Tell me of your .243 experiances , please

[bendable]

why you like the caliber, wich rifle you use, what you use it for, how it compares to your other rifles. maybe how its failed , for your purpose.

Good better and best manufacturers ?

is one twist rate better for lower weight bullets and another twist rate better for the others ?

 

[pcgod]

I find that most guns in .243 are inherently accurate. The firearms are light weight and fine for coyotes or deer.

Case in point, I bought a used Ruger Compact in 243. I bought it for my son who is 6. Obviously, he is too young for it but it was a good deal and I figured what the heck. It sat in the gun safe for 4 or 5 months untouched. I then found a deal on a scope and figured I should fire it just to make sure it works. I loaded some test loads with 38gr. of Varget and an 85gr Sierra HP. The first 3 shot group was .6" at 100yds. Since then it has gotten shot a bit more. The best group to date with neck sized brass is .3".

Every 243 I have owned or do own is a shooter. I have never shot a deer with one but several friends have and they work fine. On coyotes...well I don't save pelts and with the .243 that is a good thing.

As far as brands go, Ruger, Remington, and Browning all shot well for me.

 

[Snake45]

I find that most guns in .243 are inherently accurate....I loaded some test loads with 38gr. of Varget and an 85gr Sierra HP. The first 3 shot group was .6" at 100yds.

I'll second that. Couple years ago I bought a used 1969 Rem 700BDLV in .243. Bolted on an old junk Bushnell scope from the junk box, just to see how it would shoot, and bought a box of 100 grain ammo at Walmart or Dick's. After I got it sighted in, here's its first 100 yard group:

 

[Canazes9]

I bought one for my son - Ruger compact in .243. As mentioned by others, extremely accurate rifle. Unfortunately, it had virtually no knockdown power. He shot 4 deer w/ it, 2 recovered, 2 not recovered. Not a drop of blood anywhere. The 2 deer we recovered ran in excess of 100 yards and we were lucky to find them in the heavy cover.

Before anyone starts w/ "maybe your son wasn't hitting them right, etc." my son is an excellent shot (better than his dad), both of the two deer we recovered were text book perfect heart/lung shots w/ great penetration. The little bullet just didn't do enough damage to nock 'em down quick or open a big enough hole to leave a blood trail. Others at my lease have had similar problems.

Yes the 243 will kill deer - it just won't drop them quickly or leave a blood trail. If you hunt thick cover it may be a problem. Swapped my son to a 7-08 and problem resolved.

David

 

[Anonymous]

I have had several 243's over the years and as stated above all shot well to very well by this I mean in the 1" range and usually better. I have had

Weatherby Vanguard (the most accurate rifle I ever owned) 1/2 inch easy
Ruger 77rs
Ruger 1B
Remington 700 ADL
Win model 70 featherweight
currently a Ruger 77rsi

I have never shot a deer with one but plan on finding out this season. Killed many many groundhogs. I think most problems come from using varmint bullets on deer . Stick to 100 gr and you should have no problem. I have used a 257 roberts to kill several and it was like the hammer of Thor and I suspect the performance with 100gr bullets would be similar. Just my .02

 

[308dave]

I shot two deer with a .243 77MkII 3 or 4 years back using 100 gr. Federal softpoints, an 8 pt. buck and a doe. The buck was about 50 yds out standing in a clearing and I had time for a good heart shot and it staggered about 15 to 20 yds before falling over. No exit wound. The doe was crossing a field about 110 yds out and I believe the shot went a little high and was more of a lung shot. I know she died but there was no exit wound and therefore no blood trail. After 3 hours of searching I found no blood or hair along her last known path of travel. A very accurate round but if the shot is a little rushed like it was on the doe, use premium bullets that are more likely to punch through and make an exit wound.

 

[Quarterbore]

I call myself Quarterbore as I hunted with the 25-06 for a great many years. I used the 25-06 as a duel purpose deer and long range varmint rifle. Well, as luck has it I have not owned a 25-06 for close to 14-years now (goes to show how long I have been calling myself Quarterbore I guess).

The reason I no longer have a 25-06 is because I got hooked on the 243 for the same duel purpose round. The 243 will push good 100-gr deer bullets that are very effective on they typical 120 to say 150-lb deer I typically shoot. I have shot perhaps a dozen deer with this round and I have never had to track one very far and I have likewise not lost very much meat.

Now, where the 243 is actually better then my namesake, the 25-06, is as a long range varmint rifle. Here, the 243 with a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip will move in excess of 4000fps and the velocity of that round makes it very easy to adjust for wind or distance. In addition, it has a softer blast and recoil compared to the 25-06. In years past, I would shoot anywhere from 100 to 300 groundhogs a year to say 1-3 deer so the greater varmint capability was a higher priority for me.

Now, if I were not shooting as many varmints, I do prefer the heavier 257 bullets for deer but frankly I never was disappointed with the 243 either.

Fast-forward another 12-13 years and now I am moving on to another round as I consolidate my rifles and cartridges as more of a "survival" mindset. Now, I have moved to hunting with the 308 and I really don't get to hunt varmints much anymore as I moved closer to the urban areas of my state. I still have a pair of 243s but honestly I expect I will sell them at some point.

As for rifles, I am a very loyal fan of the Remington 700 and it is the only center-fire rifle I have bought in a very long time. My last Ruger 77 was a 257 Roberts that the best group I could get out of the gun was about 3-inches which is about 3x larger then my minimum standard to keep. About 20+ years ago I did have a Ruger 77v in 25-06 and that gun was a tack driver so I am not saying all Ruger 77s are bad.

Good Luck and I really do love the 243.

 

[Divernhunter]

"I personally" will not use a 243(or other 6mm) for deer. I have seen several shot and lost with them. I do not like wasting the better part of the day looking for one and not finding it when I know it was hit with a 243. It is a good yote or PD round to me. I shot and hung up on the meat pole a nice buck that was shot the day before on the other side of the hill by a guy with a 243. I did not even know it was wounded untill I was skinning it and found a perfectly mushroomed 243 bullet in the rump. The guy swore he hit it in the ribs (but did not) and it dropped in the brush. The deer did act a little funny before I killed it. It would walk just fine but stop every so often and bite at its rump. I thought it was flies bothering it. I did not see an enterence wound before I started skinning and found blood shot meat and I knew I shot it in the ribs at the wrong angle to cause that.
A 243 will do the job but contrary to popular thinking that it is a good youth/small persom/female rifle choice I say it is an experts choice and for someone who is willing to pass up a less than perfect shot. Get 260 or 6.5X55 or a 257Roberts or a 308win (with light loads) for the above type of person.

Flame away but that is my thinking after being around them for many years.
My 2 Cents

 

[Canazes9]

To clarify - the bullets used in my less than favorable 243 hunting experiences were 100grn core-lokts - a bullet that has served me very well over the years in 7-08 and 30-06. Both of the 2 recovered deer were pass through shots. The deer were very dead and I think they died relatively quickly - they just went too far before they died and they didn't bleed out.

Had the same problem last year - buddy of mine had his son shoot a deer w/ a 243 which ran well over 100 yards w/ no blood. Bullet placement was excellent, but the deer just didn't drop. We were lucky to find that one (he diverted from his original run angle out of sight and only 1 broken limb w/ a few hairs indicated the path).

2 years running on a hunt in Alabama another buddy's son had both of his deer run over 100+ yards w/ good solid hits and good bullets - fortunately that area is a lot more open and the deer were not real hard to find. The outfitter for the Alabama hunt said that experience w/ the 243 was more the norm than the exception. Personally, I got tired of seeing that look in my son's face when ANOTHER deer runs off. 7mm-08 cured that problem, the deer drop w/ good bullet placement.

If you ask around enough you will keep hearing this story over and over - the 243 will kill any deer w/ ease, but it won't reliably put them down before they can run off and they often don't leave a blood trail.


YMMV,

David

 

[Cholo]

Disclaimer: My experience with a .243 was with middle TN deer that I'd guess would be considered mid sized.

I started with a Marlin 30-30, then a Remington 700 Classic .270, then in '85 got a Ruger .243RL, their ultra light. For 13 seasons or so I guess I killed 30+ deer with that .243 and nothing dropped them faster. 42grs of IMR 4350 and a 100gr Nosler Partition did the trick. At 75yds or less the bullet didn't exit, the deer ate about 2,000 #'s of energy. The few deer I shot over that range did exit, and all but one dropped in their tracks. I had exactly one deer run 100yds, a doe I bullseyed at 85 yds and when she collapsed guess where it was...right under my treestand! I mean literally right under me. I even took a pic of it from my stand. No other deer went more that 40yds if that.

I shot 2 coyotes with it. The 2nd was at 150 yds and it knocked him over a gentle rise. When I went for him his left front foot was impaled on his canine tooth and I dragged him back to my truck for gutting by his leg with the foot still impaled. The guy I was with couldn't believe it, but he was there :wink:

All those deer were one shot kills, though I did gut shoot a nice little buck that got away. He would have with my .270 as well. I made a bad shot and felt terrible about it. Only deer I ever lost...

Sure the .243 has its limitations. The 2nd deer I ever killed was walking dead away from me and didn't look like he was changing directions anytime soon so I drilled him a-hole to appetite with my .270 and recovered the bullet under the hide in his neck. I wouldn't have taken that shot with a .243 as I would have tried to shoot him in the back of the neck instead. Can you believe I was worried about ruining the mount?

Bought my boy a Rem. Youth .243, but we never hunted with it. Both our .243's would do about 1 1/2" or less at 100yds. for 3 shots. I was happy with that and didn't try to tweek it any. I'm certain I could have shrunk that a bit if I tried.

There's always going to be controversy over the .243. Know its limitations, it's not a 300 Win Mag! Any rifle from a reputable manufacturer should do just fine. Bullet choice is crucial! The 100gr Nosler Partitions worked great for me. If you don't handload you can buy them commercially loaded. I was going to try out the Barnes solid copper bullets that run a bit lighter and shot great, but I never got to hunt with them.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it no matter what anyone else says. Oh, and before I forget, of the 30 or so deer I shot with my .243 I believe only 2 or 3 were does. I don't want anybody to think I was shootin' fawns or something...

 

[mcknight77]

Both my sons grew up with .243s. Older one has a No. 1A and the younger one an M77R.

They both shot a couple of pickups full of deer with them. I loaded 95gr Nosler Partitions for them and it worked very well. We never lost a deer they pulled the trigger on. Most went 40 yards or so and piled up, leaving a strong blood-trail.

I love Core-Lokts also, but in the larger calibers.

 

[picketpin]

I must be the worst deer hunter in America!! I've killed a bunch of deer but I have to admit that at least half if not more ran SOME distance.

I shoot things through the heart-lungs and even with a much bigger rifle many deer have gone 100 yards or so before piling up.

Out here in the wide open I guess it isn't as big a deal than it might be back east in heavy timber.

In Idaho ANYTHING that fires a centerfire cartridge is legal. I've shot antelope and deer with things as small as the .17 Mach IV with a 30 grain Berger. My favorite and most often used deer rifle is a 257 Roberts. It isn't all that much bigger than a 243 and it has been doing the job for 50+ years.

I seen my share of gut shot deer, rump shot deer, deer with their jaws blown off and a whole bunch of dead or deing deer and the one thing they ALL have in common is they were shot poorly, what was used was imaterial. The results would have been the same with a 300 Weatheerby or a 223 or for that matter a 243. ;-)

RWT.

 

[bendable]

Sincre thanks, this is good reading

 

[Black Frog]

The '243 yes-or-no for deer' debate has been raging for years.

I like the .243, but won't use it for deer. Too many bad stories, and a few I've seen first hand.

For a lighter deer gun, I much prefer the .260. Fantastic round.

 

[tookalisten]

I have a Winchester Model 670 .243 that has taken many deer, all dropping in their tracks. We do not have very large deer here in my part of NC. All have been shot at less than 125 yds and I use Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips, 95 grain. It is incredibly accurate and I have a high level of confidence it it; this is why I have always felt good about shooting a deer with this caliber/gun. I also started my daughter with the .243 who also has taken several with it as well. It was the perfect caliber, with less recoil, to build her confidence in shooting rifles successfully.
However, with all that being said, I mostly use it now for groundhogs and shoot 55 grain silvertips in it.
I switched to a 30-06 for deer and gave my daughter a .270; mainly for increased bullet options and one day I hope to head out west and hunt bigger game and wanted an excuse to buy another gun.

 

[bendable]

Would the kick be similar to an sks yugo ? 7.62 x 39 ?
does anyone feel the need for a decelerator butt pad ?

 

[mcknight77]

Most will have less recoil than an sks.

IMHO, no recoil pad is needed on a .243Win.

 

[CODAVE]

I have owned several .243's all shot well, I have shot many Mule deer
with them most all have dropped where they were shot including my
daughters 1st deer. I do agree that the Core loc is a good bullet but I use
Partitions in the .243 and 6mm 77V.

 

[martyj]

Bigger doesnt gaurantee better shot placement. It does however slow down wind drift which is nice.

 

[Tensaw]

I have a .243 M77 MII. I really like shooting a .243 at the range - very accurate and little recoil. Both my son and I have killed a deer with it. Last year he shot a nice 8 point that went 175 lbs. It ran about 30 yards. The .243 gives me a nice option to shot coyotes or pigs.

Ok having said that, I have a M77 MII in .308 which is a great shooter and I now hunt deer with it.