7mm magnum or 300 magnum they would like to part with? Not trying to break the bank but have something that will do more hurt than this 243. Doe was hit broadside in the shoulder again in the side with no operation of her front legs and again on the ground and still managed to get out and away on 2 legs without being recovered. Got me upset. I've never lost a deer that took a nose dive like that.

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In my honest opinoon I'd advise against jumping from a 243 to a 7mag . But I would move away from a 243 for a few reasons.

If you just intent to have a 7 or 300 mag , shot one a few times first.

I have a Styr 7mm but unless you can stand to be hit by a Grayhound bus you don’t want it go to 308, 270, but a lot deer have been taken with 243🤔

That thick stuff you hunting in a 30/30 or 35 Remington wouldn’t be a bad choice

That’s a dead deer somewhere. Not the fault of the 243.

What ammo where you using? Do you KNOW she was hit 3 times or ASSUME 3 times? Not trying to be an ass but in the epic flurry of activity that is a wounded deer escaping, I have done and have seen shots fired that you thought where hitting deer but the post mortem reveals something different.

What bullet are you using? I've had 100gr soft points blow up on bone. 85gr Barnes TSX might solve your problem.

He’s shooting core-lokts

I use 150 grain core lokts in a 300 win mag never had an issue. As for recoil I’ve never felt it while shooting a deer.

I’ve got a 7mag in a ruger mk 2 that’s not bad to shoot at all. Got a limb saver pad on it. My 30-06 kicks worse than it does

My kids are shooting at TC Compass compact 243 with Hornady custom lite reduced recoil for kids. Haven’t lost one yet (knock on wood). Try aiming right behind front shoulder.

Like I said in the other thread I got a 300wm for sale that is a Remington sendero SF2 that has been bedded and has a jewell trigger installed with a break that will kick about like that 243 but it isn't going to be cheap as the trigger is $250 alone. Ill let it go for 1000

Use 80 grain hpts. I couldn't believe it . Drt

I’ve got a 7mm weatherby mag I’d part with. It’s a mark V Deluxe

I’ve got a custom built 300RUM I’m selling. Built by Mathews Guns in Georgia. McMillian stock, integral brake and built on a Remington action. $1500


But the gun isn’t your problem. The 200 lb buck i shot Saturday absorbed a 150g TTSX at about 3200fps IMPACT velocity. I shot the crease as he was slightly quartered away breaking the offside shoulder. He jumped ran 5 steps, stopped and turned around so I broke the other shoulder and he dropped. Both entrance and exit holes were 2” apart. Sometimes they are just tough. I normally shoot high shoulder and they drop instantly but had a limb in the way so took the crease shot.

Better think about finding ammo before you choose a caliber. If it were me, and a step up was necessary, I’d consider that 30-06 or .308 that paddlejohn has for sale. I know they aren’t 6.5’s or anything, and those cartridges can’t kill deer like these new fancy magnums, so that’s probably why I can still find ammo for mine, but they still kill deer. At least the ones I hunted a couple years ago they killed.

😂 it ain’t the guns fault!

The one I shot at 436 yards sat am with the 243s twin sister (6 creedmoor), never took a step and the bullet even exited. I’ve killed 10 in the past few years with a 223, 243 or a 6CM and none have made it past 40 yards and most less than 20.

🤔 Now I’m wondering how many of those 5yr old kids that killed deer last weekend were shooting magnum calibers??

The 7mm mag is not NEAR as bad of a recoil producer as a 300 magnum.

My go to when I want it dead right there is a Steyr pro-hunter in 7mm magnum with 140 grain fusions. It recoils about the same as a 30-06 with 150's to me. Noticeable but not unbearable. And I can tell you if you hit it in the running gear , it ain't running no more.

True. Placement is everything. But the beauty of the 7mm or 300 ( if you can handle the recoil of course) is that it puts them down when the shot is less than ideal.