243 on deer

Approaching a likely looking spot I slow, inching forward on my stomach and pushing the 243 out front so it could have a look around, I could see, but only just

Binos in hand I peered into the brush n shit that seems to grow where deer spend their spare time

Time passes easily behind binos, too easily sometimes, then a brown/reddish face nibbling the ground, here we go

The plan at this stage to quietly close the bolt and send one down its ear ole

It collapses like it’s legs were stolen and in the scope I’m aware of a blur to the right through my field of view, then back to the left, then again to the right, a brilliant display of confusion reigning while it realises it’s mate isn’t contributing to the stampede

It eventually stops and slumps to the ground as a 95g Nosler Ballistic Tip (3100fps @ muzzle) enters centre of the scapula, and exits the opposite side, 210 yards not enough to scrub much energy from the projectile.

I had hoped for this type of performance from the 95 grainer (thanks to Gail Root) and it’s a worthwhile upgrade from the 60g NBT in the 223

Anyone else have favourable experiences with the 243 and are you still enjoying it or have you moved on to other things……

Attachment 258303

To much gun :D

The heaviest pill i have for mine is 90 speers but I feel there’s enough gas in the tank to push a 120. Or at least a 115. It’s about time a manufacturer looked at the two poor three like they have just done with the 25 It would give it a whole new lease of life


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slightly partially a little bit off topic but what length barrel are you running?

Great going and great shooting.

85 grain Hornady interbond.
Works from any angle if you know your anatomy.

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.Attachment 258320

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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.

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Originally Posted by steeve

slightly partially a little bit off topic but what length barrel are you running?

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Sako barrel at factory length, same thought process and shot placement considerations as 223 except you get an extended harvesting range

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

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Originally Posted by The bomb

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

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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

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.

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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I’d be keen on a 6br before the x47L

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

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.

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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.

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Yes

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

85 grain Hornady interbond.
Works from any angle if you know your anatomy.

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Had to chuckle, 7mmWSM & 7mmSAUM debating the merits of the humble 243. Hey, but we can all enjoy different calibres.

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.

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

85 grain Hornady interbond.
Works from any angle if you know your anatomy.

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My favourite bullet by far for the 243. My seven year old boy took his first deer last weekend at 288m with that very projectile. I hope they start making/importing them again.

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Originally Posted by Kune

My favourite bullet by far for the 243. My seven year old boy took his first deer last weekend at 288m with that very projectile. I hope they start making/importing them again.

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Is that the old school Hornady 87gr that is now apparently a varment bullet? Think it's production number is 2440.
Probably isn't as I don't remember it being called an interlock

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

Is that the old school Hornady 87gr that is now apparently a varment bullet? Think it's production number is 2440.
Probably isn't as I don't remember it being called an interlock

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Nope, different one again being the interbond. Hornadys version of an accubond if I’m not mistaken.


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Quote:

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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.

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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

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Originally Posted by Kune

My favourite bullet by far for the 243. My seven year old boy took his first deer last weekend at 288m with that very projectile. I hope they start making/importing them again.

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Looks like the Interbond is dead Mate :oh noes:

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Looks like the Interbond is dead Mate :oh noes:

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How come?
All calibers?

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

How come?
All calibers?

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I can't see it listed here

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/#!/

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

How come?
All calibers?

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I believe it was something to do with the fact that the cx copper mono's fill the same niche and were by Hornandy's standards a "better bullet" (higher bc easier to manufacture etc) I seem to recall something along those lines being mentioned in one of the podcasts above cx bullets.
Could be wrong but that's my vague recollection.

Sierra 85gr hpbt is an absolute weapon in the 243 .
Old technology that just works .

All this thread has done is got me looking at 243s again

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Attachment 258390

Shot shit tonnes of deer when we were down south with 243, mostly fallow but few reds too, most with 85gr tsx worked great

I loose shooting my little .243 single shot, it kills everything I point it at, and very easy to shoot. I was worried about using it during the past two roars but it did the damage, can’t complain. Shooting Fiocchi 243 WIN 95 SST. Attachment 258392Attachment 258393Attachment 258394Attachment 258395Attachment 258396Attachment 258397Attachment 258398Attachment 258399Attachment 258400

I've always been infatuated with the 243. Only ever shot two deer with one. Wouldn't mind one, threads like this are not good for my wallet.

Correction… “love” not “loose “ :thumbsup:

Yes the good old 243, it’s a great calibre , accurate, light recoil, cheaper to load for compared to magnums. When I was in the F.S and meat hunting after that the 243 was my main rifle, it did everything it needed to do. We mostly used 80 gr Winchester and Remington factory ammo, it always killed better than the 100 gr Norma and REM.
It does have some limitations such as limited range , I feel about 400 yds is a good range to work up to as it simply starts to run out of horsepower past that. Obviously many animals have died at longer ranges but for me 400 yds is about it, if I want further the 300 WIn Mag is a better options.
I most likely will always have one in the safe.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

All this thread has done is got me looking at 243s again

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You should have bought @Philipos:)

Bloody good calibre but don't let your mates see.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

Yes the good old 243, it’s a great calibre , accurate, light recoil, cheaper to load for compared to magnums. When I was in the F.S and meat hunting after that the 243 was my main rifle, it did everything it needed to do. We mostly used 80 gr Winchester and Remington factory ammo, it always killed better than the 100 gr Norma and REM.
It does have some limitations such as limited range , I feel about 400 yds is a good range to work up to as it simply starts to run out of horsepower past that. Obviously many animals have died at longer ranges but for me 400 yds is about it, if I want further the 300 WIn Mag is a better options.
I most likely will always have one in the safe.

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That's why I built a 6mm CM to replace a 6mm ARC, a fast twist and the boolits it enables are definitely an advantage over 400M or so . . . The 1:8 243 will be cool when there's some choice in factory ammo to suit it.