BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[orp0741]

What are your thoughts on this? I will be taking my daughter hunting this year with a Browning 243 using Winchester 55 Gr. Ballistic Silver Tip ammunition. Will this have enough power to take down a Whitetail Deer at a range of 50 to 125 yards?

[maineguide]

A friend of mine took a 8 point buck at 285 yards with one last year

[fire6469]

Sure it will. A well placed shot will take care of it. Is it the first time your daughter is hunting? If so, in my opinion she should not e taking a shot at 125 yds. anyway. That is just how I was raised. Unless it was between 50 to 75 yds I was not allowed to shoot. Just a thought. GOOD LUCK

[bitmasher]

I have used a 243 for mule deer with no problems. Like always just make a good shot and closer is better.

[mlemons]

I agree, .243 plenty of gun. However, should be within 150 yards and open area. The .243 is not a good brush gun, one limb could send that light weight bullet sailing off course.

_________________
Help put a stop to drugs *** Take a child hunting or fishing.

[ This Message was edited by: moderator on 2002-10-24 13:58 ]

[Dr. Dan]

Get your daughter a 7mm-08 or a .270 class gun and do it right. I have seen too many errors in judgement end up being wounded deer with a .243.

[cuttplug]

I will have to agree with the others I happen to think that the 243 is the best overall gun for whitetail. THat is my opinion. My son took his first deer this last fall with one at about 120 yds and it dropped immediately.

[Captain_Obvious]

A 243 is a hardcore deer caliber, in my opinion. I'd strongly advise you avoid shots longer than 300 yards or so, perhaps even that, because the little .24 caliber bullet is quite susceptible to wind drift.

[willhunt4food]

Its not the rifle its the aim. Ive never hunted with a 243 but I guarantee, u put it in the boiler the deer will go down. The main thing is to make sure your daughter has fired it enough to be comfortable and accurate. I gave my son a 12 guage with triple aught and he still missed a deer at 30 yards, Its beeing practiced and calm. Good luck to u and your daughter.

[ADKBEAR]

Are you sure of the 55gr thing? That seems a little small.

[expatriate]

Good point, ADKBEAR. Nobody's pointed that out. The 55 grain load is intended for varmints, not deer -- it's a screamer at around 4000 fps and no weight behind it. Best bet for deer is a 100 grain load; if you're fond of Winchester they make a Power Point + that works great. But if you try to use the 55 grainer, you won't get the penetration you need.

[orp0741]

Thank-you for all your input, we took your advice and used a heavier shot. My daughter used a Winchester 243 95gr. Ballistic Silvertip cartridge, she shot two whitetails this year at 110 yards. I was surprised the exit wound was 1½” in diameter. Also willhunt4food is correct with the statement “The main thing is to make sure your daughter has fired it enough to be comfortable and accurate.” Last year at NRA camp she took first in group and seconded in overall out of 95 kids. She was 11 at that time.

[mister_venison]

The bullet makes a big difference. So many people put so much emphasis on velocity, energy, and so forth, but the bullet is really the most important thing. It has to do its job, or the deer maybe gets wounded and maybe gets away. Good to see you went heavier. That 55 grain is not designed to penetrate very much.

[Yeti]

The .243 is a great round for a kid starting out. I'd suggest, though, as others here have, that you keep shots within a hundred or so yards, and that you use a heavier bullet. The 100 grainers are great, as long as you have a barrel that will stabilize them well. If not, the 90 grain is a close second.

Thanks for taking a kid hunting!

Regards,
Yeti