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Joined: May 2017
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Will a 243 kill deer, absolutely.

That said, I won’t use one again if I can help it. I’ve killed deer with everything from 22 magnum to 300 win mag and my least favorite is the 243. I just have not had good luck with it. Deer still die, but dang they don’t leave a blood trail. Hunting in pine plantations, blood trails are a must.

If I did decide to run one again, it would be with TTSX or Accubonds. Something I wouldn’t worry about a shoulder shot with.

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Originally Posted by ingwe
The .243 is a sure killer on hogs and deer.I too have lost track of how many deer I've killed with a .243 and just recently some hogs died in front of the .243 shooting 75 gr Vmax...

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Yep. Been killing deer and hogs with a 243 since I was in HS. Started out killing them with the old Factory 80 and 100 gr Factory Remington CoreLokt ammo.
Mainly use handloads with 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips or Partitions nowadays.
Even killed an Antelope with a 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip handload when a nice goat trotted across a big prairie dog down we stopped to shoot at while antelope hunting in the TX Panhandle region.
Anyone that says a 243 isn’t good for deer had shot many with one.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"

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BrowingGuy88, It's good you know your limitations. Rio7

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I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down

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Originally Posted by Travis13
I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down

Yep. The Factory 100 gr Remington CoreLoct is a sure killer also.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"

~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
IC B2

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Factory 100gr winchester power points kill schiet deader than dead.

For Tejas, the 243win or 6 creed is ideal.

Last edited by Jackson_Handy; 11/24/22.
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Originally Posted by chlinstructor
Originally Posted by Travis13
I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down

Yep. The Factory 100 gr Remington CoreLoct is a sure killer also.

When I got the rifle, I went to get some Core-Lokts. Store didn’t have any, so I just got some American Whitetails. I just wanted to shoot the thing before some reloading components came in. I haven’t reloaded for it yet

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Originally Posted by Travis13
I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down


That must be the TC Icon...thats a helluva rifle! Glad you are putting it to use!


"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Originally Posted by Travis13
Originally Posted by chlinstructor
Originally Posted by Travis13
I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down

Yep. The Factory 100 gr Remington CoreLoct is a sure killer also.

When I got the rifle, I went to get some Core-Lokts. Store didn’t have any, so I just got some American Whitetails. I just wanted to shoot the thing before some reloading components came in. I haven’t reloaded for it yet

243 Factory Ammo is almost impossible to find here. Good thing I reload nowadays.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"

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Originally Posted by ingwe
Originally Posted by Travis13
I have a 243 that actually came from ingwe. It is my favorite rifle, and with cheap ole Hornady Whitetail 100gr it lays the smack down


That must be the TC Icon...thats a helluva rifle! Glad you are putting it to use!

Sure is. Really has turned into my favorite rifle

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No pigs around here, unless you count the majority of people at the Cheboygan Wal-Mart, so I've never used the .243 on a hog, but I used to use the .243 on deer and I had a great experience with it on deer. In fact, I had more bang-flops with the .243 than any other cartridge I've tried.


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I’ve been using a Montana in 243 for the last few years on whitetails. I couldn’t ask for anything to do a better job. I used a 7mm-08 for years and haven’t been able to tell the difference in “dead”. No hogs here to try it on.


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Used one as a kid,
again for a few years as an adult, daughter still uses that one.

Not a fan.


Killed a number of deer. They died.
Few quickly, all eventually.



Daughter bought her own, maybe when she gets it set up I might
try some BTs in that M-7. Many swear by them, maybe a change of bullets
will change my impression.


Decent price on a Tikka 243 owned by a close friend?
It would be mine.


Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Grandkids kill hell out of pigs and deer with them. I have two 99’s in 243.

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I'll keep ya'll posted if when I get into the 243 my old friend has said he'll sell me cheap. I also wanted the Tikka 30'06 he'd picked up on a closeout I put him onto, but he's asking way too much money for it IMO. He sez the Tikka is the pretty'ist rifle he's ever seen....I'd just like to have a 30'06 to go with the rest of my "harem".
Ron

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My son used a 243 to start out with. First with hornady reduced recoil loads then to “full power” handloads with 100gr Sierra Pro-Hunter. He killed several mature Whitetail bucks, Mule Deer, Antelope, hogs not to mention several does. No shots over 200 yards, but at least within that range performance was excellent. Honestly, changed my opinion on how effective the 243 is. Penetration was very good in all cases including smashing ahoulder on big panhandle whitetail quartering on at about 100 yards.

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Women and kids can kill Deer And pigs with a .243 Big Guy's Need more GUN. Rio7

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Originally Posted by RIO7
Women and kids can kill Deer And pigs with a .243 Big Guy's Need more GUN. Rio7

🤣🤣

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I debated on a 243 for my daughter's first gun. Thinking was like many, light recoil and fully capable. As I researched, I decided I wanted a a 7-08. I know; that's a far cry from the 243, but here is why I landed on it:

Energy at barrel for 95 gr vs 140 gr is only 10% variance

Hole is 50% bigger and energy at 200 yards (which is far longer than she was gonna shoot) is 20% larger.

She is a killer with the gun and I would not hesitate to take it myself.

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Originally Posted by KYFRED
I debated on a 243 for my daughter's first gun. Thinking was like many, light recoil and fully capable. As I researched, I decided I wanted a a 7-08. I know; that's a far cry from the 243, but here is why I landed on it:

Energy at barrel for 95 gr vs 140 gr is only 10% variance

Hole is 50% bigger and energy at 200 yards (which is far longer than she was gonna shoot) is 20% larger.

She is a killer with the gun and I would not hesitate to take it myself.
17%
50%

Who is counting? Not me.
I do prefer a 7/08 although a 243 will work.


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