Is the 243 the best whitetail deer cartridge?

[Teri Anne]

I dont care what rifle it is in a 30-30 round is a 30-30 round and its only good for about 200 yds max maybe 250 if you push it. At 300 yds its dropping over 18 inches thats a foot and a half. If I were hunting 50 to 75 yds in the bushes then a 30-30 would be fine but if I`m sitting over a peanut field and a nice buck walks out at 300 yds a 30-30 will be digging furrows in the ground when my 25-06 or 7mm-08 will get the job done. A 30-30 is a good round for what it does but it cant compare with todays better rounds that shoot flatter and hit harder.

Well I read this with tongue in cheek when I see someone comparing the 30-30 with an 18 inch drop at 300 yards. I have read about the spectacular shots made at 600 plus yards and the brags of supposed one shot kills, with bullets that drop in excess of 48 to 60 inches, some even more. If we are going to compare apples to apples let's keep everything on an even keel. Even the big mags will drop at distances, so don't simply say that an 18 inch drop at 300 is unmanageable. Let's face facts, a 30-30 dropping 18 inches into the boiler room of a Whitetail or Mule Deer will kill it just as dead as any of the magnums. Quit comparing bullet drop, velocity and energy and concentrate on bullet placement. A lowly .22 LR will kill a deer just as dead as anything else with proper bullet placement. Ask any Poacher or Conservation Warden about bullets placed in the right spot and the end result on a deer.

 

[SkipB]

Well I read this with tongue in cheek when I see someone comparing the 30-30 with an 18 inch drop at 300 yards. I have read about the spectacular shots made at 600 plus yards and the brags of supposed one shot kills, with bullets that drop in excess of 48 to 60 inches, some even more. If we are going to compare apples to apples let's keep everything on an even keel. Even the big mags will drop at distances, so don't simply say that an 18 inch drop at 300 is unmanageable. Let's face facts, a 30-30 dropping 18 inches into the boiler room of a Whitetail or Mule Deer will kill it just as dead as any of the magnums. Quit comparing bullet drop, velocity and energy and concentrate on bullet placement. A lowly .22 LR will kill a deer just as dead as anything else with proper bullet placement. Ask any Poacher or Conservation Warden about bullets placed in the right spot and the end result on a deer.

Gosh I guess I havent learned a thing in my 60 years of deer hunting and reloading

 

[Teri Anne]

Gosh I guess I havent learned a thing in my 60 years of deer hunting and reloading

Maybe, maybe not. I'm 75 and been doing this since I was 12. I do have to admit I didn't start deer hunting until 1970 so only 52 years of deer hunting. Sarcasm will get you nowhere and it is not appreciated.

 

[436]

Well I read this with tongue in cheek when I see someone comparing the 30-30 with an 18 inch drop at 300 yards. I have read about the spectacular shots made at 600 plus yards and the brags of supposed one shot kills, with bullets that drop in excess of 48 to 60 inches, some even more. If we are going to compare apples to apples let's keep everything on an even keel. Even the big mags will drop at distances, so don't simply say that an 18 inch drop at 300 is unmanageable. Let's face facts, a 30-30 dropping 18 inches into the boiler room of a Whitetail or Mule Deer will kill it just as dead as any of the magnums. Quit comparing bullet drop, velocity and energy and concentrate on bullet placement. A lowly .22 LR will kill a deer just as dead as anything else with proper bullet placement. Ask any Poacher or Conservation Warden about bullets placed in the right spot and the end result on a deer.

.22 LR killing a Deer? Well, you are correct... over my 50-plus years in the field, I've seen more than one, many more than one in fact tipped over with a .22 LR at some amazing yardage for a .22 LR, one that comes to mind was a Doe at 70 yards with a suppressed .22 rifle using Aguila's 60gr subsonic, yes it was a well-placed shot and it did the job with no follow -up needed. Cheers

 

[VinceMule]

We have killed some nice bucks with the 95g Nosler partition in the 243 with R#19 and IMR 4831. Later on, we started using the 100g Hornady btsp, flat base, and the 95g SST.

It is my belief that lung-shot deer should be expected to run, but some do not. All of the above bullets will handle shoulder shots, and the hardy 95g Nosler ballistic tip that my brother and nephew shoot should not be overlooked.

The last deer I shot with a 243 was in Kansas. I rattled in a 240 lb buck while sitting in a hay bale blind from over 700 yards. The Heavy 8 pointer stopped in his tracks at 300 yards, where I dropped him in his tracks with a 100g Hornady BTSP.

 

[jjmp]

It's in the top 5 for me for sure,but i limit the range to 300 yds ,target fun twice that range , it shoots flat ,low recoil,easy to carry,& bullet placement is easy but people forget it's a fine tuned trigger that brings home the deer Or bacon lol, this year my Md 7 243 was ready with 85 partitions 200 yd Zero , Cheers

 

[Rocketeer77]

I am sorry but I'm am ate up with 243/6mm guns and they work great on southeast white tails and with small pills they are a groundhogs worst nightmare and a good competition round with a 7.5-8 twist but 168gk from 30-06 is fun also.so I ended up with everything from 204-338 .Most days I take 6mm creedmoor.

Just doing a 6mm CM based on a Sako action & stock for my son, 22" barrel with a new 1-7.5 twist SS barrel looks old school with black ceracoat. Using a Leica optic, collecting this Friday his Christmas present
Had a Tikka in .243 but the slower twist ruled out heavier projectile options.

 

[SSgt G Cody]

My dad had a Win 70 in .243 that he dearly loved. He collected many dear and black bear with it. He reloaded with 100gn CoreLokts and H414, loads that were fairly hot, and they shot .35 in groups all day long. He shot several deer at over 300 yards, and all but one were one-shot-kills. He had that rifle for over 40 years, and said he never needed any other rifle. Now that rifle is mine, and it still shoots well. Using Hammers, I've even taken elk with it. I see my dad's wisdom much more now. This .243 is truly a pleasure to shoot!

 

[Radman]

A little background, my father in law debated me one time, 243 is the best deer cartridge. I said, naw, it's the 30-06. He said no way, the 243 kills them just as dead, sweetest shooting cartridge with no recoil, and very flat and fast.

Shortly after that, I 'd gotten on a lease and bought a 243 as a back up to my trusty 30-06 and for my father in law to use when I took him as my guest. Well guess what? I've come to believe he's right. I've shot deer with calibers up to 375H&H and pistol calibers 45 ACP and 41 magnum and nothing kills deer as quickly as that 243.

Since then I bought a small frame 243 Tikka T3 for my kids to use as their first deer rifle. That gun is a tack driver and kills deer dead right there. It's light, smooth action, relatively inexpensive, sized right for kids and comes with shims to grow with them. My buddy took his youngest of three sons out to hunt his first deer this weekend. Borrowed that 243. One shot, DRT! Loved the gun.

Just more proof in my mind that my father in law was right. The 243 is the best deer cartridge. I don't know what it is, speed? sweet-spot diameter of bullet? Just the right amount of energy? Love to hear others' thoughts and reactions, both pro and con!

.243 is an amazing caliber

 

[sendero72]

And then,.. Squeezed it back down and ADDED, the 30* shoulder, to create,.. the PERFECT, Deer / Antelope, Cartridge,.. the 6.5 Creedmoor !
Yup,.. I succumbed to, One of, these Baby's ! And,.. My Man bun, is growing,.. longer !

I too had my doubts about the 6.5 Creedmoor until our group went to Africa on a plains game hunt. My buddy shoots the Creedmoor due to a shoulder injury. I ranged a zebra at 505 yds and he dropped him in his tracks with a 143 ELDX. It's the man behind the gun that makes the difference.

 

[RogerE]

Have you even killed a deer with a 243? They are DRT 95% of time...doesn't get much quicker than a SST in 95grs.

I killed my first whitetail buck, my first mule deer buck, an first antelope buck with a Savage model 99 .243...I believe there is a difference in shooting a Texas whitetail buck and a mature buck in Montana...as much as I love a .243, I prefer a larger caliber for the larger deer we have over here. I suspect that you would possibly feel the same if you shot a deer over here with the same bullet placement at a typical shot distance that is likely further.

 

[Hard rock]

I killed my first whitetail buck, my first mule deer buck, an first antelope buck with a Savage model 99 .243...I believe there is a difference in shooting a Texas whitetail buck and a mature buck in Montana...as much as I love a .243, I prefer a larger caliber for the larger deer we have over here. I suspect that you would possibly feel the same if you shot a deer over here with the same bullet placement at a typical shot distance that is likely further.

The 243 has it's place in the hunting world, my grand daughter shot a nice 8 point on my ranch , with me guiding her this last Sat morning.The shot was a heart shot with a soft point cup and core , that I definitely don't load or shoot . The deer ran a 100 yds in the opposite direction of the other deer, but I had my eye on him all the way through the brush , she thought she had missed and if hunting alone would have left a dead deer in the field. I have trailed and looked for more deer shot with a 243 more than any other cal . I am not criticizing the 243 , with some of the more modern bullet choices of today the 243 is a better deer cartridge of yesterday, it comes down too bullet choice and placement and knowing it's limitations.

 

[RogerE]

I think labeling anything the "best" is a slippery slope given there are so many effective whitetail cartridges, and probably as many different methods and types of terrain that are hunted. My 243 performed admirably on whitetails given my distances hunting the Northeastern and Southern woodlands were well under 200 yards. I think a high percentage of whitetails today are shot at fairly close quarters so the 243 is a good choice for these hunters. Since hunting more open terrain over the past 10-15 years, and stretching my distances beyond 500 yards, IMO, there are cartridges much better suited for mid to long range whitetail hunting with better down-range ballistics and terminal performance. My personal favorite is the 6.5x284.

I have had tremendous results with the 6'5x284 as well.

 

[Northkill]

Well I read this with tongue in cheek when I see someone comparing the 30-30 with an 18 inch drop at 300 yards. I have read about the spectacular shots made at 600 plus yards and the brags of supposed one shot kills, with bullets that drop in excess of 48 to 60 inches, some even more. If we are going to compare apples to apples let's keep everything on an even keel. Even the big mags will drop at distances, so don't simply say that an 18 inch drop at 300 is unmanageable. Let's face facts, a 30-30 dropping 18 inches into the boiler room of a Whitetail or Mule Deer will kill it just as dead as any of the magnums. Quit comparing bullet drop, velocity and energy and concentrate on bullet placement. A lowly .22 LR will kill a deer just as dead as anything else with proper bullet placement. Ask any Poacher or Conservation Warden about bullets placed in the right spot and the end result on a deer.

Shot a groundhog at 300 yds with my dad's old Winchester 94 30/30 lever with a side-mount scope when I was a stripling... Took a couple tries till I got the drop figured out.