Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .243 - Shoulder shots or lung shots?

I take the shot I'm given, be it lung or shoulder. Preference is towards lung

I high shouldered a bull with 105 Amax.
Didn't take another step.
A.I. of course.

You showboater.. Betting you just took the head?

Yep. Somehow I'm just not worried about shooting a whitetail with a 95 Bal Tip.

Does the A.I. make me one?
I'm lovin it....

Larry,

I love the looks of those blacktails you shoot up there. Someday I hope. How do the Horny's hold up at close range? Wondering about trying them in the kids 243. our average shots are feet to maybe 150 yds through the woods

Thanks

Don't tell anyone , but I know of some elk that died due to the 95 BT.

I've never seen nor heard of a deer hit well with a 243 getting away, regardless of bullet. I shot core-locts and powerpoints when I was a youngster out of a 243, all hits just rear of shoulder, animals down either immediately or within 10 steps, no exits, ranges to 200 yds. Seemed as uncomplicated as it gets to me then.

You nailed it. It IS uncomplicated. I've started carrying my 243 Mountain more the last few years. Mostly because my youngest is up and hunting,and we sometimes only have one rifle with us. The 243. I've said it before. Take a look at the young guns success photos in any of the major hunting publications. All sorts of kids killing all sorts of critters. A LOT of them using various 243s. If it's good enough for first timers,it's well capable in experienced hands. Light report,next to nothing for recoil,accurate.What's not to like? Put a good bullet in the C.N.S. or boiler room and get the knife.

Shhhh...the wives may find out we only need one rifle!

The 243 will absolutely work well on deer. My wife used one for years. She has taken just about as many deer as I have. Just use the right bullet. No light weight, light jacketed varmint bullets. Two years ago at my BIL's hunting in the Nebraska National Forest, had a 3X3 appear, not moving right, put him down. Had been hit right on the shoulder knuckle, baseball size chunk missing bones and joint busted up. No idea what caliber, no penetration and a wounded deer soon to die deer. I am not a fan of the 223/5.56 for deer, but with a good bullet and some accuracy they will and do work. Just pick the right bullet. As to shoulder shots I do not like them, they can ruin meat. I will how ever take a shot that is offered if I need to.

The 243Win steps along briskly enough,that it'll quickly sort good from bad and I've had more than a few 6mm projectiles zook ala "lowly" SAAMI 243. All boolits ain't equal and the sooner one realizes that,the better off he'll be...both in the long and short term.

105HPBT at 65yds this afternoon at Warp Nine via LFB.



Aerated lungs will make EVERYTHING travel,broke bones will freeze same in place.

Such choices is easy.

Hint.

What's the deal with the YELLOW tape??

That's how to tell which is the dangerous end.

The last deer I shot with a 100 C&C bullet (almost thirty years ago) was a high shoulder shot. The bullet blew into what some have called "copper and lead dust." One of those fragments hit the spinal cord, so the deer went down on the spot. I saw what happened when I butchered the buck myself.

A friend used only 95 NP. Even though the 100 NP was a semi spitzer back then, I opted for the heavier version. Later I got the 100 in a spitzer form when Nosler came out with them. At the time TSX had not been introduced, and I don't think the Nosler SB had been redesigned as a hunting bullet just yet. The Partition has worked well for me on deer, but it shoots 3 inches higher than my 70 grain coyote load. Perhaps the TSX would shoot closer to that point of aim, reason enough to try some, and by reputation, they work just fine.

I haven't used my .243 for deer in several years. Women, kids, and other old farts seem to be highly successful with them, so I may break the little small ring Mauser Safari out of jail and use it next week. Season opened yesterday, but we are tied up rehabbing a duplex this week end. Should finish tomorrow and can head out in a day or so.

I let a couple of really nice bucks walk last year. They should be even better this go round. They are both on family owned ranches and should still be hanging around. Weather has been good so they should be in good flesh. My helper promised me a large quantity of home made tamales if I would furnish her a deer. Deal on, less the back straps. Maybe a couple?

Jack

Boxer - What make is that 105HPBT you use?

Hornady 105HPBT

I miss that time of year there. If there is anything better than hunting those orange horn bastards, I ain't found it.

The troop still hunting the Murder Hole?

Shot more than a few deer and antelope with 6mm bullets in the 243 and 6mm 100 gr Horn SP and 100 gr Corelokt work well as does the 100 and 95 gr NPT. Primarily shoot double lung or if the shot is quartering away I aim for the FAR shoulder, where I hunt DRT's aren't as important as they are to some here on the fire. To me the basic key to shoulder shots is to get thru the vitals first and the shoulder on the exit , never ever saw that fail. Magnum man

A question......is the bullet referred to here the 6mm 105G Hornady A-Max? If so, I didn't realize some folks used these bullets on whitetail. If true, then a couple more questions: 1) Are you only using the heavy for caliber bullets? 2) Are you only using them for long shots as shown below?

Thanks!