Barely Adequate or Good Enough? 243 for Deer Hunting!

In this video we are trying the 243 Winchester for deer hunting. The two loadings are 55 grain Buffalo Bore and 80 grain Barnes TTSX BT.

The rifle is a Savage 110 Predator.

[jeffsnider]

243 is just fine. Hunted with mine for 35 years. Any hunter worth his salt knows this.

[donaldmartin]

My .243 win has been filling my freezer since 1977….everything I ever pointed it at took at quick dirt nap. Deer, both mule deer and white tails, wild hogs, black bear, and a bunch of assorted varmints . Farthest deer was 370 yards.

[wigeonbrown]

I’ve shot 2 small whitetail bucks the past 2 seasons with my 243, using 95 grain Winchester Deer Season XP. One at 50 yards, the other at 125 yards. Both dropped in their tracks.

[woodystube]

Great video! Thank you for reinforcing my love for the .243 for whitetail. I bought a Ruger American.243 on clearance for $199 a few years ago, dropped it into a Boyd’s wood stock (also a clearance item) and mounted a solid scope. Got it for fun, but once I started developing a good load for it I discovered what a lightweight tack-driver it was. My .308 is a safe Queen now, and I have been using the .243 exclusively for 3 years… successfully.

[davidcampbell]

I bought a Remington 700 243 in 1977. Been great on deer, antelope, coyotes and prairie dogs. 100 grain for deer and antelope antelope

[justinthomas]

I have never had a deer get away after getting hit with a 243. The round just has an awesome way of laying out whitetails.

[Dwayne]

Nothing wrong with the 243 . Good deer hunting round.

[persico]

Nosler partition in the shoulder. Never had one take more than a few steps and that's on mulies 😉

[theone]

I have taken many deer with the .243 Winchester Super X 100 grain Power Point. It's an awesome deer round.

[timberridgeoutdoors_]

Shot a cow elk last year at 300 yards, It was a tough shot across a canyon, but it went down after running for 20 yards. Don’t underestimate the 243!

[philliesfan]

I'm 14 and I have a black .243 rifle. I love it. It's a great gun and I always use it for deer. We have others I might try but my .243 is my go to for bucks. My dad used a .30.06. thats a good 1 too

[PastorDanMoore]

My first deer was taken with a Remington 742 in .243. I was using the Federal 100 softpoints. Took a deer at 150 yards through the liver. It ran down hill towards me and turned broadside. I hit it again through both lungs and the top of the heart. It fell down and died. Both bullets left exit holes the size of quarters. Lung and liver soup was on the inside. The one through the chest also exited breaking the rib bones for six inches on either side of the exit holes. Yes, it will do!

[rikertvonfulton]

Shot a spike buck yesterday at 130 yards.Winchester super x 80 grain psp.Bullet went through the ribs both in and out. Deer dropped in it's tracks. Very little meat damage.Golf ball size hole in lungs.Small entry hole slightly larger exit. 243 is my favorite deer cartridge.It punches above it's weight.

[michaelquillen]

Wife has hunted deer and pronghorn for the past 40 years with a .243. No problems. This year, because of her lymph nodes removal in the right armpit (need to be gentle on that shoulder), we are going to try elk with the .243 (some parameters, however - side shot only, cow or calf only, and under 150 yards).

[dutchmanoutdoors]

I know I’m late to the comments. Just found your channel and loving it. 243 is perfectly acceptable with the right bullet choice. You seemed to make it look so easy. My first deer ever at 13 years old was with a 6mm Remington (243 on steroids). Even now 35+ years later I still use it… just switched from 100gr soft points to the Barnes TTSX you used in this video. Considering trying the 95gr LRX, but the 80gr TTSX works so well. High shoulder shot… instant drop with clean pass through

[michaelmunizsr-yhyq]

My first deer was taken with my 222 Remington 50 yrs ago when I was ten am 60yrs old now hunt with a 270 now still own the 222 love this old gun when Dad purchased it he paid 87 00 dollars for it at a True Value hardware store! Grandson also shot his first deer with the old 222 now he shoots his 243 ! Love hunting with my family!

[clay-r]

Thanks for this vid, I just purchased a rifle I've been wanting for ever but couldn't find one in the caliber I wanted (308) but was able to pick one up in 243, I wad kind of bummed out because I didn't think it would make the best deer rifle but your video just gave me a huge confidence boost.

[BETEPCEBEPA]

.243 Win is one of the best calibers for the night hunting. It have low recoil, it have laser-ballistic up to the 300 meters and it drop down animals.

[thereindeertherabbitthebat]

Yup, there's nothing wrong with 243 on deer. It is PLENTY good enough. 👍

[brianstroud]

Your shot placement on the first deer was a gut shot !!!, your second shot was correctly placed remember shot placement is most important what ever the bullet first & for most!!!.