Thread: 243 on deer

Well that's a bugger but more for me

Im looking to pick one up for my 9yo... a slight 9yo. So needs to be lightish and suppressed. He's taken his first deer this wknd (with a freinds 308 suppressed and with a muzzlebreak!) and and a beautiful head shot on a goat with a 22mag. Hes hooked so keen to sort him out for bday #10 !

I thought only the latest fashion calibers out could kill deer...

250 yards. 108gn ELD-M @2900fps.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Attachment 274075
250 yards. 108gn ELD-M @2900fps.

Did it work?

Originally Posted by gimp

Did it work?

I guess so. The hind trotted about 15m and then fell over dead. That's what I was hoping for.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Attachment 274075
250 yards. 108gn ELD-M @2900fps.

Great condition.

95grain TMK dropped one last weekend no issue.

Loaded with 42grains of 2209, through a mossberg patriot @ 180 yards.

Worked on this one as well. He was a blood horse.

This is a weird thread. The 243 creates carnage. In fact generally the soup that comes out of an animal is worse in my 243 than my 308 and 6. 5s.
This big guy was a couple weeks back and a really solid beast. The shock turned him into a rocking horse. Stiff as a board for a few secs before ground bound.

This little fella was a bang flop. Needed meat as first stag had turned in the rain and we were in for 2 wks.

This one snuck up while we wear butchering and hit our scent. Started barking so I ran up the hill 100m and snapped him on the escape. Gave him one at 80m through the bush.


Considering these are being shot with a 243 out of a 14.5" barrel(which is a terrible length for the calibre), I don't think there's any debate about it's use on deer.

Bullets do the work, not the brass/headstamp/chambering.

Best cal ever! My go to for bush stalking. Use 100gr fed powershok softness.. works real well