Is a .243 enough?

[Chaneylake]

Who hunts with a .243 during deer season? I usually go .308, but have often thought about going .243.

Any thoughts?

my longest kill with a .243 is 550 yards plus a lifetime of kills in the 75-100 yard range

 

[Tiny]

Redfield wide-view. I love those scopes.

Same here,sure hope they bring them back.

On the 243 Yes with the right bullet and in the right hands.

 

[jakeway]

I bought a .243 last year for my (then 10 yr old) grand daughter to use. I wanted to test it first, and killed two does with it about 10 minutes from each other, 100 yards; one DRT,one ran 15 yards.

I loaded some reduced loads for Valerie to try, and she obviously has no trouble with the recoil:

So, I worked up some slightly heavier loads (95 gr Hornady SSTs at 2660 fps) which she tested two weeks ago. They worked swell!

Next year she'll probably use full-velocity (2800 - 2900 fps)loads.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

they will kill a deer for sure, but unless recoil is an issue, I think there are much better rounds.

 

[Chaneylake]

they will kill a deer for sure, but unless recoil is an issue, I think there are much better rounds.

well stated, recoil is always a factor, reduced recoil = more accuracy

 

[hunt_4646]

I have taken 8 deer in Tennesee with 243. All were 1 shot kills from 15 yds to 190 yds. I prefer the Hornady 100 sp over 85 gr Hollow Point. The penetration is better with the 100 gr and the bullet does not break apart like the 85 gr hollow points. I don't like metal in my burgers.
I do not shoot deer beyond 200 yds with my 243.
At greater distances I want my 270.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

Shoot one with an 85gr. Barnes TSX and you will swear it was struck by lightning.

 

[Deerhunter]

Shot my first with a 243 on Sunday. Hafta say I was impressed. Destroyed the shoulder and the chest cavity looked like runny jello. Shot with 100 gr Hornady sp at a litle over 100 yards.

 

[ShamrockIV]

243 is a fine round. Put it where it needs to be and even with remington coreloks the deer go down! Plus it does not kill on both ends and it is good for varmints ro anything else you want to dispose of.