Hunting deer size game with 243 boolits?

[jhalcott]

That was NOT with a CAST bullet! It was a good example of the high shoulder shot though. Adeer at 100 yards or less will have the same reaction.

[Rick Hodges]

I would not use a .243 bore with cast on deer sized game. That said I have used a 6mm Rem w/95 gr. Nosler and 100 gr. Hornady J words with excellant results on whitetail and pronghorn inside of 300 yds. Solid bullet construction and placement are key. I would think a cast load would be instant death on coyotes as long as the rainbow trajectory of a typical cast load was not a problem. Coyotes are not hard to kill if you stay off of the shoulder bone.

[NVScouter]

I killed two deer with my 1000y rifle in 243. I had a 1/3 MOA load of 100 sierra BTSP that I regularly shot out to 800y (hunitng load not my match load). I had the rifle out a few times for coyotes and the Sierra 85g traditional varmint bullet (amazing if you dont care about pelts!). But on year I got froggy and took it out for deer.

The bullet acted like a solid one a 150 and 180lb mule deer bucks. 6mm holes in and out, both lung shots. I watched the first one jump, fart around, and go back to feeding. I thought I missed then about 5 minutes later he fell down dead. The second one never flinched just walked off and died about 2 miles later. Both deer were around 225y shots. I dropped the 243 for deer like a hot potatoe. A cast boolit should do about the same 6mm in and out. I feel the 6mm is too small for these kind of wounds to be humane. Now if you break the shoulder it may be a different story but i wont try it again.

[Rattus58]

I killed two deer with my 1000y rifle in 243. I had a 1/3 MOA load of 100 sierra BTSP that I regularly shot out to 800y (hunitng load not my match load). I had the rifle out a few times for coyotes and the Sierra 85g traditional varmint bullet (amazing if you dont care about pelts!). But on year I got froggy and took it out for deer.

The bullet acted like a solid one a 150 and 180lb mule deer bucks. 6mm holes in and out, both lung shots. I watched the first one jump, fart around, and go back to feeding. I thought I missed then about 5 minutes later he fell down dead. The second one never flinched just walked off and died about 2 miles later. Both deer were around 225y shots. I dropped the 243 for deer like a hot potatoe. A cast boolit should do about the same 6mm in and out. I feel the 6mm is too small for these kind of wounds to be humane. Now if you break the shoulder it may be a different story but i wont try it again.

That's sorta my feeling as well.... anything smaller than a .41 with a 400 grain bullet... but my buddy swears by the .223 and getting curious about.. The longest shot I ever witnessed on a deer was over 400 yards with a .243, ricocheted around and finally lodged in the spine... and the absolute biggest axis deer I've ever seen taken was with a pump action .243.... go figure...

[jhalcott]

I always test my loads in wet pack out to ranges I THINK will be max. What ever range penetration and/or expansion falls below MY requirements BECOMES THE MAX range for that load. I think the gentleman with the 25-06 that turned around IN the deer was because of the extreme velocity combined with extreme expansion of that bullet. NO cast bullet will be pushed to the level of a jacketed 25 caliber bullet with out some problems occurring. on another side, WHY would ANY ONE go hunting with a CAST bullet in any caliber that can be loaded with a JACKETED slug? I've heard "hunters" say "I'd never shoot a wounded animal"! or that varmints should NOT be hunted if they are not to be eaten! I KNOW deer can be killed with the .22rf. I also have seen the damage done by ground hogs and other animals in crop fields. As I recall the OP asked could/would a .243 CAST bullet work on deer sized game, and what weight/velocity is needed. MY answer still stands. An 85 or heavier grain bullet at enough speed to penetrate 14 + inches of wet pack at impact!

[reloader28]

NVScouter, if you would have been using a decent hunting bullet, you would probly love the 243 for deer.

The problem is most guys use the cheapest factory made store bought garbage and complain when their deer runs off.

[nanuk]

Elk DRT at 688 yards. The .243 is a beautiful thing

what does that Spotter mean when he says "it won't go on safe, it is already cocked"??

what rifle cannot be made safe, when it is cocked?

[plinky56]

I've been hunting deer with a .243 since college and would not trade it for another caliber; however, there are some things you need to know. I started out with a .243 for groundhog, and used it as my only gun for everything else. All I had back then were j-words, and they can be loaded to 3200 fps with 100 gr for deer, and close to 3800 fps for varmints with 60-75gr. Amazing results, but not with cast, because you cannot push these bullets to the same velocity as j-words. Keep to the varmint class of game and you'll be well served.

[NVScouter]

Well I will definately say it was bullet failure. I think it was design not quality, any bullet that can shoot 1/3 MOA is a quality bullet. My issue was that a bullet designed to expand between 1200-4000fps range doesnt exist so Speer desided to make this thing a tank and it failed to expand. The 6mm rifles are all screamers(even the 6mm TCU is moving over 2500fps) so it makes sense to make a tough bullet. My other issue was blood shot meat. Massive lateral bloodshot streaks into the backstgraps but zero killing power.

Even a premium Grand Slam or Nosler Partition wouldnt have made a much bigger hole. An Interlock or classic/cheaper design would have expanded more and probably done a better job. So I dont really get the better quality bullet thing here, what is your go to 6mm bullet and how would a cast that barely expands have killed better?

I cant deny that the 243 kills tons of deer every year but my experince left a bad taste and I went back to 25+caliber for deer.

NVScouter, if you would have been using a decent hunting bullet, you would probly love the 243 for deer.

The problem is most guys use the cheapest factory made store bought garbage and complain when their deer runs off.

[Bad Water Bill]

Not a 243 but I have a Savage 99 takedown in 22 hi power that fed a cousin for many years and yes they were handloaded PB projectiles.

He made a seat in a tree stump facing a creek where 3 game trails met. Then sat and waited. Day or night made no difference to old Carl. He simply wanted meat in the pan. I still have a couple boxes of his ammo left. Might be interesting to see what is inside but how do you identify 50-70 year old powder?

Would I even think about it, not in this lifetime. I have better guns for that.

[9.3X62AL]

The 243.......I have one, and love it for varmints at long distance. I've done well with castings, all on varmints or paper though. Having A LOT of larger-caliber rifles on hand, I don't use the 243 for deer at all. If I were to do so, a Nosler Partition bullet at high velocity would get the call.

[Marlin Junky]

The 243.......I have one, and love it for varmints at long distance. I've done well with castings, all on varmints...

Got any .243 vs. Wile E. Coyote stories (using cast, naturally)?

MJ

[vmathias]

Well I will definately say it was bullet failure. I think it was design not quality, any bullet that can shoot 1/3 MOA is a quality bullet. My issue was that a bullet designed to expand between 1200-4000fps range doesnt exist so Speer desided to make this thing a tank and it failed to expand. The 6mm rifles are all screamers(even the 6mm TCU is moving over 2500fps) so it makes sense to make a tough bullet. My other issue was blood shot meat. Massive lateral bloodshot streaks into the backstgraps but zero killing power.


Even a premium Grand Slam or Nosler Partition wouldnt have made a much bigger hole. An Interlock or classic/cheaper design would have expanded more and probably done a better job. So I dont really get the better quality bullet thing here, what is your go to 6mm bullet and how would a cast that barely expands have killed better?

I cant deny that the 243 kills tons of deer every year but my experince left a bad taste and I went back to 25+caliber for deer.

You mentioned that your shots were at approx. 225 yards. i strongly believe that there lies the problem. In my opinion a 243 is not a long range deer cartridge. That little bullet loses energy to fast to be effective at that range unless everything falls into place (shot placement, bullet design etc..). For deer the max i would push my 100 grain core lokts would be 150 or less. We have seen videos that show an effective range MUCH farther and although it is possible I dont think that is the norm. For Cast I wouldnt try more than 50 yards tops with a neck shot being ideal.

[NVScouter]

You mentioned that your shots were at approx. 225 yards. i strongly believe that there lies the problem. In my opinion a 243 is not a long range deer cartridge. That little bullet loses energy to fast to be effective at that range unless everything falls into place (shot placement, bullet design etc..). For deer the max i would push my 100 grain core lokts would be 150 or less. We have seen videos that show an effective range MUCH farther and although it is possible I dont think that is the norm. For Cast I wouldnt try more than 50 yards tops with a neck shot being ideal.

Thats about my oposite view.

my load: .435BC @ 3150fps from a 26" bull barrel.
100y 2901fps -1.5
200y 2688fps -2.6"
300y 2468fps -10.1

Hornady 100g Interlock factory
No BC listed MV=2960
100y 2728fps
200y 2506fps
300y 2299fps

My loads were from a long target barrel and loaded hot with Hybrid100V. My impact velocity was about the same at 225y as factory ammo at 150y maybe a tad more.

however the thread got derailed, its about cast in a 6mm killing deer well.

My two deer had 6mm holes in and out just like a cast boolit will do. Very little flowing external blood and hair plugged up both holes instantly. So i stand by poo pooing a 6mm in cast for deer on lung shots. Place that boolit to break a shoulder or two and get a 6mm in and .35 out and I doubt you would have anything but a dead deer.

[vmathias]

Thats about my oposite view.

my load: .435BC @ 3150fps from a 26" bull barrel.
100y 2901fps -1.5
200y 2688fps -2.6"
300y 2468fps -10.1

Hornady 100g Interlock factory
No BC listed MV=2960
100y 2728fps
200y 2506fps
300y 2299fps

My loads were from a long target barrel and loaded hot with Hybrid100V. My impact velocity was about the same at 225y as factory ammo at 150y maybe a tad more.

however the thread got derailed, its about cast in a 6mm killing deer well.

My two deer had 6mm holes in and out just like a cast boolit will do. Very little flowing external blood and hair plugged up both holes instantly. So i stand by poo pooing a 6mm in cast for deer on lung shots. Place that boolit to break a shoulder or two and get a 6mm in and .35 out and I doubt you would have anything but a dead deer.

Yes, with all your components those yardages it would be more than enough. In my opinion with (factory) ammo I don't feel comfortable with a factory load and 22 inch light sporter barrel over 200 yards.

[9.3X62AL]

For sure, no song dogs with 243/cast combos. I may not have any with j-words from this rifle, either. Not sure. RCBS-95-SP has whacked a bunch of ground squirrels and some jackrabbits, though--and started at 1700-1800 FPS, it spreads them right out considerably to 150 yards. It shoots the Lyman Loverin 90 grainer (#245496) about as well, though I've run a lot fewer of those through this 788 than I have the RCBS castings.

I did nail a couple coyotes with a now-departed Rem 700 x 243 that doted on Sierra 85 grain BTHPs. Prompted along at 3200 FPS or so, these did BAD THINGS to the yodel units. I'm sure that the castings would DO IN coyotes quite well to 200 yards, based on their comprehensive disassembly of jacks to 150.

[Bad Water Bill]

Thats about my oposite view.

my load: .435BC @ 3150fps from a 26" bull barrel.
100y 2901fps -1.5
200y 2688fps -2.6"
300y 2468fps -10.1

Hornady 100g Interlock factory
No BC listed MV=2960
100y 2728fps
200y 2506fps
300y 2299fps

My loads were from a long target barrel and loaded hot with Hybrid100V. My impact velocity was about the same at 225y as factory ammo at 150y maybe a tad more.

however the thread got derailed, its about cast in a 6mm killing deer well.

My two deer had 6mm holes in and out just like a cast boolit will do. Very little flowing external blood and hair plugged up both holes instantly. So i stand by poo pooing a 6mm in cast for deer on lung shots. Place that boolit to break a shoulder or two and get a 6mm in and .35 out and I doubt you would have anything but a dead deer.

I want to see the person that can carry that 26" S S pipe thru the NORTH woods for 4-6 hours then hold steady enough to hit a humming bird at 100 yards.

I have a hard enough time packing mt 20 V T with a Shillen S S bull bbl just from the car to the bench. Then again I never possessed some skills to make it appear on paper.(my mom was REAL good with a bar of lye soap every time she caught me.)

[NVScouter]

That rifle was around 15lbs with the 6-24x on it. I alternated it and my TC over a 5 day span hiking an average of 9 miles a day. I get fat in the summer and skinnier during deer season however that's the last hunt ill pack a rifle over 10# on.

[45 2.1]

I want to see the person that can carry that 26" S S pipe thru the NORTH woods for 4-6 hours then hold steady enough to hit a humming bird at 100 yards.

If a person has some game skills, he can scout an area and pick a good location to sit down, extend his bipod (or lash some cross sticks together) and wait for a nice 15 to 70 yard shot..... at least in the brush or farmland areas of this country....... Out west and in open areas this might not work well. Lots of options and one should be good enough to hit said hummingbird (should it remain still long enough) at 70 yards that way. If one can do that, then a brain shot with a .243 cast load should bring home meat.

[NVScouter]

I like to get up high and glass. Then get ahead of em and wait for them to come to me.

My ultralight was the worst however. Get huffing and puffing then try and steady a 5lb rifle for a 200y shot.