My sons first Buck and a caliber Concern

[eyesonly]

My 14 year old was fortunate enough to Take his First Deer during a youth Firearm hunt this past Saturday. What a thrill it was to be able to be with him when He took his first Deer – a real Nice 4 point . We both High fived each other and gave each other a big hug. What bothers me a little is that it took 2 shots plus a finishing shot to put the Little Buck Down. I did lots of research before buying him his first Rifle- A real sweet bolt action left Handed .243 Savage. His first two shots were a little Far Back but I couldn’t believe the Buck still had lots of Life in him when we caught up to him. I am wondering if I made a mistake on Picking that small of a caliber. I didn’t want to scare him off with a Rifle that had a bunch of Kick so That was my reasoning for going with the .243 and I don’t have a lot of experience Gun hunting after being back into it after 10 years, I have been strictly archery hunting but we got back into it to be able to spend more time together in the field . Any thoughts from anyone on maybe that it is indeed to small of a caliber for whitetail ? I guess I should have factored in how important shot placement would be on this gun for a nervous 14 year old . Thanks for any opinions you guys can give.

[bigbucks]

.243 is a great caliber for deer, especially for kids & women. Deer can stay alive for a while on almost any caliber even if shot through the heart. If you don't break their shoulders down or their spine, they don't necessarily drop. I blew through the heart on a little 5 ptr with a 30.06 once & he went about 150 yards. He didn't act hit at all. I was sure I couldn't have missed him, but I couldn't tell from his body language.

[hockeybc69]

I have been using a .243 for 35 years..... plenty of gun. shot placement is key...

[Whoknows]

A .243 is plenty of power for whitetail. I don't care if you're shooting one of the larger .30 caliber rifles a poor shot will not expire a deer quickly. Maybe check to make sure you are shooting ammunition suitable for deer size game. i.e. something around the 100 grain medium penetration. I love my .243 and enough power for whitetail has never crossed my mind nor been an issue.

[nofishfisherman]

When you field dressed it were you able to determine exactly what the first 2 shots hit? Did either of those shots hit vitals? If they did it was a lethal shot and it would have gone down sooner or later.

If the vitals were missed then it could have gone a long ways no matter what caliber was used.

How long did you wait before going after it?

[Whoknows]

Btw congrats to your son. One he'll always remember I'm sure.

[96trigger]

I would start by looking at the ammunition, 100g would be the minimum I would go. I would then look at shot placement. You don't need to break the spine or shoulders of a deer, you just have to hit it in the boiler room and give it time to expire. A .243 should be plenty of gun for a whitetail. I am curious as to where you hit the deer? I have learned that hunting with new sabot shells for my shotgun are a lot like hunting with the bow. I will often see a good hit and give the deer 30 minutes to expire before I even think about looking. Last year I gave one over 3 hours after I kicked it back up after 30 minutes, but I had a poor hit. Watch where it runs off, and give it time.

And congratulations to you and your son.

[Archerysniper]

The .243 is a great deer caliber I have taken a few with the .243 but between my dad,wife and all the youth they have combined over 45 kills with that caliber and we have only lost 1. Shot placement and bullet selection is my guess on the problem you encountered.

Select a good bonded soft point bullet in 100 grains I like the remington coreloks they hold up well and put the deer down.

Also don't get in a hurry to recover the deer give it some time just like you would for archery unless you see it go down.

[LightningBG]

I think you're fine with the .243. They can go a long ways with a shot that is a little far back. Push that shot forward a little and you shouldn't have to go far.

Waiting is definitely key (as I'm sure you know being a bowhunter) Take the shot, take note of the placement, if it's running, watch and listen as long as possible to get a good read on it. Then sit. Have a candy bar, pour yourself a cup of coffee, have a smoke. Calm your nerves and enjoy the moment. If it was a good shot, go take a look after 30 min or whatever. If it was a marginal shot, wait longer.

Heck, I've taken dear at 30yds and watched them drop on the spot, and I still wait 30 minutes to get down and look at it. I'm not a fan of tracking, so I'll take my time. I'm not even a fan of dragging deer. On a couple occasions I've waited until the deer was on the ATV trail before dropping him, so I could drive right up to them.

[flipper]

Congrats to your son. I don't think you need to second guess the rifle you bought. Shot placement is everything but even then these critters are incredibly tough at times and can go a long ways after a fatal shot.

[DonBo]

Yep, shot lots of deer with my .243. Love it! Just need to aim much closer to the shoulder than you would with archery tackle. Right on the shoulder might even be better.

[CodyDawg]

what is more important than caliber is bullet selection, both weight and style. Your whole entire hunt is riding on the performance of that bullet, so buy good ones. I like the Federal TSX personally.

[leech~~]

Nothing wrong with that gun. We have a young guy in our group that has the same gun and shot his first deer with it and it dropped like a rock. Shot placement is the key and with more time your son will calm down and get better at it. Deer can take some good shots some times that don't even seem to faze them. I once hit a doe standing board side on the other side of a swap with a 220 grain boattail and she just stood there! I'm like the heck, how did I miss her? I aimed for the same spot and she just disappeared. After I found her and skin her out. I found two holes side by side about an inch apart right behind the front shoulder! How did she take it I don't know?

[NoWiser]

.243 is plenty of gun for whitetails. When I started rifle hunting I didn't have my own gun so borrowed my uncles .243. I didn't think it was big enough until I killed a few deer with it. Pretty much every kid in our group has killed their first deer with that gun. It is good luck.

If I were shooting a .243 right now for deer I would definitely be shooting the 85 grain Barnes TSX or the 100 grain Nosler Partition out of it. Either of those should be lights out for any deer with a well placed shot. Don't stress out about it, you got him a great deer rifle!

[bogwalker]

Lots of deer are wounded and lost with .243's. Good southern states caliber where the deer are smaller. You can probably kill deer with a pellet gun with proper shot placement.

[jay83196]

I have shot many deer with my 30-378 ( super high velocity 180-200 grain bullets with a truck load of energy) and most don't drop all were shot well several heart and part of shoulder gone and they still ran one had no blood trail for 30 yds. I have been amazed how far they go basically running already dead. Bullet does make difference somthing that expands well and heavier usually is better for lightet caliber.

Good luck!

[huntnfish]

I've been using a .243 for over 15 years and wouldn't trade it for anything. I used my dad's 30-06 one year and thats the only time I've ever lost a deer. I use 95 grain Federal Fusions and haven't had a deer go more than 30 yards and that was a fawn to fill a bonus tag. It was hit in the same spot as the nice 8 that I shot earlier that day that dropped on the spot. I have a couple friends that shoot 22-250's for deer and in the last 3 years every deer they've shot has dropped on the spot. There's never an exit wound which means the deer is absorbing all the energy from that bullet. It doesn't matter what your shooting. Poor shot placement is going to result in a long tracking job.

[bogwalker]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Itasca0217]

.243 is realistically the smallest caliber that you would want to take a MN Whitetail deer with. Yes your son is smaller and needs a smaller caliber weapon, but when put into perspective, a .270 which has significantly more knock down than a .243, will kick almost the same as a .243. There is really not that big of a difference.

I think yes that shot placement is KEY! But there will be times when you don't get that "perfect" shot and need a little more knock down to cover or your mistake.

Maybe for the next firearm, think about a .270 or even a .308 in 150 grain. They all have kick but not enough to the point that is in unbearable for a younger boy.

[jay83196]

Legaly you can use smaller yet, I always like overkill but if shot well and proper bullet your fine. Won't need 6 shots either...

[eyesonly]

Thank you for all the Great Feed Back. As I suspected more Practice is the answer as it is with archery hunting. We will not be making the Mistake of Shooting a dozen Bullets once a year before the season ever again- Here is a pic of

my boy with his Trophy. Thanks again.

[huntnfish]

That smile says it all. Congrats Eyes! There's nothing like the feeling of that first one. Something he'll remember forever.

[matchset]

now THAT'S a TROPHY!

[MJ1657]

Congrats to your son!

[niterydr]

Congrats to your son for his first Buck and you for showing him hunting! I also agree that a .243 should be plenty, but bullet weight/casing and placement will be key.