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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
243. win for whitetail and mule!
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<blockquote data-quote="Hobo" data-source="post: 515803" data-attributes="member: 33120"><p><strong>MATT 3479</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>..... I am delighted to hear all these positive comments regarding the .243 Winchester being used as a deer rifle,,,,,,, especially from so many western shooters/hunters..... </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>I'm from Georgia where our deer are usually much smaller that their western cousins..... The .243 has been my favorite "go-to" deer rifle since the mid '60's..... </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>My current favorite is a Remington 700 CDL with a factory stainless steel bbl that has been floated and the action pillow-block bedded.... I also added a Jewell trigger set at a crisp one-pound... Every season I usually catch a lot of grief and lip-service from fellow hunting club members about me and my little .243 being too little to deer hunt with.... I just ignore them and let the .243 speak for itself!!! </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Just this past season with this rifle I harvested five whitetails,,,, all one shot kills,,,, all over 100 yards with three being 300+ yards and one of those being 445 yards (Leica Rangefinder)..... And Oh Yes,,,,,,,, like several of the others have posted before me,,,, the Seirra 85 gr BTHP has always been my preferred bullet..... My loads chronograph right at 3200 fps.... The deer shot at 445 yds (lung shot) traveled maybe 100 feet leaving a well defined crimson trail originating from the golf-ball size exit hole......</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Yes,,,,, I concur that the bigger 7mm, 30+ calibers make bigger holes and most likely will more often result in shorter distances traveled after a lung or shoulder shot.....</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Granted an "off the shelf" .243 purchased by a beginning hunter wouldn't be my recommended set-up for hunting western deer and elk.....</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Confidence and familiarity with ones personal hunting rifles and hand-loaded ammunition goes a mighty long way in my book toward assuring a successful and enjoyable hunt.....</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Being just a little apprehensive about the lack of retained energy of the .243 Winchester beyond 300+ yards I have just ordered a new custom built long range deer rifle in the 6.5x47 Lapua..... Shooting a 140 gr Berger VLD these loads will still have over a thousand foot pounds of energy all the way out past 600 yards.....</strong><strong> They are supposed to also be very accurate.... Like the .243 the 6.5x47 is based on a necked down and modified .308 cartridge..... </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Best of luck with your decision.... It appears that you are getting some mighty good advice based on personal experience.... </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>------------<" ){{{{><</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hobo, post: 515803, member: 33120"] [B]MATT 3479[/B] [B]..... I am delighted to hear all these positive comments regarding the .243 Winchester being used as a deer rifle,,,,,,, especially from so many western shooters/hunters..... [/B] [B]I'm from Georgia where our deer are usually much smaller that their western cousins..... The .243 has been my favorite "go-to" deer rifle since the mid '60's..... [/B] [B]My current favorite is a Remington 700 CDL with a factory stainless steel bbl that has been floated and the action pillow-block bedded.... I also added a Jewell trigger set at a crisp one-pound... Every season I usually catch a lot of grief and lip-service from fellow hunting club members about me and my little .243 being too little to deer hunt with.... I just ignore them and let the .243 speak for itself!!! [/B] [B]Just this past season with this rifle I harvested five whitetails,,,, all one shot kills,,,, all over 100 yards with three being 300+ yards and one of those being 445 yards (Leica Rangefinder)..... And Oh Yes,,,,,,,, like several of the others have posted before me,,,, the Seirra 85 gr BTHP has always been my preferred bullet..... My loads chronograph right at 3200 fps.... The deer shot at 445 yds (lung shot) traveled maybe 100 feet leaving a well defined crimson trail originating from the golf-ball size exit hole......[/B] [B]Yes,,,,, I concur that the bigger 7mm, 30+ calibers make bigger holes and most likely will more often result in shorter distances traveled after a lung or shoulder shot.....[/B] [B]Granted an "off the shelf" .243 purchased by a beginning hunter wouldn't be my recommended set-up for hunting western deer and elk.....[/B] [B]Confidence and familiarity with ones personal hunting rifles and hand-loaded ammunition goes a mighty long way in my book toward assuring a successful and enjoyable hunt.....[/B] [B]Being just a little apprehensive about the lack of retained energy of the .243 Winchester beyond 300+ yards I have just ordered a new custom built long range deer rifle in the 6.5x47 Lapua..... Shooting a 140 gr Berger VLD these loads will still have over a thousand foot pounds of energy all the way out past 600 yards.....[/B][B] They are supposed to also be very accurate.... Like the .243 the 6.5x47 is based on a necked down and modified .308 cartridge..... [/B] [B]Best of luck with your decision.... It appears that you are getting some mighty good advice based on personal experience.... [/B] [B]------------<" ){{{{><[/B] [/QUOTE]
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243. win for whitetail and mule!
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