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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:09:15 PM EDT
[#1]
It's pretty zippy, and has a decent selection of bullet weights. I drop Georgia white tail with it every year.
The calibers you listed would all do that. I'm a shitty salesman. 
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:11:15 PM EDT
[#2]
If I wanted a dedicated deer gun that could shoot flat out to beyond 300, I'd go with 243.
That said, my hunting rifle is a 50 caliber muzzle loader. YMMV. |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:15:56 PM EDT
[#3]
Get one with a 1 in 8" twist and shoot 115gr VLDs through it. It will then outshoot just about everything short of .300 Win Mag.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:19:05 PM EDT
[#4]
Get one because you'll love it. Seriously, it's a fun, great cartridge. Generally extremely accurate as well. 75 gr. for varmints up to 115 gr. for whitetails, hogs. People take elk with the thing, though I wouldn't try. It's a great little round. I'll forever regret selling my Rem. 788 in .243. That was the most accurate centerfire rifle I've ever owned.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:21:25 PM EDT
[#5]
Screw hunting, build that puppy for long range and go make people with 338's cry at the 1000 yard range. .243 is a awesome med-long range round and 6mm match bullets for reloading are cheap.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:26:21 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Get one with a 1 in 8" twist and shoot 115gr VLDs through it. It will then outshoot just about everything short of .300 Win Mag. Nope, it will shoot circles around the 300 win mag. |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:27:58 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Get one because you'll love it. Seriously, it's a fun, great cartridge. Generally extremely accurate as well. 75 gr. for varmints up to 115 gr. for whitetails, hogs. People take elk with the thing, though I wouldn't try. It's a great little round. I'll forever regret selling my Rem. 788 in .243. That was the most accurate centerfire rifle I've ever owned. Same here except mine was a Model Seven. I will have one again a the .243 acts like it possesses magic on game. It's a just the right combination of attributes that nearly perfectly compliment one another. easy recoil too. |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:29:30 PM EDT
[#8]
Works good on moose and caribou.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:35:58 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Get one because you'll love it. Seriously, it's a fun, great cartridge. Generally extremely accurate as well. 75 gr. for varmints up to 115 gr. for whitetails, hogs. People take elk with the thing, though I wouldn't try. It's a great little round. I'll forever regret selling my Rem. 788 in .243. That was the most accurate centerfire rifle I've ever owned. Same here except mine was a Model Seven. I will have one again a the .243 acts like it possesses magic on game. It's a just the right combination of attrbutes that nearly perfectly compliment one another. easy recoil too. Yep, the two whitetails I managed to take with that 788 just fell over right to the shot. Sectional density + velocity is a good thing! 
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:47:34 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Get one because you'll love it. Seriously, it's a fun, great cartridge. Generally extremely accurate as well. 75 gr. for varmints up to 115 gr. for whitetails, hogs. People take elk with the thing, though I wouldn't try. It's a great little round. I'll forever regret selling my Rem. 788 in .243. That was the most accurate centerfire rifle I've ever owned. Same here except mine was a Model Seven. I will have one again a the .243 acts like it possesses magic on game. It's a just the right combination of attrbutes that nearly perfectly compliment one another. easy recoil too. Yep, the two whitetails I managed to take with that 788 just fell over right to the shot. Sectional density + velocity is a good thing!
Beamy if you look around it won't be hard to find an abundance stories describing near or instantaneous incapacitations of game shot with the .243, no they aren't magic but damn if they don't seem like just that, every deer I've ever seen shot or shot with one dropped like someone flipped it switch to off. They just work. |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:49:41 PM EDT
[#11]
It's hard to find a bad 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:52:45 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
It's hard to find a bad 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge. True though it is also hard to find one as commonly available as the .243. |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 10:55:26 PM EDT
[#13]
Name any one think you can do with a 243 and I'll name a better cartridge to do it with. Name two and it gets tighter. See where I'm going with this?
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Posted: 11/18/2012 11:07:43 PM EDT
[#14]
I love my Rem 700 classic in 7mm-08. Compare ballistics to the 7mm-08 and you may decide to go that route. Drawback is available factory loads. If you reload, not a problem.
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Posted: 11/18/2012 11:08:53 PM EDT
[#15]
In what kind of rifle?
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Posted: 11/18/2012 11:17:46 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
In what kind of rifle? bolt gun, looking at either a new FN built Winchester Model 70, Savage 11FCNS, Weatherby Vanguard Sporter, or Ruger 77 Hawkeye |
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Posted: 11/18/2012 11:22:26 PM EDT
[#17]
granted something old school like a Remington 788 would be pretty cool as well
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Posted: 11/18/2012 11:38:24 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
granted something old school like a Remington 788 would be pretty cool as well They're out there. They were Remingtons "bargain" rifles. Very plain wood, unusual rear locking bolt. But they're prized a bit for their accuracy nowadays. Mine was certainly extremely accurate. I've seen them on GunBroker in various calibers in the $350-$400 range. I bought mine used at Cogdell's in Waco, Tx for $105 in '77. I was 14 and saved up all summer to buy a bolt-action rifle. My Grampa was mad at me, said I should have got a .25-06 or .270. He was probably right, but once he shot it he loved the little rifle too. Sold it in '95 for $200 just because I never used it anymore. I wish I'd kept it. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 12:21:30 AM EDT
[#19]
Because you want one.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 12:41:24 AM EDT
[#20]
It's a good cartridge, but the 6.5x55mm will do everything the .243 can do and much more. I have a Sako TRG-S and with 49 grains of IMR-4064, it will launch an 85 grain bullet at about 3400 fps. This is an awesome varmint load and in my rifle this is a half minute of angle load. With H-4350, you can load sub MOA loads for 120, 140 and 160 grain bullets. This is one very, very versatile cartridge. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 12:51:17 AM EDT
[#21]
The .243 is my true love. I had a NEF single shot for years in .243, dropped many a whitetail in their tracks with that round.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 3:34:45 AM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Get one with a 1 in 8" twist and shoot 115gr VLDs through it. It will then outshoot just about everything short of .300 Win Mag. this |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 3:41:48 AM EDT
[#23]
VERSATILE
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Posted: 11/19/2012 3:43:14 AM EDT
[#24]
You should get a .243 because I want one.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 3:45:52 AM EDT
[#25]
I'm often told that I shot a "woman's gun". I have the Savage 12 VBSS. It's super accurate.
I let them ride me about it. I've always liked the little round. Comfortable to shoot and deadly as hell. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 3:54:40 AM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
granted something old school like a Remington 788 would be pretty cool as well Yep, I have an old heavy barrel Rem 722 in 6mm. Thing shoots like a house on fire. Best factory trigger Ive ever felt. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:06:25 AM EDT
[#27]
Looking at your current rifle inventory, you don't NEED it. But as a light recoiling whitetail/antelope cartridge, it is AWESOME. I have only killed medium sized whitetails with it (3, I think) and it has that" lightening bolt" affect when you put it through the ribs. Not a cartridge for raking shots that contact heavy bone. At it's best in a compact rifle, IMHO. If I get another one it will be in a compact Ruger or Remington Model 7.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:10:50 AM EDT
[#28]
I got a .243 Ruger bolt gun with a bull barrel as a gift once. Put a bipod on it and kept the nice scope it had on already. It's a tack driver. Out to a hundred meters, you decide what part of the deer's eye you want the round to enter.
It's my teaching folks to shoot rifles rifle since it's so easy to shoot well. How much of that is the cartridge? Hell if I know. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:12:15 AM EDT
[#29]
I've been eyeing a .243 for a long rangle varmit gun for a while now. I sold off my 22-250 for this reason. The light little 22 cal bullets just don't have much down range energy so I'm thinking the 243 will be a reasonable upgrade without being overkill.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:19:44 AM EDT
[#30]
Accurate, easy to reload for, can be made from 308 brass, awesome selection of bullets, good for hunting...what everyone else has said. Horrible barrel life, but that comes with the territory. I'd buy a Savage, burn out the barrel on it, and buy a varmint taper barrel. Better yet, buy the Savage with the varmint taper 26" bbl on it already, and you're good to shoot out to 1000. This thread is useless without pics.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:27:37 AM EDT
[#31]
Quoted: Quoted: It's hard to find a bad 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge. True though it is also hard to find one as commonly available as the .243. Also true, but the commonly loaded rounds for .243 don't take advantage of the cartridge like the 115gr bullets do. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 4:50:39 AM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
Have no need for one at all, but the numbers do seem to show this as a pretty cool little cartridge. granted as far as hunting rifles go I have a 22-250, 270, 7x57, 8x57, and 308. As well as a 223 bolt gun on order. With what you have I'd go bigger. 35 Whelen or .358 Winchester. .243 doesn't do anything that you don't already have covered. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:09:44 AM EDT
[#33]
Nothing wrong with the 243. However, you already own a gun chambered in the perfect cartridge: 7x57
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:11:58 AM EDT
[#34]
I'd go bigger as well. At least 35 Cal.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:13:32 AM EDT
[#35]
I have a really old Sako in .243, It has a matching scope, I have not tried it on deer. I guess I will give it a go.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:17:51 AM EDT
[#36]
When I decided I needed one I went 6mm Rem instead.
I guess I just like to be different. It's a fun cartridge. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:18:09 AM EDT
[#37]
It smashes smaller Texas Hill Country deer. Mine has never required more than one round for any animal its taken. I've had the same Win 70 Youth Model since I was 13.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:34:46 AM EDT
[#38]
I had an '03 Springfield sporter chambered in .243. It was the moat accurate rifle I've ever owned. Unfortunately, I could never get it to feed from the magazine correctly. I have a Browning High Wall in 6mm now, it is also a great round.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:44:36 AM EDT
[#39]
You already have a 22-250, and a .270 the only reason to buy a .243 is because you want one or the rifle it comes in fits some niche you desire.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 5:59:46 AM EDT
[#40]
Its light, accurate, flat shooting, low recoil, cheap to reload and will kill just about anything on this continent.
People bow hunt moose and elk....dont tell me a 115 grain Berger VLD doing 3150 FPS wont kill a moose in its tracks. Actually a 6 Creedmoor is my next build, same ballistics but better barrel life. Heres my little 243. 1000 yard hits on a 3/4 ipsc are stupid easy. 
Accurate too. 
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Posted: 11/19/2012 6:23:23 AM EDT
[#41]
Because you don't have one
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Posted: 11/19/2012 6:42:43 AM EDT
[#42]
What is the standard barrel twist on savages and Remingtons? Will they stabilize the 115s?
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Posted: 11/19/2012 6:57:47 AM EDT
[#43]
I was going to build another AR upper for deer, coyotes that had more punch than .223 like 6.5/6.8. After adding up the cost I just said screw it and bought a Ruger American in .243 for $323.
Perfect hard use beater to knock around on the fourwheeler. ..and it only weights 6 pounds. ...and it shoots great. Dad's been using the same .243 Winchester m70 on whitetails and coyotes since 1972. Always been very effective.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:01:41 AM EDT
[#44]
Quoted:
It's a good cartridge, but the 6.5x55mm will do everything the .243 can do and much more. I have a Sako TRG-S and with 49 grains of IMR-4064, it will launch an 85 grain bullet at about 3400 fps. This is an awesome varmint load and in my rifle this is a half minute of angle load. With H-4350, you can load sub MOA loads for 120, 140 and 160 grain bullets. This is one very, very versatile cartridge. I love the 6.5, but it's not as common here. Ammo is harder to get, you can't get it in a short action, many guns use too large of a bolt head for the case. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:03:03 AM EDT
[#45]
.243 is a fine rifle... with easily-purchased 100gr sierra gamekings you poke nice holes in things.
I prefer 25-06, personally, but I've killed plenty of deer/hogs/whatever with .243 and bought them for my kids to shoot. It'll blow the fur off anything you need to kill and is plenty accurate. |
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:51:12 AM EDT
[#46]
IMO, I would kick it up one notch and go for the 6.5mm (Rem. 260 (both .260 and .243 use the same 7.62 parent case) or Grendel). These have a little better chance of knocking down a deer and not having to chase the bleeder for 1000 yards with night coming on.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:55:27 AM EDT
[#47]
go 6mm-284.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:55:56 AM EDT
[#48]
I wish I still had my Rem Model 78.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 7:58:54 AM EDT
[#49]
Most states will let you use it to hunt.
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Posted: 11/19/2012 8:02:04 AM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:
go 6mm-284. That was going to be my semi-custom bolt action build but after continual research I've decided to go 6.5 Creedmoor instead. I'm thinking less recoil and less throat erosion with the 6.5 Creedmoor. |
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