.243 for Northern Whitetails
- Thread starter Dooger
- Start date
AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I think a lot of the stories of failures of the 243 date to the 1960's and poor quality bullets in factory ammo. 6mm bullets were new to US manufacturers, failure to open or breaking up on bone happened. I had it happen to me more than once the deer were recoverred.
Hunting was different then also, scopes weren't as common, people trail watched but there were few that hunted over bait or out of elevated blinds with gun rests(they were illegal in some states)and you never saw shooting sticks or bipods. A lot of hunters still hunted and many shots were quartering or going away, no problem with your 180gr RN out of your 06 or 30-40 they usually came out the otherside and there was a good blood trail to follow even without snow.
Along came the 243 with cup and core bullets and if they hit the right spot killed like lightning, put one a little to far front or back and there was only a little entrance hole and no exit a deer can go a long way before enough blood builds up in the wound to start coming out the small hole. No body wants to admit a poor shot so it had to be the cartridge, they sure didn't loose deer with the old 30 cal.
A lot of these stories came from the northern latitudes, bigger deer and thicker fat layers. 250 lb field dressed deer are not uncommon and many running much larger.
Northern WI public land deer
Hunting was different then also, scopes weren't as common, people trail watched but there were few that hunted over bait or out of elevated blinds with gun rests(they were illegal in some states)and you never saw shooting sticks or bipods. A lot of hunters still hunted and many shots were quartering or going away, no problem with your 180gr RN out of your 06 or 30-40 they usually came out the otherside and there was a good blood trail to follow even without snow.
Along came the 243 with cup and core bullets and if they hit the right spot killed like lightning, put one a little to far front or back and there was only a little entrance hole and no exit a deer can go a long way before enough blood builds up in the wound to start coming out the small hole. No body wants to admit a poor shot so it had to be the cartridge, they sure didn't loose deer with the old 30 cal.
A lot of these stories came from the northern latitudes, bigger deer and thicker fat layers. 250 lb field dressed deer are not uncommon and many running much larger.
Northern WI public land deer
Last edited:
Tim Neitzke
New member
Good post AWS . Very much true.
Tim Neitzke
New member
Have a guy I work with who was growing up in Texas when the 243win came out. Friend of his got one for a coyote rifle mostly. He said it would pencil right through coyotes and even rabbits. Problem was lack of good bullets (to hard) like AWS said. This guy told me you could shoot clean through a telephone pole but not kill a yote with it.
Todays bullets make the 243 just as good as anything for med-big game and smaller.
Todays bullets make the 243 just as good as anything for med-big game and smaller.
Good and Bad about everything. I started loading and deer hunting this year with my 243 M77 Lighweight. Loaded with 85 Sierra BTHP's Ive killed 4 deer from 125 yds to 185 yds and they all died within 30 yds. Shot placement my friends, I put 3 in the ribs and one in the neck. All passed through. 4 for 4. How many people out there have killed with .22's.................
Its all in where ya put it. MY 2 cents.
Its all in where ya put it. MY 2 cents.