243 rifle

[Northland]

I have a 30-30 and a 300 mag. I am contemplating a 243 for northern minn deer hunting. The longest shot I have taken is 110yds. Any advice out there

[BGunn]

Just my opinion, I'd stay with the .30-30

[Magic]

Stay with the 300 Win Mag, get a 150-200 gr bullets, sight in 1 inch high at 100yds and shoot to 300 yds. Shoulder shot and dead is dead. Practice further and shoot further, lots further.

[MrStarnes1]

i shoot a .243 here in eastern SD.... most shots i take with it are over 200 yards. you could never buy my 243 from me but if i was shooting in heavy cover in short yardage situations, i wouldn't bring this gun to the field
if i was hunting in an area where my shots were 150 or less, and also in wooded areas, i would use a gun with a little extra kick behind it... 300 is a fun gun but too much kick for my 140 pound frame. my next choice would probably be a 30.06. my father in law and a few friends shoot them and they are fast and straight shooting.

[stevefellegy]

Originally Posted by MrStarnes1

i shoot a .243 here in eastern SD.... most shots i take with it are over 200 yards. you could never buy my 243 from me but if i was shooting in heavy cover in short yardage situations, i wouldn't bring this gun to the field
if i was hunting in an area where my shots were 150 or less, and also in wooded areas, i would use a gun with a little extra kick behind it... 300 is a fun gun but too much kick for my 140 pound frame. my next choice would probably be a 30.06. my father in law and a few friends shoot them and they are fast and straight shooting.

I agree---best all around Mn. deer caliber is the 30.06--180 grain. 1.5 inches high at 100 yds. at the range and you'll be good from 10 to 200 yds. without fail! That bullet will handle more brush than the .243 and will do a better job if you make a little off the mark shot. 30.06 all that way!

[Buck Snort]

Originally Posted by stevefellegy

I agree---best all around Mn. deer caliber is the 30.06--180 grain. 1.5 inches high at 100 yds. at the range and you'll be good from 10 to 200 yds. without fail! That bullet will handle more brush than the .243 and will do a better job if you make a little off the mark shot. 30.06 all that way!

No bullet "handles the brush"

Hit the deer in the right spot and a .22lr will kill it quickly. Deer are easy to kill if you do your part.

[antlers & eyes]

Originally Posted by stevefellegy

I agree---best all around Mn. deer caliber is the 30.06--180 grain. 1.5 inches high at 100 yds. at the range and you'll be good from 10 to 200 yds. without fail! That bullet will handle more brush than the .243 and will do a better job if you make a little off the mark shot. 30.06 all that way!

I disagree, maybe the most common, but not the best. there is no best. there are a lot of people that don't really know much about bullets and calibers. today compared to 50 years ago, we have so many choices of bullets that are designated to each caliber. bullet construction is far more important than the size of the cartridge. a 243 is a great gun. if you want a caliber that has minimal kick and great balistic charactoristics, you may want to look at a 7mm-08. there are so many choices out there today as far as good calibers, it is hard to go wrong as long as you use the correct bullet.

[Phil T]

Ah, the best deer rifle is chambered for 257 Roberts, 6.5X55mm "Swede", or a300 Savage(but only if the Savage is a model 99 rifle).

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Originally Posted by antlers & eyes

I disagree, maybe the most common, but not the best. there is no best. there are a lot of people that don't really know much about bullets and calibers. today compared to 50 years ago, we have so many choices of bullets that are designated to each caliber. bullet construction is far more important than the size of the cartridge. a 243 is a great gun. if you want a caliber that has minimal kick and great balistic charactoristics, you may want to look at a 7mm-08. there are so many choices out there today as far as good calibers, it is hard to go wrong as long as you use the correct bullet.

Well said. I recommend the 7mm-08 to all my friends who want to get their kids into deer hunting.

[7mmWSM]

Originally Posted by Northland

I have a 30-30 and a 300 mag. I am contemplating a 243 for northern minn deer hunting. The longest shot I have taken is 110yds. Any advice out there

The 243 will do just fine for what you describe. I admit that I use larger, more powerful cartridges, and yet when I hunted with the 243 I always brought home the venison. My theory is a person should shoot the most powerful cartridge THAT THEY CAN SHOOT WELL. It's more where you hit them than what you hit them with but a little insurance never hurts.