I've been deer hunting with a Savage 243 for the last 7 years. She's been a great gun, but I've lost a little confidence in her and think it's time to upgrade. I've knocked down 3 bucks, 4 does and countless hogs and coyotes with her. All perfect shots. But, 2 years ago, I lost a buck (would have been my best), slight blood trail, but I eventually lost it after about a half mile. Then this year, I hit an axis good but never could find him (not much blood trail at all) and one of the does ran a good ways before she dropped. I'm right on at the range, so sights have never been an issue. What gets me the most, is all of those shots were at or about 100-150 yds.

Long story short, I want something with more knock down power. Don't necessarily care to have anything fancy or pretty, but something functional and reliable. Would you go 270, 280, 30-06, or other? New or used?

Any suggestions in the 300-400 range for rifle only?

Savage has been geating some great review they are just ugly.

Me personaly I went up to a 25-06 from a 243 and never looked back. I'd look at 25-06 or 257wby

Love the 25-06. But don't be so quick to count out your .243. It might not be the bow, but the arrows.

Look at this thread I started about bullet performance in my 25-06.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1064114/Bullet_Question#Post1064114

But with that, .243 is probably the low end of the acceptable range for deer. The 25-06 does get a ton of good press on this board, and I love mine. But I still have some work to do on bullet selection.

I do need to pay more attention to bullet selection. Thanks for posting that thread. I missed that one, and will keep it in mind. I've used core-lokt up to this point. I hate losing animals too, and want to do whatever I can to keep that from happening again.

Hard to knock anything in the 270-30.06-308 categories..

and stick with Savage

Nothing wrong with the 243. Sounds to me like you need to change the bullet you are using rather than the rifle. If you just want a new rifle, a good 270 or 280 is hard to beat hunting in Texas.

I hunt with a .243. For deer I will only use 100gr bullets..I also just purchased the academy "special" stephens model 200 in 7mm-08 that i feel alot better taking into the field just in case that 200-300 yd shot comes around

Just buy a .308 barrel for your rifle and have a smith change them out. Would not need to change bolt faces or anything since the .243 uses the same one as .308... Should cost less than you intend to spend on a new/used rifle.

25-06, 7mm-08, 308 or 270. any of these will get the job done.

You thinking of selling the savage? I might be able to find her a good home. ( right next to all my other toys)

300 win mag puts um down... but no mater if it's 243 or 300, shot placement makes the difference.

I've been shooting an dropping deer for years with a 6mm but I do shoot um with 300 also.

i do still grab my 243 when my wifes not using it every now and then.. i started shooting the 85 grain TSX and gotten exits on both deer I have shot with them.

I use them and partitons in my 25-06 and its ugly. Nice mess

(At Academy) Weatherby Vanguard 1 in (.270,30-06,308,25-06,7mm mag) price 399.99
Remington 770 combo in (270,30-06) price 349.99
Brand new for both of them

the rem 770 is a POS

Stick with the Savage, but go up in caliber. Love my Savage Sierra in 7mm-08/Nikon 3X9. I wish I had an excuse to get another one, Savage has a new aluminum bedding system that is very nice.

First of all axis are tough and dont bleed. Get new bullets first and you will be fine. I like Remington because Savage is so ugly and cheap looking.

On the AR 15 platform with a 16 inch barrel the 6.8 SPC is a great 300-400 yard deer rifle.

Pick up a stevens 200 for $250 new from academy in .270 it will serve you well and leave lots of money for a scope bullets and maybe even a doe hunt.

7mm-08 or a 6.5x55 Swede, even a 257 Roberts

I know your delima I lost one with 243 this year and I have been looking in to the 7mm 08 and 270. I found an old 700 ADL in 270 at the pawn shop for cheap. I'm thinking about making it my winter project.

I know the 243 will get the job done, and plan on keeping it. More or less just looking for a reason to get another rifle. Thanks for the responses.

I haven't heard much about the 280, but am interested for some reason. Is it still considered a fad caliber? I think I'd have to go Remington or Ruger in 280 if I can find a good deal on a used one, unless there are any other recommendations.

If I went with a new 270, it'll be a toss up between the XL7 and another Savage, I think.

280 is a good round, but 270 is the same case but just slightly necked down and w/ more ammo choices. but hey, nothing wrong with being different - it just comes down to ammo choice availability.

It's all about shot placement and bullet selection. Friend of mine shot a buck a couple of years ago at 312 yards with his .243. Right behind the shoulder,90 grain Nosler BT and got a pass-thru. Deer ran maybe 50 yards before piling up.

On same note, a guy shot about a 150 class buck this year, 50 yards with 30/06. Says he shot it right behind the shoulder and we only found 3 spots of blood about the size of an eraser. We never found the deer and no buzzards, so hopefully, it was a bad shot, but nobody has seen hide or hair of this deer since, and nobody got it on camera anymore. He is a good shot, and he checked his rifle and it was on.

This is harder than you think . ive been doing it for a couple of years now and havent found one that was priced right!

The bullet selection for 243 is wide! look at the partition line. The core lokt bullets seem to get a bad rap for a lot of people, and i have hunted with 243 for a while myself.