Doc Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 So what do you all think about the .243 as a deer rifle AND a bench shooting target rifle? What ranges would you consider appropriate for deer using this caliber? What make and model would you all recommend for these two uses (keeping budget in mind), and why? What make and model of scope would you be recommending for these two uses (Again keeping budget in mind) and why? I know the answers are going to be all over the place, but I am just fishing for some opinions because I may be in the market for such a gun in the future. My primary use would be bench-rest target shooting, but I would also like to have the ability to shoot deer with the same gun at some point in the future because NYS is opening up more and more areas to deer hunting with a rifle. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 Doc I have owned a Remington Model 788 .243 for over 20 years and wouldn't trade it. I've done everything from target shoot to deer hunt - with a good amount of varmit shooting in between. It's a great caliber, economical, won't beat you up, and the accuracy I achieve is way more than acceptable. The furthest I've ever taken a deer with it is probably not more than 150 yards (it will do the job at greater distances than that), but I've shot fox out to 250 yards. As long as you are looking to use it for whitetails and smaller type game I think you'll like a .243. Lots of ammo out there for it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 I use an Nef handi rifle in 243 with a Nikon pro-staf 3-9X40 the whole set up cost me less than $400. With a little bit of trigger work and bench practice I can keep about a 3 1/2" group out to 300 yards. At that distance a Winchester 100gr. Super X bullet went through 2 layers of 1/8" thick angle iron after vaporising a 1/2" thick magnet that was holding my target on. I'm thinking that's probibly enough to take out the shoulder of just about any deer in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 Okay here's my opinion on the caliber, because I have target shot and hunted with it for many years now. The .243 Win As A Hunting Caliber This is a great hunting caliber, in my honest opinion. It's honestly the only caliber I hunt deer with anymore. I tried the ever famous .30-06 caliber gun at the range and immediately went back to my .243 Win not liking the amount of recoil and how the caliber shot at different distances. Plus my hunting partner shoots a similar model gun as me in the .30-06 caliber and I've seen the amount of meat it tears up compared to my .243 Win and didn't like that factor either. To me the .243 Win is a nice low recoil caliber with a very flat flying rounds. As far as hunting kill distances. My distances probably are different than the next person and probably different than your own would be. I'd honestly suggest shooting the gun and getting a feel for your particular gun's shooting style and see what your accuracy is with it at different distances. Me personally it depends on the area I'm hunting as to my limits. This caliber is not very good at going through heavy brush, so if I'm in a very brushy area my distances get considerably shorter. If I'm in a more open valley area though my distances extend. The farthest I'd shoot in a low brush area with high view distance in the woods would be 300yards. That is because that's the max distance I'm comfortable with my accuracy out to. If I practiced more I could probably extend that distance, but I just don't have a reason to extend that distance. Where I hunt in PA seeing beyond 300yards would not be a common situation for me to come across. I've had four deer kills so far with my .243 Win. One of the deer was shot at 200+yards and was down within 25yards of where I shot the deer, heart and lung shot. Another deer was 150-yards and I made an error with my shot and had to provide a follow up shot, which dropped the deer almost instantly still within 75yards of where I first shot her at. Third deer was 200+yards and the deer died within 75yards of where I first shot her at, heart and lung shot. Fourth deer was at less than 100yards and it litterally knocked him clean off his feet and tumbled him head over toe 3 times down the hill, heart and double lung shot. The .243 Win As A Target Caliber I shot target for a bit the one year with my gun. It was very successful at target shooting. I could go many rounds shooting it and not get a sore shoulder from it at all. The low recoil on the gun allows me to shoot more rounds at a sitting than a bigger caliber would let me. Since the caliber itself is flat shooting it also is a very accurate gun to use for target shooting. So, I would not see a real reason to dislike it for target shooting. Models For The .243 Win As far as models goes. I'm a fan of Remington. When I did go out to get my .243 Win I tried many different models and brands out there and the Remington that I ended up with just was a much more comfortable gun for me that impressed me quite a bit and still is impressing me today. The Remington I ended up with in .243 Win is the Remington Model Seven SS. I put a Leupold Ultralight VX-II 3-9x33mm Silver Duplex on it and have loved that setup quite a bit. Wouldn't change it even if I could put any scope out there on my gun. You can see a picture of my gun below (far left gun). As far as cutting costs would go The Remington Model 700 is very similar to the Model Seven. My father has the Model 700 SPS Stainless and when I lay it next to my Model Seven SS it's basically the big brother to my gun. It's got a bit more weight to it, the stock is a bit bigger, and the barrel is 4" longer. The Model 700, unlike the Model Seven are still being produced with the blued barrels instead of the Stainless, which will cut prices down more. If I was on a tight budget and had to re-purchase my .243 Win all over again I'd probably look into a used, but good condition, Remington Model 700 SPS in .243 Win and the Leupold Ultralight VX-II 3-9x33mm Matte Duplex. Again all just my opinion and personal likes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 WE have a couple of them-they are awesome rifles and get shot year round from gophers to mule deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 In my opinion I will never hunt deer with anything else than my model 700 .243. I have a Tasco golden antler 3x9x40 on it. I use an .85 grain sierra spitzer bullett with I believe it is 40 grains of IMR 4350 powder. What a great shooting bullett.I shot a doe yesterday with my gun at 150 yards in the neck. She was bedded down and never moved after I shot. I have taken many deer with this riffle and bullett combination and love it. My father also hunts with a .243 and loves his gun also. I took a picture of the wound to show you how good the bullett works This is the exit wound on my doe. I tried not to get to graphic Hope that helps a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: .243 If I had a 243 in my hands and the buck of a lifetime stepped out at 300 yards, I would not hesitate to pop him. The cartridge will work just fine at that range and do the necessary damage. I have a pair of 243 Win guns. One is a Mod 7 and the other is an Encore handgun. For deer and antelope, it will work as well as anything bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Re: .243 Thanks alot for all the info guys. I'll be making my purchase with a lot more confidence. It sounds like I at least have the caliber settled on anyway. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Re: .243 Again, it all boils down to bullet placement. Unfortunately too many hunters go for the larger cal. as an insurance policy for a poor hit. We all know that doesn't work but practice seems to be out of the question with many so called hunters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mule659 Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Re: .243 I totally agree. I am about tp pick up a 25-06 or a .243 myself. I love shooting and having something that oyu can shoot all day and be comfortable with is the most important thing not seeing how much meat you can ruin and how sore you can make your shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Re: .243 Both my wife and daughter deer hunt with a .243. The wifes is a savage model 10, very accurate rifle. My 10 year old daughters is a browning a bolt microhunter. Like them both, but there are so many great guns out there. Might consider the remington model 700. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shotist Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Re: .243 The 243 is very underrated as a deer cartridge. This is the cartridge that I cut my teeth on when I first began hunting deer with a centerfire and like all deer cartridges, will plant any whitetail that ever walked with a well placed shot. As a target round is concerned, Carl Bernosky had won a couple of NRA Highpower championships with it and claimed that he could get 1/4 minute accuracy out of a stainless, cut-rifled barrel for 1000+ shots and 1/2 minute accuracy for nearly another 1000 rds beyond that. Not benchrest quality mind you, but as impressive for shooting targets as you'll likely need. The cartridge will carry 1000ft/lbs of energy to just shy of 400 yds. With the right rifle, the right ammo, the right situation and the right shooter, this little cartridge can be lethal on deer a lot further than you'd imagine. Lots of bullet choices for the reloader and the cartridge is very easy to get to shoot exceedingly well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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