Is the 243 the best whitetail deer cartridge?

[Chip_Shot]

.243 is a good one for sure. Inside of 300yds I prefer a swift or 22-250 for whitetail.

 

[Rocketeer77]

A little background, my father in law debated me one time, 243 is the best deer cartridge. I said, naw, it's the 30-06. He said no way, the 243 kills them just as dead, sweetest shooting cartridge with no recoil, and very flat and fast.

Shortly after that, I 'd gotten on a lease and bought a 243 as a back up to my trusty 30-06 and for my father in law to use when I took him as my guest. Well guess what? I've come to believe he's right. I've shot deer with calibers up to 375H&H and pistol calibers 45 ACP and 41 magnum and nothing kills deer as quickly as that 243.

Since then I bought a small frame 243 Tikka T3 for my kids to use as their first deer rifle. That gun is a tack driver and kills deer dead right there. It's light, smooth action, relatively inexpensive, sized right for kids and comes with shims to grow with them. My buddy took his youngest of three sons out to hunt his first deer this weekend. Borrowed that 243. One shot, DRT! Loved the gun.

Just more proof in my mind that my father in law was right. The 243 is the best deer cartridge. I don't know what it is, speed? sweet-spot diameter of bullet? Just the right amount of energy? Love to hear others' thoughts and reactions, both pro and con!

I use both 100gr Partition and 95gr SST from Hornady on deer and pigs out to 250 metres a consistently accurate cartridge with sufficient grunt if being used properly. Tried some 85gr Interbond's with SuperPerformance powder you can get these flying, friend used them all on a goat culling trip.

 

[DJ Fergus]

30-30 Winchester. Killed more deer than anything on the planet. I had to post this honorable mention for the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" crowd.

 

[sierracharlie338]

No from predictably ineffective.
From 4 different hunting experiences. I've been at it for over 55 years and I gave the .308 the nod several times and on 4 occasions it did not impress me. Three times on deer using 150 gr Hornady Interlock bullets I had them run off. recovered, yes but after a tracking job. Deer hit with the 270, 243 and 7-08 in the same spot were either DRT or within a few feet. Out of the dozens shot with the .243 only one didn't drop where it stood and that was due to a faulty bullet that disintegrated on impact. Second bullet broke both shoulder as it was running off and he did a face plant in the dirt. None shot with the 270 or 7-08 moved after being hit. The 4th instance was with a big black bear that I had jumped and 1st shot hit too far back. He turned and was running straight toward me (I believe he didn't know where the shot came from) at 40 yards and I hit him twice in the center of the chest. At 15 yards he realized where the shots were coming from and as he turned I put one right behind the shoulder and he dove into the laurel.(it rained the night before and I could see where every shot hit him because the water splashed off his coat). I heard shots about 2 mins later in the direction he was headed and I followed the blood trail up to two hunters who had killed him. That bear traveled 250 yards with three 180 gr bullets in his boiler room that should have stopped him in less than 50 yards.
So yeah I have a sour taste in my mouth for the .308 Win on game.
Maybe in today's world with a bullet like a Barnes TSX or Berger VLD things would have been different but this was back 25+ years ago. I never took a .308 hunting again.

That's crazy. I don't mind a tracking job being one of those stick and string people. I shot a doe with a Hornady interlock at 383 yards and the exit was the size of a softball. Track was all of 30 yards. To each his own and I know it's hard to refind confidence in an item once it's been lost.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Yes, Another excellent deer cartridge. Light recoil often results in more precise shot placement. Moderate range shooting at medium sized game in the hands of a real shooter means dead bucks. Good for you buddy !!!

Yesterday eve, my 12 y/o grandson shot, a NICE, 3 X 4 Mule Deer, here in Idaho at, 265 Yards with, my .243 Win., Tikka, using a 87 grain Berger, HVLD Bullet. The shot was made Prone over, a stuffed, EXO Pack with, a Toe rest support ( NO Bipod ).
A couple of short "Hops" and, DRT with, a PERFECT behind, the crease, ( Boiler Room ) shot ! Boiler Room Organs, were Jello and NO, Meat loss !
My grandson has practiced sitting position, using Stix and Prone over, a Pack, on 11" Dia. steel Plates, SEVERAL Times, this Summer / Fall.
All that, Practicing, paid off ! We ( my Son, his Brother and ole' grandpa, Lefty ) are all, VERY proud of his, hard work & straight shootin' !
At "reasonable" ranges with, the RIGHT Bullet, the LIGHT Recoiling, and VERY Accurate, ole' .243 Win., is STILL,.. a Deer SLAYER !

 

[Starlite]

And then,.. Squeezed it back down and ADDED, the 30* shoulder, to create,.. the PERFECT, Deer / Antelope, Cartridge,.. the 6.5 Creedmoor !
Yup,.. I succumbed to, One of, these Baby's ! And,.. My Man bun, is growing,.. longer !

Then necked it back down to 6mm. A real tax driver. However I'm really liking the reborn 270win with light for caliber 110 Barnes ttsx.

 

[Calvin45]

Then necked it back down to 6mm. A real tax driver. However I'm really liking the reborn 270win with light for caliber 110 Barnes ttsx.

Sounds like a winner. What are you running those at?

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

That's crazy. I don't mind a tracking job being one of those stick and string people. I shot a doe with a Hornady interlock at 383 yards and the exit was the size of a softball. Track was all of 30 yards. To each his own and I know it's hard to refind confidence in an item once it's been lost.

Yeah Charlie I to am an avid bow hunter. In fact this will be the 1st year in about 7 or 8 years where I will be rifle hunting for a buck as I didn't get one in archery season. But I know for a fact I won't be toting a 308. I'll either carry my 7-08 or my new 350 Legend or 6.5 CM. Heck I may even go old school and grab my 94 XTR Big Bore in 375 Win.!

 

[Ranger Rick]

Holy buck! 14 pages of replies. This OP invites debate. If big-dog-one had asked his Q differently: "Is the .243 'a good' whitetail deer cartridge?" A simple "Yes" would have been enough.
Good reading after I get back from my whitetail hunt

 

[Coyote01]

A little background, my father in law debated me one time, 243 is the best deer cartridge. I said, naw, it's the 30-06. He said no way, the 243 kills them just as dead, sweetest shooting cartridge with no recoil, and very flat and fast.

Shortly after that, I 'd gotten on a lease and bought a 243 as a back up to my trusty 30-06 and for my father in law to use when I took him as my guest. Well guess what? I've come to believe he's right. I've shot deer with calibers up to 375H&H and pistol calibers 45 ACP and 41 magnum and nothing kills deer as quickly as that 243.

Since then I bought a small frame 243 Tikka T3 for my kids to use as their first deer rifle. That gun is a tack driver and kills deer dead right there. It's light, smooth action, relatively inexpensive, sized right for kids and comes with shims to grow with them. My buddy took his youngest of three sons out to hunt his first deer this weekend. Borrowed that 243. One shot, DRT! Loved the gun.

Just more proof in my mind that my father in law was right. The 243 is the best deer cartridge. I don't know what it is, speed? sweet-spot diameter of bullet? Just the right amount of energy? Love to hear others' thoughts and reactions, both pro and con!

I don't think there is any cartridge that I would classify as the best. They all kill just like they were designed to do.

 

[jessej]

Saying a 243 is the best cartridge ever made for killing deer is like saying this is the best truck ever made for towing 2000 pounds.

Sure it'll do it, well…. But a f250 diesel WILL do it better every time.

 

[Todd Carpenter]

Here we go, couldnt help but reply to this and cant believe folks r really this stupid! Is looting and burning friendly protest? That just like saying the 243 is best deer caliber! The 243 is for a fact the most bought worse deer caliber ever created!!!! People really buy them for women and kids because of no recoil! The 243 can account for more game lost, wounded and crippled than any other so called deer caliber ever! What is it that make people want to use the least effective barely capeable to hunt with? I read down and find some idots take this round for shooting elk!! I dont mind stepping on toes when people act this stupid! I consider this type of person to be liberal or democrat! I would rather use over kill than under kill! This is common sense! wake up people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TX Badger]

Saying a 243 is the best cartridge ever made for killing deer is like saying this is the best truck ever made for towing 2000 pounds.

Sure it'll do it, well…. But a f250 diesel WILL do it better every time. View attachment 314228

Exactly. And a 1 ton dually will do it with even more ease, but there are always trade offs. It's about finding that sweet spot/balance. For me, that's a fast twist 25 between creedmoor and Weatherby depending on how far you're shooting.

 

[JMW67]

well I guess we should all be hunting with a Kenworth