Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting How many using 243 Winchester for deer this year ?

I've shot a few deer with my .243, and prefer a fairly stout bullet. I've had good luck with Nosler partions, pretty much bang flops, shot thru the lungs. .243 is a light pill, and bullet construction and shot placement is every thing.

My son is using the Vanguard again this year, Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40, 95gr. Nosler BT running just over 3k at the muzzle.

Whitetails have a severe allergic reaction to that little round.

He is telling you the SST is not a very good deer bullet. It doesn't usually penetrate well on deer type game and the bones you're going to hit.

Try Hornady Interlock's. They come highly recommended by those that have used them. I've only used them on paper so I can't vouch for that yet.

I dunno.....I hunted with a .243 and 100 Gr. Hornady interlocks @ 2950 for years....that old slow combo only managed to kill deer when I had a tag in my pocket...

There may need to be a change in plans from my earlier post. My son's .243 is at the gunsmith's shop in Nescopeck, PA. Nescopeck sits right along the banks of the Susquehanna River, and the town has been evacuated because of historic flooding - maybe the worst ever recorded.

I sure hope everything works out OK for the 'smith (R.W. Hart & Sons). They have been in business there for several generations. It would certainly be understandable if I don't get the rifle back by the opening day of the special junior antlerless season, which is on October 20th. If not, I'll need a plan B for my son.

I'm starting to wonder if his rifle was born under a bad sign.

Good Luck!!!

.243? No way! I'll probably take a 6mm Remington which is vastly superior.

Haven't decided yet but if I do I'll use Barnes 85 grain if there's enough left on my shelf, else probably 100 grain Sierras. Very different bullets but both have always killed deer quickly for me.

My wife likes it. It's the one on the right.

It's pretty flat to 400 yards...

Throw's the LR Duplex dots pretty far off and it's making things way harder than they should be...grin...

I killed two deer with the 95 gr. SST's last season and they worked fine for me. One was a complete pass through with a broadside lung shot on a forkhorn buck from about 35 yds. The other was head on into the front of the brisket of a big doe from about 15 yards. That one blew the heart to pieces, pulped the lungs, blew a silver dollar sized hole through the liver and was lost in the guts. Seemed like adequate penetration to me. Both deer dropped in their tracks.

I think the premium bullet thing is blown way out of proportion,at least on deer.Ive taken all of my deer with plain old cup and core bullets,since I started handloading,back in the mid 70s.I dont ever recall losing a single deer from bad bullet performance,and I have used rifles from the 243 ,up to the 7mm mag.

I'll be using one. I'm still trying to decide between Hornady 100gr IL's or 80gr TTSX's. I'm betting the TTSX makes the cut though...

yep, 243ai with 105 amax during elk/deer or ttsx 80 in 243 in November.

I'll be using the 243 again this year.

Model Seven XCR, Brown KS stock, Leupie 4x

only drew one tag, so probably just use up some leftover Barnes TTSX

Loading and loaning one to a handicapped friend, so he can go hunting with his son this season.. who is a senior in high school this year.. I usually take the kid out...

he has some shoulder issues and also his cartilage is separating from his rib cage on his shooting side...

so loaning him an ADL Rem, synthetic stock... 3 x 9 Weaver on top...

87 grain Hornady SP, 30 grains of IMR 4198...

most shots in this area we hunt are well under 100 yds...

could cover 3 shots at 100 yds with a quarter, from a rest on the bench...

so he should do well...

I'm sure I'll take my Ruger MKII .243 out. I worry I may not hit a deer with it as it's an inaccurae Ruger. It's will only do 1" or slightly less groups.

BC - no worries man Put up the link many times on my hog kill at 240 yds, using the 85 X at 3100 mv from a 20" RSI #1.

Yeah, I am down to a 243 and 270 to choose from awaiting some projects to get completed in 6.5s.

The 243 will be what I grab with 80 TTSX since I want to try that one next, and have a box. My 2nd pick but one I really like and have had success is the 95 NBT, and I have shot some 105s with good luck in the 1-9 twist, put the first 2 in 5/8" at 200 yds the other day

BTW, Craig, my current bolt 243 is a 20" and I have yet to clock any rounds. All I need to be concerned with is having it sighted in well and knowing where the POI is....my range goes to 415 yds and I have been playing with it...and the CDS 3-10.

Good hunting guy/gals (Oh yeah - GregW - you chose well - and the rifles are not bad either!), like to hear post hunt stories!

not enough bullet weight for me. no 243 for me.

I probably wont use one this year, but I did last year.

Winchester 70 Featherweight .243win.
Leupold Rifleman 3-9x40
Winchester 100gr. Power Point

Nice deer!How did the Power Point work for ya?