Deer cartridges with minimal recoil

[JVS]

6.5 grendel with 120 gold dots...
my kids stack whitetails every year with ours

 

[CasNed]

I’d build a heavy 6 creed with muzzle break. 10-14 lb. scoped. Wear hearing protection. 7.5 twist, 108 ELDM’s Hornady box ammo. You’ll love shooting it, won’t recoil at all.

 

[Unckebob]

1in10 is standard for a .243. Tikkas and maybe a couple other manufactures are installing 1in8 twist barrels. This helps stabilize longer/heavier bullets. It doesnt have any noticeable negative effects on standard bullets either. I would get the 1in8 if possible to increase bullet options.

@Skydog

Ruger American Gen 2's come with 1in9 twist barrels. I would bet they can handle 108's.

Savage Axis 110 apex Storms have 1in9.25 barrels.

Your choice of the 243 is a solid choice for the goals you have set. Get the rifle you like best and you will be a deer slaying machine.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Would I even need a suppressor with a .243?

Only one who hasn’t shot suppressed would ask that.

To me, yes mandatory on all rifles. I cherish what’s left of my hearing…. In addition to all the other benefits.

 

[Skydog]

Only one who hasn’t shot suppressed would ask that.

To me, yes mandatory on all rifles. I cherish what’s left of my hearing…. In addition to all the other benefits.

My question was solely from the perspective of recoil reduction, not noise reduction. Does the recoil of a .243 warrant the use of a suppressor? Or is the recoil light enough that a suppressor is not really needed?

 

[Skydog]

I’d build a heavy 6 creed with muzzle break. 10-14 lb. scoped. Wear hearing protection. 7.5 twist, 108 ELDM’s Hornady box ammo. You’ll love shooting it, won’t recoil at all.

This is why I don't want to use a muzzle brake. I always wear hearing protection in non-hunting/range situations. But in the woods, I often hear deer before I see them...I would lose that advantage if wearing hearing protection. For you guys that are running brakes on your hunting rifles...do you wear ear protection even while hunting?

 

[CasNed]

This is why I don't want to use a muzzle brake. I always wear hearing protection in non-hunting/range situations. But in the woods, I often hear deer before I see them...I would lose that advantage if wearing hearing protection. For you guys that are running brakes on your hunting rifles...do you wear ear protection even while hunting?

Nope, just keep ear plugs in my pocket, when I’m getting ready to shoot it just adds another 10-20 seconds to the shot, which could result in losing a shot opportunity. I just figured the minimum more recoil reduction with the break compared to a heavier / longer suppressor is more ideal for your situation.

 

[Jake Larsen]

My question was solely from the perspective of recoil reduction, not noise reduction. Does the recoil of a .243 warrant the use of a suppressor? Or is the recoil light enough that a suppressor is not really needed?

Depends on how you quantify “needed”. This is a case of “less is more” When you suppress a .243/6creed, the recoil is…amazingly low. It’s awesome. You’ll shoot better, practice more, and your kids will too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Skydog]

Nope, just keep ear plugs in my pocket, when I’m getting ready to shoot it just adds another 10-20 seconds to the shot, which could result in losing a shot opportunity. I just figured the minimum more recoil reduction with the break compared to a heavier / longer suppressor is more ideal for your situation.

Lost shot opportunities is one of the reasons I would prefer to avoid using a brake if possible. But if moving down to a .243 is not enough recoil reduction, then I may have to consider a brake.

 

[rbaney]

I started at 12 with a 222 and the next year used a 243. I never even feel the recoil while shooting at animals and it is minimal when shooting from a bench. I think you will be very satisfied with that round. I reload and use the 85 gr Sierra HPBT and it has performed flawlessly for me, most deer Dropped on the spot only a few have ran. Never lost one. I haven't used my 243 in a couple years and the last deer I shot was with factory Nosler Ballistic tips. I was at 25 yards and a head shot. I have also started a younger hunter on a custom Mauser 98 with a Douglas 1:10 barrel shooting those Sierra bullets. With at least three deer down for the young fella. I will always recommend the 243 as a good starting point if the 22 caliber is not in the equation. Good luck and have fun shooting what ever you decide on.

 

[aschuler]

Since you're hunting from blinds, if I were you I'd just add some extra weight and go with 243 or 6CM. The 100 class bullets are proven deer killers, I personally love them.

Don't underestimate how the weight will help.
Here's an example with 108 eldms with a 9lb rifle vs 11lbs rifle.

 

[Skydog]

The 95 grain NBT is a certified (by me ) deer killer and will work just fine, as long as your rifle likes the ammo it is loaded in.

Looking at the Nosler website, I only see a 90 grain Ballistic Tip and a 90 grain Accubond in their factory ballistic tip options for deer, no 95 grain option. I don't handload. Is it safe to assume that the 90 grain BT/ABs will be just as effective as the 95 grainer?

Also...the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip comes in a 95 grain factory load.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Looking at the Nosler website, I only see a 90 grain Ballistic Tip and a 90 grain Accubond in their factory ballistic tip options for deer, no 95 grain option. I don't handload. Is it safe to assume that the 90 grain BT/ABs will be just as effective as the 95 grainer?

Also...the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip comes in a 95 grain factory load.

The 90 grain BT will be just fine if you want to go that way.

The 95 grain Winchester is a NBT, just coated black.

To be completely honest, if you are limiting your range to around 300 yards, the "cheap" factory Federal, Winchester, or Remington ammo with 100 grain Soft Points will be just fine without the "premium" price tag.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

a ruger American ranch grendel (or arc if they chamber?) and if you can suppress would be amazing as they are threaded, cut a couple coils from mag spring as they don't need gas gun tension to ease the feeding, polish bottom side of bolt too, we run them in mdt Lss-xl gen2 chassis with lightweight trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 green dot and strike industries buffer tube, magpul ctr buttstock and moe-k grip and about 8 1/4 lb all up, we aren't allowed suppressors yet but can watch it all happen in scope laying prone with a Harris 9-13" swivel bipod, good fun, and the 123gr factory eldm load just flattens deer, even launching at only 2386 fps from the low pressure factory ammo and short 16.1" barrel has drt'd whitetail to 420 for us, the ctr buttstock quickly adjusts lop for the person or situation or clothing layers, great little set up, we have howa also but it's just tiny and light and accurate, hate magazine, added carbon stock and Jefferson Outdoors hinged bottom or cz detach kit and it's been a killer also but do over would only run the rugers, not likely to have kids shooting unsupported anyway so a little weight in it is good thing imo, no brakes in this house, got that shirt, won't have another

with grendel and that factory load over 21 animals average shot distance at 170 and average recovery distance 10 yards, kills from 10 yards to 420 yards, 7 species or so of Alberta big game, most deer (both species) and then sheep, black bear (several), antelope, wolf and moose. that bullet at those speeds is hard to imagine more efficient than that, just knocks things down quick and the animals don't seem to hear the low pressure load either, if you have even slight breeze to your favour you'll get repeated opportunities at sending more lead, filling more tags at same time etc., they don't seem to spook so only can imagine a tbac ultra5 on the end of them...would be perfection

 

[Marshfly]

Suppressed 6ARC with 108 ELDMs is about the best deer rifle you can put together right now if you don't want a 22 cal.

And it's really not even close IMHO. Nothing else is that easy to shoot while being that deadly without going to a 22.