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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,612 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,612 Likes: 1 |
I have a nice .243 Weatherby ultralight that I would like to use to hunt deer. I know that it’s a bit underpowered, but I was planning on using barnes triple X bullets. California still requires lead free bullets and these controlled expansion bullets would make up, some what, for the limitations of a 243. Would this work well?
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 516
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 516 |
The 243 Win. is not under powered At all for deer and the mono bullets make it even better.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,056 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,056 Likes: 1 |
The 243 Win. is not under powered At all for deer and the mono bullets make it even better. There are literally thousands of deer that would agree with you if they were still alive!!!
And these zombies line up and eat from the media’s trough
Cowards CANNOT be free. Nor should they be.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,722
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,722 |
The 243 Win. is not under powered At all for deer and the mono bullets make it even better. There are literally thousands of deer that would agree with you if they were still alive!!! And almost as many threads on the campfire about that too…..grin.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163 |
I have 2 friends that use the 243 Win. for deer hunting, one uses factory Winchester Power Points 100gr the other uses handloads 100gr Nosler Partitions we have been hunting together for more than 40 years and those guys have killed many deer with those rifles
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,885 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,885 Likes: 5 |
.243 is my go to for culling deer, this is 3 days work. Rio7
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 8,800 Likes: 13
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 8,800 Likes: 13 |
In no way is a 243 "under powered"
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,255 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,255 Likes: 2 |
There was a time when I thought that the 243 was on the low end of the spectrum for a suitable deer cartridge. But, it is perfectly suitable, and is so much better than the 223 that it's not even arguable. I have often considered going to it exclusively as my deer rifle.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,887 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,887 Likes: 11 |
I have a nice .243 Weatherby ultralight that I would like to use to hunt deer. I know that it’s a bit underpowered, but I was planning on using barnes triple X bullets. California still requires lead free bullets and these controlled expansion bullets would make up, some what, for the limitations of a 243. Would this work well? 80 grain TTSX
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,775 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,775 Likes: 1 |
I hunted with my cousin and watched him shoot two does with his 243 at around 100 yards at his camp one morning. Bang, slap. Hit the ground.
Gave me a new respect for the 243, for sure. Especially seeing the damage when we took them apart.
Last edited by mjbgalt; 07/29/22.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,235 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,235 Likes: 1 |
Shoot them throught the lungs with an expanding bullet and they will die. They might run a few yards, but when their brain is oxygen starved they will fall down and die. I've killed a couple dozen whitetails with 243s, 6mm REMS, and 6-284s, mostly with 80 grain Federal factory loads and 100 grain Partition handloads. The 80 grain Federals stayed inside of the pleural cavity, while the Partitions either went through and through or ended up under the hide on the far side.
If I was in a no-lead state, I'd try the 80 grain TTSX, as it looks like it would provide a nice balance of speed and penetration, the only remaining question is how good the accuracy is in your rifle.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 494
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 494 |
I’ve killed 3 truck loads of deer with a 243 using hand loaded 95 grain Nosler ballistic tips. If you keep shots within reasonable distances you will be fine. I always used a maximum charge weight and never had any trouble.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
Same here. I have killed a couple literal tons of deer, little ones to big ones, with a .243....by no means under powered. I cant think of anything in the lower 48 I couldnt kill with a .243
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,105 Likes: 33
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,105 Likes: 33 |
Grandkids have killed bunches with 243’s, never lost one. They opened my eyes on the 243!! Savage 243 She was 11
Last edited by hanco; 07/29/22.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,519
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,519 |
There was a time when I thought that the 243 was on the low end of the spectrum for a suitable deer cartridge. But, it is perfectly suitable, and is so much better than the 223 that it's not even arguable. I have often considered going to it exclusively as my deer rifle. Go for it, James Jr. I still like my 7mm-8’s, but the .243 has become very popular at my house.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,734 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,734 Likes: 2 |
Grandkids have killed bunches with 243’s, never lost one. They opened my eyes on the 243!! Savage 243 She was 11 Darn cute, Hanco. Makes me smile.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,229 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,229 Likes: 4 |
I shot a big muley with a .243 in 1990 or 91, maybe 92 or 93, but definitely not 94.
The bullet bounced right off. Biggest buck I ever saw, 30” at least. He turned his head and just laughed and laughed.
Weird.
That’s when I said “Never again!” and took up the Mighty -08.
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547 Join date 3/09/2001
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,238
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,238 |
Old neighbor fella we used to hunt with years ago carried a Savage 99 in .243. He was quick as lightning with it, and I think he coulda shaved a hair off a gnat’s a$$ at a hundred yards without leavin a burn mark! Deer could be standing, walking, running…it didn’t matter. He shot, they piled up! He killed an absolute ton of deer with that .243.
Doc_Holidude
Livin ain’t killed me yet, but it’s workin on it!
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,666 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,666 Likes: 8 |
“Dear” hunting? Slip ‘o the lips? Another Macomber story?
“When Tyranny becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty”
Colossians 3:17 (New King James Version) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 740
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 740 |
Maybe y’all should try working it out peacefully.
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