The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - East Texas buck, .243 Federal Vital-Shok

Gary Conner · November 19, 2005, 09:41 AM

I've used my .243 on deer and turkey, and killed a javalina at 200 yards once(putting it in his head) and I have found that every deer I ever shot broadside with it in the heart lung area, was able to run anywhere from fifty, to a hundred and fifty yards or more.

(And I don't shoot til they are standing perfectly still, and as close as possible)

For myself, I don't think the .243 has enough punch for deer, unless you are shooting them in the head. But, the most flat shooting caliber in a rifle.

I've found, you just almost always have to put it in their head if you don't want to look for them for three to ten hours. The .308 is the way to go, if you are hunting bucks and don't want to chance breaking horns off with a head shot with a .243. But I sure do like the .243 for turkey, cause the model 70 .243 is the most accurate as far as groupings, that I have ever seen.

November 19, 2005, 09:41 AM	#16
Gary Conner Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2005 Posts: 440	.243's I've used my .243 on deer and turkey, and killed a javalina at 200 yards once(putting it in his head) and I have found that every deer I ever shot broadside with it in the heart lung area, was able to run anywhere from fifty, to a hundred and fifty yards or more. (And I don't shoot til they are standing perfectly still, and as close as possible) For myself, I don't think the .243 has enough punch for deer, unless you are shooting them in the head. But, the most flat shooting caliber in a rifle. I've found, you just almost always have to put it in their head if you don't want to look for them for three to ten hours. The .308 is the way to go, if you are hunting bucks and don't want to chance breaking horns off with a head shot with a .243. But I sure do like the .243 for turkey, cause the model 70 .243 is the most accurate as far as groupings, that I have ever seen.