Folks,
I've acquired a Ruger No.1a in .243 Winchester and I'm wondering if anyone uses/used one to deer hunt.
It's got a Leupold 5HD 3.5X10 on it and shoots 100 grain Hornady's ok. I've always used a .308 or a .30-06. I've also got 90 & 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
Any help out there?
Thank you in advance for your time and help.
Semper Fi
Soup

I'd not fret a 243 for deer hunting. Son has taken a few deer with that Hornady American Whitetail ammo. I'd use that, the TTSX or whatever - lots of good bullets out there.

If it shoots/groups and you like it - go forth and slay deer.

I shoot several .243 rifles and have owned a few more , all have killed deer with 0 issues given decent shot placement. I don't shoot Ruger #1's or factory ammo so I can't help with either. If you load , about any 100 grain bullet with 34.5 grains of IMR 4320 is a top notch load. There are other powders that would work but this is what I have used since 1970 and fortunately I have enough to last my lifetime since it is discontinued.

39 - 40 grains of H4350 is good with a 100 gr Partition, I have loaded this for a friend who has killed big deer in several states with it and won't shoot anything else. 41 grains should be considered a max load of H4350 with 38 grains the start point.

Over the years, I've killed a couple truckloads of whitetails, and antelope, with a 243 Win. As long as you do your part, and make a good shot, the 243 Win will more than do it's part. Even more so with today's bullet technology. In fact, I just picked up another 243 Win, a Benelli Lupo (gasp! What an ugly rifle!) that is a most accurate rifle! Enjoy your new rifle!

It should be pretty straightforward to get either of those Ballistic Tips shooting well with IMR4350, H4350 or IMR4451. A lot of powders do well in the 243 but those are the ones I've mostly used with that weight class of bullet. The 95 grain Ballistic Tip has been really good at my camp.

Is it just me or does this ? Get asked every week?


The 243 will kill deer with ease. I have killed a lot of deer with one and never a issue. 95 NBT for me

Yeah, the 243 and it's twin, the 6MM, have killed a whole lot of deer. Some guys use it for elk with some success. I think it's a little light for good penetration on elk, though.

If you are a Marine... you can shoot...

the ballistic tips will work every day of the week and twice on Sunday...

a Ruger No 1, is at least Minute of deer....

you have nothing to worry about....

in mine, when carried with those bullets or a 100 gr Hornady SP, or Speer 100 SP... I am loading 38 grains of 4064 or IMR 4895 to move them along.

Plenty of bullets work just fine in a 243, and the Ballistic Tips are some of the better ones...

I've had no issues on lethality, out to 350 yds ( off a rest, I'll not deny)... but put the bullet where it needs to go, you have venison.

Yep, in the 243 the 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is the berries for whitetails.

+1

I don’t have a .243 but my Ruger No.1B 6mm has killed a lot of deer, never needed a second shot on any of them. 95 gr NP.

Used to have a Ruger M77 in 243 and I swatted several mulies and pronghorns with it using Rem factory ammo with the 80 gr bullet. It worked well but I traded it for a 6.5x55 for heavier bullet weights so I could use it on elk.

Not a 243 fan.

But I've only killed about a dozen deer with one.

My daughter uses one, it kills deer.
A 22LR does too.

A lot depends on how you hunt, where you shoot, what you expect
after the shot....And any instance can bring an unusual result.


From that perspective, load some ammo and go kill a deer.
After a few, decide what you think.

Overall, I don’t think you’ll have any issues. I had a No. 1 in 6mm for a while and killed a dozen deer with it, all one shot kills. At the time I didn’t hand load and was shooting Remington Corelocs. I stopped using it due to becoming very tired of tracking deer. I had zero exits on any of the deer but the area I was hunting was extremely thick and having only an entrance wound made for hard blood trailing. It’s been about 25 years now but from what I recall, none of the deer went farther than about 75 yards. If I’d hunted in more open terrain, d probably still be using it. In fact, I now hunt in pretty open country and bought a .243 last year but haven’t had a chance to hunt it yet.

i have hunted with Ruger #1`s for 20 some years i see no reason to ever need more than 1 bullet , you will enjoy your 243 Winchester good luck ,Pete53

My #1 RSI put WW silver box 100gr and 95gr Deer season XP into cloverleafs at 75 yards.

It wore a 4x Leupold hence the shorter zero.

Shot one deer and the 100 gr went behind one shoulder and out behind the other. 50 yards on the trot.

Deer mule kicked and ran over and stopped. Licked his nose and walked about 70 yards and tipped over. I ran over and popped him again, proly didnt need to

Never did try the 95gr DS XP. Have a 700 in .243 that shoots em OK.

The RSI was blasty. 20.5" bbl.
A 1A w 22" might be a bit more polite.

Was NOT impressed w thw WW 100gr. Cup n core.
Little hole in and out.

Thank you all very much for you information sharing
Soup

80-95 grain bullet will do all you need.

I have been using a 95 Partition in my 6mm but have some 90 grain Ballistic Tips loaded up now. Shot an 85 grain Sierra SP for years and it worked just fine.

I shot 100 grain bullets from 243s years ago and still like the way a light bullet kills, generally instant lights out.

80 grain TTSX works well