Changed from .308 to .243

[alwhitt94]

I’ve just changed from .308 to .243 and have found the deer always run where as the .308 used to drop them on the spot has anyone else had this issue?

 

[VanGogh76]

What distance are you shooting? And weight of bullet / type? I mainly am in woodland on Roe and find 243 more than adequate either 100gr Norma soft point or Norma 75gr ballistic tip

 

[Jameshenry]

What was the reason for changing ?

 

[pablo.222]

Try changing bullets. Something a bit lighter perhaps 75grn vmax. You always get runners no matter what you use but i use 243 95grn homeloads with no complaints, some run some fall over.,

 

[Selous]

Why does this surprise you? Lots less energy being dissipated. May also be the bullet you have chosen assuming the shot placement is equivalent

 

[Malxwal]

Funnily, I was always used to roe dropping dead in their shadow, more or less, with an engine room shot from a 223 55gr Sako softpoint, then first roe wuth 308 running 50 yards or more using an RWS 150gr soft point (far too hard).

 

[alwhitt94]

What was the reason for changing ?

Bought a new rifle and just making sure I didn’t make the wrong choice I’m using hornady 120 grain sst so probably need a lighter load

 

[SOE]

Got rid of my 243 , will only use .308,7x57 or 7mmRemMag plus my 45-70 Gov for reds and boar ...reason is mainly carcasse bruising which is very reduced with larger bullets SPs only by choice my customers prefer clean carcasses...

 

[glasshalffull]

I’ve just changed from .308 to .243 and have found the deer always run where as the .308 used to drop them on the spot has anyone else had this issue?

How many deer are we talking about?

 

[Jameshenry]

120 grain ??

 

[Home Loader]

120 grain in a 243?
I tend to run 80s in my 243 and have plenty of bang flops, what's shot placement have you been using? The 308 does give you bang flop over a larger area of the chest. Don't be tempted to go to light to increase the bang flop as you do have to think about missing the bigger bones then.

 

[VSS]

120 grain ??

I was pondering that too.
In my (albeit limited) experience, you'll struggle to shoot accurately with anything over 100 grain in 243.

 

[SOE]

I was pondering that too.
In my (albeit limited) experience, you'll struggle to shoot accurately with anything over 100 grain in 243.

105g 243 need a different twist rate for bullet stability in some cases depends on the gun,

 

[alwhitt94]

My bad It’s 95 grain sst not 120 I was just being lazy didn’t want to go and get them out the cabinet in the loft

 

[alwhitt94]

And in regards to shot placement heart, I shot at 2 deer the other day first 1 ran around 80 yards (which I’ve never seen happen before) and lost the other and I’ve shot loads of deer and have never had a miss so I’m pretty confident it was a dead deer but just couldn’t find it that’s why I’m asking advice on stopping power as I may consider getting a larger calibre again as I don’t want that ever happening again

 

[Jelen]

120 grain in a 243?
I tend to run 80s in my 243 and have plenty of bang flops, what's shot placement have you been using? The 308 does give you bang flop over a larger area of the chest. Don't be tempted to go to light to increase the bang flop as you do have to think about missing the bigger bones then.

I agree.
In answer to the OP: Not sure what your point of aim is. I normally use 85gr Hollow Points (Sierra Gameking). Last year on the Roe doe cull I tried Nosler 80gr B/Tip Varmint. 6 out of 6 does shot between 180 - 220 yards fell on the spot. Point of aim was shoulder. All had a 10p exit hole. The 85gr HP drops 50% and the longest any ran was 20/30 yards. If you're harvesting maximum venison then lung shots are the norm but rarely fall. Horses for courses and depends what your trying to achieve.
I hope that helps.

 

[imnotrucknut]

I shoot 100g federal in my 243 kills most things upto fallow.,for the big boys I bring out the 06.

 

[imnotrucknut]

30 that is

 

[NigelM]

Try a Barnes 80gr TTSX at 3300 fps. Bang Flop and not too much carcass damage.

 

[Freeforester]

Much depends, on eg how aware or otherwise the deer are to your presence, point of impact, deer's own intentions, i.e. Whether it is relaxed, at rest, heading to, at or from feeding, not to mention numerous other factors, topped off with fact that every deer being an individual is different. Having only thirty years behind the .243 with a good seven or eight years earlier using the .222, my findings lead me to believe that a) there is no set rule per se, and b) the factors touched upon above cannot be ignored or set aside as if to be of no influence.