Which would be more effective against deer?

Question

Which gun/caliber would be more effective against a whitetail at, say, 100-200 (250 yrds max)... A Thompson Center (Encore or Contender [PISTOL VERSION]) with a 15" barrel chamber for .308. OR a Ruger M77 Compact with a 16" barrel chambered for .243 Winchester?

JOAN shut up, how about that? Oh, why do you want to kill and eat unarmed plants? Do you want the adrenaline rush as you pluck it from it's roots and watch it die? I think YOU should join the military to teach yourself a lesson about killing the innocent plants!

Answer 1

Both calibers would easily kill a deer. I have shot them with both. I would, given your options prefer the longer barrel with the .243 for a 250 yard shot. A 100 grain .243 is a very nice round with lots of punch for it's small size

Answer 2

The Encore in 308 will make a bigger hole and put the deer down faster, all other things being equal.

But it is much easier to aim a rifle accurately. If you had the choice of a shorty rifle in 308 then that would be the best shot.

With my Encore 15" stainless pistol I can shoot into an inch at 100 yards, but off-hand in the woods I can't do that at 20 yards, maybe 5". With a light rifle I can do more like 3" at 50 yards with no rest. Personally, if I can't hit the target then it doesn't make any difference what the caliber is. So while I don't like the small caliber 243 I'd take it in a rifle over the 308 Encore just because I could actually hit the target.

Answer 3

Either one will drop a deer at say a hundred yards. But what's wrong with a regular Ruger M-77 in .308 with a 22" barrel? That would increase your range to the maximum range of 250 yards you are asking about. Also, F100 is correct about some States requiring a minimum caliber of .25 for deer hunting so be sure to check that out before using the .243.

Best.

H

Answer 4

Get the .308. It has more power at all ranges than the .243, and there are more different kinds of bullets available for it. I have 5 rifles that shoot .308 and they always perform well on deer. I like the Hornady 150 grain soft point boat tail bullets in mine for deer. Get a Ruger 77 in .308.

Answer 5

If you have to ask that question, I would not be shooting at deer with a pistol at 250yds. no matter what cal. You have to understand that people on here and everywhere else talk alot of s#@$ about how far they can shoot in the field. Those people probably have never left the benchrest or their little blind. I hunt about 150 days out of the year and shoot at least twice a week and i will say that most people dont see deer past 150 yds and cant make an ethical shot at that distance either even with a rifle from a field position. To answer your question both calabers will flatten deer at those distances considering proper bullet placement and proper bullets. Ive seen alot of people shoot at deer with varmint bullets in their .243. bad idea unless making neck shots. I recomend loading or finding someone to load you some triple shocks up in that .243. I personally guarrante complete passthrough even through both sholders. People who have never used this bullet may say Im full of it but I have plenty of meat in the freezer to prove it. Just the other day on a cull hunt I placed a .223 w/ a triple shock bullet tight behind the shoulder of a 160lb doe. She didnt take a step and dropped right in her tracks. The bullet went behind both shoulders and both entrance and exit wounds were tiny but when we opened her up the bullet had taken out the top part of her heart and just jellied the inside of her. I had never personally seen a deer drop like that with a behind the shoulder shot. last year with my .243 I shot a hog with a triple shock at 15 yds. The bullet went in between his ear and eye through his skull through his neck and out the shoulder. Most bullets would have never exited especilly at 3340fps. I do not sell this bullet I have just fallen in love with it . Im sure they make it in 308 but I have no experience with it and you really dont need it because there are plenty of other hunting bullets for a 308 unless you are tring to stop a dump truck.

Answer 6

The Thompson Center (Encore or Contender [PISTOL VERSION]) with a 15" barrel chamber for .308.

Answer 7

The barrel lengths are for all intents and purposes the same, the cartridge cases are the same, the stocks don't change the ballistics, so the bigger bullet and bigger hole wins.
The rifle will give better "pointability" for quick shots, but the 243 caliber is marginal for deer, almost requiring a deliberate shot, negating that advantage.

Answer 8

The 243 round is a better choice for white tails - less recoil
Both are very good and popular rounds. If it is possible you will be going after larger game later, go with the 308.

Answer 9

The .308 has more power definitely. These two cartridges use the same case, but the .308 uses a larger daimeter and heavier bullet. Either option should do the job in most cases, but you have more leeway with the more powerful shell. I always consider that.

Answer 10

Up to 100 yards either would work IF you can shoot that well.
Over 100 yards I would go with the rifle simply because a shoulder stock is steadier than a hand grip!!

I would point out that in MANY states it is illegal to hunt deer, or larger animals, with anything smaller than .25 caliber.