choosing a hunting gun?

Question

Ok deer seaons is fastly aproching and i aready have a good gun it is a 243 single shot. I love this gun but the only thing that i worry about is that it might not have enough knock down power for the bigger deer. I want the gun to shoot 200 to 250 yards with good knock down power to.

So i am thinking about a sythetic stock, bolt action either 270 or 30.06, or 7mm.

Let me hear what u think i should get and if u think that those are not good for what i want suggest another caliber.

Thanks in advaced.

the reason i need a new gun is because i have mad shots on many deer in the bast and just wounded them in the past when i was young. When u hunt with the .243 up have to be very precise with shot placement but sometimes its hard to get that shot or u will miss for other reason so i want a gun that i dont have to be so picky with.

Answer 1

I have hunted deer with a 30-06 for 10 years. This last year I switched back to a 222. That is what I used the first 6 years of hunting.

I have been told that the 222 isn't enough rifle, but I have killed as many deer with the 222 as the 30-06. I haven't wounded as many either (by the way I have never had a wounded deer get away - I have tracked them to put them down and not let them suffer).

A shot to the vitals with a 222 55 grain hollow point will kill a deer as quick as a 162 grain 30-06. I have used both and they do the same thing.

What you need to be careful of is thinking that now you have a bigger gun so the shot doesn't have to be as precise. If you don't have a shot that is clear to the vitals - don't shoot no matter what the caliber is!

Answer 2

A 243 is not a very effective rifle for deer because of the lack of knock down power. Out of the guns that you listed the 3006
is the better choice especially at the range you specified. The others 270and 7mm are long range guns and will shoot through a deer at shorter yardage with no knock down because of the speed of the bullet. A lot like the 243 except leaving a better blood trail. My opinion 3006 is the best deer gun made. Model 700 Remington. Older models have adjustable trigger weights. lighter triggers means less chance of pulling when gun is fired.

Answer 3

I prefer wood stock, but synthetic is fine. A .243 will take down a deer, even an elk (I read a story in TTHA magazine about a guy taking down an elk with a .243 open sighted, through the shoulder twice). A really nice caliber is the .270. I own a .243 Remington 700, and I'm in love with it. The model 700 is a great gun with all the extras. Check out Cabella's or any other gun seller, and read reviews before you buy!!!
Good luck!

Answer 4

You do have to be picky with your shots when using the 243. If you plan on hunting larger game than deer, the 30-06 is the obvious choice, but for deer, a 7mm Mauser or 7mm08 (no need to go to the magnums!) is ideal. There is no deer inside any decent hunting range that can't be anchored with one of those, and they're still very pleasant to shoot. 7mm08 won't handle the 175 grain bullets well, but the 160 grainers will give full penetration at any angle, and they shoot flatter than you'd expect from the muzzle velocities published. There's almost a magical quality to their performance in deer hunting. I have fancier calibers like 270 WSM and 8x68 (and for years had nothing but a 6mm) among by small-bores, but I almost always seem to go back to one of the little 7's when it's time for venison in country where I don't want to use a levergun.

Answer 5

THe .243 is perfectly adequate for deer. Using a 100 grain bullet and your good to go.

If you want a bolt gun, the .270, .308, 30-06, various 7mm (7-08, 7mm WSM, 7mm Rem mag, etc.) any will kill a deer at 250 yards quite well. I personally think that the 30-06 and the 270 WSM are the best for me, but a deer will not be able to tell the difference from any of these rounds.

Answer 6

Well, you have a great deer gun. I also have a 243 bolt action, yet i reciently aquired a 7mm-Mag. I have found that it is a universial hunting gun. It has enough power to take down elk, bear, and moose but wont blow a small doe into pieces. I've hunted with a 30-06, 243, and 7mm but I'm hoping to get a 270. Also put concideraton into a .30-30, which i have found to be effective for vary long ranges.

Answer 7

Wow! I guess all of these people that jumped all over the asker for asking a legitimate question are vegetarians? I'm sure none of them have ever eaten a dead animal or have ever killed a plant so that they may eat it. What is so cruel about hunting? Is it more cruel than watching overpopulated game species starve to death or die of disease? Or could it just be that your uneducated opinions are biased?..........

On the subject of your rifle; with the proper loads, the .243 should have plenty of power out to 250 yards on deer-sized game. Shot placement is much more important than caliber (to a very large extent). Remember, larger bullets and a louder bang cannot overcome poor shot placement. That said, the .270 or .30-06 would both make fine deer rifles provided that you choose your loads wisely and are well practiced at taking shots at the ranges you will encounter.

Answer 8

The .243 is the minimum caliber for deer. I know, I know people say they've killed them with .22s, .222s & .223 but hunters have an ethical responsibility. A light-weight, slender bullet could deflect on muscle or bone and cause a slow, lingering death for the deer and no venison for the hunter. In many State .22s aren't even legal for deer hunting, center fire or not.

If you want to move up from your .243 Winchester single-shot let me recommend the .25-06 Remington. If you like single shots, the Ruger #1 is hard to beat.

Good luck.

H

Answer 9

Well, if you have a single shot .243, I'd be willing to guess it's a Handi-rifle. You can get another barrell for it in just about any caliber you want. You'll come out cheaper than buying an entire new gun and it'll make your current gun more versatile. As far as caliber goes, I prefer something in the .300 calibers. .308 is a great round, but 30-06 has proven itself over the years.

Answer 10

My favorite is my Remington model 700, 30.06. Because of all the different loads of rounds it has to offer. I can take that gun deer hunting and then take it elk hunting and all I have to do is get a larger round for it, with all the knock down power that I need. I reload my own rounds so I can get just what I need for what I am going after. With a little practice those 200-250 yard shots will be a piece of cake to hit.