Hunting Rifle for Deer in PA?

Question

I use a .243 for whitetail and almost everyone thinks I'm a pansy. Is that stupid or what? At least MY deer will still have a shoulder when I find it.

Answer 1

If it works for you who cares what they think.

Answer 2

First of all, if people think you are a pansy for using that, just ignore it. If it is a rifle that you can use to put a fast, quick kill on the deer, then use it. I live, as well as hunt in the western area of PA, and have killed deer using 30-30, .30-06, and 7mm Rem. Mag. What ever fits the hunter best is what he/she should use. Bigger isn't always better when it comes to cartridge selection.

Best of luck this season.

Answer 3

That's plenty of gun if you can shoot and you're not expecting to need to be getting out there over 300 yards. Like you said, less meat damage.

The pansy isn't the guy who goes out and uses only as much gun as he needs. The pansy is the one who is so unsure of himself he needs to over kill and use more power than a situation calls for from a skilled shooter.

A 30/30 is on the light side, but more deer have been taken with that gun than probably any other, and many other popular cartridges combined.

Answer 4

.243 is good thats what i use and it never fails

Answer 5

I don't think you are a pansy.

I will say that I do not care for the 243. I don't think it sucks, but during the 20 years of shooting deer, I learned a few things. I have never shot a deer that I did not recover, but have shot deer that were quartered away, and hit behind the last rib to make a vital shot. This occurred a few times, and resulted in an entrance wound, and no exit wound. I usually use a fast expanding bullet in .308, and 30-06. In the event that you shoot a deer where the round does not exit, ie quartered away or towards, you will only have the blood trail that is left by the entrance wound. When this happens you will note that the wound from a 30 cal is small as that the hide stretches as the bullet enters and recovers a bit as it passes through. I found that the 30 cal was a small hole and left a small blood trail. I can only imagine what the 243 will leave.

Other than this, the round is a good deer cal, and an outstanding varmint gun.

This year I will be using a Marlin in .44 mag. The wound and energy is unreal, and the gun so fun to shoot.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Probably because the .243 Winchester is considered the minimum caliber for hunting deer.  Nothing wrong with it provided you use at least 90 grain hunting rounds.  The 100 or 105 grain rounds are actually better for deer hunting.  

As long as you are bringing home the venison nobody should ride you about your caliber choice.  If you want to step up consider the .25-06 Remington.  Use at least the 100 grain round and the 115 to 120 round is actually more efficient on deer.  I've been using a .25-06 for deer hunting in Texas since 1974.  This one is a stellar deer caliber and it won't hurt your shoulder.

Happy hunting.

H

Answer 7

The vast majority of Big Game in North America have been harvested by the 30-06, except for the 30-30 Winchester which has harvested more.* The 30-06 doesn't destroy meat.* The 243 originally was introduced as a Varmint caliber, but it will harvest Deer effectively, and efficiently.* I myself have harvested Deer with the 218 Bee, and 222 with no problems whatsoever.* Its not always about caliber, its about the rifleman who is using whatever he chooses to use who can deliver the kill shot.* The vast majority of Big Game is harvested within 100 yards or less.*