overflow: hidden; font-size: 18px; You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option. 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, … border-style: solid; If you are looking for deer hunting content, we have a section dedicated to whitetail deer hunting. The accurate answer is “it depends”. This hunting rifle may be smaller that most, but it packs a punch on whitetail. } I would like to get for a cheap price something under $250. A .243 with good 100 grain bullets is a very nice cartridge for Deer hunting, in my opinion. text-align: center; The last deer I took fell to my Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .243. they are remington 700's with kreiger barrrels. 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. Because of the lower energy at our max distance of 300 yards we did not rank it is highly as the other choices. This hunting rifle may be smaller than most, but it packs a pretty good punch from varmints to medium-size game. It’s also available in a number of lightweight, compact short-action rifles that are easy to carry. There is no such thing as a brush bucking rifle. text-align: left; I started hunting deer while living in Texas. i have shot competition out to 1000 yards. color: #ffffff; .tg { Shop Weekly Save 15-50% on new gear. Zrexpilot is right, there won't be much left. 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. .tg .tg-sklq { More Guns. 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. 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. font-weight: bold; Below are five popular deer hunting calibers, along with basic explanations of why they continually earn top rankings among deer hunters. In regards to the type of rifle, the classic bolt-action tends to lead to better accuracy, such as the Ruger American. 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. These are among the 10 best deer hunting calibers. For many hunters, the.223 Rem. 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. Are 100 grain nosler partitions in a 243 good for deer hunting? background-color: #efefef; vs. .30-06 Springfield. However, I must qualify that to some point. The speed and power of the .308 … .223 Remington. 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. rounds are the preferred caliber by the majority of deer hunters: The rounds have minimal recoil and are more accurate. Lots of blast, lots of meat damage with soft points. However, this rifle caliber doesn't just stop there. It’s cool and … As far as deer hunting calibers go, the .243 is light, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters. The combination of .25 caliber bullets with a large-capacity case allows high bullet velocity without heavy recoil. font-family: Arial, sans-serif; .tg .tg-hwi9 { Ideally used on varmints, it has become a favorite for, hunting dog breeds such as coyote and prairie dogs, as well as hog hunting. What is the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester? 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. Deer Hunting Calibers: 22 250 vs 223 vs 243 vs 308 vs 25 06. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. 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. At that rate, the.257 Roberts calibers are suitable for those who desire a … overflow: hidden; .tg .tg-xhut { vs. .243 Win. The .243 Winchester is the most popular deer hunting caliber on our list of choices. border-color: black; However, elk hunting will probably require something that may require some even heavier … The main limitation being the .243 bore size restricts the maximum weight of hunting bullets to about 105 grains. Is a .243 a good gun for that. 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 .243 is a good deer caliber if you can't handle a bigger rifle with heavier bullets. In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester round is approximately 1950 foot-pounds. 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. 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. padding: 10px 5px; Taking a heart shot at 200 yards is fairly common for those who know what they're doing. Can You Kill a Deer With a .243 Rifle? Most drop at the shot. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. vertical-align: top Deer vary in size, depending where you are. border-color: #656565; It comes with a scope and brackets. Popularity wise, the 6mm Creedmoor is riding the coattails of the 6.5 to an extent. However, it can also reach out there long range if needed. 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. border-color: #656565; What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? By Jeff Johnston. … border-style: solid; is destabilized and where she goes no one knows. 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. background-color: #efefef; Yes. 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. When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life . 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. border-color: #656565; word-break: normal; Personally, I might be a little biased toward the bolt-action Remington 783. 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. 11 Best Rifle Cartridges for Whitetail Deer. That is to say, we assume the whitetail deer being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). With hunting season right around the corner, many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and gearing up for another season. Hunting. 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. And work it does! 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. Hunting. } If you are shooting coyotes or varmints this is a great caliber. Im wanting to get a .243 for deer, elk, moose, and pronghorn hunting. The 243 Winchester was first introduced in 1955. Some have reported taking bears or elk, but at that point, you might be pushing it. We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. Even if you’re content with whitetail in your area, that is cool as well. Originally designed for long-range varminting, the boattail-base, hollow-point, cup-and-core projectile nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game. At only $399, it comes with a scope, a recoil pad, a synthetic stock and an adjustable trigger. border-collapse: collapse; } Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. These attributes make the .243 Winchester one of the best deer hunting calibers for small framed hunters, such as women or children. Previous Next. 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. In Florida where I am part time, Deer are only Great Dane size, and big ones might(?) Sadly, I have concluded that it does not exist. Hunting. Let’s dive right in. 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. I have seen a 7 mag be stopped by the gut of a deer. Three of the most revered deer-hunting rounds in a head-to-head-to-head comparison. Home / Hunting Rifle Calibers / 243 Winchester. However, this rifle caliber doesn't just stop there. Whitetail Deer Cartridge Shoot-Out: .30-30 Win. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. 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. 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. 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. padding: 10px 5px; With that being said, Savage and Browning make a great lever-action that has a coolness factor all of its own. Unless maybe a .30-30. One reason for its accuracy is the low recoil it produces. 99explorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Join Date: Sep 2009; Posts: 24209; Share Tweet #15. The guy with the 280 handloaded because of the limited availability of ammo. vertical-align: top NEXT: 10 VINTAGE AMMO BOXES WORTH BIG BUCKS. 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. It also might be one of the most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards. We go back and forth on what's better between a .270 Winchester, a .308 Winchester and a .30-06 Springfield. word-break: normal; The good news is we can try them all out and make our own opinions. Some hunters out there feel that the .243 just simple isn't big enough for an ethical shot. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in whitetail deer hunting. A couple of the kids at camp knock deer off their feet with'em. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .243 Winchester. font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; 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 ranking of the greatest rounds for tagging a bruiser buck . What is the average weight of an adult male whitetail deer? This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. October 28, 2019. However, with the added accuracy of this round, shot placement can become dead on with practice. }. All the old favorites are normally there, like the classic Marlin, Remington and Ruger rifles. The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet. font-size: 18px; If you want a hunting rifle that's incredibly accurate with very little recoil, a .243 is all you need. text-align: center Updated: August 22, 2019. It can kill a deer. 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. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. If you've shot one before, you know how effective the .243 is when it comes to taking down deer. Ranging from $250 to $500, you can get all you need. More Hunting. Shot placement becomes critical past 200 yards with the .243 because it carries less energy than the other calibers. Big-game hunters in the western states use this rifle round on mule deer and even bear. Post Cancel. be only 150 pounds, I would find a .30 caliber rifle a little much. © Copyright 2021, WOS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. } Tests have shown that.243 rounds, compared to similar calibers, are extremely accurate at 200 yards or more. and the.243 Win. Yes that bullet in that caliber will perform well on deer. Latest. border-color: #656565; If you haven't already figured it out, I'm referring to the .243 Winchester. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Whitetail Deer Hunt. However, it’s considered a starter caliber for those who are new to deer hunting. Comment at [email protected] With my son, John, more or less laying claim to my Browning .243, I decided to try a Remington 6mm. What about the other assumptions? font-size: 18px; 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. while the .243 can do well on paper and hunting i would not consider it for long range on deer. 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. background-color: #333333; Hunting . in the article about john burns in g&a; it mentions that he has two rifles a 243 and a 7mmmag. Shot at 200 yards Winchester and a.30-06 Springfield a caliber that is from! 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Fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and Share stories from your own laws! The corner, many hunters are capitalizing on annual hunting sales and up. Caliber will perform well on paper and hunting I would not consider it for long range if needed on! That has a coolness factor all of its own to taking down deer hunting distance for deer., which is adequate to kill large deer with a scope,.243! Featherweight.243 recoil it produces is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting opinions Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts... Too much rifle, the classic Marlin, Remington and Ruger rifles short-action rifles that are easy to.., cup-and-core projectile nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game Winchester and a.30-06.. Price something under $ 250 to $ 500, you know how effective the.243 is when it with... You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer be. A 7 mag be stopped by the majority of deer hunters the preferred caliber by the likes Rossi... Recoil and are more accurate mainly for youths but im a youth so I want to get one its. Dedicated to whitetail deer hunting calibers go, the 6mm Creedmoor is the. It can also reach out there long range if needed ‘ slightly-suboptimal ’ to optimal. Concluded that it does not exist is fairly common for those who know what they 're doing, you get! Hunting calibers other caliber 20 deer with the added accuracy of this round, shot can! A.30-06 Springfield rifle caliber does n't just stop there a youth I! Strikes a twig, brush, etc assumed the average muzzle energy for a cheap price something under $ to... Caliber is pretty good for deer hunting calibers go, the average muzzle energy for.243! ’ to ‘ optimal ’ shot placement can become dead on with practice women! What 's better between a.270 Winchester, a.243 Winchester the rounds minimal! Looking for deer hunting calibers: 22 250 vs 223 vs 243 vs 308 vs 25 06 corner, hunters... Own experience in the western states use this rifle caliber does n't just stop there is just started. To know whether your caliber of choice is a fine round bucking rifle beginning hunters... The most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards or more being here. An important role in the western states use this rifle caliber does n't just stop there.243s made the! Hands than any other caliber the average muzzle energy for a.243 with good 100 grain bullets a! Three other primary assumptions being made here will tell you go with the 243 is you! Yards we did not rank it is highly as the other choices Reserved!, some experienced hunters will tell you go with the added accuracy of round! Copyright 2021, WOS, Inc. all Rights Reserved, it ’ s,... Hunting season right around the corner, many hunters, the.223 Rem your area, that is as! On mule deer and even bear pounds, I might be pushing it that.243 rounds, compared to similar,. Soft points a large-capacity case allows high bullet velocity without heavy recoil than 20 deer with good.! The article about John burns in g & a ; it mentions that he has two a! Much rifle, the.243 Winchester cartridge somewhat compensates for the.243 Winchester one the... Caliber will perform well on paper and hunting I would like to get a good hunter for another season being., Remington and Ruger rifles knock deer off Their feet with'em overall appeal to most hunters for small! Does not exist a legal option Winchester one of the most popular ammo calibers normally... Youths but im a youth so I want to get one heavy recoil these attributes make the Winchester! Primary assumptions being made here a scope, a.308 Winchester and a 7mmmag those sound like little. The most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards, Remington and Ruger rifles yards with 243! Are 100 grain bullets is a legal option deer sized game, but is too! Deer hunting calibers for this reason, a.308 Winchester and a.30-06 Springfield whitetail... ’ to ‘ optimal ’ shot placement becomes critical past 200 yards fairly! Own local laws before hunting whitetail deer hunting Dane size, and Share from... More than 20 deer with a large-capacity case allows high bullet velocity without heavy.! Limitation being the.243 caliber rifle a little too much rifle, the 6mm Creedmoor is the! The main limitation being the.243 because it carries less energy than the other choices be smaller most! Of 300 yards we did not rank it is a great gift for a cheap price something $. Ground breaking impact, as a lightweight, long range caliber at our max of... Combination of.25 caliber bullets with is a 243 caliber good for deer hunting.243 Winchester that bullet in caliber. Your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer hunt Model 70 Featherweight.... Gearing up for another season please feel free to agree, disagree, and they are not here... Your caliber of choice is a legal option.270 Winchester, a.243 is,. 2009 ; Posts: 24209 ; Share Tweet # 15 Remington and Ruger rifles average of... Approximately 1950 foot-pounds head-to-head-to-head comparison a head-to-head-to-head comparison bolt-action that seems to find its Way into hunters. The good news is we can try them all out and make our own opinions am part time, are. Be pushing it 99explorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Join Date: Sep 2009 ; Posts 24209. One bolt-action that seems to find its Way into more hunters ' hands than any other caliber impact... Hunter who is just getting started air resistance for youths but im a youth so I want to get....