Is .243 big enough???

[Dagben77]

I know this is debated regularly. but I fancied some fresh eyes on it.

I'm looking to move up to a Deer legal calibre with the intent of shooting deer, realistically no bigger than Fallow. I've been looking at 25-06 or maybe a 260 (used a 260 and quite like it), but would a 243 do the job?

There are a couple of immediate financial advantages of shooting 243 as I currently have suitable reloading dies etc. This wouldn't make or break my decision but if its 50:50 it might tip me towards, just handy.

Looking at loading 100gr Hornady Soft Point which would be pushing about 2900fps producing roughly 1860 FPE. Surely this is enough to knock down fallow at sensible distances. I wouldn't be looking to shoot much past 200 yds, Typically 100-125 yds and maybe 300 if an absolute gem of an opportunity presented itself.

From what I gather, the 243 is (or can be) an accurate round, which in my book, accounts for more than an extra 200 PFE at the muzzle.


Thanks in advance.

 

[john baldy]

i have a 243 and got 2 red deer

 

[jamross65]

Your going to get dozens of opinions on this and you will be no further forward at the end of it!

If you really are stopping at fallow, then the 243 is an ideal chambering. So is the 25-06. So is the 260. And 308....

Not much help is it?

Seriously, if you already have dies get a 243 and save the 40 quid. If you run out there won't be a gun shop in the country that won't have some in stock.

You won't see a benefit in going for anything else at the distances you refer to. I've only shot a few fallow but owned several chamberings used on a lot of Sika and roe. I've never found fallow a hard deer to drop. A 100grn from one will easily do the job plus if you don't want to use a moderator they are soft to shoot if the stocks decent.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Over the years I've owned 3 std 243 Win and one 243 AI, but there isn't one in my gun cabinet now. There are however a couple of 260 Rems in the cabinet, one of which is for sale.

Regards JCS

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

i am interested in this as well,new variation going in,

 

[Offroad Gary]

What if the fallow are further than 200y, are you not going to shoot? Id get a deer calibre, 25-06 is good, so is 260 which has better bullet choice and brass available.

 

[Dagben77]

What if the fallow are further than 200y, are you not going to shoot? Id get a deer calibre, 25-06 is good, so is 260 which has better bullet choice and brass available.

As in the OP. 300 yds too if needed. I'm surprised there is a greater selection of 260 brass over 243! Heads, fair enough. Every day is a school day.

 

[tusker]

I have shot Roe,Red & Fallow with my 243 the longest shot 300 yards(red hind) I use 85 Grain sierra hollow points with 39 grns of varget behind it. It is fantastically accurate.
Tusker

 

[jamross65]

A 243 at 300yds isn't going to just sting it........

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

260 what if you dont reload? i know learn or get BOTH,

 

[Dagben77]

Ok then, so it's capable!!!

What head size then? I'm typically going lighter, flatter and faster but I'm used to shooting foxes etc where I try and cause as much damage as possible with a ballistic tip.

I'm guessing soft points are the way or hollows?

Again, thanks.

 

[deeangeo]

Having shot all UK deer species with .243Win & moved on to a slghtly larger calibre/cartridge I just can't see why you'd restrict yourself to the .243 when so much more can be achieved with other calibre/cartridge options to give a little more, for a clean, no hassle kill. ATB

 

[Dagben77]

Having shot all UK deer species with .243Win & moved on to a slghtly larger calibre/cartridge I just can't see why you'd restrict yourself to the .243 when so much more can be achieved with other calibre/cartridge options to give a little more, for a clean, no hassle kill. ATB

Well that's kind of the question I'm asking! Am I going to struggle to humanely kill a Fallow with a .243? or am I just going to FU@& the meat up with a 308?

Cheers.

 

[Glen of Imaal]

My dear sir, you have opened pandora's box on yet another .243 debate!. I have used a .243 for over 16 years. Shot reds, sika, hybrids, fallow. No problems with it. People say the .243 isn't up to the task on sika or fallow. It's a personal choice. I have never lost an animal because of it or had an animal suffer unnescessarily because of it's use. If I felt it didn't deliver clean kills I would of changed long ago.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

260 what if you dont reload? i know learn or BOTH,

I shot my 260 Rems from 1999 to 2007 with factory ammunition. I started on paper with reloads in 2007 and gradually moved over to all my 260 Rem shooting with reloads.

Regards

JCS

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

cheers jcs, well dagben have you decided i am still unsure,

 

[Pigeon_shooter]

Reading this with interest as I shoot a .243 and found it to be very capable. The distances people talk of having kills with it intrigue me, 300 YDS ? Seems like a long way is that the closest you can stalk in ?

 

[49ERIC]

YEP USED 243 100 g soft point for roe red hinds and charlie never had a complaint and no running off

 

[.25-06]

But it would have to be said it doesn't knock them flat like a .270 at that range

A 243 at 300yds isn't going to just sting it........

 

[joe soapy]

A badly placed shot is a badly placed shot whatever caliber used,
anything from 243 upwards placed in thev right spot will stop any uk species