The 243 may be fine in some localities, but

[hendrix's rifle]

I’m with Muir on this, 243 just won’t hack it for me either.
If you want to use one that’s fine but I’m not going to help you look for the animal afterwards, ive spent far too much time crawling around in the thickets as it is and a lot of that s down to the 243 and “ good chest shots.”
Bah and Humbug.
243 is minimum legal caliber, the smallest rifle you can use on the bigger 3 deer, that’s not actually an endorsement saying go ahead, it’s saying you can but be careful,a bit like taking a Honda 50 down the motorway, a skilled rider could probably do it safely but would prefer a better tool for the job, the beginner won’t even realise there’s a problem until it’s too late.

Stick it in the right place and don't push it all will be good. People seem to forget the humble 22lr, that will drop anything in this country in its tracks, the 223 will drop a red on the spot too. Each to there own. However, the Honda 50 is incorrect as that would also be illegal

 

[Heym SR20]

Muir,

Your initial rant re 243 is not really about the 243, its really about idiots not understanding their own or their rifles capabilities. 200 yards is starting to get a long way for any shot on biggame. When I started deerstalking in the 1990’s very very few over here would even consider a shot much beyond 200.

The only range finder you had was your experience, a map, or the distance between your cross hairs. In effect you had no real idea of range, so you made sure range was not an issue.

Nowadays every body is going wirh a few thousand £ or $ worth of kit, thinking that they are fully trained tacticool snipers, and thinking its cool to be shooting out all sorts of distances. Neither the 243, 6.5 cm, 270 nor for that matter the 338 Lapua Magnum have much room for error.

Put a bullet in the guts, or even just through the back of the lungs and without hitting the CNS, or the bullet expanding much as velocity has dropped off, the animal will go a long way before expiring.

Misread the wind at 100 - not much issue. At 300 - big issues.

Totally agree with you re 243 but could say the same re most other rifles.

 

[sako751sg]

If folk are admitting that the 243 is a suitable calibre out to 200 yds then does that not tell a story?

From anything I have read in manuals, pre moderator use, the argument in favour of the 243 (without exception) was that it was light recoiling, and a good choice for young, inexperienced, women or recoil sensitive shots. In this day and age with the use of moderators, that argument no longer holds water in my opinion.

I have noting against the chambering, I have owned several and shot a lot of deer with them and am in fact about to pick up another one as a backup and for roe. I would never go out with it for Sika stags however...

Shot roe with it for 20+ years and love the calibre.

Not shot that many red stags,between 20 and 30 and never had any issue at all,all down within a reasonable distance.

First 2 trips doon to Stobbo with it and had 6 sika stags,again no issue although a couple had to be searched for but didn't go further that 60-80m.

Last year went down with the 6.5x55 and no searching,all 3 were literally down on the spot.

Too many deride calibres when in reality the majority of the problems come from the person pulling the trigger.

 

[Archer]

Woodland shooting or smaller deer, OK.
.~Muir

I agree with you, anything bigger and it's .308 for me

 

[foxdropper]

I like to belt feed 50 cal and just rake the hill side myself .Saves going to look for anything afterwards ffs .

 

[bogtrotter]

I have said it before and I will say it again .243 is my calibre of choice have been using one for almost forty years on
both Red and Roe.
As a professional stalker much of that time on Highland reds though I did also stalk Roe, my rifle was used both by
me and by clients and guests.
Muir I don't know how much you know about HIghland stalking but if you don't it takes place in open country very very
few if any trees or scrub only the terrain to be used to enable you to get in a position to take the shot.
Traditionally the sport of stalking has been to get as close as possible to your intended target 100 yards
being ideal 150 more common and around about 200 being the maximum.
Now with modern equipment there are more and more long shots being taken I believe this to a large part
influenced by the way of shooting in the states I think U- Tube has a lot to answer for, I also think there is a trend
among younger shooters in particular I won't call them stalkers that are more interested in the actual shooting
and the actual stalk doesn't mean much to them which is fine just don't call it stalking.
There are plenty that can shoot well beyond the distances that I mentioned some may need to if its a question
of needing to if for example you have been contracted to achieve a cull but again its not stalking in the true sense of the term.
Now our Highland stags are much smaller than those down south anything over 300 pounds would be considered
big . Never had a problem with stags of that size with a a .243 if I was shooting large Southern stags or a lot of
woodland stags (though I have shot a fair few of these) I would no doubt have chosen a heavier calibre.
And its not just me the .243 was the calibre of choice of many Highland stalkers.
If the .243 doesn't float your boat thats fine just don't tell us who choose to use it we have made the wrong
choice. I suppose at the end of the day I'm a tradionalist.

.

 

[Hereford]

Back in the day triple 2 was a favourite in the highlands...

 

[Roestalker39]

Back in the day triple 2 was a favourite in the highlands...

The good lords Calibre

 

[Orion]

The good lords Calibre

What about the 666?

 

[Muir]

Muir I don't know how much you know about HIghland stalking but if you don't it takes place in open country very very
few if any trees or scrub only the terrain to be used to enable you to get in a position to take the shot.

I live in Montana, aka, "Big Sky Country" where you can easily have an unobstructed view for 10-15 miles. ~Muir

 

[palmer_mike]

The antelope stood for 5 minutes after the shot and they didn’t shoot it again to make sure?

 

[Muir]

The antelope stood for 5 minutes after the shot and they didn’t shoot it again to make sure?

I wasn't there. I can't tell you their motives. I have seen many deer hit in the chest that stood for a minute before spiraling down. Maybe that was their thought. I can't say. Who keeps resurrecting these old threads?~Muir

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I have said it before and I will say it again .243 is my calibre of choice have been using one for almost forty years on
both Red and Roe.
As a professional stalker much of that time on Highland reds though I did also stalk Roe, my rifle was used both by
me and by clients and guests.
Muir I don't know how much you know about HIghland stalking but if you don't it takes place in open country very very
few if any trees or scrub only the terrain to be used to enable you to get in a position to take the shot.
Traditionally the sport of stalking has been to get as close as possible to your intended target 100 yards
being ideal 150 more common and around about 200 being the maximum.
Now with modern equipment there are more and more long shots being taken I believe this to a large part
influenced by the way of shooting in the states I think U- Tube has a lot to answer for, I also think there is a trend
among younger shooters in particular I won't call them stalkers that are more interested in the actual shooting
and the actual stalk doesn't mean much to them which is fine just don't call it stalking.
There are plenty that can shoot well beyond the distances that I mentioned some may need to if its a question
of needing to if for example you have been contracted to achieve a cull but again its not stalking in the true sense of the term.
Now our Highland stags are much smaller than those down south anything over 300 pounds would be considered
big . Never had a problem with stags of that size with a a .243 if I was shooting large Southern stags or a lot of
woodland stags (though I have shot a fair few of these) I would no doubt have chosen a heavier calibre.
And its not just me the .243 was the calibre of choice of many Highland stalkers.
If the .243 doesn't float your boat thats fine just don't tell us who choose to use it we have made the wrong
choice. I suppose at the end of the day I'm a tradionalist.

.

Oh the irony...

 

[devon deer stalker]

I’d think a fair proportion of the participants on a subject that always becomes ‘controversial’ when it gets raised on here are long gone from the forum.

And yet we are still here!
(and my .243!)
Cheers
Richard

 

[devon deer stalker]

I live in Montana, aka, "Big Sky Country" where you can easily have an unobstructed view for 10-15 miles. ~Muir

Aint that the truth, and bloody prickly pears as well!!!
Cheers
Richard

 

[alberta boy]

I always enjoy reading this fella's posts - very pertinent link .243 Winchester

Good read , and pretty much sums up my experience with the 243W / 6mm class of cartridges . I like them within their limits , just like my 45/70 .

AB

Just saw the date on this thread , isolation boredom is taking it's toll lol .

 

[Klenchblaize]

I can't be doing with reading 6 pages about the 243 but for those in need of a little more clout out at c200 yards grab yourself a bargain:

Sold: - 300 Weatherby Magnum

Many feel the calling but few do the paperwork. I'll let the pictures do the talking The rifle is of original factory spec with 26" barrel and exhibition grade walnut stock. It comes with period-correct Buehler 1" rings & mounts and a very nice Canjar double trigger that breaks cleanly even...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

K

 

[Dunwaters]

Stick it in the right place and don't push it all will be good. People seem to forget the humble 22lr, that will drop anything in this country in its tracks, the 223 will drop a red on the spot too. Each to there own. However, the Honda 50 is incorrect as that would also be illegal

Good advice and with many applications outside the hunting field, but I’m not so sure about the Honda. I might have been that soldier.
Once or twice.

 

[Dawnrazor]

I'll challenge anyone to take a .243 100g in the ribs at anything up to 400yds and then say "it's too small"!!

 

[User00033]

No more hunting with anyone who insists on using a varmint cartridge for deer.

Oopps.