.243 for Whitetail

[iknowftbll]

I went dormant on this forum for a while, but I have certainly been active out there in the real world.

Last December I finally got out and did some deer hunting. Call it beginner's luck, but I dropped a 180 pound buck and a doe on my first attempt at hunting. While processing the meat with me, my wife indicated she would like to join me next year.

After a lot of research, trial and error, we determined the .243 was the right gun for her. The recoil was just too much for her liking on both the .270 and .308. I figure if she is comfortable shooting the gun, she is more likely going to be able to become a proficient shooter with it. She has gone from novice to solid shooter with her S&W Model 60 in a pretty short time, so she understands fundamentals. I'm confident I can give her enough sound coaching to where she'll be able to use the gun effectively for its intended purpose.

Today I ordered the Savage 110 Trophy Hunter chambered in .243. I'm looking forward to getting her out on the range to get her intimately familiar with this gun. Even more I am looking forward to seeing her in action this fall. I has a huge moment for me last December to drop my first buck. I think the next best thing will be watching my wife drop hers!

 

[sendero72]

I shoot the 105 Amax in mine and its does a great job on a whitetail. Currently the 105 is out of production, but should return in the late spring. The Superformance powder works wonders in the 243.

 

[iknowftbll]

Thanks, Sendor. I've got some American Whitetail 100 gr from Hornady on order. I've also got some Remington Core-Lokt 100 gr and some Winchester Super X PP, also 100 gr. Here in VA I don't think I'm going to get a shot much further out than 100 yards, and I'm confident any of these bullets in the right place will be sufficient to drop a buck out these parts.

 

[Trever]

Every gun is different without a doubt. But I would bet that the 100gr. core lokt is gonna be the ticket. I bought my mom a 243 and done a ton of research before I went ammo shopping. The 100gr core lokt is preferred by most from what I found. I tried it and was very impressed. Whatever remington's recipe for it works well if not great across the board. I have never liked a 243 until I bought one. Planning to build my wife (myself) an Ackley pretty soon. But we can keep that our secret. Happy hunting I am sure you both will enjoy it.

 

[winmagman]

I've got the 12 and 14 yr old boys shooting the 100 gr partition over Re-22 out of their .243. It's worked like a dream out to 265 yds so far. I've got some of the 105 Amax to try but not sure if they'll stabilize out of a factory Savage barrel.

Chris

 

[gilmillan1]

My opinion is simple. If your wife will be shooting within a 200 yard range only, I think any decent factory ammo will do the trick. If she will be trying longer distances, then test various brands or reload
I shoot a remington 700 in 243 win. I reload for it. It's a fun rifle. It shoots consistently .6 moa up to 750 yards. Of course I don't shoot deer that far with this rifle but it is accurate.

 

[snox801]

Savage 243 is the only rifle I done reload for. Only because I cant do better than the Winchester95 combined tech bullets. Savage axis no work done I can consistently put five shots down and cover them with a nickel at 100 yards. But like everyone says by a box of each mine liked hornady superformance almost as much. Quarter sized groups. Both bullets drop deer and pigs with ease thenosler just shot better.

 

[matt_3479]

I shot my second deer with the 243. win with a factory 80 grain soft point at about 45 yards and she only went 20 yards and piled up. My neighbor shot 2 BIG mulies in Montana/North Dakota out too 425 yards one with a Nosler 90gr accubond and the other with a Berger 95gr VLD. All three deer went less then 30 yards with one DRT.

For deer hunting within a couple hundred yards there is plenty of good options for bullets, 95/100gr Partitions (awesome choice), 90gr accubond/Etip, even the Barnes 80/85 grain tipped TSX and TSX would make an awesome deer killer!

 

[Tom264]

My son shot a coues deer at 400 with a .243 and 80 grain ttsx bullets, I have a .243AI for myself set up with 105 grain Amax's for coues.

 

[jsthntn247]

Thanks, Sendor. I've got some American Whitetail 100 gr from Hornady on order. I've also got some Remington Core-Lokt 100 gr and some Winchester Super X PP, also 100 gr. Here in VA I don't think I'm going to get a shot much further out than 100 yards, and I'm confident any of these bullets in the right place will be sufficient to drop a buck out these parts.

You are going to be dissapointed in the 243 with these bullets. Short shots in heavy cover go Barnes or Partitions and you will be happy. The bullets you mentioned will work fine for does, but a big buck will tote it off and won't leave any blood. Can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen in thick woods in Mississippi.

 

[iknowftbll]

You are going to be dissapointed in the 243 with these bullets. Short shots in heavy cover go Barnes or Partitions and you will be happy. The bullets you mentioned will work fine for does, but a big buck will tote it off and won't leave any blood. Can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen in thick woods in Mississippi.

These bullets are just the start. And I'm starting with them because they are what's available right now!

 

[grovey]

Ethical shots with the fore mentioned core lokt or hornady ammo will result in dead deer.

 

[7 loader]

My wife has been hunting with a 243 sense she was 15. I have been with her for 11 yrs and she has never had a problem. But she is a GOOD shot. All but 2 Have been heart shots one head at 150 yds and one lung shot. She uses 100 gr core lockt.gun)

 

[iknowftbll]

Ethical shots with the fore mentioned core lokt or hornady ammo will result in dead deer.

My wife has been hunting with a 243 sense she was 15. I have been with her for 11 yrs and she has never had a problem. But she is a GOOD shot. All but 2 Have been heart shots one head at 150 yds and one lung shot. She uses 100 gr core lockt.gun)

I am very confident in my wife's ability to take an ethical shot out to about 100 yards. Like I said earlier, that is probably the limit here in Virginia anyway because of the vegetation. It is much more likely she will be taking a 50 yard shot.

Another big factor to consider for us is the county where we hunt. A lot of Virginia counties do not allow rifle hunting, so we have to use a bow, black powder or shotgun. In addition to the .243 I'll be picking up an inexpensive 20 gauge at some point this spring. I'd like a 11-87 but will probably go with the 870. It's a good secondary gun for some of the more restrictive counties here in VA.

It's going to feel good to get this gun out of the box, bore-sighted and out to the range. We'll tinker with different cartridges as they become available over the summer, and by late fall we'll both be ready to step out and bag some meat!