Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Making the most of a .243

My Weatherby Vanguard 2 in 243 gives very good accuracy right out of box. Varmint weight bullets group from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and heavier bullets for deer group 1inch to 1 1/2 at 100 yards. Burris, Minox, Pentax and Sightron make reasonable priced scopes with good glass. Leupold makes quality products if you want to pay more for what you get.

I’d buy a few different boxes and test which your rifle prefers. The 90-95gr is where I would start.

I did almost the same. 5th shoulder surgery in may of 18 had me thinking that even a 270 would be too much kick as I healed, so I went looking. Picked up a vanguard youth in 243 for $200! Next stumbled onto a howa alpine take off stock for cheap. Mounted a vx3 2.5-8. I picked up 5 boxes of nosler 90 gr etips at 20/box, was bummed to see they recommend a min 9" twist, but they shot moa at 100...so. Finally hunted it this year, 2 shots, a nice 3x4 blacktail at @ 125 and a big Palouse whitetail at @175, both drt.

Thinking of popping it back into the youth stock for a buddy's kid and finding a howa lwt or alpine 6.5 barreled action to pop into the LAW stock, but it was a nice rifle to hunt with...

I think 1 of those sfwa ul 2.5x10s would be great on it, sure doesn't kick...

Agreed but if it's a Partition, shoot them in the shoulder the 100's are a little hard for whitetails I think.


Mike

Good score, I was there a week ago they had about 20 rifles left 30% off.
100gr. Federal blue box or fusions work good for deer.
If you know what is the last day they are open and what percentage off do they have now?
Might have to stop in for some smokeless powder.

I have killed lot of coyotes and deer ,antelope and a couple of elk with a sako .243.. ...I use 95 nosler and 100 horn for deer. any thing for coyotes. I use 70s now for coyotes. but I killed a lot with 85s too. it had a 2.5-8 ; now a 3.5-10. leup.

I’ve killed over 100 coyotes and a truckload of deer with a .243. My favorite was 95 grain Nosler Ballistic tips with a stiff charge of IMR 4350. I’ve since moved on from it but the little 243 will pile game up.

Nice rifle, great price. Too bad its a ..243 - they aren't worth much past 50 yards.

One of my favorite cartridges, for deer I always used partitions behind a stout charge of IMR 4831. My neighbor had crop damage permits, one year, and I used the .243. If I had any doubt, I was convinced after that.

I have been using a Burris Timberline 4.5x14x32 for a few years now. Its been a terrific scope. Opticsplanet.com has them for $300. It is really clear, accurate dials and has a Ballistic plex reticle. Not a very big scope either, about like a Leupold 2.5x8.

You guys have some pretty big deer in Ohio...so I don't know what bullet to suggest. In 6mms, on game, I have only used the older 85gr Barnes XBT, the original 90X and 90 Ballistic Tip. The 85 XBT was used in a little wildcat at mild 243 speeds...2900fps. I killed axis deer ( doe and buck) and a Scimitar Horned oryx. The 90X was also axis deer/coyote but from a 240W. The 90NBT was from a 6mm/284. Good luck to you pard!

I would think you could find a nice Leupold or Vortex in the 200-300$ range to top that rifle.

I am in a similar boat with the 243. I bought my grandpaps semi custom to make sure it stayed in the family. He, my dad and daughter have all killed piles of deer with the .243. I just have failed to fall in love with the round. I'm a fan of 25's...

Pap always preferred 85gr sierras.

I've loaded 85gr tsx, 80gr ttsx, and 95gr NBT for all 3. All guns seem to shoot them accurately. My dad killed 2 bucks with the TSX the last 2 years. Seems to do ok.

Thoughts

It's a versatile and normally accurate caliber. Lots of factory ammo and component bullets. The Vanguard has a good reputation. I would put a 6x scope on it if it was mine.

Anyone run 90gr accubombs out of their .243?