.243 for Red Deer

[tjdwillis]

A few months ago I finally got a .243 for roe muntjac. I knoe that some people say its not enough for red but I have been up to scotland in august for a few years now and the few red I have shot have all been with a .243. My question is which bullets would you reccomend. I know it has to be a minimum of 100gn. My rifle is a remmington 700 sps.

cheers

[dodeer]

Any 100g soft point or ballistic tip should be ok

[bob300w]

Yep, a 100g 243 will stop a red OK, personally I prefer the 308 for red, but 243 will do it, no problem.

[Sako7mm]

Are you loading or buying factory ammunition?

I recommend RWS 100 grain SP if factory ammunition is your thing, the RWS cone point 96 grain bullets are very good on Red deer if reloading. 100 grain Hornady Spire Points have worked well for me, but not as well as the 96 grainers.

[tjdwillis]

no im not reloading yet...hopefully one day. im looking for factiry ammo (i should have made that clear). Am I right in thinking that te minimum bullet weight is 100gn in scotland. thanks for the replies though.

[badger007]

Forget the balistic tip, & personally trade the 243 for something a little bigger , like on the lines of 139g header +

[Highlander]

The minimum requirements for deer shooting in each location are as listed below BUT you might want to check if your rifle is reaching the minimum muzzle velocity/energy requirements in each case. DON'T rely on the cartridge size alone as it may not provide the correct mv/me! For instance an 80g bullet can/may produce the same or greater mv/me as a 100 g bullet.

 

England and Wales

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .240 and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

Northern Ireland

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .236 inches, a minimum bullet weight of 100 grains and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

Scotland

For roe deer, where the bullet must weigh at least 50 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,000 foot pounds may be used.

For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 100 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds.

It must be stressed that all these figures are the minimum legal requirement.

For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact.

[pavman]

The minimum requirements for deer shooting in each location are as listed below BUT you might want to check if your rifle is reaching the minimum muzzle velocity/energy requirements in each case. DON'T rely on the cartridge size alone as it may not provide the correct mv/me! For instance an 80g bullet can/may produce the same or greater mv/me as a 100 g bullet.

 

England and Wales

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .240 and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

Northern Ireland

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .236 inches, a minimum bullet weight of 100 grains and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

Scotland

For roe deer, where the bullet must weigh at least 50 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,000 foot pounds may be used.

For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 100 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second AND a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds.

It must be stressed that all these figures are the minimum legal requirement.

For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact.

 

well done Highlander, which make a nice change

[Devilishdave]

Has any one ever had the police remove the heads from the bullets they hunt reds with and weigh them?

 

Dave

[Highlander]

No but it's a bit like shooting wildfowl with lead...one day someone's gonna get caught!

[Ishapoor]

For my money it'd have to be 100gr Partitions, wouldn't advocate BT's on a beast the size of a red.

 

A .243 will nail every red on the hill, but only with the right bullet and pretty spot on placement...