Author Topic: 243 winchester (Read 930 times)

rickyp · « **on:** March 20, 2005, 01:09:17 PM »

I will be getting a 15 inch 243 encore barrel soon and know little of this round.

will you please tell me everything you know about it.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2005, 06:03:14 PM »

A most excellent cartridge! :-D

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2005, 06:06:18 PM »

Sorry, couldn't resist.

My 243 experience is with heavy bullets, slower powder and longer barrels and I don't think you'd have much luck with my loads.

I do however have a great deal of faith in the cartridge. I believe it will be awsome in the Encore when you find the right combination.

Greybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2005, 11:02:41 PM »

Shot one deer with it. Deer ran off as if not hit. Found no blood and after an exhaustive search found no deer either. Much later in the general area a deer was found from the buzzards feeding on it. We assumed it to be the one I shot but I never saw it so am not sure.

Yeah it might have been a poor hit but I really don't think so. Cross hairs were right when the trigger broke. There was nothing but 50 yards of air between me and the deer.

Rightly or wrongly I've never trusted it since and have never shot another with it. Just can't bring myself to do it. I consider it a varmint cartridge and use it as such.

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2005, 11:33:36 AM »

The .243 was originally handicapped by overly-tough bullets. Game was hit and didn't die because the bullets didn't expand. Guys took to using the varmint loads, which worked on lung shots but you can guess what else happened. The factories finally offered good game bullets which opened on deer but held together okay too.

I used an early.243 on a feral goat years ago - no expansion and I found the goat only because the open territory allowed me to watch it from a high point until it dropped. I use my current .243 on varints and paper only....but thousands of hunters use it with good success on deer every year.

rickyp · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2005, 11:37:02 AM »

so I guess since the 243 winchester is marginal on deer from a rifle then it would be even worse out of the short barrel encore.

KYODE · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2005, 12:20:11 PM »

ricky........my opinion is that .........opinions are gonna vary widely on the .243 for deer. :wink:
confidence factor is a major thing :wink:

i feel like i could take any whitetail deer, any time, any place, and in any condition with the right bullet and reasonable range(200-250yards) with a .243 rifle or handgun.
a 85gr nosler partition or sierra 85gr bthp comes to mind for my preferences. a sierra 80gr single shot pistol bullet would also be good in the handgun.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2005, 01:22:16 PM »

I guess I've killed close to 50 deer with the .243 and only had 2 run.....the farthest ran 80 yards or so........

The 85 grain sierra BTHP is my load of choice.......

IMHO, the .243 is as good a deer round as any......dead is dead.......

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2005, 01:48:00 PM »

My 243 is for varmints, it also likes the Sierra 85 bthp. I tried it once in eastern Wyo for Antelope. That was before the Antelope became a cash cow for the land owners in trespass fees. It just can't perform for the over 200 yd shots on a running Antelope. Maybe at half that range in a fence corner it would work. I also have trouble with heavier bullets in the 243, mine is a 1`x10 twist maybe a faster twist would work better.
Jim

roper · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2005, 02:01:26 AM »

I've been shooting a 243 since 1965 still have that rifle. It took alot of deer for me out in Calif and varmits. First year I moved to Co got drawn for a antelope tag had a windy day took a 300yd plus shot opening morning on a nice buck took 3 more shots when back and got my 7mag got a nice buck that afternoon. That was 27yrs ago only thing I use a 243 for is varmits now. I had shot that 243 enough for hold over etc and did some shooting out in Co also but I never did any shooting in wind like that before but that rifle wasn't up to it. That weekend taught me alot of things may want to get alittle more rifle than one thinks. I've always like the 243 in fact have two of them just right now not a big game rifle for me. Just my .02

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2005, 08:30:18 AM »

Don't get disheareened with the 243. It's just like any other cartridge, some folks won't have good luck with it. My albiet limited experience has been nothing less than ideal, 200# deer broadside at 125 left an exit wound you could wiggle your thumb in, 75 yard head shot left large chunks of skull missing or hanging from skin. Unless it had field dressed them for me, I don't know what more I could have asked from the cartridge.

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2005, 09:20:47 AM »

It's a legendary hunting cartridge for deer sized animals. From a pistol I'd only use premium bullets. For deer, I'd probably use Noser ballistic tips.

rickyp · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2005, 09:28:26 AM »

I doubt I will be using it much on deer I can not use a normal handgun for hunting deer in my county and I do not get up state much any more where I could use it. I can only use a muzzle loading handgun in my county

I may play with it a while then trade it off for something new that I may be able to use more

jakes10mm · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2005, 09:58:31 AM »

Didn't realize that the 243 had such a mixed reputation. I own two rifles in 243 but haven't used them for anything but paper punching so far. Hunting buddy swears by (not against) the 243 and his whole family uses it exclusively on PA deer. His daughter shot her first two deer with a Remington Model Seven in 243.

Anyhow, my early accuracy (on paper) testing is pointing me towards the 85gr bullets. Both rifles, a Ruger No1 and Winchester 70, are marking 1/2"-3/4" groups consistantly at 100yards. Next step will be moving out to 200yards. Have only experimented with the powders I've had on hand, H4350 and BL-C(2). H4350 printed the accurate shots.

Good luck and enjoy your 243.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2005, 02:02:39 PM »

Might I suggest you try IMR4831 if you get the chance, near max load and the 85 grain Sierra BTHP.....My Ruger 77 loves them.....shoots close to the same hole at 100 yards.....

MickinColo · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2005, 03:27:26 PM »

The 243 Win is the lowest caliber round to use on big game. Been there and done that.

Pronghorn Antelope can be one of the hardest small big game animals to bring down. Those prehistoric animals can take a lot of abuse.

People need to know the limitations of their gun and themselves.

There are a number of bullet manufactures that make softer jacketed bullets that work will. They work for me and my wife.

mhans938 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2005, 05:24:41 PM »

I have shot a Remington 788 in .243 for almost 10 years in KS and NE. I have not had a deer go more than 20 yds. after a heart/lung shot. Both mulies and whitetails. I use Speer 100gr. BTSP and Accurate 4350 powder for deer and use either 70 gr. Balistic Tips or 75gr. Hornady HP for coyotes and prairie dogs. 100 yd. groups with the 100 gr Speer is 1.10 in. and the other two are half to 3/4". Is it to small? No, not if you practice and can call your shots. Better to shoot a smaller gun well than a big gun poorly.