243?

[257 Wby Mag]

Folks that don't have faith in the killin prowess of a 243, or think its "marginal" for deer sized critters haven't used one very much, or are schiity shots. Matter of fact, one of the best boolits in a 243 for bucks, is a 55 grain Nosler BT @4 grand. Wanna see stuff stop happening real quick, plant one those in a bucks shoulder......  Flame on boys, but only if you've done it, not whatcha "think".

[TheSkyBuster]

So this is the thread where you guys get your signatures,   I can't believe I just read the whole thing.  

[bobcat]

Folks that don't have faith in the killin prowess of a 243, or think its "marginal" for deer sized critters haven't used one very much, or are schiity shots. Matter of fact, one of the best boolits in a 243 for bucks, is a 55 grain Nosler BT @4 grand. Wanna see stuff stop happening real quick, plant one those in a bucks shoulder......  Flame on boys, but only if you've done it, not whatcha "think".

I don't know if you're referring to me or not, but I never said the 243 wouldn't kill a deer, or that it wouldn't kill them as "dead" as anything else. Just that it doesn't hurt to go a little bigger. I assume you're a fan of the 257 Weatherby? Why use it, if the 243 is sufficient? Doesn't it recoil more and cost more to shoot?

And btw, I don't doubt that that tiny little 55 grain pill out of the 243 could kill a deer, but I'd hate to see how much a strong cross wind would blow it out at 400 yards.  I suspect the BC can't be good at all on what's got to be a short stubby little bullet. Also, I'd guess the shoulder shot you speak of would turn at least the one shoulder into hamburger immediately. Well, I guess at least it'd save you some grinding time. 

[257 Wby Mag]

I have the luxury of using many shootin irons, depending on the mood, it could be a 243, 6mm, 257 Roy, 300 win, 7 mag, 300 Roy, 240 Roy, 358. Depening on the mood, but lotsa times I reach for the 243, cause its like magic. don't know about shootin in a strong cross wind, maybe sombody can educate me? Outta huntin from BC to Hawaii, to New Mexico to Montana, mostly a couple states a year, I've NEVER had to kill somthing at 400 yards in a "strong crosswind".  Lucky I guess?  Never put much stock into BC for common hunting boolits, I'll worry about that when my edge is done... As for meat, a couple pounds of shoulder burger is perty moot when gas is over 3 bills a gallon... Later

[bobcat]

Whatever, they all work. I'll stick with my 270.

[bobcat]

One more thing... this thread was about what rifle a guy should buy for his only deer rifle. I myself have a 243, but I also have a 270 and a 30-06. I sure wouldn't choose the 243 if I were only going to have one rifle. Would you?

[fair-chase]

I think the only way to settle this debate is to have a competition. We will need one shooter to represent each of the suggested calibers. Each shooter gets to go out and harvest a deer during the general season. Each shooter will then have to submit their deer to be tested for deadness. The deadest deer wins of course, but in the interest of fairness and political correctness every entry will get a ribbon and we could have trophies for the most dead deer, deer that needed killin the most, and least dead deer. We can then post the results of the most deer killinist caliber for everyone to see and finally put this debate to rest.

[400out]

I'm in  " dead smiley"   

[257 Wby Mag]

Bob, I could get by handily with nothing more than a 243. I have, and will again kill elk with one, along with muleys, whiteys and blacktails.....

[bobcat]

Alright, well then sell all your other rifles and keep just the 243, if you have no use for the others.      

[257 Wby Mag]

NO!!! I'm kinda a "rifle looney" as John Barsness would say. Leave that 06' and 270 at home for a season, and tote that 243 around. Might surprise ya!! BTW, the only swarovski scope I got sits on my 243,along with a McMillan stock. That kinda dough wrapped up in it should tell ya sumpthin...... Later

[Blsum]

  Dude, Would you only buy one fishing rod to take fishing? No. Would you buy only one pair of underwear to wear when you go hunting? No. You can't ask a guy to sell off all his other guns. Even if he favored one more then the rest. We all know that different guns, fishing rods, and even underwear have the right time and right place. Some people are more proficient with different weapons then others, more experience.

[hokey97]

i would not want a 257 weatherby because of ammo price

[Kowsrule30]

243 is my favorite rifle for deer hunting.... Use the 100 gr Hornady custom loads.... Get it in the heart and or lungs and it will kill very quickly.... In fact most of my deer dropped on the spot even a little past 300 yards with it....

[JLS]

One more thing... this thread was about what rifle a guy should buy for his only deer rifle. I myself have a 243, but I also have a 270 and a 30-06. I sure wouldn't choose the 243 if I were only going to have one rifle. Would you?

I wouldn't complain if that's what I ended up with, but truth be told I think the .270 would be my first choice with today's quality of bullets.  Give me a M70 .270 Winnie with 140 grain Barnes TSXs and I'd be a happy clam.