Let’s talk about the 243win

[cspierings]

Had two M77s Stainless when the kids were starting out. Nice rifles, decent accuracy and they got a few deer with them. Here in WI the shots were fairly close nothing over 40 yards. I know that isn't much of a stretch for that cartridge but because they didn't hurt to shoot the kids shot them well and as they got older my boy went with a bigger caliber but my daughter just kept on with one shot one deer seasons until she was out of college.

I do wish I had handloaded in those days because one thing they did do was mess up a lot of meat we just used 100 grain corelokts. Now I think I could play around with different bullets and maybe get less of a mess. I am seriously thinking about putting a faster twist barrel on one of the M77s just to see what it will do with the heavier bullets.

 

[cspierings]

View attachment 359852

My nephew with his first deer. Sane rifle I shot my first deer with, my son shot his first deer with, Ruger M77 mark 2.

If I had to have 1 rifle for anything from bobcats up to just below elk, it would be a 243. I’ve been around a lot of the new calibers. Nothing wrong with them but I’ve seen more deer get away with a 6.5 CM than I ever have with a 243. I wouldn’t be afraid to hunt elk with a 243 with the right range and bullet, but there’s just better options for that need.

Great picture!

 

[cspierings]

My boys and I have each taken several deer with our .243win.

For me, lighter/reduced recoil loads have been a bit challenging. Good for the kids, tough on me blood trailing. We hunt around some heavy brush so with little or no blood a deer that runs 100y takes a bit to find.

Barnes 80g TTSX have worked well, but still light blood trails. Next season I’m going to try and load up 90g Sierra game changers hoping they expand a bit more aggressively than the TTSX or Accubonds do.

My 11yo’s 1st buck this year, back side of both lungs, ran 120y and tipped over. Found 3 spots of blood and found him grid searching. Hornady reduced recoil 87g SST

awesome picture. Those game changers will leave more of a blood trail, we have shot 3 deer with them and blood trail is not a problem. Gets a little messy when you are cleaning them up but I think tracking will be less tricky.