I am currently toying with the idea of hunting with a 243 in a handgun using Barnes 85gr triple shocks for deer.Has anyone else tried this load and what were your results. I am currently shooting a 30-30 load in my Contender using Barnes 130gr tipped triple shocks and this load is amazing.....accurate and deadly.

it's all about shot placment. I shot and killed 2 does a few years ago with my .223 Encore using 55 grn Nosler ballistic tips. Both were about 30 yards away and broadside. Most would say you are going in under gunned, but if the bullet is put on it's mark, no matter if it is a 22 cal. hole or a 50 caliber hole, the damage is done. No whitetail can survive after being shot in the heart and/or lungs.

That's true, but they can sure run a long ways if you don't hit 'em hard.

last year we killed 2 buck antelope, one mulie buck, and doe antelope with a 6mm-6.5x47 Lapua using 105 Bergers=1-shot one kill.
I have also used the 6-284 with the 115 DTACS for KS whitetail and Wyoming antelope=Dead critter.

I certainly don’t want to start a feud, but here it goes. A 243 shooting a 85gr bullet at muzzle vel has about 1200 pounds of energy with a load at 2800+/- fps. It has about the same 1200 pounds of energy shooting a 95gr bullet at 2600 fps. Those numbers came directly out of the Handgun section of my Hornady book. It can be done. I have shot a doe with my 22-250 because my only other handgun was down. It dropped like a rock, but I also hit it in the head. LOL I think 243 is great in a rifle and very versatile, but in a handgun I just prefer the 7mm08 or larger. I just think that a 139spbt going 2500fps with 1600 of energy has a little more oomph. But I am also the person who likes to hunt with my 44 Mag and 375 Win! I just like a little bigger hole for deer and hogs. JMHO so take it for what it is worth.

+1 ;-)

Welcome Kennon Brown: If you haven't already, check out the Encore .243 posts right here on the Shooters Bench.

Vert Good Form StallionWest!!

Welcome to the forum!

Don’t want to scare you off already. Just remember that our advice is only worth about .02. LOL We well state our mind from time to time. But the beauty is you get advice and hunt with what you are comfortable with!!!!

Oh yeah, welcome brother Brown ;-)

i have been thinking about a 243 for my encore to let me know
how your search goes and welcome to the sickness

larry223

WELCOME Kennon!!!

Just purchased a used .243 Encore with an Ultra-Dot mounted on it. Anybody shooting 100 grain bullets? What kind of accuracy/groups are you getting?

Thanks,
LeonCarr

Seen a 243 do some amazing things.Buddy of mine uses a VLD from Berger in his,does nice work on white-tails.