Thread: 243 on deer

I set up a .243 for the kids/missus to use. Shortend stock. Low bipod and basic holdover reticle scope. I load 90 gr Speers with 2208, works really well. They have all taken deer with it. Son even used it at the local NZDA shoot out to 400m.

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I used a .243 with 95gr Targex with very satisfactory results.

A mate recently got a 16" .243 for a little lightweight close range gun. After a lot of uncertainty about whether it would be sufficient, he has shot deer out to 400+m perfectly satisfactorily with a 90gr ELDX at 2800 or so. No more uncertainty.

Had more bang /flops with .243 than any other caliber.

certainly is one cartridge that needs very careful projectile selection to really make it work - but great for the younger shooter - but then 6.5 x 55 is to - lots of 243 out there to choose from - I always had 308 supplied so not a cartridge I have used much - tried one for meat hunting and it worked - the low recoil helps in better shot placement thats for sure - likely surpassed now by the 223 but that needs handloading to get the best from it -just my thoughts - definitely 243 is a cartridge to start young hunters with

Originally Posted by The bomb

Had more bang /flops with .243 than any other caliber.

Do you feel that’s because you know you have to be careful with shot placement and/or your aiming closer to the spine to shock drop and roll

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Do you feel that’s because you know you have to be careful with shot placement and/or your aiming closer to the spine to shock drop and roll

Nah just bush hunting ,most shots under 60m and just go for usual mid shoulder placement,just seems to kill well.

My first centrefire was a 243win. An absolute pos BSA.
My latest one is a 1:8 twist Tikka shooting 108gn ELD-Ms. As yet I have only shot a handful of animals with it at distances from 25 to 388 yards (two reds, two chamois and a pig) but definitely can't complain about the results. Nice to shot and with it's Fisher carbon stock a dream to carry.
The work gets shared around my 223, 243 and 308. They are all very effective and it is pretty random as to what I take out of the safe when I go for a hunt.

Originally Posted by Shearer

My first centrefire was a 243win. An absolute pos BSA.
My latest one is a 1:8 twist Tikka shooting 108gn ELD-Ms. As yet I have only shot a handful of animals with it at distances from 25 to 388 yards (two reds, two chamois and a pig) but definitely can't complain about the results. Nice to shot and with it's Fisher carbon stock a dream to carry.
The work gets shared around my 223, 243 and 308. They are all very effective and it is pretty random as to what I take out of the safe when I go for a hunt.

Is that a newer Tikka with the 1:8" barrel from the factory?

Updated twist rates have bought it back into contention for the handloader as one of the most versatile chamberings around.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Is that a newer Tikka with the 1:8" barrel from the factory?

Updated twist rates have bought it back into contention for the handloader as one of the most versatile chamberings around.

Yes

From a 243AI I was shooting 95g Partitions and 105g A-max. The A-max was a surprisingly good bullet. Having minimal recoil made it a comfortable rifle to use so was often first pick out the safe. I'd like to get another 6mm but maybe a 6x47L. Still nothing at all wrong with the 243Win and there's a good reason it's often suggested as a good first or even only rifle to get.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

From a 243AI I was shooting 95g Partitions and 105g A-max. The A-max was a surprisingly good bullet. Having minimal recoil made it a comfortable rifle to use so was often first pick out the safe. I'd like to get another 6mm but maybe a 6x47L. Still nothing at all wrong with the 243Win and there's a good reason it's often suggested as a good first or even only rifle to get.

I’d be keen on a 6br before the x47L

I have all the 6 and 7 mm BR dies and brass here

Originally Posted by kiwijames

From a 243AI I was shooting 95g Partitions and 105g A-max. The A-max was a surprisingly good bullet. Having minimal recoil made it a comfortable rifle to use so was often first pick out the safe. I'd like to get another 6mm but maybe a 6x47L. Still nothing at all wrong with the 243Win and there's a good reason it's often suggested as a good first or even only rifle to get.

Go for the 6 x 47 Lapua if you want a ridiculously accurate cartridge, there is definitely something about the 6.5 x 47 Lapua case it make Creedmoor's look decidedly muh in the accuracy department

I am a fairly newcomer compared to many in the .243 scene. I got one to try for night work as the .223 was showing it's limitations and recoil can be frustrating. Getting smacked in the face by a thermal/night vision isn't great and neither is losing sight of the animal or animals.

Fair to say that the rest of my rifles have taken a back seat since. Farthest shot is just over 630 yards and 500 with the 105gr targex is a breeze.
Reloder 26 gets the 105gr going close to 3100fps in a 22" and just under 2900fps in an 18".

As far as shot placement goes, with the 105gr targex, 95gr SST and 95gr targex I just shoot them anywhere I would the .270, .308 etc.

Have tried some traditional soft point projectiles and whilst some like them the ones I have used definitely have not proven to be satisfactory for what I require.

Yip 243 my main caliber took a backseat to the remmag for a few years but upgraded the scope to dial up and bush hunting more over the dog so have been using it a lot now.

I have a howa 243 and shoot factory winchester deer season xp. which seems unreliable to me. I have had good results but also had it blow up on a fallow front shoulder and didn't penetrate very far. Other times it the deer ran maybe 20m and dies.

I like it though, easy to shoot/low recoil and seems effective for realistic hunting ranges.

I have seen photos of federal blue box on deer and it's lethal so might try that next.