.243 reality check? -->Chose 6.5creed

[Tylsmith33]

My dad has been knocking muleys down for 40 years with a 6mm rem, 100gr interlock for years and also hornady sst’s. Gun came from his father in law who used it all through the 70s also.

 

[SwiftShot]

243 is a great deer rifle. 6mm Creedmoor is better as you can go heavier bullets. 6.5 Creedmoor is a more rounded round and has proven accuracy chops. You cannot go wrong with the 243 but there are better more modern options.

 

[Wrench]

A 243 and 105amax was the gold standard for a long time. The eld replacement seems to be nearly identical.

The biggest handicap of the 243 is Americans think they need 200gr pills at a minimum and 3400fps isn't fast enough.

 

[Indian Summer]

Seeing people talk about putting a brake on a .243 or 6.5 CM makes me realize that .30 cal magnums are definitely not an option for some folks. Wow

My mother had a .243. She probably used Remington Core Lokts. We had to track a few that’s for sure. My niece killed a cow elk with it…. With a follow up shot to the head 25 minutes later. After the first shot the herd ran but she just stood there. Then walked away and bedded. My mother’s hunting was in the late 70 Bullets have definitely come a long way since then. A few deer have been killed by literally every caliber known to man. I know a guy that killed a 5 point bull elk with a .22! That doesn’t mean that choosing a better tool for the job shouldn’t be considered. My point is that a post that says “My brother killed one deader than hell with that gun” shouldn’t really influence your decision. Let’s not forget that there are lots of different styles of hunting in a wide range of conditions. So look at what you intend to use a gun for when choosing that best tool to get it done. Sneaking in timber and stalking on big sage brush flats or sitting in an elevated stand overlooking huge fields are all different ballgames. Then comes personal preference. After that just know your limits.

 

[long hunter]

My granddaughter hunts with a .243 a 3 digit Remington 700, kills white tails D.R.T. she has dropped quite a few on the spot. Knowing that a white tail is smaller than most mule deer. I see no reason why the .243 would not get the jobe done well. As was stated know your limits, but for me the most important thing is shooting a cal. you are comfortable with in a platform you know well.

 

[ToolMann]

We haven't shot anything with a 243 that hasn't died quickly. Mule deer, whitetails and pronghorn.

 

[Howdy Partner]

It still is where you put the bullet that counts. Caliber a distant 2nd.

 

[dsotm]

Seeing people talk about putting a brake on a .243 or 6.5 CM makes me realize that .30 cal magnums are definitely not an option for some folks. Wow

Some people like to see their bullet impact and don't need to prove their manliness with the newest ultramagnum caliber

 

[Indian Summer]

Some people like to see their bullet impact and don't need to prove their manliness with the newest ultramagnum caliber

Typical response.

 

[slatebuilder]

243
41 Grains IMR 4350
100 grain nosler partition.

Bang flop.

 

[sndmn11]

Typical response.

If you go back a page or two you'll see the rifle is now painted ridiculous rainbow, by my dad and kid so they can have some memory tied to it after he passes from cancer. He is still with us, but pancreatic cancer doesn't have a cure yet and is having bad days more often. It also is engraved with a nice message from him to my kid.

I landed on it slinging 85gr bullets; so just a whole lot of non-masculine things going on with that rifle all at once. That setup did account for the shortest recovery distance (1-2 yards) on our recent mule deer hunt in comparison to two 300wsm rifles, and a 7saum.

My hope is that this thread can keep rolling with stories of success in the .243/6.5 "small" cartridge realm and not turn into another argument thread. Thanks.

 

[Indian Summer]

If you go back a page or two you'll see the rifle is now painted ridiculous rainbow, by my dad and kid so they can have some memory tied to it after he passes from cancer. He is still with us, but pancreatic cancer doesn't have a cure yet and is having bad days more often. It also is engraved with a nice message from him to my kid.

I landed on it slinging 85gr bullets; so just a whole lot of non-masculine things going on with that rifle all at once. That setup did account for the shortest recovery distance (1-2 yards) on our recent mule deer hunt in comparison to two 300wsm rifles, and a 7saum.

My hope is that this thread can keep rolling with stories of success in the .243/6.5 "small" cartridge realm and not turn into another argument thread. Thanks.

No explanation needed. Your dad is a different story. Whatever it takes to get him out there. Same goes for kids. I was referring to perfectly healthy grown men. Sorry about that.

 

[sndmn11]

No explanation needed. Your dad is a different story. Whatever it takes to get him out there. Same goes for kids. I was referring to perfectly healthy grown men. Sorry about that.

No problem! Thanks for being reasonable and putting thought into reading what I wrote.

 

[roymunson]

This is why we hunt! Congrats to all parties involved!

I am headed on a trip next week and while I'll be using the 7RM as my primary gun, my 243 with 95 gr SSTs is my backup gun. If it's not too windy, I'd really like to use it for the pronghorn portion of what I'm doing.

 

[sndmn11]

Dad passed away in December from the Pancreatic Cancer he was diagnosed with in 2020. Since that diagnosis, he kicked off hunting with the buck in this thread, and Mom sent the antlers home with me the other day. I got him hung up today in @KickinNDishin 's office.


The tools on the wall are my grandpa's, and the other deer are from the same unit as Dad's. He was able to revisit the unit in '23 and made a long loop creep on another buck.

 

[Brad1974]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer about 13 years ago. You've got a great trophy that I'm sure brings you some great memories.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad Kyle! I wondered about your dad as I remember this thread well. Cool to have that rack as a memento. I have the somewhat similar deer you helped me with last year in the same area mounted the same way in my office.

 

[littlebigtine]

Sorry to hear about your loss.
Why we keep those mounts are for the memories.
All are trophies to remember who you shared those great moments of triumph with.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Dad passed away in December from the Pancreatic Cancer he was diagnosed with in 2020. Since that diagnosis, he kicked off hunting with the buck in this thread, and Mom sent the antlers home with me the other day. I got him hung up today in @KickinNDishin 's office.


The tools on the wall are my grandpa's, and the other deer are from the same unit as Dad's. He was able to revisit the unit in '23 and made a long loop creep on another buck.

Sorry to read, condolences to your family. Sounds like you've got lots of memories and clearly he was loved.

 

[Macegl]

Threads like this help me keep perspective of what really matters, thanks for sharing and glad you got to make such great memories those last few years.