Is the 243 the best whitetail deer cartridge?

[DickC]

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 prefer the .250Savage, a little more knockdown! IMHO

 

[Stgraves260]

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!

Yes I would say the 243 Win and your 6.5 cal are probably the best all around deer cartridges. I own a 243 win that's shoots 105 grain Berger's and a 260 Rem that shoots 140 grain Berger's.

 

[tomsd]

Didn't read everything - but it certainly works - for the right applicatrion.

I grew up hunting in heavy timber - and the ole .32 Winchester Special - lever action - shooting 170 grain soft nose -which worked great - out to say 150 yards - but most shots were much closer.

 

[tomsd]

BTW - for longer shots - the trusty Sporterized 30.06 worked just fine.

 

[gvjm]

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!

If you're impressed with a 243, wait till you try a 25-06!

 

[Stgraves260]

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 !

There is nothing a 6.5 CM can do that a 260 Rem cant do better. I have a 260 Rem and a 6.5 CM both. I hand load for both. The only positive thing I can say about the CM is the availability Of factory ammo. If you hand load the 260 comes out on top every time.

 

[Snowboy]

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!

It depends where you are hunting? The .308 bullets will do more damage and are easier to track in the heavy cover which I hunt in. I have been very successful finding almost every deer shot with a .308 caliber bullet not so much with my brothers .243. He enjoys the lighter recoil but passes up many opportunities.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

I'm with ya!!! 6mm is the go to for me most the time. 260 Rem is my next pick for all time best. I have a thread called, bigger is better fact or fiction, on here about the same topic! Every deer I've shot with a 30-06 or 12 gauge has managed to run 100 yards or so before falling vs the good ol 6mm drt effect. A lot of good info and opinions but I agree the 243 is definitely one of the best

 

[Snowboy]

I am surprised it took someone this long to bring up the holy grail of all calibers...... all hail lord 6.5 creedmore

Iopportunities.I would rather have the .260 Rem.

 

[INVICTUS]

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!

The best round for shooting anything is generally the one you can shoot consistently and accurately. Marksmanship is what kills, no magazine add ballistics. I have tracked many 125 pound white tails hit poorly with a 300 win mag because the shooter had both eyes closed prior to the gun firing. I'm pretty sure the second largest Grizzly ever killed was shot with a 22 rim fire at about 5 yds. Now that an exceptional case but it illustrates the point. Pick something you can shoot, you're comfortable with and know it's limitations. A 243 is great round and I have seen them perform well on game and in TAC matches. I'm pretty sure George Gardner was shooting 243 for a while in matches before designing the 6 GAP.
Good on you for getting away from your regular gun and giving the 243 a try. I think if more people did that they would realize, in many cases, less is actually more.

 

[Snowboy]

I must say the .243 always impresses me.
It the the round I recommend to
All new shooter and hunters cause it's light recoil, easy to learn, and ability to hunt such a wide array of stuff. I own one of the few ranges in the area that reaches more than 200 yards. So lots of new shooters ask for advice, I always say .243. Heck it really shocks me when older hunters come to me saying they want a rifle for deer out to 300 and they look at me like I'm stupid when I tell them the 6.5 creed although threat and my personal rooms I use is not the best for them because they buy the cheapest scope and won't dial up.
In fact my shooting buddy still
Uses his .243 and takes all kinds of game.

.A .222 Rem. will work under most conditions with the right bullet.

 

[Stammster]

I've got big hands and big feet. It just feels more natural for me to grab and load a long action round like a 25-06, 270, or 30-06, rather than a 243, 6.5CM. But for some of you guys (and your wife's) that prefer a short action round, I can certainly understand why.

 

[gyrfalcon]

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!

You never told us which bullets you use in your .243. Fast expanders kill often quicker then slower expanding penetrators. Any well placed and well constructed bullet from any 6 mm upward ( many will argue for .22 centerfires), will kill any deer cleanly. It be wise to hunt the big robust northern and Canadian deer that go as heavy as 200 lbs +, with a minimum of .270 Win, or 7/08 while you Southern US much smaller deer can be safely shot with a .22 or 6mm In more open field situations. You ambush them on open fields, or do you sneak along deer/elk trails in the woods? What I am trying to say is that there are so many variables in field situations, that you got to pick your equipment to adjust to the situation. However, a good shooting 3006 is overall a much more adaptable deer gun, then your fine .243. There are many good answers to your question.

 

[Gills]

What's best? This argument can go on for ever. In my opinion the best is the one you know(trajectory, capability, ability), you shoot well and you like. This is what makes a great rifle to each individual.