Hunting deer size game with 243 boolits?

Boolit Mold Join DateApr 2013Posts13

Has anyone used a 243 lead cast boolit with success on deer size game? If so, what velocities are you running and what ranges have you taken them??

Even with jacketed bullets, I find the 6mm caliber lacking for large game. I've had a 6mm Ackley Improved since the early days of Ruger bolt action rifles, Sometimes it kills deer like the hammer of thor, other times it fails to reach the target. Bullet selection is critical. With cast at like half the energy, I'd compare it with a 25-20 with a strong edge for the 25-20. I.E. will kill deer, but marginal.

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Boolit Mold Join DateApr 2013Posts13

Even with jacketed bullets, I find the 6mm caliber lacking for large game. I've had a 6mm Ackley Improved since the early days of Ruger bolt action rifles, Sometimes it kills deer like the hammer of thor, other times it fails to reach the target. Bullet selection is critical. With cast at like half the energy, I'd compare it with a 25-20 with a strong edge for the 25-20. I.E. will kill deer, but marginal.My main reason to cast for the 243 is Predator hunting. I have had very good luck with the 243 on deer size game. Havent had one yet go 30 yards from where it was shot. I am casting 95 grain boolits and hope to push them around 1800fps. If I stick to 100 yards or under with well placed shots i think it will do the trick.

On our small deer (90 lbs live wt.), I think you would be ok. You seem to have a good grip on range limitations and placement, so that is good. I know I will get some fire over this, but even fast 25 calibers have let me down on deer. I limit myself and my family to .264 or larger for game. I know it has been done with smaller, but it is just too unreliable. A 30 cal and no tracking, or a 22 cal and possibly a lost deer or a whole lot of work..... Not flaming you for your choice to try the 243 cal, just giving my opinion.

I came into this world kicking, screaming, and covered in someone elses blood. I plan to go out the same way.

i'll throw my opinion in too.
I have no basis to go by really, just what I have seen from shooting stuff.
the 7mm is the smallest I would use on deer, and there you have to take care
to really get things matched up.
soft noses and malleability are pertinent.
i'd really stick to jaxketed in the 243, i'm not even sold on those in the smaller calibers either.
I have used the 25's on deer a time or two and i'm not quite giving up on them yet.
[[I got the biggest buck I have ever shot with a 257 and wasn't impressed with the bullets performance]]
yeah it died ,blah, blah.
the one before that dropped like a rock and rolled down a hill, then got up and run away without leaving a drop of blood behind.
spent over 4 hrs trailing it and never seen the deer or sign it had been hit.

anyway the 243 and cast for deer was the question.
I wouldn't do it... as a plain naked boolit.
p/p would be a different question.

it's all an educated guess,,,, till the trigger is pulled.

the more i find out about shootin boolits, the more it contradicts everything i ever learned about shooting jaxketed.

Hmmm.... I have a question. Just where are you small caliber guys shooting those deer? I've seen lots of deer at check stations (out of state ones at that) with lots of people using small caliber rifles. Most all of these deer were shot where the bullet or boolit did the most good. Can you guess where that was?.................

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Boolit Bub Join DateMar 2013Posts46

Maybe I'm strang or just dumd but in my experience the .243 has killed well outside its weight class. Deer pigs elk and black bear. I've seen them all drop with one well placed shot. Neck on the elk boiler room on the rest. These are from two diffrent hunters both good riflemen and I witnessed the shots and the games reaction. Upon field dressing said game I was decent penetration and good wound channels and heavy blood loss. The elk was shot with jword bullets the rest cast with gas check. One of these men uses his bolt .243 for everything. Because its light accurate he shoots it well and has not lost an animal or had to look very to find them.

Every deer I have ever seen that was shot with a 6mm/243 just plain died (jwords). ACCURACY/SHOT PLACEMENT and I am talking 150 to 200 lb whitetails.

A bowling ball at 3,000 fps will not work if you only hit it in the hoof.

I intend to kill a buck with a gaschecked flatnosed castboolit in a .243 Model 70 SA-LW @ 2800+ fps, just has not happened yet....I have no reservations about what I am doing. Cliff notes version of the story..........= I will do my part and the deer will die.

"Happiness is a target rich environment"

All the hunters I know personally have always shot deer with 243, 270 and a few diehards with the 06. I know of no one who used a 30WCF case or similar, but a lot of folks I know well have them sitting in closets. ... felix

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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