I cant believe the stuff I'm reading here.
I've seen more wounded deer with .243 than anything else being 257 Roberts, 7x57, 6.5 Swede or Mannlicher Schoenaur, .270, 308, 30-06, 7mag, 257 w mag. I imagine a 7-08 would be about the same as 7x57.
I've seen and put down a lot of wounded game shot with everything under the sun. It tells me people should spend a bit of time learning how to instead of what to shoot.
I've hit running deer and African antelope with an 06 midships or worse and taken the animal. No way in hell would that work with .243
No way in heck would I shoot at a running antelope (or any other game). Antelope are fast critters. Running 20-30 MPH, or 29.4 to 44.1 fps.
The time of flight of a 30 cal bullet at 300 yards is about .365 seconds.
So while the bullet is in flight the animal can cover from 10.5 to 16 feet.
How many here can determine the speed of a running antelope, whether its 20 or 30 miles per hour? That would mean a difference of about 5.5 feet difference in lead.
Now as too the 243, its an excellent deer rifle. I don't have one but the wife does. Bullet selection is important but knowing how to shoot is critical.
My wife shot a young buck yesterday using 87 gr. Bergers. Berger hunting bullets are totaling devastating. They are designed to inter a few inches and come apart destroying the nervous system . They do that. The deer she shot yesterday had an exit wound I could (and did) stick my fist in. It did a summer sault and twitched. Only 68 years, but three days ago she got her antelope with the same gun/bullet, 358 yards. Same thing, huge exit wound.
Both critters were holding still. The reason the 243 works is she can shoot. (just completed the Gunwerk's long range shooting class last summer). But more important, she practices.
In addition to bullet selection you have to know the limitations of the bullet. For example, according to the Berger engineers the remaining velocity of their Hunting Bergers need to be at least 1800 fps (at the target) to work effectively. With my wifes rifle/ammo that would be a 700 yards max range.
I'm not condoning shooting antelope at 700 yards. That is dependent on the shooter. But I've seen enough 243s fired at 1000 yard rifle matches to know they are plenty accurate enough. Its the shooter that's the weak link.
The OP mention deer and hogs. I haven't hunted hogs. I know they have a different nervous system then deer so the Berger type bullet may not work. I would think you would need a heavier, bullet designed to expand and penetrate. I'll leave that topic to those who hunt hogs.
But as to my main complain, I've seen more critters wounded and muffed shots from heavier guns because people do (my self include) get punch drunk and flinch, and because of that don't do the practice they need to shoot accurately.
Anyway this is the results of an 87 gr. Berger in a Model 70 243 on antelope.
