.243 and a Blood trail

[Thebear_78]

I've shot quite a few whitetails with federal premium 100gr Sierra gameking and a few with the 85gr HPBT gameking.  they always performed very well for me.  I have lost more deer and had less blood trails with 165gr winchester pp loads in 30/06.   I don't think you can go wrong with a 243 and whitetails.

[Ethan]

I have NEVER not had a blood trail with my 243. I shoot Hornady Customs 95 gr. SST and the only time I did not have the bullet not come out is when I shot my Fallow Buck.

[yooper77]

I have used the 243 Winchester with 100 grain Nosler Partitions on deer and antelope and always produces an exit wound.  Even at 300 yards my personal maximum distance.

NO exit wound OK, I had seen a 270 Winchester NOT exit at a 50 yard shot with Sierra 130 grain boat tails loaded with a max load of H-4831.The deer piled up at the shot, so perfect performance. I use 150 grain Hornady Interlock bullets out of my 270 Winchester and always receive an exit wound.

My 12 year old daughter used a 223 Remington which I hand loaded a Nosler 60 grain bullet with H-4895.  The 7 point buck was 75 yards broadside when that little bullet took out both lungs and broke a rib when it exited.  The deer ran off and I heard it crash shortly after, lots of blood to track which she enjoyed.

yooper77

[S.S.]

Don't ya'll know that you need at least a 7mm Mag For Whitetail !

Quote:
My 12 year old daughter used a 223 Remington which I hand loaded a Nosler 60 grain bullet with H-4895.  The 7 point buck was 75 yards broadside when that little bullet took out both lungs and broke a rib when it exited.  The deer ran off and I heard it crash shortly after, lots of blood to track which she enjoyed.

Which she enjoyed? You look like you are having a pretty good time yourself...
Great to get the kids involved!

[yooper77]

Don't ya'll know that you need at least a 7mm Mag For Whitetail !

Quote:
My 12 year old daughter used a 223 Remington which I hand loaded a Nosler 60 grain bullet with H-4895.  The 7 point buck was 75 yards broadside when that little bullet took out both lungs and broke a rib when it exited.  The deer ran off and I heard it crash shortly after, lots of blood to track which she enjoyed.

Which she enjoyed? You look like you are having a pretty good time yourself...
Great to get the kids involved!

This was during Michigan’s 2 day youth hunt in September.  She shot it on the first day, September 25, 2010.

Here is the story:
We went out in the morning, but the sun was in our faces sitting in a 2 man ladder stand and we didn't hunt long. I told my daughter we will come back out in the afternoon.
 
Around 3pm we headed back out to start our evening hunt. It was slow at first but things started to stir. After the first 20 minutes two does came in, but quickly ran off. Then a young coyote was under our stand and nosed around for 30 minutes hunting for mice, but suddenly he stretched out his neck to stare into the woods and quickly ran off in a fright.  I then noticed a large big black bear, so I whispered "there's a bear". My daughter was shocked, but kept her cool then told me, "there's another bear".  These 2 bears were walking about 50 yards on the left of us and never stopped.

OK, so not 5 minutes later a deer came running into our area and stopped at a tree line. We couldn't tell what it was until it walked into the open and we both said "it's a buck".  He stopped broadside at 75 yards for a brief second and started to trot off, so I whistled to make him stop, and she took the shot.  At the sound of the shot, the deer kicked both rear legs rearward and ran off  We waited about 30 minutes and myself with my wife and daughter started looking for a blood trail and found it quickly.
 
I am so proud of her. To keep her cool from all the excitement and place a perfect shot. I enjoyed every minute and she says she is ready for next year.

yooper77

[anweis]

We went out in the morning, but the sun was in our faces sitting in a 2 man ladder stand and we didn't hunt long.

I installed a stand facing east this summer, only to realize that i was blinded by the sun when i hunted in the morning. But, my very good binoculars and rifle scope saved that morning and enabled me to shoot a deer. Even though i could not see anything with the naked eye at sunrise, i could see very well through the scope and binos, without any glare...

[yooper77]

We went out in the morning, but the sun was in our faces sitting in a 2 man ladder stand and we didn't hunt long.

I installed a stand facing east this summer, only to realize that i was blinded by the sun when i hunted in the morning. But, my very good binoculars and rifle scope saved that morning and enabled me to shoot a deer. Even though i could not see anything with the naked eye at sunrise, i could see very well through the scope and binos, without any glare...

The glare was one thing, but the sun heat was roasting us in September. I made the right call and waited till afternoon, the sun wasn’t in our eyes and lots cooler.

yooper77

[john keyes]

I'm sorry to say that I have yet to kill a deer with my new to me sav 110 .243.  I worked up a moderately sizzling load with H414 and 80 gr speer softpoint.  I killed my first and only so far deer this year with my .260. after that I hunted hard with the .243 wanting desperately to kill one with it, but alas it hasn't happened yet.   

[ricehombre]

I've killed and seen killed hundreds of whitetail deer with a 243 and 100gr SP. Of course my dad would have had a fit if I had put a bullet anywhere behind the lungs. I guided hunters for a number of years and tracked more deer shot by 7mags and 300's than all the 243's put together. I don't know if it is the flinch or over confidence but it goes to show you that a bad shot is still a bad shot no matter what the caliber. It never ceases to amaze me how a man can totally miss a deer and blame the caliber the rest of his life. A 243 can teach a man how to shoot with confidence, without the flinch, and similar ballistics to the larger calibers out to 300 - 400 yards so he can move on to other calibers when it's his turn to show off at deer camp with some super magnum for that 200# deer.

[T.R.]

Premium bullets have helped the 243 reach 25-06 level of performance.

Bonded core bullets have an excellent reputation.

Good hunting to you.

TR