Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Anyone ever found the 243 lacking?

I mean where you know for sure a larger caliber would have made a difference. I'm not talking about a deer never recovered so that exactly what went wrong isn't known for sure. I mean one that had a good shot on it that didn't anchor it quickly. Something that required a lot of tracking or a follow up shot where you could see that a larger caliber would have been better.

I'm not someone that thinks magnums are required for deer. I've hunted a few times with a 223 but never taken a deer with one. All my deer have been killed with a 270 or 7mm mag.

I'm about to buy a Kimber Montana. I am agonizing between the 243 and 7mm-08. I want a very light recoil since the kids and wife may use this rifle from time to time. I don't reload presently but am about to start. I have heard good things about the 80 grn Barnes TTSX in 243 and think that might be a great low recoiling choice. On the other hand I suppose the 7mm-08 could be loaded for low recoil and still shoot a heavier bullet.

I appreciate any insight into my indecision. There may not be a bad choice here. Recoil is a big issue but not at the cost of being less effective. Shots would all be under 200 yards.

If I had other issues, like the only gun I have etc... I would not go 243. Just me.

Other than that I"ve never had a 243 in my hands where I needed something bigger. Its got the job done every time on deer. And pigs. And done it quite well. Quicker to find deer and more DRT than my 300 mags give.

And its been good to just this side of 600 yards.

For 200 yards and in, on non once in a lifetime deer, I wouldn't blink twice about the 243. With the wife and kids added, the 7x08 can have a bit sharper recoil, especially in the smaller rifles...

Yes. I've hunted with a number of guys over the years (too many) who used the .243 Win. Their deer ran further and left less of a blood trail after being shot than deer shot with bigger guns. Now I am talking about driven deer. Being pushed gets their adrenaline up and they are normally running to some degree. These guys also used garden variety 100 grain cup and cores. But the same is also true for the guys running .270's, .308's, and .30-06's and their deer kills were less of a rodeo. I'll also add that I've not shot a single deer with a .243 and if I had it would have been with a premium bullet and I'm sure the outcome would have been better.

Thanks. Yes, only deer and pigs. I'm not a trophy hunter, so more likely a 70 lb. doe than a 200 lb. buck. Even if I targeted something larger I have other larger caliber rifles. I just want this under 6 lb. all up rifle to be shootable for the whole family but have plenty of confidence that it is enough for deer and hogs. The hogs would be few and far between and I don't hunt varmints except when a coyote of opportunity presents itself.

I have killed a bunch of caribou with both 6mm and 7mm-08. Overall the bigger caliber seems to put animals down just a bit quicker. However the difference is not huge on the smaller ungulates, certainly not something where you could blame a "failure to recover" on the cartridge itself.

I have cleaned up a few "messes" which others started, generally by shooting smaller calibers - perhaps even rimfires- and doing it poorly. The only caribou I've seen shot but not recovered happened with 300 magnum. Bullet path is everything.

Either one of those will work. The .243 is great if you understand its limitations. For a less-experienced shooter that may just shoot for center-vitals, this means memorizing the location of the animal before you pull the trigger. There won't be as much sign to go on, on average, from a deer hit through the lungs with a 6mm bullet versus a 7mm bullet, assuming similar bullet construction. I've used both chamberings. A well-built 6mm bullet in the vitals will kill reliably, but can mean a bit more work if things aren't anchored on the spot. Notice I say "can mean", as I've also had some easy tracking jobs with 6mm's. The only times a 6mm has really made my life hard was when I was running cup/cores and had to take an angling shot. Tracking was tough, but a good TSX, E-Tip, or Partition would have made a lot of difference too.

In a rifle as light as the Montana, I'd probably go 243win if you want the wife and kids to really enjoy it and get proficient with it. Today's bullets make it better than it used to be.

For deer no, but I would go along with the thought that a larger caliber may leave a better blood trail. No way of proving this and the .243 usually either drops them quickly or requires only a short distance to find.

For bigger hogs it seems on the light side for chest shots but no issues when head shots are taken.

I think the .260 would be a great compromise especially for a hand loader, it would overlap both the 6&7mm versions some with bullets in the 80-140 grn. range.

I agree. The 260 is the best option in my book, but it takes handloading and often a custom-built rifle to get the best out of it. Factory options for ammo and rifles ain't the best these days.

Flip a coin.

Buy rifle in whichever cartridge wins the flip, or whichever cartridge you can find.

Go kill stuff.

It's really not complicated. Either will work fine, especially on smaller big game under 200 yards.

Mental masturbation about cartridge choice is a silly game.

But it's great entertainment!

The bullet you chose is more important than the head stamp on the cartridge

The only thing I found it lacks is recoil. Otherwise it works great for my needs.

I am leaning heavily toward 243 and I'm getting into reloading very soon. I already bought a press and bought 100, 80 grn. TTSX bullets yesterday. I figured get them while I can since things are so scarce. I already have a Sako 243 but haven't killed anything with it yet so the bullets won't be wasted even if I choose something else. The Sako is too nice to hunt in all weather, so I don't mind a second all weather 243.

What other bullets should I look at in 243? Do you think the Barnes 80 grn TTSX is a good choice?

The 80gr TTSX is an excellent all-rounder for the 243. I also like the 95gr NBT and if you are going to be shooting factory rounds for a little bit longer, the Fed 95gr Fusion load has performed well on deer and hogs and has been accurate in several 243's that I've owned.

I was hunting deer when the .243 was introduced. While I've never owned one, I've seen several of them used by hunters of various abilities. One of those was my 2nd wife who I loaded ammunition for. I did own and hunt exrtensively with the .240 Wheatherby Magnum.
I insist on on larger rounds for deer simply because I feel like I have an edge with larger rounds, say the .308 firing 165 gr. premium bullets. That is just a gut feeling.
I have no real proof of this. What I have seen is that the .243 works alot better than many, including myself, would think.
The one thing I am quite sure of is that if you shoot a .243 significantly better than a heavier, larger round, no matter what the big game, you are better off with a .243. I'll never forget reading an article by a guy named Les Bowman, whoi used to write for Guns and Ammo magazine and test products for Remington. His guided hunters did alot better on elk with either the .243 or the 6mm Remington than his hunters carrying the .338 Winchester Magnums. Over the years, I seen this sort of thing myself. E

My experience is from several years ago when my brother had a 243. He was using cup and core bullets on blacktail which generally run 110-125lbs.
I was with him when we saw a buck at about 150-200 yards. He shot it and it showed no effect and began to run. He shot 4 more times without any effect. Finally the deer just tipped over. When we skinned it, 4 of his 5 shots had gone through the lungs and there wasn't anything from the diaphragm forward that wouldn't pass through a window screen.
After hunting with the rifle for 5 seasons, he got tired of the meat damage and marginal performance and got a 308.
Granted this was not with today's premium bullets but my personal take is that if you want a coyote rifle that can take an occasional deer or are a very experienced hunter who can choose your shots, a 243 is OK but it would never be my first choice for a new hunter who may not wait for an ideal shot presentation or does not have the experience to recognize a hit and track down the animal.

You say there wasn't anything left of that deer's vitals but call it marginal. Not trying to be an a$$,but how do you think a larger caliber would have helped stop that animal with shots in the same place?

Do you know of any other shots he made with the 243 that would have been more deadly with a larger caliber? That's what I'm really trying to find out. If a bullet was stopped by a shoulder socket or something along those lines where we can say with reasonable assurance that a larger caliber would have put the deer down.

I bought .243's for wife and kids a long time ago in the 70's and 80's. I had used a 6MM a couple of times before that. We haven't had any poor performance issues. The 7mm-08 wasn't commonly available then.

Were I planning to use it only on deer starting today, I would likely get a 7mm-08 and handload for reduced recoil.

Reading gun books had me yearning for a .260 or 7mm-08. I seem to have outgrown that. I just bought an all matching Swede carbine in 6.5x55 though. I had a 7x57 before that but gave it away.

In regards to the recoil issue, this past season I helped a female friend of mine get her first deer. She tasked me with finding her a rifle before the season started. She had shot a friend's 270 and didn't like the recoil so I found her a 243. She shot it a few times before the season and loved it because it didn't kick. When the deer came out and wouldn't get closer than 200yds I was glad she was concentrating on the shot and not worrying about the recoil that was coming. She made a perfect shot right behind the shoulder. The deer ran about 30 yds and collapsed. This was with Win PPs.

Yes, when judged against larger calibers, I have found the .243 lacking, especially when used on game at ranges over 200 yards.. But it has given less than fine performance on some closer shots.. At other times it has been fine..
When there is a poor blood trail, or animals remain mobile longer than they would when hit with a larger caliber, I call it marginal performance..

I suggest trying the 95 grain Ballistic Tip. The 4350's work very well under it, as does 4064. The latter tops out about five or six grains lower in charge weight, lessening muzzle blast while still giving good velocity and accuracy. I've found new shooters do better with less blast, even when recoil isn't an issue.

My point is that the bullets wizzed through the animal with no discernible effect and if he had been in an area where we couldn't keep an eye on him, we might have assumed that he had been missed. I have seen LOTS of deer shot and IME a larger frontal area at moderate velocity is much more likely to have a more dramatic impact on an animal. The deer that I have seen shot that didn't know they were ever hit were with the smaller faster calibers. Inside of 100 yards a 30-30 or similar is much more forgiving of bullet placement. I'm just saying IMHO there are better choices for a novice hunter. I started my wife on a 308 Kimber and she has no reason to look for anything else.

Blacktailer
I appreciate the input. Was your wife's Kimber a Montana? Did you load the 308 down for her? The 308 loaded way down has been a consideration for me as well.

I started my wife on a 7mm-08 Remington and I shouldve started myself on one too. Ego kept me with the 30-06 way too long. The 7mm-08 is everything I could need in a cartridge and its pleasant enough that I wouldn't need anything with less recoil.

Lets see. You have 223, , 270, 7 mag.

What's missing in between? 243. It's great for coyotes to 400 yards, deer, antelope, fun to shoot for women, kids, and old men.

As time goes on it more often becomes my go to gun. I would not hesitate to use it on elk with the right bullet unless I planned on possibly shooting a long way or was after big bulls in heavy timber.

I wont hunt deer with nothin less than a 338 win mag

I actually have a 243, just never killed anything with it. I only hunt it on sunny days. It's one reason 243 makes sense for me. Any ammo or components would serve double duty.

She has a Super America. I stated her off with 110 and 130gr HP at minimum loads. After she got used to those I worked the charges and bullet weights up until she was shooting mid power 165's which she used to take a zebra. We just got back from Argentina where she took a blackbuck with 150TTSX's running at about 2800fps.
The gun fits her and has a good pad which I feel is at least as important as the amount of recoil.

I've never found it lacking and generally those that do have little experience with it and base their views on misplaced shots or incorrect bullets used. Load up a 95 gr BT or 85 TSX and shoot stuff in the right spot. You'll end up with lots of dead stuff with little fuss. IMHO

You could sell me that and have cash toward a new one.

I think it would be a sin to not kill stuff with that gun.

I have never shot a deer that a .243 would not have been just peaches for. It's a great deer caliber. Personally, I would shoot a bullet that opened up generously ... like a Berger

Had a number of 243s over the years, I have found them to be excellent rifles for everything from ground hogs to deer. Granted my sample of 3 deer with a 243 is pretty small but I can tell you that all three got dead pretty damn quick. Shots ranged from 15 to 200 yards using 100 gr. c&c bullets.

Kinda wanting to plug something with my new old Savage. It's bear season right now too...

A great cartridge with less recoil than an 08. I know a couple folks that use them on elk, but they are careful with shot placement. A 243 slug will break down a deer with ease.

I bought my daughter a youth Winchester ranger in .243 for deer reason a few years ago.
We grunt called a young buck in and she shot it at 65 yards max.
The deer bounded away unfazed, I was shocked. Her rest and shot looked perfect. We looked for that deer for a full day and only did find him after the coyotes gave his downed location away after he was too late to salvage. He had gone quite aways into high grass.

I'd never endorse the .243 for deer after that experience. An '06 or .270 would have done him in with ease. That .243 was quickly sold in favor or a larger more sufficient caliber. And she's lost no more deer.

I do think the 243 is a tad small, that's why I hunt with a 250 Savage. That was a joke. My hunting buddy has a 243 that he used to swear by. I used it one year and made a neck shot on a little 85 pound spike buck at 187 paces. I was impressed, but until that shot, most of my kills were under 100 yards with a 35 Rem 336. Then I got my 250, it's a 1950 99R. Low and behold, the 99 could do anything his bolt gun could. It is a very accurate rifle. One of my buddy's old sayings is "small target, small pattern". I've taken that to heart. I shot my 220 pound wild boar behind the ear. The next year I shot a 150 pounder in the left eye. A while back someone on the Savage forum posted a pic of a really nice buck with a little hole behind the eye. If you shoot them behind the ear or in the eye you don't waist any meat. I'm not saying all shots can be in the ear or eye. Both deer I shot this year were behind the shoulder. But, I think a lot of folks would find that if they are patient and aim at a distinct small point, they would find they are better shots than they think they are. I've only lost one deer to my 250. The bullet went though a small maple tree and hit him on the base of his right antler, knocking it of. Maybe a bigger bullet would have knocked him down? Or, would have deflected differently and missed all together. I don't feel any need for more firepower. I have 3 06's, but intend on using my 250 for all of my pig and deer hunting. As I get older, I get less excited. I find the challenge to make a good shot as much a part of the hunt as spotting and taking the game, Joe.

It always boils down to placement, bullet design, and impact speed. After shooting deer with various .22, .24, and .25 caliber rifles, I find that I want a sturdy bullet. It makes all the difference in those scenarios when a smaller caliber might otherwise be "not enough gun", such as a hard-angling shot. The mono bullets seem to be great when you catch a shoulder, but the Partition is also a great game bullet in the .24-.25cal guns. It's tough on lungs also. Has never let me down.

243 all the way.

I have a Montana in 243 and recoil is almost non-existent. The rifle is also obviously light and easy to handle, your wife and kids should love it.

Little snort when it goes off but I imagine earplugs are a given for the kids.


Sample of one deer so far, mature mule deer buck, 90 grain 'target' bullet, 190 yards.

Buck dropped at the shot, no exit but one very dead deer.



I would just load up a little tougher 'hunting' bullet and not worry about anything.

what bullet did you use?

by far the best post on this thread.

I hunt almost exclusively with my .243 and 95 grain NBT's over RL-22. If I ever have a moose tag, I would probably go with something bigger like my .280 AI.

And where was he hit?

I would really like to know also. If he was hit in the vitals and not anchored then that's a good reason to shoot a larger caliber. If not, then it really doesn't matter.

The thing is, I know of deer (shot by my father) that had their chest cavity contents pureed, with the results pouring out of the holes, that were still able to run a good distance. Think 130 grain Ballistic Tips in full throttle handloads out of a 26" barrel 270 Win., and 139 grain Hornadys out of a 7mm Wby. magnum.

Vital hits, no matter how hard, don't necessarily anchor them.

It's interesting that the folks who defend the 243 for deer are by and large experienced hunters who are patient and willing to pick their shots. If the OP had been "Can the 243 kill deer" the answer from almost everyone would be a resounding "Yes!"
However that was not the question. The question before the group is "Is the 243 a good pick for a novice hunter?" Those are quite different questions. When a novice hunter is excited and impatient, they need all of the margin for error possible as regards to shot placement and presentation.
With today's selection of premium bullets there is no doubt that calibers previously inadequate for certain game are now suitable and that shot placement trumps energy every time so the real question boils down to "What is the cartridge with the most terminal energy that the particular novice hunter can shoot accurately?" If that is a 223 then they had better learn patience and shot placement quickly. A 243 gives a little more wiggle room as does a 257, 6.5, 7mm, 308 or more.
Sorry for the hijack.

I have not killed deer with a 243. But growing up a lot of folks had the 243 as their one deer rifle battery in farm country. So it must have worked or they were willing to track deer for a few yards.

Wanted to mention I bought a 308 for my son and have not gotten him to shoot it yet. He is going on 11 years old and after thinking it over I wish I had gotten him a 243. Here is why. I went to the range a couple weeks ago with my 270 and 243. The 243 is a LH CDL rifle and it has been a long time since I had one. At the range I realize the 270 is a lot more recoil than the 243 and the 243 was a pleasure to shoot. I was shooting 95 NBT and I realized I should have gotten my son one of these so he can practice shooting a lot more and become proficient with it. I am not sure how the download 308 will shoot but will have to try that out.

As we all know the 243 will kill deer no question as it has been used for a long time in this aspect. We guys who have multiple rifles may not favor this when we have a larger caliber to take care of the iffy shots. But for your purposes your wife and kids can become better shooters with a pleasant rifle. And remember if a 243 is not much recoil to YOU it may be on the top end for a lighter person like your wife and kids. So this would ideally be good practice for them to get ample trigger time.

Well, dang. I would have sworn the question was:

"Anyone ever found the 243 lacking? I mean where you know for sure a larger caliber would have made a difference."

What was the title of the thread again?

And I stand by my answer. Yes.

I think at least some of the criticsim of the 243 comes from bullet choice. I have a friend in Bozeman that uses the 243, as does his daughter. We tried counting how many deer and antlope they have taken over the years with the 243, and ran out of patience at 100 or so animals, with never a problem. Every one of those animals were taken with the 100 grain hornady bullet.
I have used the 85 grain Speer bullet to take one very large mule deer buck, and was not impressed at all with the results- As someone has said here, "bullets matter more than headstamps".

Blacktailer. +1..

I just picked up a .243 and plan on carrying it this fall. My brother has hunted with a 6mm (previously known as the .244) and has never lost a single deer with it. Not one. I do think it's safe to say that when you go to a smaller round, shot placement becomes more critical. Hopefully, I'll have a success story to talk about later this year.

And I wasn't questioning your answer.

Yes, that was the question and I do appreciate anyone's input but I really wanted to hear from anyone who knew for sure that a larger caliber would have killed quicker. A deer that had to be shot again because a 243 bullet failed to penetrate a shoulder joint would be a prime example. Deer that went farther than we think they should with vitals destroyed , or deer shot and never recovered or never examined to know what happened really don't tell us anything.

Like I said I have owned several, probably a dozen over the years (chronic trader) and all shot from very good to excellent. I have also found them easy to load for, not finicky at all.


Oh and Mr Clark that is a beautiful sako.

Thank you sir. It's the nicest rifle I have ever owned. I got it from a friend who inherited it from a guy who bought it new in Germany. The serial number dates 1969 as near as I can tell. My friend told me as far as he knew it had never been fired. I have shot it and hunted it but I baby it too much. It's just too pretty to sit in the rain and drag through heavy brush and briars. The last time I had Kimber Montana money, it popped up and I couldn't resist. That's why I'm back for the Montana now. I need one I can treat rougher. Well, not really, I guess I want a lot more than I need.
Here's one more of the Sako

If a 243 bullet failed to penetrate the shoulder joint, it would be the fault of the bullet, not the cartridge.

Choosing the right bullet is more critical with the 243 than with, say, a 30/06, but there are plenty of good 243 deer bullets.

IMO, most of the "problems" blamed on the 243 are really the result of using the wrong bullet for the job at hand..

For what you are after the 243 sounds perfect.

I shoot a 243 for work every day. Several hundred coyotes, a couple dozen wolves,several black bears, many deer including 2 bucks over 170, one over 400yds. three elk. I don't list these to blow my own horn, only to point out the guns extreme effectiveness. I'm shooting 85 grain sierra hpbt game kings. Rarely have needed follow up shots. It works every time its tried. If you get one you will not regret it.

I agree.

It would sure be nice to know where you hunt and some pics and hoe you've come to take so many wolves.

With today's premium bullets like a 60 gr NP or Interlock a 22-250 is not lacking.

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. If you had a beautiful bride would she remain chaste?

RH, I look at the gouges in the grip of my 270 weatherby mag and remember being too exhausted on a back pack hunt with my brother ages ago where I killed my first big bull. I was too tired to keep the stock from hitting the external frame. You couldn't give me a new, mint xxx stock for that rifle. I will never have the opportunity to get those reminders again.

I look at the dent in the beautiful and once perfect stock of my A5 20 ga FTW Browning and remember now, with tears in my eyes, being tired and falling as I neared the truck with a couple of blue quail pointed by my soon to be gone, best bird dog and loving Jules on a wonderful hunt years ago in the desert of New Mexico with only my son and her. The damage at the time aggravated me. Now that dent is visible proof i had one of the best days on this earth anyone has ever lived.

Many years from now, while she's mouldering in her grave, that dent will always remind me of hunting with her and the blessing she was and that God gave.

I bought both my girls Savage Youth package rifles. The theory being that at about $430 per copy, not much investment if they decided not to continue hunting.

I would have preferred a 260, but these rifles only came in 243. IMO, not the best deer rifle, but a good COMBO coyote/deer rifle.

Both girls started hunting at age 12 (minimum legal age in Alberta). They blow me away how well they shoot, especially as they are right handed, but left eye dominant. They both CHOSE to shoot right handed, which means that they have to overcome the left eye dominance. At that the range, a little tape on the left lens of their shooting glasses works wonders. In the field they usually don't have a problem, but closing the left eye works.

We have only used 85gr TSX Federal Premium (I have not gotten around to reloading). Over the last 5 years they have taken 9 deer, both mule deer and whitetail.

Here are the results:
2009: WT buck. 200yd high shoulder shot dropped buck in his tracks. Deer was still thrashing around a little, so I had her shoot it through the spine right behind the shoulder (back was facing us. she didn't want to get closer).
2010: WT buck. Neck shot at about 60 yards as the buck looked back over his shoulder at us. Youngest girl refused the Texas Heart shot (my theory was that if the pelvis was broken, the buck was going no wheres. She advised that that was not a good shot and refused to take it. Good girl!)
2010: WT doe. The does with the buck did not run off too far. Older girl got up on the fence post and dropped a doe with a neck shot at about 250-300. (I was watching one much closer and luckily saw the doe she shot at drop in my binocular field of view. I asked why did you shoot one so far away? It had the best shot presentation and no other deer around.)
2010: MD buck. He was hit around the margins. Not sure how he died actually, but my 300WSM had the same effect (she got rattled when he didn't die on the first shot. Missed or shot legs until the gun ran dry. So Dad had to finish it.) Bottom line, he died.
2011: WT buck. About 330 right at dark. At the shot I was very confident that the buck was going to keel over, but as it continued to run, too late I realized it was going to make it into the timber. As it was getting dark, we tried to followup immediately, but kept bumping it without a shot opportunity. We gave up and found it dead the next morning. Unfortunately the coyotes had been feeding on it. (No meat was edible, very rank.) Shot was a little low. I underestimated the range in the low light.
2012: Both girls had MD does at 300 cross canyon. For what ever reason, they had problems hitting these deer. They finally got one. I have no idea what the problem was. They can make that shot. We checked very carefully, but there was no evidence that the other doe was hit. Later in the day, the other girl shot a broadside doe at about 250. Perfect lung shot. Doe ran about 150yds before dying. There was no good spot for it to die. Both retrieves were very strenuous!
2013: MD doe. Head shot at about 40yds. DRT obviously. MD doe at about 130yds. Broadside lung shot. Ran about 120yds before dying further downslope in think timber.

So what have I learned? They need more practice? Probably. No deer shot at and hit have escaped. Some drop in their tracks shots. Some where they are dead and still run 150yds. With my bum leg, it makes the retrieves very difficult in this canyon country we hunt.

What to do? try the 80gr TTSX, 85gr Sierra BTHP, Nosler 95gr BT?

Bigger caliber?

I guess, that the results aren't much different than what I have seen with the 25-06, 270, 30-06, 280, 300WSM. Shoot two deer the same, one drops at the shot, the other goes on a death run.

I still have a little prejudice against the 243. I would never use a 243 on an elk at 680yds. For one thing, they probably could have gotten closer and/or used a heavier caliber and a heavier bullet. Yet that elk dropped at the shot? Go figure.

I'm torn between trying other bullets, buying them 308s and keeping the 243s for coyotes, or now that they are 5'7" and 120 or 130lbs, selling the 243s and getting them 260s as a do everything caliber. They do like the recoil of the 243. In their wisdom, Savage just put a plastic plate on the youth stock. I think for adult length, I just need to ad a 1" pad. Recoil would be even less.

Mr Clark, for what you posted, get the 243. I think you will be happy.

Thanks for the pictures and stories. Around here 100 yards is a long shot unless you get out of the timber on a power line and the lighter 243 would be used mostly on shots much shorter that some of yours. That's why I think the TTSX at high velocity will do very well.

Exactly my experience as well.

.243 win/TTSX with proper shot placement=dead critters. Never had any trouble with mine but no matter if I have my .223 or my .308 I always look for proper shot placement.

If I had to pear it down to one rifle for the family to shoot it would be the .243 Winchester.

No flies on todays ammo for a 243, unlike when I was "given" a cherry SAKO Forester 579 pre Garcia in 1967 as a wedding present. I had to pay my grandad what he'd loaned a guy on the gun and had had to repo it..a $160 w/a Redfield 3x9 & 5 box's of reloads. Shot it for years, hyper accurate & as said no recoil like my other rifles. I learned to shoot it well enough that I could write my initials on a business card, and won lots of $5 bets doing it...but in the Hornady & Speer bullets of the days I lost more well hit deer with that one rifle than all the deer in all my guns ever since.

Fast forward to 2006...Had major surgery to remove a monster 22 oz non malignant tumor stretching from behind my right ear to my collar bone. Right upper Quadrant, shoulder blade and right arm were nothing but a decoration for wearing a shirt and 95% inoperative, PT doc sez fuggeddabout it I was done... nothing to do but get used to it.

Rehab of 18 months was a bitch but 80-85% successful...but a buddy got me to buy a Tikka T3 6.5x55 and start again. No recoil...not none, easy to load for and killed WTails like the Hammmer of Thor. 1st WTail 125lb doe DRT'd mid stride and folded over in half backwards like a busted bagpipe. Can't say enough about the Tikka Swede being boringly Hyper Accurate but I got cute and traded it off after I had moved on back to my bigger stuff.

2009 ...heart problems, a handful of stents & a lifetime scrip for Plavix later...and back to the Swede when my T3 270 everyday shooter bruised me black & blue from my rotator cuff to my ear & right eyebrow. But I could shoot the Swede in a TShirt with no bruises and the factory pad, unlike the Limbsaver that is still on the 270.

No fly's on the 243 I know I know I keep hearing it with todays ammo...but I KNOW there are better choices in the 6.5's with those same kind of New Generation Boolitz in bigger heavier stronger yadda yadda ...just go look at the Creedmore, 260 and of course the 6.5 x 55 that were in stock at Eurooptics in March...

Got a 260 On Hand ... I've BHDThis before & Will Never be without one again. 'Cause if/when I finally "win" a Triple B as was offered & promised I'd need when I got the 4 mesh BandAids last time on the table...I'll not have to chase all over to find 'nuther 6.5 Hammer again.
Just Sayin'
Ron

A friend of mine in PA recently picked up a used Remington 40X in 243 and is all excited about going after woodchucks this summer with it. He hunts from a tree house on his property for
deer and plans on using it this fall also.

My son shot a big doe with a .243. I was surprised it only went 50' with a very forward shoulder shot. I shot lots of deer with a.270 Win that went over 100 yds. from lung shots. I hd a nubby go 130 yds . The guts and stomach were dragging and it was still running. I like lung shots, they always die and bleed out. Shoulder shots leave lots of blood in the meat and I don't like that.

Barnes TSX bullets do not leave much bloodshot meat on shoulder shots in comparison to some other bullets, including the Partition. I only have a limited sample size though. It's hard to stop shooting them in lungs after 30 years of practice. I have to retrain myself.

Well, everyone I really appreciate all the input. It will be very useful because I still have the 243 Sako. I ran up on a local Montana in 7mm-08 today and bought it. True Value just got it in. I told my wife I was thinking about putting it on layaway and she said let's just go buy it since I was going to try to find you one next month for your birthday anyway. I just couldn't turn it down since it is the only one I've seen locally in several years.

I don't doubt it.

Yep, preferably using my 375 ultramag

I don't doubt that either.

Except the part about you not owning one......

I own several, ill take a stroll here in a bit in my walk in safe to double check.

Sure thing. While you're in there, snap a pic of one, with the chambering on the barrel visible. Then post it here. Otherwise, some of these other guys might get the idea you're BS-ing.

But not me, I believe you.

PS, sorry for the hijack RH, but it looks like you got the info you needed.

And happy birthday, you dog.

thanks for the advice, I think I like you.

Thanks man. No problem. Y'all have fun.

Congrats on a fine purchase and a great birthday present.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the purchase price?

$1299. About $100 more than some on line but no risk and it was there.

I have heard that many times about the TSX. Even looked at the TSX at Cabelas today but they are 31 bucks for a 50 pack. . One thing about the .243 Win and deer, Some of the northern deer are huge but so many here still put them down with the .243 Win. I started hunting with the .243 Win this fall. I just can't but help feeliong under gunned if a big tough old 5 plus buck shows up.

I wouldn't be afraid to shoot any size deer with a 243 and good bullets. All bullets are better than they were years ago. Even a Federal Fusion would do the job no doubt.

I have both a 243 and a 6MM Remington presently. I have experienced no difference in killing power between these rifles and my 30-06 on deer. Feral hogs are a bit tougher to kill but I take neck, head and spine shots on them and they drop.

I believe him too.

We have been doing, exactly, this for the last 9 years. Have used 100gr Federal blue box, 95gr Federal Fusion, 95gr SST, 85gr TSX & 80gr TTSX. With any of these, patience & proper placement = dead deer. Friend of ours, who hunts with us, started using his .243 & Win PP this season & also took a nice buck & a doe.

Hey, congrats on the new rifle! It should serve well. I enjoy hunting with the light-kicking rifles. A husband/wife team I've hunted with use a .280 and a 7mm-08, both handloaded with the 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. They've got quite an impressive string of one-shot/DRT kills on mule deer, pronghorn, whitetail & wild hogs. The 7mm-08 was absolutely not a problem for her to master, even as a novice hunter & shooter.

Dad gave me a 6mm Rem (pretty much the same ballistics as the .243) about 40 years ago. My youngest son uses that rifle now. Mostly it's been a varmint rifle, but it's taken mule deer cleanly & quickly to nearly 300 yards, as well as whitetail at more modest ranges. Big fan of the 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. That is one mighty accurate, fast-killing bullet!

My son shot kind of a goofy looking buck last season, using the 95 gr B-Tip again. He was moving to the blind when he saw it facing him, dropped to a knee and put the Nosler right in that buck's chest. Instant drop & death! I asked him why that buck, and he replied "Dad, it just looked delicious!" I couldn't argue.

Guess the point is that there are a zillion cartridges avail that all kill deer very well, and nothing is lost by selecting a cartridge that kills well, shoots well, and doesn't beat up the shooter. Enjoy your new rifle!

Regards, Guy

R_H_Clark,

When you start loading for that Montana, try to find a copy of the 2009 Hodgdon manual. There's a good article on reduced loads for beginners featuring TSXs and that includes recoil numbers. Should help.

The other thing I would suggest is that you teach them to shoot their deer in the lower third of the chest. Deer hit higher than that tend to, in my experience go farther and leave less blood sign. Hunting from tree stands or other elevations compounds the problem, sometimes giving a one-lung hit or even a no-lung hit. Been through that with both my sons.

I think the moral of the story is that if you use quality bullets the .243 works just fine. Folks using Wal Mart bullets are crippling the cartridge though.

MMike,

What are the Wal Mart bullets you re referring to ?

Up here, Wal Mart sells the same, basic, ammunition as everybody else.

Federal Blue box, Remington Corelokts, Winchester power points, etc, etc.

All of these can, & do, kill our, large bodied, Canadian Whitetails.

We've had this discussion before, but........

Folks making bad shot/placement choices, & blaming the tool (projectile & caliber), are filling the internet with opinions, based on their poor experience.

IMHO, it is these "false or uneducated" opinions that are crippling this cartridge.

Now I say uneducated, not because they are dumb, but because they are not willing to admit their part in the failure & to learn from the bad experience, thus being educated moving forward into their next, possibly remarkable experience.

YMMV.

What I have found, in my case, is that better attention needs to be paid to the projectile.

I typically hunt heavy cover, so impact velocity will be high. And, I like an exit. Those two parameters mean that a typical C&C usually "fails" in that I don't get an exit...but I do get a dead deer.

I simply have moved to a bullet that is more able to withstand the higher impact speed. And, the furthest I may get to shoot at a deer is about 300 yards.

The longest, so far, where I hunt has been 250 yards and was done with a .243, boom-plop. More typical is 40 of so yards.

Bullets I have tried so far are the Hornady 100 grain flatbase Spirepoint, Sierra 100 grain Pro-Hunter, Barnes 85 grain TSX, and the Barnes 80 grain TTSX. I have some 95 grain Partitions, but haven't shot enough yet to come to any kind of a conclusion.

The Hornady--Very accurate, but no full penetration at short range.
The Sierra--Not quite as accurate at the Hornady, on average, but close. Still, no two-holers at close range.
The TSX--Two holes all the time, kills are not quite as dramatic, but dead nonetheless. Decent accuracy.
The TTSX--No game harvested yet, but as accurate at the Hornady. This bullet put the Partition testing on a temporary hold. I will get around to it, but I'm liking the TTSX and have to wait until November to field test.

Vic
I would love to hear of any results you get with the 80 grn. TTSX. I bought some for my Sako 243.

I'll be sure and let you know come November. Looking at where you're from, you'll probably be able to tell me first. (grin)

Hearing from the guys that have used both, it should expand a little more abruptly, and possibly have a slightly heavier blood trail. All this AND two holes.

They are noticeably more accurate than the TSXs in my rifle, not that the TSXs weren't shooting *good*, it's just that the TTSXs shoot *damn good*.

I didn't read the whole thread. Short answer - no. I've never shot a deer with a .243 Win that I wished I had shot with a larger or more powerful caliber or cartridge. Bullet selection (Partition, 95 gr. BT, TSX) then Placement placement placement.

Lot of opinions/experiences on the 243 in this thread. I always find it amusing when folks think that a 243 is marginal or lacking for that matter when used on deer sized game. No you don't have to be an experienced or professional shooter to take deer with a 243. That is just silly. Just shoot the damn things in the front half with a bullet appropriate for the job. Deer ain't hard to kill boys.

If you must take shots at game up the arse then perhaps a larger offering is for you.

Seems some deer are real hard to kill, or at least they run off 100 yds in 5 seconds in low light in brush so thick ya can't see 50 ft. Iv'e seen big deer run 100 yds. with my gay .270 Win.

I was under the impression that was pretty much a bear-hunting tactic.