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Is the 243 the best whitetail deer cartridge?
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<blockquote data-quote="Muley hunter" data-source="post: 2347466" data-attributes="member: 27157"><p>I've harvested 4 mule deer and 2 whitetail bucks with my Kimber m84 (less than 6 pound rifle and a joy to carry) in 7-08. 130 grain Speer boat tail over Varget at about 2700 fps. The cartridge is "minute of deer" out to about 370 yds. Not one of these deer took a step out of their tracks at ranges from 120-305 yards. Every bullet has been recovered on the offside hide. Needless to say I am a fan of the cartridge. I had a 95 gr 243 blow up on a whitetail with a high shoulder shot at about 35 yards (at that range, not really the cartridges fault)which resulted in a long tracking job and required a follow up dispatch shot. The experience soured me on the .243 for deer. I have a 243 AI that is my go to for coyotes so I still like the 6mm bullet for thin skinned critters. The 7-08 doesn't recoil much more than the .243, has a great selection of 7mm pills, and IMO performs very well on deer sized animals. My wife has a 7-08 in a model 70 compact and has never once complained about recoil, so I believe it is an extremely manageable cartridge for a smaller framed person, with better down range performance. Best of luck in your search for the perfect whitetail cartridge!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Muley hunter, post: 2347466, member: 27157"] I’ve harvested 4 mule deer and 2 whitetail bucks with my Kimber m84 (less than 6 pound rifle and a joy to carry) in 7-08. 130 grain Speer boat tail over Varget at about 2700 fps. The cartridge is “minute of deer” out to about 370 yds. Not one of these deer took a step out of their tracks at ranges from 120-305 yards. Every bullet has been recovered on the offside hide. Needless to say I am a fan of the cartridge. I had a 95 gr 243 blow up on a whitetail with a high shoulder shot at about 35 yards (at that range, not really the cartridges fault)which resulted in a long tracking job and required a follow up dispatch shot. The experience soured me on the .243 for deer. I have a 243 AI that is my go to for coyotes so I still like the 6mm bullet for thin skinned critters. The 7-08 doesn’t recoil much more than the .243, has a great selection of 7mm pills, and IMO performs very well on deer sized animals. My wife has a 7-08 in a model 70 compact and has never once complained about recoil, so I believe it is an extremely manageable cartridge for a smaller framed person, with better down range performance. Best of luck in your search for the perfect whitetail cartridge! [/QUOTE]
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Is the 243 the best whitetail deer cartridge?
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