My first rant
What is it with people nowadays and there "caliber overkill". There are a lot of people out there who don't think that you can kill a deer with a .243. Why is this? I have seen just as many deer cleanly killed with a .243 then I have with the good ole' .30-.30 or .44 that are supposedly "perfect deer cartridges". Don't get me wrong here, they are great cartridges and I personally hunt with a 45-70 here and there now that I have one, but the .243 would get the job done with a well-placed shot. Even the .223, .22-250, and .220 swift have proven to take deer with fine results(if it is legal in your state). So can it kill a deer? Yes. Does it take a good shot? Yes, just like any other caliber does. Now that I got that off my chest, good weekend yall[:D]
Jon
Jon
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Maybe it's the issue
of a well placed shot
or maybe it's the issue
of Region and what's
generally used in that Region.
I've lived in Maine, Mass and NH
and in my little dinky world
of hunters the 30 cal is socialably
acceptable.There are the odd bunch
of newcomers that think they know
better but we shun them wickedly.
No just kidding[:D], but the 30 cal
is quite popular.0 -
You call that a rant? [:D][:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by pickenup
You call that a rant? [:D][:D]
hehe.0 -
quote:You call that a rant?
I know, I know, but that is about as good as I can do.[:D] I'm a pretty mellow person.
Jon0 -
I like the smaller calibers, too.
Can we give him an extra star for trying?[:o)]0 -
Some years ago, my brother called and asked if I had a rifle that would be suitable for his son who was just begining to hunt. I had an old (pre-67 determined by rear sight) Rem. 700 in .243. In Alabama at that time IIRC, rifle calibers must be at least .240 caliber to be legal. We arrange for transportation of the rifle and his son was very happy with the rifle.
To make a long story short, he has been using it ever since then. He has purchased other rifles in other calibers but always goes back to the Rem. .243. He has never lost a deer with this rifle.
He is now majoring in forestry at the University of Auburn and that rifle is the one he now has with him.
Thanks---Peabo0 -
West River ranchers here call 'em "rib crackers"....personally, I wouldn't want to stand in front of one at any range. I raised my
three daughters to LOVE recoil and they all handled a .270 and 12 ga. just fine. The 6mms will be debated forever. My grandchildren will start with 7-08s or .260 Rems though as it will give me reason to buy something.0 -
A 243 is plenty good for deer. 0 -
Yeah my wife sometimes wishes I used a smaller caliber... but I only got me this here big gun. 0 -
I taught all my kids to shoot with a 22. when they began hunting deer (8 yo), I had them use a 243. As they got older (14 yo), I moved them into a 30-06.
I have been a wildlife biologist for over 30 years and managed countless acres throughout the US. In doing this, i have probably seen more deer harvested in a weekend than most people have seen killed in their lives. Certainly, I have seen many deer killed with a 243, BUT, the majority (>80%) of the ones that got away were shot with a 243 (in both 80 and 100 grain bullets).
As a side note - After informally noting this type thing for several years, there always seemed to be one bullet that was also involved - Remington Core-Lok. Granted - for years this was also one of the most common bullets around, but the ones I did recover also showed poor performance. They don't seem to handle bone well at all. (Okay - now all you Core-Lok fans get in line and tell me your success stories...). Needless to say, if i am your guide, you will be told well in advance to leave the core-loks at home.
Without doubt, shot placement is the key, but elimination of varibles increases your odds. The 243 is a good functional rifle caliber - but for an all-around deer gun - it is not the best.0 -
quote:Originally posted by pickenup
You call that a rant? [:D][:D]
pretty lame...[;)]0 -
Just to add my 2 cents, I like the 22 magnum personally. Nothing illegal going on, just a well placed shot between the eyes or behind the ear will do the trick everytime. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ECC
quote:Originally posted by pickenup
You call that a rant? [:D][:D]
pretty lame...[;)]
Well, it was just his first rant.0 -
The .30 cal is the cornerstone of modern deer hunting. You'll never completely replace it. 0 -
I've used a .243, 30 WCF, 30-06, and others. In my opinion it depends on the hunter/shooter and distance/logistics. If high grass or small limbs are potentially in the bullet's path where it could hit something before reaching the target, then the high speed small caliber cartridges might not be the right choice. Personally, I like the .243 when hunting right of ways, etc. and go for a heart/lung shot to avoid hitting the shoulder and I've never lost a deer. The high speed bullets do too much hydraulic shock type damage if they hit solid meat (shoulder). For very short range I love hunting with an old heavy bullet low speed 38-40 or 44-40 Winchester because it doesn't matter if you make a shoulder shot because the meat is salvageable right up to the bullet hole. 0 -
I try to never use less than a .460 Weatherby, but many deer that I shoot simply run away, leaving no blood trail.
Am I undergunned ??
Doug0 -
I killed my first 12 or so deer with a .243 , with 13 bullets.
1 st one I wounded was with a 7mm Rem[V]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
I try to never use less than a .460 Weatherby, but many deer that I shoot simply run away, leaving no blood trail.
Am I undergunned ??
Doug
Not if you are hunting anywhere near a nuclear reactor.[:D]0 -
quote:I try to never use less than a .460 Weatherby, but many deer that I shoot simply run away, leaving no blood trail.
Am I undergunned ??
Hmm... maybe consider a move to a .50 BMG?[:p]
Jon0 -
...First, only a fool/nubie hunter would claim one "certain" round/cal was the "best", as there are many "perfect" rounds out there that will do a great job.
...Im not a fan of using a .375H&H 300grn on a 200lb white tail either but, I think for those that maybe don't hit "eactly" where their aiming everytime, a small cal is just asking for trouble now and then.
...Ive laughed many a time when I read where someone says "deer kill easy", yeah right. Ive seen some deer hit clean with an 06, and everything in their chest cavity was unreconizable burger meat; yet the "easy to kill" deer ran over 75 yards thru crap so thick you had to back thru it to get to the deer.
...Other times seen 'em hit clean and never take another step....and every scenario in between imaginable...you never "really" know what their going to do for sure unless you blow their head off...along with destroying a nice set of them pointy things growing from their head.
...For me, I'll stay with my beloved 06 150grn round as I think even if I had some bad God awful shot and hit the deer in the azz, at least it may knock it's hips out to where he would not run to the next county and be lost, which could happen with a lessor cal...so a heavier cal is better IMO than one that may "just, get the job done, IF you have a PERFECT shot"...[;)]
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