243 for antelope

[gwl79902]

I got a 243 for my son to use in a few years. I shot it a little and realy enjoy it. I shot 2 mule deer with a 243 I used to have and it did well.

I think I can get my wyoming tag this year and am thinking of using it. Some say it is to light a caliber but wanted to see what other say.

If I do use it what do you guys think of accubonds? I was thinking of 95 grains. I have read some people like ballistic tips but I would think accubonds would penetrate better. I am no expert so if I am wrong in that let me know.

 

[BuzzH]

I'm thinking the 243 would be fine, but I believe the heaviest AB is a 90 grain bullet. I've shot them on paper, but never shot an animal with them in the 243/6mm. I've killed a lot of animals with 140 and 160 grain AB's out of 7-08 and 7 RM.

I've killed a bunch of pronghorn, deer, and 2 elk with a 243/6mm using the 100 grain old style nosler solid base bullets...near and far, with no problems.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 243/6mm on pronghorn with the 90 grain AB's...

 

[Zbot]

There are lots of folks out there that think you need a 300 WM to kill an antelope and nothing less will do

A tumbleweed in the wind will take out an antelope if it hits it the right way lol....the 243 will be more than fine. I wouldn't have a problem using one.

 

[frankrb3]

.243 is an excellent caliber for antelope.

 

[NICKJ]

The caliber is fine and will kill them but be careful of wind drift, especially in Wyoming.

 

[cnelk]

Ive shot a lot bigger things than antelope with a 243

Last fall my daughter took her first antelope with her .243 at 200yds

100gr Hornadys pushed by 32gr of Varget did the job just fine

 

[FLAK]

If I draw this year I'll be using the 243 or a .25-06.

 

[swampokie]

I always thought 243 was specifically made for antelope...

 

[sodaksooner]

Shoot when I was growing up, Friends of mine were killing them with 22-250's and .223's. I think you'll be fine. They are pretty fragile, so doesn't take much.

Zbot was on target.

 

[mlevimadden]

.243 win is about the perfect cartridge for antelope. A 90 lb doe antelope is not a very tough animal to take down. As others mentioned, the only pro to using a larger cartridge is reduced wind drift for long shots.

 

[bates]

I shot a 243Ackely for a number of years.

i love the 85g barnes in the 6mm's and would have no issue taking antelope with it. I shot some mule deer does out in colorado with mine and deer down in Fl, light for caliber barnes in .224 or .243 are deadly

 

[KJH]

.243 is an excellent caliber for antelope.

Well said.

 

[UtahJimmy]

Last 2 years in WY: 3 with 243, 3 with 223, & 2 with 22-250.

As stated above, antelope are not tough animals to kill. Smaller calibers will save more delicious meat!

 

[6mm Remington]

The 243 Winchester & 6mm Remington are great deer and antelope cartridges and just like BuzzH I've taken elk with my 6mm Remington and my son has also. The 90 gr. Accubond would be a great little bullet to use. I did a bunch of testing in different calibers on the Partitions, Accubonds, and E-tips from 25-100-200-300-400-500 yards shooting them into 1-gallon water jugs lined up. They all performed very well. It's quite a toughness test to shoot them into water at 25 yards at roughly 3250 fps too and they penetrated and held together very well.

The 95 gr. or 100 gr. Partition would work very well also as would the 90 gr. E-tip.

 

[YZF_88]

I'm thinking about hunting antelope for the first time this year and with a .243 as well. I cannot get the 80grn Barnes TTSX bullets to shoot out of that thing. They are lights out in my 30-06. I am going to try the Nosler 90grn accubonds next.

 

[ClearCreek]

I have killed many, many antelope (and numerous white-tailed deer as well) over the last 30+ years with my 6mm Remington using 100 gr. Hornady spire points. I have never felt under-gunned. Goats are a fairly fragile critter, I am not sure a premium type bullet is necessary.

ClearCreek

 

[cowboy300]

I have shot a lot of antelope (15 the last 3 yrs) with a 243 and its a certified killer. You should be fine with the heavier big game ballistic tips just stay away from the varmint loads. All of my goats have been shot with 105 Berger Hybrids and they have preformed perfect from 100 to 875 yards.

 

[swampokie]

I use a 220 swift on them and it’s very effective. On windy days I’ll break out something a little heavier but 60 grain from the 220 is deadly on goats.

 

[kingfisher]

Sounds like a good choice for a young man to shoot with. I have buddies that hunt them with 22-250 and dont have problems. A 243 with decent shot placement will be great.

 

[wytx]

243 with good 95-100 gr bullets , bonded is what I prefer, will be fine on antelope. They do have strong bones so I prefer a bonded bullet. I good shot can turn out to be a gut shot with bullet fragments and deflections, been there done that and it's not nice to open up.