Im going hunting this October at the Double V Ranch over near Graham and I am kinda in a situation. If anyone has gone its a high fenced ranch and im going to be taking a big buck. I know the .243 can take Texas Whitetails in just a little nervous about wounding it and not getting the kill. I would love to us our .270 but i have had 2 surgeries on my shooting shoulder so im just a little worried about the recoil. what do yall think?

I think you will be fine with good bullets. Its better than going bigger and then flinching. or

get one of those shoulder shooting pads for 30 bucks

I don't think the recoil difference between the two would be very noticeable. Put a recoil pad on it if you need to.

If you keep the shots under 200 yds or so, just use managed-recoil ammo.

I have taken several Texas bucks with a .243..a double lung shot is more important than caliber. I don't recall much of a difference between these two (esp compared to my .35 Whelen).

Why, just get that 243 and let speed knock them out

I would just use the 243. Prefer to use a good bullet. Put it in the lungs and enjoy your trophy.

^^^^^ You will be shooting a 115 grain bullet. I have seen it work on South Texas bucks with shoulder shots and get a pass thru. Same felt recoil as the .243

270 these will be bigger deer that are protien feed year round. chance of getting your biggest buck you will be excited and might not get the perfect shot at your buck. In this situation the bigger the better. you will be so fired up you wont feel your shoulder. good luck

270

270

When's the last time you've shot the 270? why not go a gun range and see if you can comfortably shoot it? if not then you'll know the answer.

X2

.243 is fine, I've killed tons of whitetail and 2 big Muleys with a .243 and folded em. Like always break the shoulders and you'll have nothing to worry about. Also as far as recoil stuff a folded paper towel in a slip on recoil pad .

i personally love the .243 and dont think you will have a problems with putting one on the ground. just be more careful with shot placement and you will have the big boy hanging on the wall before you know it.

243 is fine... Its a great round! I personally think your gonna be way better off feeling comfortable about the recoil and that equaling a well placed shot. I would take a well placed shot with a 22 caliber round over a poor placed shot out of a 30-35 caliber...I always think of it as, guys are killing deer all over the US with arrows and blades... a 85-100++ grain bullet going 3000 fps has pretty good odds at killing a deer too!! Good luck!

I'd only shoot a mature trophy buck with a .243 if it was my only option

.243 will work just fine. However, i do hunt with a .270 with a slip on limbsaver pad. I must admit that i am a sissy when it comes to recoil (some bad experiences in my youth), but that slip on pad works wonders.

Others have pointed this out: last year for the first time I tried a rifle (a 270) that had a recoil pad. It came with the rifle, but I think it was about the same as a limbsaver brand. I could not belive the difference in the felt recoil. I could have shot that thing all day.

Frankly, a 270 with a recoil pad has less felt recoil than a 243 without. Therefore, no matter which rifle you chose, consider getting a recoil pad.

I shoot a .243 as my primary rifle. Never left me down yet and got a few wall hangers. Its all about shot placement.

YES 243 IS A GOOD GUN AND I HAVE KILLED NUMEROUS DERR WITH ONE. ONE THE OTHER HAND YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD SHOT. I HAVE ALSO LOST A GOOD BUCK I SHOT WITH IT KNOWING I HIT HIM BUT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN PERFECT. ON THE OTHER HAND YOU COULD HIT THE DEER ANYWHERE WITH THAT 270 AND YOU WILL PROBABLY FIND HIM. I HAVE RETIRED THE 243 FOR DEER. STUCK ON THE 300 WSM NOW AND HAVENT LOST 1 YET AND NOT MUCH OF A TRACKING JOB. IM ALL ABOUT THE 270 OVER THE 243 EXPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE ALOT OF $ ON THE LINE.

243 with magic bullets.

I've knocked down some pretty big whitetails in South Dakota at over 200 yards with a .243 firing 85 grain Sierra Gamekings. Some pretty much fell right there some ran 50-100 yards. Get a good double lung shot, thats what is important.

ANYWHERE??? I THINK NOT!

I would go to the range and see which shot best and use that.

If it is the 243, I would go buy a box of federal premium 100 grain np's and break both front shoulders.