Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting deer with a .243 vs. 30-06

Just for the sake of argument, I'm going to offer a different view. I've taken about a half-dozen deer with a .35 Rem at close range (small sample size, I know). All were with 200 gr. Remington Core-Lokt handloads probably moving along at just over 2000 fps.

The farthest I have had to "track" any of these deer was probably +/- 10 yards. The .35 Rem seems to be one of those cartridges that performs better in real-life than it does on paper.

I totally agree with you on the .35. It's superb and usually a one shot killer. Thanks...Bill.

I've heard the 35 rem is almost night & day difference over the speedier 3030 so that leans towards the bigger bullet may be the ticket and I was excited when I inherited my dad 35 last fall.

Brad,

Very nice photos. The gun is bright but I do like the combo with stainless.

I myself own a 243 but have not taken a deer with it. It shoots the 95 gr BT's and 100 gr Partitions very well so will have to change that. The rifle was picked up right before the season and eventhough it was shootin well, had more confidence in the 7-08 for thiss year. Gun season is over tomorrow than ML season starts. I may have to go shoot some yotes after that to get more familiar with the gun before next season.

nice deer and that is a nice looking 243 Brad! You really should be using a .25 cal....just an enormous step up in power....

This may or may not be the case in general terms. SH in this particular case concluded that the outcome of shooting that doe with a 62gr TSX would have been more favorable. This is a subjective prediction.

I could advocate the same thing. Putting a bullet into the boiler room of this doe with a 154gr Hornady from my 7x57 would have dropped her in her tracks or shortened up her run.

I agree, however, I still favor velocity with proper bullet construction over slow moving offerings. But in the end it is a preference.

The fact is...sometimes deer run. If you shoot enough deer, occasionaly you will have a deer run. Whither it be velocity or a large whole, the idea that any bullet/caliber choice will result in "drop dead it it's tracks" EVERY time is fantacy. If you shoot enough game, you will find that animals seemingly hit in the same place with the same projectile on the same day will react differentlt to the hit. It happens...that's hunting.

My two quickest kills came from my .243 with 100grain Hornady Spire Points. Neither bullet left the chest cavity and both hand grenaded inside, shedding the jacket which peeled back and raised h*** with the lungs. I now hunt with bigger calibers because for no good reason I felt undergunned with the .243. I think that I read too many hunting magazines about how the latest wizz bang magnum was the ticket to DRT success. In reality the .243 is a fine deer cartridge but I would use stronger constructed bullets if I were to hunt with it today. I have killed deer with many different rifle cartridges, shotgun slugs, and arrows and as people have said again, and again, and again......If you hit them in the right spot, they die.

Funny you should mention that . I have an SS PacNor Mtn Rifle contoured barrel blank sitting here that I bought from Paul, along with a Long Action TI stock....I need to scrounge an action and then I'm going to build a 25-06AI to play with. I should have had it finished up long ago but this past spring and summer was so damn busy that I almost forgot I even had them in the safe.

That was why Winchester made the rifling to stabilize 100 plus grain bullets, right?

Ever used one? I have and have seen many deer taken with them. It works as well as any other caliber. And like any other caliber, it is shot placement that kills deer whether it is a 500 NE or a .223. Hit the boiler room with a good bullet the deer dies, period.

Hate to ask what you think about .22 centerfires for deer then ?!

FYI they work too.

Buckhorn, glad you found your deer, sorry the critters got to it before you.

Best of luck on your next hunt!

Guy

I expect my deer to run off all the time and the occasional DRT is a nice thing. My shots are through the rib cage and not busting shoulders and destroying what little meat there is. Maybe smaller deer in southern states fold easier like prarie dogs being hit with high velocity slugs, but my pride is not so big that I can track a deer a few yards if it saves a roast or two.

The .243 is plenty of gun for deer. My first 8-9 seasons of hunting my brother and I shared a .243 and the deer had instantly fatal reactions to it. I still take the rifle out from time to time just for nostalgia. Good thing the deer didn't know that a .243 is insufficient.

To all you 243 bashers-------op didn't need anything else to kill his deer.....only went 40-50 yards......



He needed a BIGGER DAMMM FLASHLITE!!!!!!!!laffin......


George

+1

and/or a good dog!

I lung'ed a chipmunk one time with a .505 Gibbs. Baaaaastid ran a good 50 yards be for it flopped over dead...2 holes was critical for tracking this monsta!

Good thing it wasn't a 243. You might have found it in several different places---50 yards apart.

GeorgiaBoy, I sure wished you would p/u that .243 again and re-join the 6mm brotherhood. Ordered some Barnes 85 gr TSX today.
Can't wait to try them out, after I am done with my 85 gr Gamekings.

First the bait...now the hook. You're bad!

Just wait GeorgiaBoy, once we get that .243 squared away, then we will take the old .280 path, it just keeps gettin' better....I love it!!