Try and convince me the 243 is actually useful

[CBH Australia]

@CBH Australia
Give the 242 another chance, you have to be joking I never gave it a first chance
Yes he's still out there been flat out at the hospital and working at the pub. He comes home Wednesday.
Bob

What pub? I might call past or I can go to the range Sunday arvo if he is free. I have been away a few times between shiftwork.

 

[Flbt]

@CBH Australia
Give the 242 another chance, you have to be joking I never gave it a first chance
Yes he's still out there been flat out at the hospital and working at the pub. He comes home Wednesday.
Bob

Get you a 6mm Remington or the older version the 244.
Y’all have a bounty on feral cats do you not?
If nothing else a 55gr jsp should make a mess. With them lol

 

[CBH Australia]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
Well, I heard today that 2, yes 2 Sambar deer were taken on private land in NSW with a .243 this afternoon.
Does that make it useful?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
Well, I heard today that 2, yes 2 Sambar deer were taken on private land in NSW with a .243 this afternoon.
Does that make it useful?

@CBH Australia
Simple answer mate
NO.
Bob

 

[double rifle newbie]

too light for midwest whitetails. my humble 2 cents

 

[thriller]

As everyone knows is absolutely hate the 243 because if have seen to much game wounded with it by people using the wrong projectiles for the game hunted. Also seen a lot of game just wounded by good shots with projectiles that were supposed to be ideal for the game hunted. Eg a 100gn Remington core lockt factory round put into the ribcage of a fallow deer. One deer died quickly the other with the same shot placement and same factory load run off never to be seen again.
I have reloaded this cartridge for people and have never attained the book velocities.
80gn max load 2,900-3100 fps
95gn SST max load 2,800fps
100grainer max load 2,700-2,800 fps
To me this round fails to live up to all the hype. To big for small game and not really big enough for medium big game.
I know there are people out there that love the 243 but I'm not one of them.
There's also people that say they use it for culling and it works well with head shots for that. Well a baseball bat to the he'd will do the same job.
This could be quite interesting to see some of the reasons why I should stop bagging out the prissy little 243 and see if I can refute some of the so called claims.
Let's keep it respectful but still have some fun and good humoured bantering.
Bob

You know the truth Bob never surrender and lead the way! The 243 is for tomatoes and only tomatoes!!!

 

[ftrovato]

So I just got back from hunting the Highlands of Scotland for Red Stag. I had a spectacular time and was able to take 3 great old management stags from 8 to 10 or so years old, 6 to 10 points and all weighed in at 250 to 300 lbs (113 to 136 kg).

Interestingly it was getting more expensive than I cared for to bring my own rifle so I made arrangements to use an estate rifle.

I show up the first day, the head stalker takes me to the range, points out a metal deer target around 100 meters out, tells me to get into the prone position, dry fire several rounds to get used to the Tika (Sako) rifle with an 8x Swarovski scope and then hands me a bullet to load and send down range.

I look at this little cartridge only to find it's a 243 Winchester and the cartridge is loaded by Sako with an 80 grain copper bullet.

The first thing I thought was "BOB WOULD NOT APPROVE"!

I fire a round, rifle hit where I aimed and we are off to the mountains to start stalking.

First day, first stag, 150 meters away broadside. I aim behind the shoulder the deer takes the impact, hunches, walks five steps and falls over stone dead.

Second day, second stag 200 yards broadside. I aim behind the shoulder the deer takes the impact, hunches, trots 30 yards in a half circle and falls over dead.

Third day, third stage, 225 yards broadside. I aim half way up shoulder. Bullet hits a little low, deer starts to walk away. Stops at 250 yards quartering away, I put a bullet behind the stomach up through the liver. Deer hunches, walks 25 yards over the hill and we find him almost dead in his bed around 75 yards from the first shot.
Not sure how the first shot missed the heart but it did. Second shot took out his liver.

Keep in mind I've taken a few whitetail deer with the 243 but never have I been a fan to use it on anything more than 100 lbs (45 kg).

But h*ll, it certainly worked with these 80 grain coppers!

The stalkers tell me they use it cuz people can shoot the 243 without flinching and when you put the 80 grain copper where it belongs the stags go down in short order.

So there you have it. Say what you want, think what you want, but I'm convinced that this caliber can get it done on a nice sized beast if you put the bullet where it belongs.

Sorry Bob!

 

[colorado]

243 lever action

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So I just got back from hunting the Highlands of Scotland for Red Stag. I had a spectacular time and was able to take 3 great old management stags from 8 to 10 or so years old, 6 to 10 points and all weighed in at 250 to 300 lbs (113 to 136 kg).

Interestingly it was getting more expensive than I cared for to bring my own rifle so I made arrangements to use an estate rifle.

I show up the first day, the head stalker takes me to the range, points out a metal deer target around 100 meters out, tells me to get into the prone position, dry fire several rounds to get used to the Tika (Sako) rifle with an 8x Swarovski scope and then hands me a bullet to load and send down range.

I look at this little cartridge only to find it's a 243 Winchester and the cartridge is loaded by Sako with an 80 grain copper bullet.

The first thing I thought was "BOB WOULD NOT APPROVE"!

I fire a round, rifle hit where I aimed and we are off to the mountains to start stalking.

First day, first stag, 150 meters away broadside. I aim behind the shoulder the deer takes the impact, hunches, walks five steps and falls over stone dead.

Second day, second stag 200 yards broadside. I aim behind the shoulder the deer takes the impact, hunches, trots 30 yards in a half circle and falls over dead.

Third day, third stage, 225 yards broadside. I aim half way up shoulder. Bullet hits a little low, deer starts to walk away. Stops at 250 yards quartering away, I put a bullet behind the stomach up through the liver. Deer hunches, walks 25 yards over the hill and we find him almost dead in his bed around 75 yards from the first shot.
Not sure how the first shot missed the heart but it did. Second shot took out his liver.

Keep in mind I've taken a few whitetail deer with the 243 but never have I been a fan to use it on anything more than 100 lbs (45 kg).

But h*ll, it certainly worked with these 80 grain coppers!

The stalkers tell me they use it cuz people can shoot the 243 without flinching and when you put the 80 grain copper where it belongs the stags go down in short order.

So there you have it. Say what you want, think what you want, but I'm convinced that this caliber can get it done on a nice sized beast if you put the bullet where it belongs.

Sorry Bob!

@ftrovato
When you put the RIGHT BULLET IN THE RIGHT SPOT it works.
Problem is 95% of people use the WRONG PROJECTILES in the 243. They load and 87gn cup and core and expect it to work on EVERYTHING.
I notice you said it was a COPPER bullet so the game changes again.
Bob

 

[Hedge774]

I don't understand why anyone would buy a .243 when the 6.5x55 is better in every way. Here's my 6.5x55 Musgrave

That is one beautiful rifle.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

@ftrovato
When you put the RIGHT BULLET IN THE RIGHT SPOT it works.
Problem is 95% of people use the WRONG PROJECTILES in the 243. They load and 87gn cup and core and expect it to work on EVERYTHING.
I notice you said it was a COPPER bullet so the game changes again.
Bob

See, one of the times I agree with Bob… Well placed shots from a practiced shooter does make the difference. I’ve taken a lot of game with a .243 and that is well documented in my hunting reports. That’s first hand experience. I likely would have the same success with similar calibers and weight bullets if I knew the rifle shoots accurately at distances to 400 yards. And, if I had an opportunity to practice with it.

 

[Flbt]

I was reading a magazine article and they were talking about a place in Kansas they said average white tail weight was around 260 lbs. if our deer here were that size I don’t think I would still be as big a 6 mm rem fan as. I am.
Maybe a 350 rem mag fan.

 

[tward1604]

"Of the 103 leopards taken by my clients in East Africa, the majority were shot with my .243.”
-Selby-

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

.243's don't exist in my world....

 

[CBH Australia]

.243's don't exist in my world....

Well, my wife has a pretty one if you want to try a .243.
Still kills pigs too.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

"Of the 103 leopards taken by my clients in East Africa, the majority were shot with my .243.”
-Selby-

@tward1604
My PH loves a well placed shot from the 25-06 for leopard.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well, my wife has a pretty one if you want to try a .243.
Still kills pigs too.

@CBH Australia
Chris you must be talking about a rifle because I have seen you and like me you ain't pretty.
Ha Ha ha Ha ha
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

@tward1604
My PH loves a well placed shot from the 25-06 for leopard.
Bob

Surely not that much difference. I reckon the .243 goes ok

 

[leslie hetrick]

you would have a better chance trying to speak to a deaf mute.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Surely not that much difference. I reckon the .243 goes ok

@CBH Australia
Chris
Wash your mouth out with soap and say ten hail Mary's and ten our fathers. That is pure blasphemy .
Comparing the 243 to the majestic 25-06 is like comparing a mini minor ta race car.
Bob