The .243? Hunting and Reloading

[UTGrad]

My son wants a rifle for Christmas and I am considering a .243.

Is the .243 a good deer killer? Also is it a good reloader cartridge? I might get a .243 and the die, powder and bullets.

What about ammo availability?

 

[backyardtndeer]

My wife and daughters have used 243's for years. They have had very good results. I load 100 grain hornady interlocks over imr 4350. Before I started reloading they hunted with 100 grain core lots in my wife's Savage and 100 grain Winchester power points in my oldest daughters Browning.

As to ammo availability, I have not bought factory ammo for deer calibers in a long time, so don't know.

 

[Rabbitkil]

Killed a ton of deer with the 80gr TTSX

 

[Specializedjon]

Very good deer killer. Have been using a .243 for years.

 

[UTGrad]

My wife and daughters have used 243's for years. They have had very good results. I load 100 grain hornady interlocks over imr 4350. Before I started reloading they hunted with 100 grain core lots in my wife's Savage and 100 grain Winchester power points in my oldest daughters Browning.

As to ammo availability, I have not bought factory ammo for deer calibers in a long time, so don't know.

Interlocks are my favorite cup and core deer slayers. They aren't fancy high BC ballistic points but they will slay them.

 

[Lost Lake]

The .243 is a fine deer cartridge IMO, but you either love it or hate it. There are plenty who like to kick it in the ribs and trash it, but I love it. I've used it for years, as have several friends. We've never been disappointed. Use deer bullets and not varmint bullets, and it kills well.

I've settled on the Sierra 100 grain Pro Hunter. I've only recovered one, and it was a hard quartering toward shot at 40 yards that hit a big bodied buck in the shoulder, destroyed it and I found it perfectly mushrooomed under the hide at the last rib on the opposite side. The 100 grain Gamekings have been good as well.

A friend has loaded the 100 grain Remington CoreLokt bullets for years and I'm tired of dragging his deer for him.

I'm gonna try the newer 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, which has a very thick jacket, unlike the older ones. I've heard great things about it.

It's a reloader friendly cartridge IMO, and several powders work well, but H 4350 is your best friend.

 

[nso123]

I got my son a .243 this year. I load it with H4350 and 100gr Speer Grand Slams and it shoots really well. Recoil is nothing, and the deer he shot in the juvenile hunt was a bang flop at 70-75 yards.

 

[UTGrad]

Thankfully I've got plenty H4350.

 

[Deerhunter]

I've killed several with the 243 without any complaints. My son is currently shooting a Savage youth model 243 that he's about outgrown. Trying to decide on another 243 or a 7mm-08 for the full size gun. Currently loading IMR 4831 under 100gr Interlocks and they shoot good, but finally found some H4350 so I may hafta try that next.

 

[skipperbrown]

If you are looking at .243 you should also look at the 6mm offerings out there: 6mm Dasher, 6mm Rem, 6mm Creedmore, 6.5 Creedmore, 6mm PPC, 6mm BR, 6mm ARC, 24 Nosler, to name a few.

 

[sll]

Great round...factory ammo readily available......if you load for it my favorite is IMR4831 and 85gr. Sierra BTHP Game Kings.

 

[kamml]

My first deer rifle was a 243. Good cartridge for deer with careful shot placement. Good for varmints too.

 

[Remington700]

Two of my kids shoot a 243 with success. I liked it so much I have put down the 7MM and 270 and started carrying one. We shoot Federal 100 grain. I really like the Remington model 7. It is small light weight and tack drivers.

 

[REN]

I have shot a pile of deer with a 243 (over 100) and have never lost one. Have killed a lot of other critters with it as well. Was the first rifle my dad ever bought me and 30 years later I still use it here and there. Match a good bullet with it and you should not have an issue with deer sized game and smaller.

 

[DC219]

Great cartridge. Even better loaded with Barnes ttsx

 

[SES]

If I had to get rid of all my deer rifles but one, I'd keep my stainless Ruger M77 in 243. One of the most versatile rounds in my opinion. Shoot 55 grain to blow up varmints, shoot 90-110 grain to shoot deer. Flat shooting and little recoil in a light weight package.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I hate the 243

Kills deer fine

95 Nosler ballistic tips
Over re15
Set it forget it


I have loaded this rd for several members

They have killed the best bucks
Female Buffalo
Plenty of does

Works good for kids too

 

[nso123]

I hate the 243

Kills deer fine

95 Nosler ballistic tips
Over re15
Set it forget it


I have loaded this rd for several members

They have killed the best bucks
Female Buffalo
Plenty of does

Works good for kids too

I had to read the last line carefully since it was under things that had been killed.

 

[DaveB]

MOST IMPORTANT: find a rifle that has the fast twist. The standard is 1:10, fast twist is 1:8
Had a 243 since late 1980's, loaded for it since purchase.
The best loads are over RL15 and RL19.

I have tried many bullets but have settled on the 95 gr Partition & RL19

Now, to go back in time......
I placed the 105 and 100 gr Partition on top of max loads of IMR7828. 46 grains of that will get you 3000 FPS and you can take it down to 42.5

Note: I have been unable to achieve accurate rounds with the 90 gr Accubond. Still working on that issue.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I had to read the last line carefully since it was under things that had been killed.

That is funny. I didn't mean it like that lol

 

[Big Gun]

I bought my son a .243 when he was 11. I zeroed it using Winchester 100gr power point ammo and that's what has been used in it ever since. Almost every deer he has killed has dropped where they were standing. A couple ran about 40 yards. My son is 23 now and even when I offered to let him use my Browning 30-06, he has taken his .243.

 

[TraumaSlave]

My son's Savage Axis youth. 243 it a tac driving deer slayer. As others have said, GameKings for reloading. Another thought, kinda outside the box, a 243 is just a necked down 308. Easy brass ro find or common to already have.

 

[David Sapp]

I avoided the 243 for years but picked up a nice M70 pre64 and used it to kill one of my better bucks. Decisive one shot kill at just under 100 yards with the factory Fusion load. After deer hunting a few decades, I've figured out there aren't good or bad cartridges out there, just proper placement and adequate bullets. I don't hesitate to take a 243 now.

 

[UTGrad]

I had to read the last line carefully since it was under things that had been killed.

Hahahaha

 

[david k.]

I bought a tang safety Ruger M77 in the early 1980's and have always loaded 100 grain Hornady Interlocks over IMR 4350 with excellent results on deer and antelope.

 

[redblood]

They are good guns. Have a ruger compact stainless in the safe. However, the same case in 260, 7mm08 or 308 will give you much more versatility and the ability to shoot bullets that are heavier, have a higher bc and sd

 

[Omega]

That is funny. I didn't mean it like that lol

You just don't lead them as much!

 

[KPH]

UT Grade PM sent

 

[Gravey]

Bought a NEF .243 when my son was little and liked it so much I bought a barrel for my Encore. Ended up getting another frame and just leaving it on there and killed a bunch using 95-grain Federal Fusions. My son hasn't hunted in 2 years due to working and a girlfriend but I still carry it at least once a year. Lost a first cousin earlier this year to covid and ended up with a Sako .243 that was his and intend to hunt with it this year and hopefully let it eat.

 

[MR Yote]

You will have no worries . As said already, find you some 95 or 100 gr partitions. Best of luck.