I just started my 12 year daughter with a .243 she has no trouble at all with 100 grain. I did start her with the 58 grain varmint loads for her first few shots. To me the biggest thing is quality ear protection. Even in the blind something that will muffle that blast. Last time at the range she was freaked out by the noise of the 458 Buffalo gun the guy next to us was shooting. Even with muffs that thing rocked the entire range.
My son shoots a savage axis in .243 it really like the Hornady american whitetail 100 gr. interlocks. It's a great bullet and resonable at $23.00 bucks a box and not to hard to find.
I am not a fan of the core-lokts in my 6mm. I know a lot of people swear by them but I just wasn't impressed. If I was sticking with factory ammo I would get some of the Hornady loaded with SST's or some other premium bullet load. If she can handle the 20 ga. she can certainly handle a full .243 load and we all know she won't feel a thing the first time she unloads on a deer.
I don't like the core-lokts in ANY caliber. Had too many blow right through deer and not expand. I have had great luck with the Hornady American Whitetail in 7mm-08 and 30-06 for deer sized game.
I was reloading Hornady Interlocks for my 6mm but last year lost two deer. Shots were where I have always aimed for, right behind the shoulder, and they both trotted off leaving no blood trail. This year I have a good GMX load and will be working up some 100 grain partitions. Not messing with behind the shoulder crap either....I would rather lose one shoulder than an entire deer.
I shoot 95 grain Ballistic Tips in my 6mm. The internal damage is impressive oftentimes leaving double-fisted sized holes in the chest cavity. However, blood trails have been minimal to nonexistent. Of course if she drills one center shoulder and bust the offside shoulder it's going down. A high shoulder/scapula hit will pole axe a deer as well sending shock waves to the spine. I've got some 100 grain Partitions I might try this year.
Thanks for the input gents...she ran about 10 rounds of 100 grain CoreLokts thru it Sunday. She said she could shoot it all day...told her that "all day" shooting was for 22's and gamo's only!!! Her last shots at 50yds.
federal with the 85 gr sierra BTHP gameking. never mind. looking at that picture the little lady has the medicine she needs for deer. congrats to her.
Congratulations, young lady!! Nice buck! Keep on hunting. My daughter has killed some very nice bucks with a little .243.
.243/6mm is a great deer cartridge, that's all I have ever used for deer gun hunting, I have never missed or lost a deer with one. I got drawn for a ky elk tag last year and was debating between a 7mm mag or a 30-06 to buy to add to my collection but had over 20 people offer to loan me guns to hunt with 30-06s, 7mags, .300 mags and even a .338. I went with a Ruger 7 mag and it worked great, only costs me three boxes of bullets, two of which I shot and a couple packs of elk steak. So lost my excuse for a new gun, darn. Never use anything but 100 gr corelokt psp, they work great.
