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re: 243 for young first time hunter, did I make a mistake?
Posted on 10/19/26 at 8:56 am to saintsfan1977
Posted on 10/19/26 at 8:56 am to saintsfan1977
Guys, the guy is obviously handicapped. Let's not pile on the poor fella.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 9:10 am to AlxTgr
ive never seen someone openly argue against a 243 this much, especially if they are experienced.
does it make sense to use a larger gun, sure, if that's your flavor. but its not necessary.
does it make sense to use a larger gun, sure, if that's your flavor. but its not necessary.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 9:16 am to mtb010
The cool kids out west will tell you a .223 is excelent for grown men to use for kodiak bears, elk at 500 yards, and all manner of other things.
Their priorities are different than mine, but point being it certainly can be done.
Theres some good points to be made. Most men would fight other men with a .223 and not question it at all. Same men wouldnt want to shoot a deer with less than a .30-06, and that is illogical. Of course we dont care if we find the bad guy, we just want him to not be able to shoot back anymore, and we want to find the deer.
Im still a fan of a big bullet going in a straight line all the way through 100% of the time, but thats a product of where I hunt and what I have to deal with if the deer runs. They often run into shite so thick that you literally cannot see past your nose in any direction or see your feet even if youre on dry ground. Thats not normal for most people. Id 100% use a .243 with something like ELDM bullets but I would be a lot more selective with my shots than I am with more horsepower and harder bullets.
Their priorities are different than mine, but point being it certainly can be done.
Theres some good points to be made. Most men would fight other men with a .223 and not question it at all. Same men wouldnt want to shoot a deer with less than a .30-06, and that is illogical. Of course we dont care if we find the bad guy, we just want him to not be able to shoot back anymore, and we want to find the deer.
Im still a fan of a big bullet going in a straight line all the way through 100% of the time, but thats a product of where I hunt and what I have to deal with if the deer runs. They often run into shite so thick that you literally cannot see past your nose in any direction or see your feet even if youre on dry ground. Thats not normal for most people. Id 100% use a .243 with something like ELDM bullets but I would be a lot more selective with my shots than I am with more horsepower and harder bullets.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 9:17 am to donRANDOMnumbers
quote:
never seen someone openly argue against a 243 this much, especially if they are experienced.
Shhhitttttttttttttttttttt
This used to be my favorite topic.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 9:53 am to GREENHEAD22
My Dad is 72 and hunts with a 243 that last 5 years. Has yet to have a deer go more than about 100 yards. Great little gun. My daughter shoots a 243 since she is 13, she is 16 now but is very small (4'11" and 100 lbs soakign wet), 3 for 3 on deer.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 10:16 am to ThatsAFactJack
My biggest rifle deer was shot with a .243. The buck was chasing does and I had a climber on my back. I took a shot I probably should not have. Bullet hit the rear side humerus and shattered into no telling how many pieces. That shattering made Swiss cheese of the vitals. No blood trail, but it didn't matter.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 1:14 pm to GREENHEAD22
I've seen many a deer killed with a 243. I recommend a pointed cup and core bullet about 100gr. Something similar to core-lokt, gameking, interlock or partitions should do the trick
Posted on 10/19/26 at 1:20 pm to 007mag
My 9 year old shot his first deer staruday with a Ruger American in .223. I was full expecting a tracking job but i'll be danged if he didn't drop him in his tracks at about 40 yards. Think i was more excited than he was 
Posted on 10/19/26 at 1:56 pm to TexasTiger1984
quote:
223. I was full expecting a tracking job but i'll be danged if he didn't drop him in his tracks at about 40 yards.
.223 in the vitals has a real "bad" habit of splintering into a dozen pieces in the chest cavity. Heart, lungs, and everything else just gets shredded.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 2:48 pm to Out da box
quote:
You’re a dumb arse. Your point is shot accuracy again… must have short man syndrome…
I guess we know who can't shoot in this thread
Posted on 10/19/26 at 3:12 pm to GREENHEAD22
I have a Ruger M77 .243 with European-style, full-length Mannlicher American walnut stock. Whenever I go shoot it at the range, everyone always ask about it. First 3 deer were with a shotgun. Used the .243 afterwards. Great shooting gun.
It was my first rifle as a kid. My dad traded a black Labrador puppy for it. A guy came to buy one dog, but after seeing the mom and dad, wanted another. He offered the gun and my dad asked me if I wanted a rifle.
It was my first rifle as a kid. My dad traded a black Labrador puppy for it. A guy came to buy one dog, but after seeing the mom and dad, wanted another. He offered the gun and my dad asked me if I wanted a rifle.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 6:14 pm to tke_swamprat
I have always wanted a Mannlicher style rifle. Not the most practical but badass looking.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 9:01 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
243 for young first time hunter
The only thing wrong with a 243 is it isn’t a 6.5 Grendel.
A 243 is a fine choice for anything in Louisiana in moderate range for broadside shots.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 10:00 pm to GREENHEAD22
243 is a decent first rifle.
Just wondering why u didnt consider a 6.5creedmore or a .308? Both rifles have tons of different rounds to choose from and very little recoil.
Just wondering why u didnt consider a 6.5creedmore or a .308? Both rifles have tons of different rounds to choose from and very little recoil.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 10:45 pm to GREENHEAD22
Have smoke many a deer with a .243. Just started my 6 yo grandson with a .350 legend. Dropped 3 in their tracks with it. All 3 at about 67 paces. Kicks a little less than .243. Recovered 2 of 3 bullets as they didn't pass through. Glad they dropped. May bump up to .243 for youth/modern gun.
.243 is plenty of gun.
.243 is plenty of gun.
Posted on 10/19/26 at 11:42 pm to SmackoverHawg
I’ve killed about the same amount with a 243 and a 308. They ended up just as dead either way. But with the 243 they do usually run a bit with a chest cavity shot. Never had one go more than a step or two with a 150 or 180 grain from the 308 and most dropped on the spot. 243 is fine for a young or older hunter but for ease of recovery (they almost always run down a hill when they run) a 308 is just more of a stopper.
Posted on 10/20/26 at 5:27 am to jchamil
This thread started by someone seeking advice for his child shooting a rifle.
What an egotistical, small man syndrome moron.
What an egotistical, small man syndrome moron.
Posted on 10/20/26 at 7:02 am to Out da box
He asked if 243 was sufficient and it absolutely is. Your little dick can't handle the truth.
Posted on 10/20/26 at 8:25 am to Out da box
quote:
started by someone seeking advice for his child shooting a rifle.
He was asking if he screwed up and everybody agrees he did just fine
Posted on 10/20/26 at 8:33 am to Squirrelmeister
quote:My man
The only thing wrong with a 243 is it isn’t a 6.5 Grendel.
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