quote:

Originally posted by 2nd Hand Lion:
I think I messed up the original post so I will try this again. I am considering purchasing a .243. Many say that the .243 is no good for deer hunting but I'm past all that so I have three questions for those who actually hunt deer with a .243. What is the longest shot you have actually killed deer with a .243? what bullet did you use? What was the response of the deer when it was hit?

Thanks in advance.

To answer your questions:

I have shot one at 275+ yards and another around 325+yards. Nosler Ballistic Tip. Dropped dead.

I am tending back to smaller calibers after visiting the 300 Win Mag's and 45-70's. If you will be looking for double duty out of the .243 for deer and varmints it would work out wonderful. I think it's great in the niche of a longer distanced varmint rig. If you're off to hunt B&C Mule Deer at extended ranges there are probably other choices to be made.

I am a believer in specialized calibers for specialized needs. Like a 22-250 for varmint popping and a 300 Win Mag for long distance elk popping and a 45-70 for bear popping. To try to get one gun to cover all bases is tough and usually only does a good job on one end. Besides that we all need more guns and calibers, right????

I have little respect for those who set out to take shots past 350 yards with any cartridge, wind and time of flight can easily cause wounded animals. My use of the 6MM's has been limited to that distance and results have been very good.

I have shot a lot of deer, both whitetail and Mule Deer with my two favorite deer rifles, a Win. m-94 SRC in 25-35 win., and a 6x45 on a L-461 Sako action, neither of which are whiz bang deer killers unless you design your hunting around the caliber...

I like to slip around and shoot deer at under 200 yards with either of them, and they work well under those circumstances, and I have enough disapline to do so..many do not and try an streatch the calibers they use and wounding results...

I can pass on a monster buck if he is over 200 yards and I could probably kill him, but I will not take that shot..Let someone else have that nice buck, I have shot my share of big bucks and its all about the hunt with me and a foopaw would ruin the experience...

A trophy hunter, intent on big bucks should use a 300 whatever magnum and practice with it, and then he can take 350 yard or perhaps even 400 yard shots...

The problem that I have observed over the years is many so called good shots wound a lot of animals and keep it to themselves, the internet is probably full of these folks, I know the world is...

Our wildlife deserves our respect and a good hunter does most of his hunting before he fires the shot..A shooter just pops away at everything, I see it happening every year in the hills behind my house..and yes I did it myself in my mispent exhuberant cowboy youth..

A big + 1 on what Atkinson said! I agree completly.

Ray, interesting comments. Most of my mule deer and blacktail deer I have shot at about 250 yards or closer. Often, a standing jump shot as I like to stalk hunt.

The reply posted by Rickt300 is one of the most appropriate comments I have read in a long while. The current mania for "long range" shooting on game is most regretable. A hunter can have the best of equipment, practice until he's competion for Dave Tubb and there is still nothing he can do about time of flight. Once the trigger is pulled there is nothing to prevent the target from taking a step and turning a perfect double lung shot into a game wasting gut shot. Responsible hunters get closer until a sure killing shot can be made or pass it up.

243 too small for deer? That's laughable.

quote:

And after over 5-decades of hunting, I'd "recommend" you use half that as your Limit for Long Distance, or what ever the distance happens to be where you can keep all bullets inside a 5" circle.

Very good advice !!!

Warrior

I've used a 243 for deer hunting where ever I have lived; growing up in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Minnesota. I've never had any trouble cleanly killing a deer with the 243, but then again I have never taken a shot at anything farther than 200 yards and I think that is the key. I may get belted in the internet mouth for this but I personally have a hard time believing some of the individuals that claim they can kill a deer consistently at 400 - 500 yards. Even the kill zone on an Alaskan-Yukon moose looks pretty small at 400 yards.

oldun, the americans 'thickets' are like open bush here. they have never been into tight bush befor.

if you want a large bullet selection you dont get any bigger than 30cal, the 7mm selection aint too bad either.

6.5BR, I have found A-max bullets to be the best bullet ive ever used on deer. Out of 13 kills 10 have dropped dead on the spot and one walked about 10meters and died. all shot through the chest too. amazing bullets really. I've used them on varmints too and they work wonders.

quote:

Originally posted by 2nd Hand Lion:
I have three questions for those who actually hunt deer with a .243. What is the longest shot you have actually killed deer with a .243? what bullet did you use? What was the response of the deer when it was hit?

Thanks in advance.

1. I hunt with several fellas who hunt with the .243 and 6MM Rem....the longest shot I've witnessed was 323 (paced) yards.

2. Bullet used was Hornady FB 100 grain interlock

3. The deer walked three steps and dropped dead.

Like Ray, I also use a 6X45 for deer and at 150 max yards have dropped them dead on the spot as well. IMO the .243/6MM rifles are excellent deer killers when (as always) pointed in the right direction........even to 300+ yards.

I totally agree.