Is the .243 Winchester adequate for my hunting situations?

kyrifleman0714, first off thanks for coming back and clearing some things up. I realize that you are new to TFL and didn't want to jump on you too hard. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt before the bashing started.

First off you should have never taken the shot at the deer with out knowing how the rifle shoots. I've made this mistake as well when I first started hunting so I've been there, just don't repeat this mistake. The way you described the shot it sounded as though you had made a perfect one for the kill and was surprised that the deer got away. That is what made most of us believe that you didn't properly understand the vital area on deer.

Second if you know the landowner and he is such a good family friend why didn't you ask for permission to go get the deer? If he understood that the deer wasn't shot on his property but had crossed the fence line would he have not let you go get it? Why was there a need to do the "Rainbow Six maneuvers" to get your deer? I would have called my Uncle for help in getting access to get the deer, not waited patiently. I honestly feel that you didn't do everything possible to recover this deer, because you were trying to avoid a conflict with a landowner.

I've met very few landowners who would let an animal suffer on their property if it was wounded regardless of their views on hunting. In fact in all my years of hunting I can say that I only met one, and she almost killed my with her stare when I asked if I could hunt their property. I've even had landowners accompany me when I went to recover an animal that had crossed over to where I didn't have permission to hunt.

There my butt chewing is over take from it what you can.
 
If you think you might handload in the future the 280 is a great round that is very similar to the 270 that can be loaded to a recoil tailored round, and it has plenty of options in bullets (thanks to the 7mm mag crowd).

+1
 
The .243 will do the trick quite nicely. I used to have one and I hunt just to the East of you in SK. Between my brother and I we took down some big deer between 50 and a couple hundred yards.

My pill of choice was a 100 grain Nosler Partition and it worked like a charm. I only ever recovered one bullet and only one deer needed more than one shot out of close to ten.

I do believe that the .270 is the round that God wants us to shoot deer with though but dont go out and buy one because you think the .243 is inadequate, it is not.
 
Another vote for the .270 win.
The initital post was for the choice between the .243 and the .270.
While the .243 will do the job quite nicely, for the longer ranges and the possibility of taking something larger than northern whitetail or big mulies, the .270 would be (and is) my choice.
Mike
 
"kyrifleman0714" this sounds like you shot the deer from the road.
the situation was my hunting partner and I pulled up and the hunting partner's friend said he saw the young buck and he gave me his
rifle....
rainy afternoon, I unfolded the bi-pod, laid it on the hood of a car, and put the crosshairs 3 inches or so below it's back line and squeezed off
a round from a foreign gun at 200 yards away.
 
Oh yeah, haven't ya heard - by his own admissions, kyrifleman:

1. is a Road hunter (illegal)
2. is an Out of season poacher (illegal) (though he claims an unwritten depredation permit is fine in KY)
3. Aims for the middle of the brown (unethical)
4. Uses FMJ ball ammo on deer from a 7.62x39 (probably illegal and definitely unethical)
5. Takes 300 yard shots with an iron-sighted SKS (unethical)
6. Uses a 30 round mag in said SKS (illegal)
7. Likes to "tap off" multiple rounds at RUNNING deer (unethical)

He's more fun than a barrel of monkeys - i.e. a menace to society. :barf: :mad:

Any KY hunters here (as opposed to a guy in the woods with a gun like kyrifleman) who can verify the law there?
 
kyrifleman0714 what part of KY are you from?
Everything you said on here so far is either illegal or just unethical for a hunter to do.
 
to paraphrase another long time poster on this board ( I can't remember which one )

' The .243 kills bigger than is ought to '

It is one of my favorite cartridges for varmints and deer.

Still I would take a .270 for big northern deer if I was forced to choose between the two.

KY, learn the law and be more responsible/ ethical in the future. for everyone : Every word you post reflects on the entire shooting community, make sure that they are carefully chosen words.
 
Folks, the other thread is gone as is the thread starter.

It is normally not the policy at TFL to make this information public. In this case, I am using this post as a means to say to one and all that unethical and/or unlawful hunting and use of arms is not tolerated at TFL.

It does not serve the purpose or goals of TFL, to further the responsible ownership of guns, to post such things. This is something that normally does not need to be said.

Now, having written this, let's move on and let's hear no more about the, um, gentleman in question. That's not what this thread is about.
 
Nothing to see here people, keep moving.
Anyways, I would vote for the .270 as well. But I would not be opposed to trying a bullet with a high BC in the .243. You can make a world of difference with a good bullet such as SSB or Nosler Accutip. Just my thoughts and opinions.
 
I'd go with the .243
It will do the job, you already have the reloading set up

The .270 is a great round and you'll be happy with it. But don't be concerned that you'll be under gunned with the .243.

I also glad that you haven't fallen in love with a cannon as so many people seem to do.
 
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