Stuck with a .243, where do I aim?

[ryalred]

I detect a disparaging note in your post--something like you don't feel confident in the .243 to take really big deer. Your thinking is totally inaccurate concerning the .243--it is more than up to the task to take the largest deer. Probably the best shot (for any rifle, for that matter)--that gives you the most room for error is a lung shot. I like to aim just behind the front shoulder and just a tad low of vertical center. When a deer is standing broad side to you, you can often see sort of a crease behind the front shoulder--that is a good place to line up with and aim to vertical center of the deer or slightly low of vertical center. This will get the deer even if your off a few inches either direction.

Good luck!

[LanceOregon]

As Art already mentioned, the neck is the other effective spot to aim at, if you have time to set up for an accurate shot.

[LanceOregon]

That is odd. He never came back to the forum since posting this message. So he has not read any of the replies posted here.

Probably not worth it giving him any more feedback at this point.

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[Doodlebugger45]

You're right Lance. But that is a very cool picture nonetheless. If that is accurate, then I am aiming a bit above the heart most of the time. No big deal, if I hit high, it will still hit the spine which is good. If I hit low, it will hit the heart. Not as good, but it will work out too. If I have the perfect scenario though and the deer is close and seems to be frozen, then I will shoot him right behind and just below the ear. But only with tack driving rifles such as my 270 WSM or... preferably my .243.

If I'm only hunting deer or antelope, meaning no possibility of an elk being shot that day, my preferred rifle is my .243. It simply shoots better than anything else I have period.

[LanceOregon]

My granduncle on my mother's side of the family always went for a neck shot, and he was a prolific slayer of deer.

I was lucky enough to go out with him once when I was a young teen, just to tag along. He had a Remington in .270 Winchester, and boy, he sure was a crack shot with it. He was intimately familiar with the area that we were hunting, and sure enough, he was able to locate a deer and get us in close to it.

If pulled off correctly, a neck shot is devastating, and drops the animal instantly. The key to success is to get yourself into a position where you can take an accurate shot at a still animal. And that means getting in close range. I would certainly never recommend a neck shot for a long range shot.

Really, a big part of hunting evolves stalking an animal, in order to get within effective range.

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[sc outdoorsman]

Doodlebugger I like the high lung shot too. If I am hunting an open area that is my prefered shot. Most of our stands dont have the sturdiest of gun rests and that gives you a good margin for error as you said. If I am hunting around our thicket or on the edge of our property I slide over and center up on the shoulder. There is a good margin for error there as well and I know If I break the shoulder down I will not be all night chasing Bambi through the brambles or needing to go on someone elses property.

[the blur]

I always thought the spine was higher.
Good picture !!

[LanceOregon]

Here is another diagram I found, showing different targets in a deer's anatomy:

[mitchell koster]

Stuck with a .243 shouldn't be ever said haha. Here in Aus a .243 is big enough for most deer (exept sambar because they should be in the cow class not deer) haha

I shot a big billy goat half way this year and went for the neck shot. It would be an understatement to say that he didn't get up again haha!!!!!!!!!!

All you need is love, love, love.. ooops wrong song all you need is a good shot placement and they'll be fallen over like trees in the timber yard!!!

MK

[reloader28]

Its funny how in all the deer anatomy diagrams they show the heart to be BETWEEN the front legs and behind bone.

When we shoot a deer, we shoot it BEHIND the front leg and for some strange reason it always blows the heart in half. Everyone I know has had the same experience.

But I've also heard people say you have to break the spine for a neck shot. I aint seen that problem either. Shoot them anywhere in the muscle above the windpipe and they will drop instantly.

Maybe our deer are built differently out here.

[Art Eatman]

relaoder28, you're bound to have seen the gazillion photos of the wound cavities in gelatin from testing, haven't you?

When you hit the muscle adjacent to the spine, the impact disrupts the spine and/or the spinal cord and down goes Bambi. He might not be instantly dead, but everything in his body has quit working--most generally, forever.

[rburch]

Yeah I've pretty much settled on neck shots. Well unless it's something special that I know I plan to get mounted.

My brother got a 14 point buck first day of rifle season this year. He sure didn't go for a neck shot.

[Ryanfromcanada]

There is no problem shooting heavy deer with that round. Buddy i hunt with shot one up the pooper and it was done. he Shot a buck the year before with one and it was Drt. These are north central ontario deer. The does here are as big body wise as most of the bucks down south. We shoot 160 pound does fairly regulary and somtimes heavier. That round wont have any problems killing big deer

[Kreyzhorse]

You can never go wrong with the lung / heart shot. A good lung shot will get your deer every time.

[HiBC]

I went to the .257 rather than the 243.I have never used a 243.My comment will apply to either.
Its easier to shoot precisely with a rifle of very modest recoil.
A light caliber hunter knows,as the OP's initial question indicates,shot placement is key.
Part of that is knowing the architecture of the game.
And,with a light caliber,we tend not to push the range so far.We are more likely to pass on an uncertain shot
Precision,anatomy,dicipline.Its not so bad to be stuck with a 243.

[Miata Mike]

I have shot a buck with my .243 and the bullet whistled right through the rib cage area without striking bone and left a pencil hole going in and coming out. The buck stood still like a statue! I fired again and all of the deer took off. I watched the buck drop and when I walked up to it, I didn't notice any blood trail. Filled the lungs up and died with zero bullet expansion.

The next deer I shot took out a rib. It looked like I shot it with a .300 magnum! Quite a capable caliber with good shot placement.

[hooligan1]

She shot this one one inch left of center at 75 yds walking straight toward her, in the chest. And the top section of this bucks heart was shreaded he went maybe50 yds or so and piled up. The cartridge was a Winchester 100 grain power point, (grey box). A well placed bullet with this cartridge, and your standing over one of those big bucks you told us of!!!!

[jheitertusa]

The idiots are the ones that let a wounded deer get away.

I would argue that the idiots are the ones that don't even try. I have lost a deer that I made a genuine effort to track and recover. I didn't feel great about it, but I don't think it makes me an idiot. Sometimes, despite the best of all intentions, it happens.

[waterfowler]

Aim right for the white patch on his neck

[bcarver]

Try for the aorta area. The area just above the heart. Rip all these vessels and heart will pump itself out.