My wife has used her .244 on the same and my sister a .243 on mule deer. We all used speer or hornady bullets. It is a great pronghorn gun, a good blacktail gun, not so good white tail and poor mule deer using those bullets. I have shot white tail  behind the shoulder to 200 yards, with no exit wound. The same with my sister on mule deer, and my nephew shot a nice mature white tail, center shoulder with factory ammo, no exit, at 75 yards (deer went about 100-150 yards with absolutely no blood trail). He has hit 2 more and not found them. I will use Nosler partion or some similar bullet on deer in the future. With out a exit wound, the chance of not finding a animal is much greater.

The .243 is a great gun to shoot, accurate, but equip for the animal it will be used on. If I was starting a young hunter out, I would go with a .308 or 30-06 with reduced loads. You don't want some thing that is going to kick to hard  and take the joy of shooting away. That is part of the  beauty of the.243.

[Bob33]

That was good Bob. See sig.   

Thanks!  I'm honored.

[hokey97]

im 13 and love my 243 have killed 3 deer with it so far one it blew the heart in 2 so same as everone else shot placement

[CHUCK S]

My son, at the time was 11, shot his 1st deer with a 243.  100 yrds and broke it's back, follow up shot to the neck.  Never got back up.  280 lbs Muley 5 x 5.  Nothing wrong at all with a 243 but.......I prefer a 270 win.  Look at the ballistics and ask yourself if you're ever going to hunt anything larger, i.e. elk? A 243 WILL take anything with the right bullet placement but do you ALWAYS have that opportunity?  If it's your 1st gun I would move up to a 30-06 or 270 win.  Also look at the cost and availability of ammo.  Walk into any Walmart or hardware store, since there is not always a sporting good store on the way to your hunting area (and you left your extra boxes on top of the gun safe while loading everything up.........yeah that NEVER happens huh?)  Just my 2 cents worth and here is a picture of my sons 1st deer whcih I love to show off at every chance I get

[uplandhunter870]

243 is good deer round but as said before its all about bullet selection and shot placement.  ive taken black bears, deer, coyotes and smaller varmits. most recent bear was hit in the forehead and DRT. ive shot large bodied  mule deer, furthest was 225ish yds, none ran more than 70yds. dad took his doe this year with my 243 at just barely under 300yds ran 10yds.

its a good round just have to keep its limits in mind, its not the should mounted howitzer a 300 wsm is.

[C-Money]

The .243 is a great cartridge and will do the job on deer/elk! As with any cartridge, bullet selection shot placement are key!

[addicted]

243 has probably killed more deer than 300winmag 300rum and 300wsm combined. It must work.

[Curly]

several questions.  is a 243 good enough to kill a large buck deer?  is there much difference in a 243 and say a 25-06,260 rem, 6 mm. or a 257?  i will be getting a deer rifle soon and want some expert opinions.  i had a 243 but my grand daughter wanted it so thats why i am looking.  thanks,  mike w

Sure the .243 will kill a large buck, but why go with a .243 when you can get a 25-06 instead?  I guess I just don't see the reason to buy a .243 when you could go with another cartridge that has better ballistics, like the 25-06.  The only advantage of the .243 would be less recoil and the rifle would be lighter..........but if you aren't concerned with recoil and shaving a few extra ounces off of the rifle, I don't see the reason to go with a .243........... 

[Rick]

If it is all about shot placement, why don't we see people using .243s brown bear hunting?

I'm serious and not being smart....  I've asked this type question 50 times and havn't got an answer that I'm satisfied with yet.

Because this is America where bigger is ALWAYS perceived as better.

Look at the Inuit tribes. The vast majority of them use small calibers for hunting, even polar bears.

.22 Hornet
.223
.243

Light,handy,low recoil,easy to shoot. Ammo is cheap.

[300UltraMagShooter]

You will find that bear faster if it was a vitals shot from a 243 over a gut shot 300ultramag  

See, I think most of us agree with that statment, however, statements like this make it sound like it's all shot placement and that the 2 guns are of equal value on a bear.

If so, then why not take a .243 brown bear hunting?

[300UltraMagShooter]

If it is all about shot placement, why don't we see people using .243s brown bear hunting?

I'm serious and not being smart....  I've asked this type question 50 times and havn't got an answer that I'm satisfied with yet.

Because this is America where bigger is ALWAYS perceived as better.

Look at the Inuit tribes. The vast majority of them use small calibers for hunting, even polar bears.

.22 Hornet
.223
.243

Light,handy,low recoil,easy to shoot. Ammo is cheap.

So your saying a .243 is just as good for big bears?

[Mongo Hunter]

.243 Around here is just fine for deer sized game. 25-06, 30-06, 7mm, are more powerful but are over kill for deer around these parts. around here .243, 270, .308 are perfect, I would use .308 because you can get military surplus for super cheap at gun shows. if you want to hunt bigger game though or shoot at farther ranges I use a 7mm, that sucker will kill everthing from Praire dogs to really big game.