.243 on lowland and woodland reds?

[berg]

Hit them or, hit them hard your choice both will kill

 

[diverdave]

I have a 243 and a 3006 and have shot stags with both, though only Scottish hill ones, but some very large animals never the less. I think the 243 is fine in many situations, but for woodland where loss is possible with runners i think the 3006 just hits them so much harder. If i remember correctly the 3006 has the same energy at 200mtrs as the 243 has at the end of the barrel.
Its been said so many times before, put it in the right place and a 243 will drop them, i guess the larger and more powerful the hit the larger the kill zone is, so the more margin for error, or, the faster they will leak out.
I am happy to go to the hill with either for hinds, but always take the big un when chasing the big uns!

 

[Leopoldo]

I have a .243 and 30-06, both do the job on our Devon reds.
Cheers
Richard

Encouraging, cheers. I'll see how I get on but "gun up" as soon as the opportunity presents itself

 

[paul k]

I don't have huge experience with lowland reds but I was in Norfolk a couple of years ago after their famously large reds. I had my two rifles, .243 and .270 and intended to use the .270 but was unhappy with the scope on it and asked if the stalker had any issue with me using the .243. He knew I could shoot straight and said he was perfectly happy. I used Norma 100grn and shot a stag at 160 yards that went 115kg in the jacket that ran just 10 yards before dropping stone dead. The only situation in which the stalker I've been with insisted on a bigger calibre was when after rutting sika stags because of their reputation for taking a bullet and running a good way.

If I was starting stalking and was looking for one all round rifle I'd probably go for a .308 or .30-06 but if I had a .243 I wouldn't now buy another rifle of a larger calibre for reds and plenty of very experienced stalkers use the .243 on reds very happily.