I'm considering buying a 243, mostly just to shoot some targets at the range, and handload, but I'm sure I'll want to take it hunting for deer. When I first started deer hunting in Georgia, the first deer rifle I bought was a 788 in 243, which I enjoyed because it was fast with little recoil. I haven't shot a 243 for many years, so I would like to read some of your success stories, and what loads worked well for you.

Thanks,
KB

The 243 kinda grows on ya, the one I have shoots very well. I shot a few Springbuck last year, the load I settled on was 35gr Varget pushing 95gr Partitions, rifle is R93. Also tried a couple other powders but the Varget edged them out, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

I have had very good luck with 46 gr Ramshot Hunter and 85 gr TSX.

Oh yea, I didn't think about the TSX. It wasn't available when I had a 243 before. I'll bet that bullet has quite an effect on deer. I suspect the Swift is a good one too.

KB

Just about any factory load with a 100 grain bullet is deadly for deer with either the 6mm Rem or the .243 Win

Hornady 100 grain interlocks work extremely well in the .243 for handloads....I'm still using H-450 but looking for something else when the last I have is empty.

Also the Remington ultrabonded 100 grain bullet has proven to be a very deadly bullet in the .243

Deer really are not huge animals.....the .243 is totally up to the task!

I use my 243 for goats, pigs, and fallow deer here in OZ.
80 grain rem core lokts with 36 grains of ADI AR2208 or 90 grain nosler Balisic tips being pushed by 34 grains of AR2008. People in australia say the 243W is under powered by it will work on most game down under.

+1 to Vapodog. 100 grain bullet in right spot--have sharp knife. Doesn't require a premium bullet. I use 100 grain winchester bulk packed and IMR 4831. Between myself, son in law, nephew and grandson a whole bunch of whitetails taken----I dont recall any requiring 2 shots.

There's probably not a better caliber for the coyotes-to-deer category. That said, factory ammunition is woefully underloaded. A handloader who knows what he's doing, and using the appropriate powders, can boost 100 grainers to well over 3,000 fps for deer. You can shoot coyotes and everything smaller with bullets in the 55-80 grain range at velocities ranging from 3200 to 4000 fps.

I agree with Carpetman that conventinal cup-and-core bullets likely work better in the .243 for deer-sized game than do the "premiums". I like the old Nosler Solid Base bullet. My son killed the largest whitetail of anyone in the family many years ago with a single Sierra 100 grain spitzer. Choose whatever shoots best in your rifle.

Kabluey,

Take the .243 wssm into consideration before you buy. A couple of hundred more fps.

From prarie dogs to mule deer.

Even if you settle on the .243 win, you won't be sorry!

Remembering back, I was very impressed with the speed, and what it did to gallon cans filled with water, way out there. My prior experience with a deer type rifle was a 30-30.

I also remember testing some 100 gr bullet, probably Speer, but can't remember for sure, and it didn't make it through the first gallon water jug. The one I place behind it was not touched, the bullet completely disintergrated in the first jug. That impressed my memory as much as the explosiveness at 200 yds. The accuracy impressed me too.

I can see why it would be a multipurpose cartridge, given the excellent selection of bullets for the specific purposes, and the excellent trajectory of the cartridge.

KB

Take a look at the Euro forum.

Because of our restrictive gun laws a 243 is frequently a chap's first centrefire and is used on everything from foxes to red stag.

It is a little hard on foxes ( ) and a little light on red stag ( try not to hit the shoulder bones ) but it works, the ammunition is plentiful and most people can shoot it very well.

A sako 75 in .243 with a fixed swaro or zeiss 8 x 50 would be the perfect "one-gun" solution for the uk shooter who mainly shoots foxes together with the occasional deer.

Most of the boys I know tend to find a load and stick to it for everything.

I have heard nothing but good things about the 85 gr sierra gameking and the 100 grain Speer. Don't discount the roundnose 100 gr hornady is the advice from a guy on the forums who's opinion I respect also.

Get a .260 or even a 7-08.

I like the 243 and its my go to coyote rig. Its a minimum cartridge for deer but will get the job done inside 200yds, IMO. My favorite cartridge for deer in the 6.5 x 55 but the 7 08 would be another good choice. Both have modest recoil even in a lighter framed gun.

Honestly, I would really like to try a 260. I have a Ruger SS short action with Timney trigger, and a Lothar Walther SS .264 barrel, and I just got a Ruger factory laminate SA stock. It just needs assembly. Easier said than done. Maybe by next year this time it will be done. The barrel is 9" twist, so I expect to be able to use up to 130 gr bullets.

I'm sure I would like the 7mm-08 too, but I have a 7x57 already.

Right now though, I found a great deal on a 243, which is hard to overlook, since I have good memories of using the cartridge.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I found a great deal on a 243, which is hard to overlook, since I have good memories of using the cartridge.

Looks like an excellent reason to buy one.

I've Killed many, MANY Deer with a few 243Wins. Have used all the various Nosler Partitions 85gr, 95gr and 100gr. Used all the regular 100gr offerings from Hornady, Speer, Sierra, Win, and Rem. They all Killed.

Current Deer Load is a 90gr Hot-Cor and it is powered by the same H-450 that Vapo likes. Only problem is, H-450 is no longer being made.

The last time I shot the 243Win I have now, was last Fall while "using up" some IMR-4831. Wind blowing, setting on two stacked milk crates over the tailgate. Could not believe how well it shot with a $70 Scope being Tested. Too small to brag about, cause I figure it was due to Random Group Dispersion, not something I could go back and intentionally repeat.

On the negative side, it makes small Entrances and Exits. Quite often the holes will become blocked due to the innards shifting around and then there is no Blood getting out. All is well if it drops where it stands, but if it moves into a standing Bean field and falls "between" two rows, you have to locate it by steping onto it, without being able to see it. That can be a real challenge and not a lot of fun.

The recoil is nearly nonexistant and the report is OK even with a 20" barrel.

Fun to shoot, will Kill Deer, but can cause a lot of Tracking grief depending on where you Hunt.

Best of luck to you.

"innards"...meaning guts? One 243 bullet in the lungs or heart of any deer and it's a wrap. A 165gr .308 bullet in the guts and said deer will run like hell.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
On the negative side, it makes small Entrances and Exits. Quite often the holes will become blocked due to the innards shifting around and then there is no Blood getting out. All is well if it drops where it stands, but if it moves into a standing Bean field and falls "between" two rows, you have to locate it by steping onto it, without being able to see it. That can be a real challenge and not a lot of fun.

I've been fortunate to not have this happen to me. Most often I hunt with a .257 Roberts but friends hunt exclusively with the .243 and 6mm Rem and I consider them all approximately equal as I often use the 100 grain bullets in the Roberts.

The guys I have hunted with and my own experience has been for DRT again and again. As a matter of fact, DRT is a feature of the 6mm and .25 clan more so than the .270 Win and .30 cals of .308 and .30-06. I've read posts to the contrary but IMO the smaller calibers are superior deer killers In one occasion a deer was DRT from a single Texas heart shot from a .243....normally to be avoided but when I got to my friend and saw the proof, it was convincing and surprising..

Further, upon opening the carcass the insides were mush and were "poured" out! (yuk)

Last year I loaned my Rem 600 in .243 to a youngster and he shot two whitetails with it and didn't have to track either.....his very first deer.....was he delighted?

Believe it or not, I've never had to track a deer shot with the .243, 6mm Rem or the .257 Roberts......now let me find some wood to knock on!

I picked up a .243 Savage for my wife and kids a little over a year ago.
I was never very interested in the caliber, however did some shooting with it before introducing them to it. At first I think I liked the gun more than the caliber. I now have a new favorite caliber.
Granted, my experience is limited, but have taken a mule deer, whitetail, and varmints of various sizes with it over the last 12+ months.
The versatility is fantastic, and is more than enough gun for deer sized game.
Another plus is my wife and kids can shoot this without ill effects from recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by Trex:
"innards"...meaning guts?

No, meaning Heart, Lungs and the gut sack.

quote:

One 243 bullet in the lungs or heart of any deer and it's a wrap.

I agree it will Kill the Deer, but quite often they can run 100+yds before dropping with a Heart shot.

quote:

By Vapo:
As a matter of fact, DRT is a feature of the 6mm and .25 clan more so than the .270 Win and .30 cals of .308 and .30-06. I've read posts to the contrary but IMO the smaller calibers are superior deer killers.

Interesting that I've see just the opposite. Dosen't mean I think you are pulling a teenScum on us though.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

I found some WW760 that I had on the shelf and used it to work up some 243 loads with a 70 gr. NBT for some real long distance varmint work when the wind is blowing.

I found a load that was working just fine at 3700+fps and the point of aim that did not change at 100 yards from a 55gr. bullet load that I had been using with Varget. I haven't checked the 200-300 yard zero but will do that next time out. I was please to keep the scope settings the same. I adjusted the powder charge up and down to get the sweet spot for accuracy and it seemed to find a groove.

I've taken Mule deer bucks with the 55 gr. NBT load at 4,050 fps through my chronograph, and it has been a devastating load. I'm thinking that the 70 gr. will be even more so.

I would think from my experience that you will enjoy a .243 for deer, coyotes and such.

Good luck.

Probably this load of the 70 gr. bullets would prevent that little know but widely opinionated phenomenon of "innerd shifting" and relegate it to "innerd blasting" as in heart and lungs only. This "innerd blasting" technique requires many hours of practice on the range to acquire the needed accuracy or in the case of those with "1,000's of deer kills" a better lesson in anatomy to learn how to place their shots with their magnum blasters which are used to compensate for the lack thereof. However the latest input seems to point towards avoiding this "innerd shifting" phenomenon with the 25ACP caliber selection. However I must state that I have absolutely more none experience with this 25ACP than many others on this board.

243 with 100 gr speers work great at least they did for me with the last 243 I owned. I have witnessed 3 cow elk taken with the 243 2 were shot in the neck and droped where they stood and one was shot through the lungs and ran less than 50 yards. I would be willing to bet that quite a few elk are taken by kids with the 243 here in MT but personally I don't consider it a elk gun.

I love my .243 and I've taken nearly 20 deer with it. 87 gr. Hornady's normally drops them one shot. I load the soft points for deer and a 87 gr hpbt for fox and other fur bearers.

It's a great choice for late season when deer and the fur bearing criters will both be hunted but your problem Kabluewy is the same as mine since we both live in AK and when we are in the field hunting deer and smaller game we tend to bump into bears from time to time. I chose to ignor that fact for awhile but my second encounter while I was carrying only a 243 was enough to break me of the habbit.

I did take a couple of bull caribou with my .243 worked ok on the first bull but the second was quite long range and the performance was not a pritty sight.

Here's a good day with the .243 on kodiak island. These two I'm holding and the two bucks on the ground next to me fell one day. That was before Mr. bear convenced me it was'nt a good idea.

If I had to keep just one of my rifles, it would be my .243 without having to think about it.
I have shot 8 different species of deer with it!
I used to shoot red stags with it in Scotland and sometimes they ran 100 yds with a heart shot. I got a .308 and they still did it, so I went back to my .243.
I brought it with me when I moved to Canada and shot 3 muleys and 2 whitetails last year.
I have dropped red stags in their tracks to 400yds with 100 gr bullets, and it punches coyotes with a trajectory to rival a .22 centrefire with 70 gr bullets.
My wife shoots it with 85 gr sierras, it's just a joy to use.
I love it, you get the idea.

It's been a real pleasure reading your comments in this non-controversial discussion. Thanks a bunch.

KB