243

anyone else use a 243 for thier deer rifle.. i have a howa 243 and its my favorite deer rifle, besides my muzzleloader

my father used one for awhile but found it lacked the punch so he went to a .308

Being in a bass ackward state of Indiana where you can't use deer rifles for deer hunting, I don't get to anymore. But my rem 788 in 6mm will still take deer out of state. The whole theory of "knock down" power is great for selling new super magnums, but for killing deer, you need to punch a whole through its lungs. I have shot deer with a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, and bow, and all of them have gone between 50-150 yards after the shot. Which was how long it took for their lungs to bleed out. The longest trail I have ever followed was a yearling shot by a 250gr shockwave, broadside, at about 10 yards. The shortest bloodtrail was an old doe I shot with a bow. A large diameter bullet will open up a bigger hole, but the difference in diameter of a .243 and a .308 is six one hundreths of an inch. Not gonna make a big difference. The 243 is a great cartridge for deer, and the lower recoil often lets us shoot more accurately.

Sorry, that was a long answer to a question that wasn't asked , but anyway, I say the 243 is a great round!

I've seen a lot of deer taken with a 243. They have plenty of what it takes. As Zack ststed a well placed shot in the lungs and game over.( Great cartridge X2 )

did i read right what zach wrote about indiana doesnt allow a rifle season??

With a Pistol you can.

have shot plenty of grounds hogs with one, but the state of Ohio sort of frowns when you shoot deer with a rifle (shotgun state), , I have seen one used on a nuisance permit, and it did a great job !

wow no limitations on what weapon you can hunt with here. Some public lands offer shotgun and archery only but thats on some stste owned lands and where houses are close which is understandable.

Nothing wrong with a 243 for deer. Just make sure there's no twigs in the way. Personally I prefer going with a heavier bullet.