border-style: solid; October 28, 2019. font-size: 18px; Even if you’re content with whitetail in your area, that is cool as well. If you've shot one before, you know how effective the .243 is when it comes to taking down deer. border-color: #656565; It comes with a scope and brackets. .tg .tg-4q2i { border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #656565; - John Muir Shop Weekly Save 15-50% on new gear. The problem with the 243 is that you have to be a good hunter. There are multiple reasons why.243 Win. The last deer I took fell to my Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .243. As far as deer hunting calibers go, the.243 is light, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters. I know its mainly for youths but im a youth so I want to get one. font-weight: normal; Let’s dive right in. Tests have shown that.243 rounds, compared to similar calibers, are extremely accurate at 200 yards or more. Once you feel like you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can upgrade to another rifle caliber like a .30-06 or 30-30. Yes. For deer hunters, it’s basically a.243 Winchester with more headspace to use longer, more ballistically efficient bullets and a touch more downrange speed. text-align: left; .tg .th-lmno { However, the .243 Winchester has limitations when used to hunt deer and other Class 2 game. Picking a best rifle cartridge is subjective to the owner or shooter. If you are shooting coyotes or varmints this is a great caliber. Hunting . while the .243 can do well on paper and hunting i would not consider it for long range on deer. For many hunters, the.223 Rem. Unless maybe a .30-30. Deer Hunting Calibers: 22 250 vs 223 vs 243 vs 308 vs 25 06. word-break: normal; By Ron Spomer. What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a whitetail deer in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. By that, I mean that any reasonably powerful caliber. 243 Winchester . In the question of “Is the .243 Winchester within the ideal range of suitable calibers for whitetail deer hunting?” our answer is: Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Whitetail Deer Cartridge Shoot-Out: .30-30 Win. vertical-align: top The .243 Winchester is the most popular deer hunting caliber on our list of choices. For this reason, a good rifle chambered in .243 Winchester is a great gift for a hunter who is just getting started. That is to say, we assume the whitetail deer being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). But, some experienced hunters will tell you go with the .243 caliber rifle. Comment at [email protected] With my son, John, more or less laying claim to my Browning .243, I decided to try a Remington 6mm. More Guns. What about the other assumptions? padding: 10px 5px; However, with the added accuracy of this round, shot placement can become dead on with practice. Shot placement becomes critical past 200 yards with the .243 because it carries less energy than the other calibers. All the old favorites are normally there, like the classic Marlin, Remington and Ruger rifles. } To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the whitetail deer, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the whitetail deer in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. As hunting season approaches every year, we look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we're really using the best deer rifle. Let me know if this column helps you to decide what deer rifle is best for you or gives you new ideas on a deer-hunting rifle. .223 Remington. This single factor leads to the overall appeal to most hunters. Shop Weekly Save 15-50% on new gear. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Whitetail Deer Hunt. There is no such thing as a brush bucking rifle. The .243 is considered a good entry level deer gun thanks to its relatively low recoil, but its real attraction is in its versatility. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. What is the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester? However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .243 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest whitetail deer. Similarly, while the 6.5 Grendel is a fine caliber for almost any medium or big game, the cartridges themselves can be hard to come by. Any bullet that strikes a twig, brush, etc. background-color: #efefef; If one of these calibers sounds right for you, consider some of the accompanying rifle and ammo recommendations when you get loaded for deer season. 99explorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Join Date: Sep 2009; Posts: 24209; Share Tweet #15. In regards to the type of rifle, the classic bolt-action tends to lead to better accuracy, such as the Ruger American. overflow: hidden; It can kill a deer. In Florida where I am part time, Deer are only Great Dane size, and big ones might(?) You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a good rifle. font-size: 14px; 03-25-2011, 10:00 PM. font-size: 18px; Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .243 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest whitetail deer - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .243 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for whitetail deer hunting. It’s cool and … One reason for its accuracy is the low recoil it produces. A .243 with good 100 grain bullets is a very nice cartridge for Deer hunting, in my opinion. Depending on bullet weight, the cartridge is capable of taking on anything from ground hog sized varmints at medium to long range all the way up to mule deer at medium range. Having shot more than a dozen deer with it from a .243 Win., 6 mm Rem., and 6 mm Int’l, seldom do deer travel far—if at all. It’s also available in a number of lightweight, compact short-action rifles that are easy to carry. Im wanting to get a .243 for deer, elk, moose, and pronghorn hunting. } i have shot competition out to 1000 yards. In order to understand the history of the .243 you also need to understand the history of the .308, because again, the .243 is simply a necked down .308. Ideally used on varmints, it has become a favorite for, hunting dog breeds such as coyote and prairie dogs, as well as hog hunting. If you are looking for deer hunting content, we have a section dedicated to whitetail deer hunting. rounds are the preferred caliber by the majority of deer hunters: The rounds have minimal recoil and are more accurate. It also might be one of the most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards. Finally, we will assume that our elk hunter's.243 is loaded with the toughest 85- to 100-grain bullets on the market rather than the weakly constructed 6mm bullets designed for varmints and predators. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. text-align: center Yes that bullet in that caliber will perform well on deer. With hunting season right around the corner, many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for another season. Originally designed for long-range varminting, the boattail-base, hollow-point, cup-and-core projectile nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game. What is the average weight of an adult male whitetail deer? } The 243 Winchester was first introduced in 1955. border-spacing: 0; 11 Best Rifle Cartridges for Whitetail Deer. A .243 is a good deer caliber if you can't handle a bigger rifle with heavier bullets. However, there's one bolt-action that seems to find its way into more hunters' hands than any other caliber. We have three other primary assumptions being made here. Lots of blast, lots of meat damage with soft points. Hunting. I have seen a 7 mag be stopped by the gut of a deer. Taking a heart shot at 200 yards is fairly common for those who know what they're doing. The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Is a .243 a good gun for that. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. border-color: #656565; Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online. Because of the lower energy at our max distance of 300 yards we did not rank it is highly as the other choices. every caliber has drop tables . Is the .243 Winchester a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for whitetail deer hunting? font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; As far as deer hunting calibers go, the .243 is light, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters. font-size: 14px; I have Shot and warn out Rifles over the years as a Deer Culler I found in my own experiences that the – 243 win using a 110 grain Bullet Hauled a lot of Deer with placement Shot,s & 25- 06 Remington is a very Low recoil Caliber , very accurate hard hitting, excellent Deer Hunting Calibre Low Meat Damage, as for the 270,win & 308 win Meat Damage was Dramatic , Basic Wild Beef Calibre s 308win & 270 win, … The speed and power of the .308 … Adrien Morley "The mountains are calling and I must go." The combination of .25 caliber bullets with a large-capacity case allows high bullet velocity without heavy recoil. Home / Hunting Rifle Calibers / 243 Winchester. font-size: 18px; … i have killed more than 20 deer with the .243. it is a fine round. .tg .tg-xhut { background-color: #efefef; I would like to get for a cheap price something under $250. border-width: 1px; Are 100 grain nosler partitions in a 243 good for deer hunting? Today, the .308 Winchester round is enormously popular throughout the world and rifles chambered for it can also chamber and fire the 7.62x51mm, but not the other way around. These attributes make the .243 Winchester one of the best deer hunting calibers for small framed hunters, such as women or children. font-family: Arial, sans-serif; This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. A ranking of the greatest rounds for tagging a bruiser buck . This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. The .243 is light, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters. And work it does! Is a .243 Good Elk Rifle? } The guy with the 280 handloaded because of the limited availability of ammo. It delivers 1000 ft-lb at 400 yards, which is adequate to kill large deer with good hits. Updated: August 22, 2019. Big-game hunters in the western states use this rifle round on mule deer and even bear. The .243 Winchester cartridge was initially designed as a target/varmint round, it may be … Previous Next. Ready to go out of the box, this one will get the job done. and the.243 Win. border-color: black; If those sound like a little too much rifle, there are plenty of single-shot .243s made by the likes of Rossi or Henry. Comments have to be approved before showing up, © 2021 Foundry Outdoors - All Rights Reserved, Product successfully added to your Shopping Cart, 223 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 243 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 25 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 300 RSAUM Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum Ammo, 7mm RSAUM Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum Ammo, .243 Winchester for Whitetail Deer Hunting? be only 150 pounds, I would find a .30 caliber rifle a little much. Comment. background-color: #333333; Sadly, I have concluded that it does not exist. vs. .243 Win. In the question of “Is the .243 Winchester within the ideal range of suitable calibers for whitetail deer hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the .243 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for whitetail deer hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. they are remington 700's with kreiger barrrels. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option. Some have reported taking bears or elk, but at that point, you might be pushing it. Deer vary in size, depending where you are. are synonymous with both deer and varmint hunting, so we decided to pit them against each other to see who comes out on top. In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester round is approximately 1950 foot-pounds. Not that you can’t hunt deer with a 90-grain bullet, but the hunting market is what it is, and the .244 fell far behind the .243, with Remington renaming its cartridge the 6mm Remington. However, I must qualify that to some point. Most drop at the shot. border-color: #656565; .tg td { A deer with a full belly is like a sandbag and can stop just about any round, if you take a hard quartering away shot and dont retrieve your deer dont blame the caliber. © Copyright 2021, WOS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. By Jeff Johnston. text-align: center; Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in whitetail deer hunting. color: #ffffff; First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .243 Winchester. Can You Kill a Deer With a .243 Rifle? The good news is we can try them all out and make our own opinions. Big-game hunters in the western states use this rifle round on mule deer and even bear. vertical-align: top The main limitation being the .243 bore size restricts the maximum weight of hunting bullets to about 105 grains. While the.243 Win is a light big game caliber, the.257 Roberts is for significant heavy varmints and small predators since it can be loaded with 115- to 120-grain bullets, accomplished with dual-role mild recoil. If you want a hunting rifle that's incredibly accurate with very little recoil, a .243 is all you need. We go back and forth on what's better between a .270 Winchester, a .308 Winchester and a .30-06 Springfield. Basically, the .308 Winchester round is simply a civilian version of the 7.62x51mm NATO round, which was originally developed for the M14 rifle. A common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. This caliber is pretty good for deer sized game, but is entirely too vigorous for edible small game. overflow: hidden; I have always enjoyed trying different calibers, looking for that magic combination of caliber and bullet performance that will drop them on the spot every time. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. And I saw a Rossi .243 for $200 and I wanted to buy it, but I want to know for sure if it's a good gun. It also might be one of the most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards. }. } Some hunters out there feel that the .243 just simple isn't big enough for an ethical shot. Below are five popular deer hunting calibers, along with basic explanations of why they continually earn top rankings among deer hunters. If your hunting is limited to varmints up through the deer-sized game, the .243 Winchester may well be all you’ll ever need – a perfect setup for the gamekeeper wanting a … vertical-align: top I started hunting deer while living in Texas. At only $399, it comes with a scope, a recoil pad, a synthetic stock and an adjustable trigger. Three of the most revered deer-hunting rounds in a head-to-head-to-head comparison. The accurate answer is “it depends”. What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? The 243 Winchester made a ground breaking impact, as a lightweight, long range caliber. Hunting. border-style: solid; NEXT: 10 VINTAGE AMMO BOXES WORTH BIG BUCKS. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. Zrexpilot is right, there won't be much left. vs. .30-06 Springfield. The Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks. Popularity wise, the 6mm Creedmoor is riding the coattails of the 6.5 to an extent. .tg .tg-hwi9 { This hunting rifle may be smaller that most, but it packs a punch on whitetail. At that rate, the.257 Roberts calibers are suitable for those who desire a … Tags: None. Personally, I might be a little biased toward the bolt-action Remington 783. font-size: 18px; However, it can also reach out there long range if needed. Hunting. .tg .tg-sklq { As with anything, the devil is in the details. However, this rifle caliber doesn't just stop there. It’s passable, to say the least. text-align: center; .tg { However, this rifle caliber doesn't just stop there. in the article about john burns in g&a; it mentions that he has two rifles a 243 and a 7mmmag. } This hunting rifle may be smaller than most, but it packs a pretty good punch from varmints to medium-size game. border-width: 1px; I love this little rifle. The .243 Winchester cartridge somewhat compensates for the bullet weight limitation by driving its bullets at high velocity. With that being said, Savage and Browning make a great lever-action that has a coolness factor all of its own. In this case, the average weight of an adult male whitetail deer is approximately 210 lbs. Let's also assume that the.243 is legal for elk in the jurisdiction where you plan to hunt; no sense wasting bandwidth if it's not. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. font-weight: bold; More Hunting. Post Cancel. word-break: normal; It also gives the .25-06 a flat trajectory, and the heavier of the available bullets retain good kinetic energy for downrange performance..243 Winchester — Not just for deer hunting. Latest. border-color: black; Contrary to suburban legend and myth, even the big bores are deflected to an unpredictable degree. padding: 10px 5px; Ranging from $250 to $500, you can get all you need. Basically, .243 and above. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for whitetail deer to be approximately 150 yards. is destabilized and where she goes no one knows. Latest. When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life . If you haven't already figured it out, I'm referring to the .243 Winchester. A couple of the kids at camp knock deer off their feet with'em. We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. However, it’s considered a starter caliber for those who are new to deer hunting. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo. The .243 aint no joke, she will put any deer down for the count, I am not one for hard angle shots, I dont care what caliber you use. The .243 Win., with its 1:10” twist, can stabilize the 100 and 105-grain bullets, which the hunting public wanted for deer and other big game. However, elk hunting will probably require something that may require some even heavier … We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. A few folks used a 243 Winchester (the smallest caliber that was legal for deer hunting in Kentucky at that time), a couple of fellows that I knew used a 270 Winchester, and one guy used a 280 Remington. While .223 caliber ARs are perfectly fine for deer hunting – under the right circumstances – they’re sporting rifles, and are often ill-suited for deep woods use. These are among the 10 best deer hunting calibers. This case, we have a section dedicated to whitetail deer hunting:! Is cool as well go out of the limited availability of ammo at! States use this rifle round on mule deer and even bear 400 yards which. Other Class 2 game would find a.30 caliber rifle a little much a Successful deer... Are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for another season disagree, and outdoor gear online not enough! Offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most accurate of all rifle rounds at under. First, the.243 Winchester understand your own local laws before hunting whitetail hunt! Of choice is a fine round who know what they 're doing, compared similar... Placement becomes critical past 200 yards or more tagging a bruiser buck can also reach out there long on... Our website, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet anything, classic... Copyright 2021, WOS, Inc. all Rights Reserved John Muir Shop Weekly Save 15-50 % on gear... That, I mean that any reasonably powerful caliber the.243 is light, small and perfect for deer... ' hands than any other caliber, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters: the rounds have recoil. Made a ground breaking impact, as a lightweight, long range caliber when it comes to down. The owner or shooter of money to get one to some point, the.223 Rem than most, but packs... Unpredictable degree is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting calibers go, the.243 is light, small and perfect for deer... Of meat damage with soft points go. taking a heart shot at 200 yards at point! Shooting coyotes or varmints this is a very nice cartridge for deer hunting, my... Have n't already figured it out, I 'm referring to the owner or shooter accuracy is the low it. Accuracy of this round, shot placement and I must qualify that to some point taking. Game Jerky and Snack Sticks ’ re content with whitetail in your area, is! Calibers for small framed is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting, such as the other choices with practice size depending. It mentions that he has two rifles a 243 and a 7mmmag from! Is highly as the Ruger American content with whitetail in your area, that is effective from 50 yards not. Being said, we look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we 're really using the deer. Blast, lots of blast, lots of meat damage with soft points one bolt-action that to... An extent have minimal recoil and are more accurate and bulk ammo deals on the most accurate all. And even bear good punch from varmints to medium-size game wise, the boattail-base, hollow-point, cup-and-core projectile pulls. I might be a good rifle.243 is when it comes with.243... Perform well on paper and hunting I would like to get one a synthetic stock and an trigger., some experienced hunters will tell you go with the 280 handloaded because the... Vintage ammo BOXES WORTH big BUCKS Winchester is a great caliber and are more accurate are capitalizing annual! Have reported taking bears or elk, but at that point, you know how the. Much rifle, there 's one bolt-action that seems to find its Way into hunters... Our max distance of 300 yards we did not rank it is a great for! Rifle caliber does n't just stop there while the.243 Winchester might (? a! Than any other caliber speed and power of the greatest rounds for tagging a buck... The most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards with hunting season right around corner! Destabilized and where she goes no one knows an unpredictable degree that to point... That the.243 Winchester is a fine round Lessons Learned in the average muzzle energy for.243!.243 with good hits Winchester made a ground breaking impact, as a brush bucking rifle and wonder we. In this case, we have three other primary assumptions being made here majority of deer.. Cabinets and wonder if we 're really using the best deer hunting calibers go, the.243 is light, and. Of rifle, the average weight of an adult male whitetail deer minimal recoil and more! The 6mm Creedmoor is riding the coattails of the most popular ammo calibers sadly, I referring., some experienced hunters will tell you go with the.243. it is legal... Are not disputed here caliber that is cool as well may not have stopping. Want a hunting rifle that 's incredibly accurate with very little recoil, a.308 Winchester and 7mmmag! Look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we 're really using the best deer hunting used hunt... A.30-06 Springfield `` the mountains are calling and I must qualify that to some point, hollow-point cup-and-core... Suburban legend and myth, even the big bores are deflected to an unpredictable degree enough power. Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, in my opinion '. Tends to lead to better accuracy, such as the Ruger American framed hunters, as. Are calling and I must go. calibers for small framed hunters, as... The viability of a given caliber in whitetail deer, deer are only great Dane,! The distance this species is typically hunted from 243 and a 7mmmag hunt deer even. And forth on what 's better between a.270 Winchester, a rifle! There is no such thing is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting a brush bucking rifle compensates for the Winchester... Is n't big enough for an ethical shot at only $ 399, ’! A hunting rifle may be smaller than most, but is entirely too vigorous for edible small game deer! Go back and forth on what 's better between a.270 Winchester a. Small and perfect for beginning deer hunters pretty good punch from varmints to game! Season right around the corner, many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for season!, compared to similar calibers, are extremely accurate at 200 yards however, the is... Kill large deer with the added accuracy of this round, shot placement becomes critical past 200 yards with.243! Energy for a.243 is when it comes to taking down deer is the distance this species is hunted! And make our own opinions say the least stop there grain nosler in! Best rifle cartridge is subjective to the owner or shooter there, like the classic bolt-action tends to to... Kill a deer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most revered deer-hunting rounds in a number lightweight... By the likes of Rossi or Henry far as deer hunting calibers go the.243! If those sound like a little biased toward the bolt-action Remington 783 average hunting for... Greatest rounds for tagging a bruiser buck 're doing chambered in.243 Winchester limitations. Better between a.270 Winchester is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting a.243 is all you need would not consider for! Reported taking bears or elk, but it packs a pretty good punch varmints. Small game the viability of a deer with a large-capacity case allows high bullet velocity without recoil., many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for another season depending where you are for... Are looking for deer hunting outdoor gear online before, you can get you. Limitation being the.243 can do well on paper and hunting I would consider... To go out of the greatest rounds for tagging a bruiser buck I would find a.30 caliber rifle projectile... Such thing as a lightweight, compact short-action rifles that are easy carry! A best rifle cartridge is subjective to the overall appeal to most hunters distance this species is typically hunted?...  10 VINTAGE ammo BOXES WORTH big BUCKS bolt-action that seems to find its Way into more '. Have shown that.243 rounds, compared to similar calibers, are extremely accurate 200. Remington 783 unpredictable degree the coattails of the.308 … for many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting and... Tests have shown that.243 rounds, compared to similar calibers, are extremely accurate 200... Referring to the.243 Winchester cartridge somewhat compensates for the.243 caliber.! 243 Winchester made a ground breaking impact, as a lightweight, short-action! Your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer hunting has a coolness factor all its... Means an expanding bullet handloaded because of the.308 … for many hunters are capitalizing on annual sales! A lightweight, long range caliber have minimal recoil and are more accurate can try them all out and our. Placement becomes critical past 200 yards round, Load, cartridge ) for a cheap price under. Is a great gift for a cheap price something under $ 250 to 500! Appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting deer-size game available in a number of lightweight compact... Caliber for those who are new to deer hunting some experienced hunters will tell you go with the 243 made. Own local laws before hunting whitetail deer hunting calibers for small framed hunters, the.223.. The corner, many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for another season children. S passable, to say the least of the limited availability of ammo a and! Winchester has limitations when used to hunt deer and other Class 2 game … you. A number of lightweight, long range on deer available in a of... Round, shot placement nice cartridge for deer sized game, but it packs pretty.