Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .223 or .243 for Youth Deer Rifle and Adult Varmint Rifle

Im looking to get another Tikka T3 in either a 223 or 243. The rifle will be used by me for groundhog hunting, maybe fall turkey. I would like to also make it available as a small (non-intimidating) deer rifle for my kids in a few years. I have limited experience with smaller calibers, having only killed one deer with anything smaller than a 30-06 (a .257 Roberts), whats the real world killing power difference between the two? Realizing that kids tend to get excited when the deer actually show-up and shot placement might not be perfect despite many .22 sessions. This leads me to the .243 or even 7mm-08 camp.

but...I was hoping to also have a rifle for summer groundhogs. I hunt smaller fields is semi-populated rural areas. Ive used a 17 HMR the last couple years which is nice and quiet, but lacks the oomph sometimes. Whats the difference in the report of the 223 vs. 243, if any?

Over the past 20+ years, my family has killed several dozen KY WT's with .243's loaded with 95gr Nosler partitions. The older grand kids are now graduating up to .270's. But most of them started with .243's...

Should be able to launch 55gr NBT's in the summer at the same speed as a .220 Swift...

I would vote for the .243. Works great on varmints and gives more killing power on bigger game. The .243 will also shoot flatter and buck the wind better than the .223.

It will have more recoil than a .223. A .243 is loud like all centerfire rifles but not any louder than others. The .223 may be a bit "quieter" but that is probably more dependent on the ear of the beholder than anything.


I have a T3 .243 that is spectacularly with the Nosler 70 and 95 grain Ballistic Tip. That bullet combination would work famously for what you need.

.223 without a doubt.

Hit poorly with either and you have a mess. .243 isn't going to change that.




Dave

While I hate to disagree with deflave, I would opt for the .243.. We have killed deer with both, but not in Pa. Unless you have access to some very private ground, I want more rifle for hunting there.. I suppose I have shot 50+ deer in Pa. Most of my shots have been at animals moving through heavy brush, or at the last minutes of light in the evening, or crossing an old strip mine and they were shot at long range.. I feel for the conditions MOST HUNTERS face in Pa., you need more gun than a .223.. the 7mm-08 would be better..

I hear ya about the Pa hunting conditions, hence the hesitation to stop using a 30 cal for my own hunting. I was thinking about this smaller caliber being used in the early Oct antler-less youth season more than the general than the gen firearms.

The .243 has been pioneered as a dual-purpose rifle which is what I am wanting. Guess I could get the kids a 6.5X55 or 7-08, and a dedicated varmint rig like a 222 or hornet (dont want the farmers feeling like they are in the Anbar province).

Then they'd start growing opium poppy...

I've shot deer with rifles from .243 to .45-70, and I can't tell a difference in the reaction. They run about the same distance if lung-shot, and fall if you break running gear.

We are not allowed to use a .223. They just let us start hunting on Sunday. And, You cannot carry concealed here, anymore. That's all the hints on VA gov.'s apparent intelligence.

Blood trails are another thing, the bigger calibers doing better but the difference between a .223 and .243 are going to be negligible there, too.

Tom, Your idea of a 6.5 or 7mm-08 and a .222 is a good one .. That is probably the way I would go, or a .223 either might work in the early doe hunt..

Shooting lots = marksmanship.

Shooting little = poor marksmanship.



Travis

.223 is fine if legal, It isn't legal in CO so I'd have to choose the .243 for here.

When MT started the apprentice hunting program, I went out and bought a Tikka T3 compact in .243 for the boy to start out with. I put a vortex diamondback scope on it for now. He shot it all summer, he was shooting my RAR .223, but I just wanted a little more hit on these deer. I didn't own a .243 so it was a great excuse to buy a rifle.
He shoots it well, I can shoot it well, the stock isn't too short for me. I think it's a great rifle. I pack it around looking wolves.

And he ended up shooting the smallest 4 point whitie in Flathead County with it.

223 is the only sane answer here, for a very light-recoiling and quieter report. The 243 is neither of those, in comparison.

As to poor shot placement, yes it sometimes happens. The 243 isn't going to make any difference over a well-loaded 223 in that scenario for deer.

And yes, we've used both chamberings on deer. The 243 adds flat range, but not "power" per se.

Definitely seems to be 2 schools of thought here...

Can the 243 be loaded down for varmints or a quieter report?

It's always seemed to me that 223 is "noisier" than a 243. Maybe not "louder", but more of a CRACK or something....

From small 8 year old boys to 32 year old boys the 223/223AI's get the most trigger time. We shoot stuff with them year around and have zero problems with deer.

Seems the Tikka's in 222 are like Hens Teeth in the Lite config. Only a couple Forest models on GB. Prolly get me a .223 for now then add a 6.5 or 7-08 in a couple years when the kids are ready. My son still has a hell of a time getting a good sight picture with my 22. Hate to rush him and have it turn out bad.

If you reload, either one will work. If you don't reload I'd get the 243.

243, Hands down for deer. If you don't reload, it's hard to beat a 100 grain Factory Remington Coreloct.
But if you go with the .223, I'd recommend the 64 grain Nosler Partition for deer.

223 is more than enough gun. Plus, if you are willing to practice with the kids, they (the kids) will be able to shoot more with the 223 while still having fun which will make them better, more confident shooters which will result in better, cleaner kills.

Another vote for the .223....duh.....