Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Realistic .243 range on deer?

I'm talking about deer in Texas, medium size mule deer, antelope, etc. I would like to know what kills you've made or seen made with the 243 and what bullet on them? I'm just curious as I don't like to shoot past 250, even though I have shot small antelope ( Blackbuck and Springbuk at 375yds with bigger guns) I did kill that big Scimitar horned Oryx at 184 yds with a 243 equivalent (long barreled 6x47 with 85 XBT going 2900fps, base of neck shot) Or hogs even?

It depends on Terrain and conditions. I have killed more game with 6mm Rem than any other. In open country and or fresh snow cover I will shoot farther. The 6mm or .243 will kill deer size game effectively at 350yds. However your margin of error maybe less than say a 30/06/ Only because it will leave a bigger hole going out. That is why I want to be able to see them in open country or be able to track them. I have shot deer with a .44 cal Kentucky Rifle numerous times. But only use it when I have plenty of snow

Not Texas but Arizona.
My son (10 at the time) dumped a spike coues deer at 400 yds with a .243 using 80 grain Barnes Ttsx’s

My rule of thumb is to take the bullet manufacturer's recommendation on the velocity need for proper expansion and plug the figures for my load into a ballistics program like the Nosler app. The distance where that bullet is still carrying the required velocity is as far as I would shoot, assuming I'd feel up to the shot. I've yet to have an opportunity anywhere near that sort of range.

Rick Jamison has been doing a series in Handloader on long-range. It's worth a look. One thing he said that stands out is that penetration isn't an issue, at least not with the bullets he tested.

I've killed several deer and antelope out to 375 with the 243. I even shot a cow elk once at a hair over 500 with the same 243 with a base of neck shot. all were using a 95gr NBT. I've found it to be more than capable. I've since passed it to my boy and switched to the 308, but the 243 has no flies on it.

I've shot antlerlesss elk with a 6mm Rem, no issues. The range hasn't been far though...100-150 yards.

As far as antelope, deer and hogs, I'd have zero issues hunting them at any reasonable range with a .243 and a decent bullet. Fret not.

Have killed a lot of critters with a .243 std and.243 A.I. Mule deer, Pronghorn, Whitetail, Elk, Fallow Deer, Red Deer,Nilgai, Aoudad, Black Bear, Gemsbok, Wildebeest,Impala, Waterbuck, Axis,Coyote, Bobcat, Badger, Mountain lion, Bison Cow, and a lot of pigs, that's all I can think of right now.

Don't know how many deer and pigs and coyotes, but more than you would believe,

As for distance on game most of my shots are inside of 200 yrds but have made some fairly long shots on coyotes and pigs around 500 plus yrds.

Started shooting a .243 in the early 1960s, over the years I have owned more than a few .243 rifles and given .243 rifles to my kids and grandkids, and a few friends, we have been very successful with the .243s, a .243 will kill way above it's caliber with a good bullet, and good placement. as for blood trails, last thing I want to see is a blood trail, all that means is you made a crappy sloppy shot. get a good dog if you can't shoot better.

The last few years I have become a big fan of 105 gr. Scenars, and 4350 or Retumbo this combo will kill. Rio7

Granddaughter plugged a 200lb pig at 225. Went through both shoulders, made a 243 believer out of me.

You all have a much better opinion of the .243 than I do..

I have shoot many deer in the lungs that resulted in a blood trail and a dead deer...I guess I am a lousy shot.

I didn’t have a good opinion until I saw a 243 in person.

You might consider another POA. Rio7

I did a lot of testing with them and decided my max range is 400 with a .243. That's with a Barnes mono though, and takes into consideration it's minimum velocity to expand decently. I have done enough out past 200 that I have pretty good confidence in my safety margin at 400. If I felt the need to go beyond 400 there are decent bullets that will work, but I have not wrung any of those out since I just do not see me ever needing more than 400 with a .243. I have good 300 WM loads for that if and when I should decide to..

As an equal opportunity shooter, I do.

Why does noe need a power of attorney to shoot a 243?

I've noticed that you seem to have had some bad luck with the smaller rounds....not sure if it is (was) just bad luck, if you're doing something different than others, or what the deal is. I have found the .243 and similar rounds to be perfectly adequate. Kind of odd how experiences differ within similar circumstances...

A lot depends on your bullet of choice. The 105VLD is an amazing bullet and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer out to 600 with it in my rifle.

80 grn factory TTSX 325 yards more than once...west TX whitetail and the occasional mule deer

A 103gr ELDX started at 3,000fps carries 2,000+fps impact speed to almost 600yds. After seeing broadside deer fully penetrated and adequately wrecked by other poly-tipped cup/cores impacting at 2,000fps or so, I have to think that load would also do the job on a broadside animal. Might not exit all the time, but it should still be a killer and fine for open country if shot angles are good.