Here is a chuck shoot with a .243 Weatherby Vanguard.

[DonaldBabbett]

Seems mighty flat-shooting for a .243 on long-range chucks!

I am considering this gun and caliber as a premium bolt-action rifle for deer that's both easy on the shoulder and the wallet.
I would opt for the Weatherguard version which won't melt like a witch or rust like a tin man in the pouring rain.

Seems like it would make a great varminter too with a bipod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgNA7CwVmVo

Here he is using custom handloads here in the Vanguard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EgoeG3tr9M

What FACTORY loads would match those impressive ballistics for long-range chucks with this following recipe?

Load Data:

243 Winchester
70gr Nosler Varmageddon
47gr Accurate 2700 powder
Lapua brass case
CCI BR2 primer
2.73" OAL (.020" from the lands)
3700fps AVG

And which .243 loads, factory, would be best for whitetail or muleys?

For chucks I have a feeling it's gonna be Federal Premium with Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 70s and for
deer the same ammo-maker with Sierra GameKing soft-point boat-tail 100s. I don't think any factory loadings offer Nosler
Varmaggedons. I have used Federal Premium .25-06 SPBT 120s (or 117 grain can't remember which) before which vaporized 100-yard ground squirrels and killed one buck of mine behind the shoulder too. This was with my Browning A-Bolt II BOSS. No bipod and Leupold 1.75-6 Vari-X gold-ring scope, 32mm objective lens.

I am no handloader. I only do BENCH PRESSES at the gym while pumping iron and not at home in the garage for shooting irons.

[HAVOC5150]

Killed my biggest Ca Blacktail at 225 with Barnes TTSX 80 gr. I watched a hunting show and the woman hunting shot a cow elk @ 605 yards with a 105 grain load, not sure which one.

[DonaldBabbett]

Killed my biggest Ca Blacktail at 225 with Barnes TTSX 80 gr. I watched a hunting show and the woman hunting shot a cow elk @ 605 yards with a 105 grain load, not sure which one.

I think my yearling buck shot w/ my Browning BOSS .25-06 was a CA blacktail or a coastal, not sure. Was in Trinity County on a private ranch back in the mid-'90's.

I'm aiming to go after a mule or whitetail doe in Idaho someday should I be so lucky to draw such a tag. Will need a new gun and load for that venture as my Browning was sold off a few years back.

I think my heart is really set on a Vanguard. Idaho deer hunts are in wooded hilly areas so range will be not long. A .25-06 might be prudent but the .243 should do well for short-range deer still with a scope and good aim as well as the correct deer load. There are no blacktails or coastals in this state. Elk is popular here but personally that's not my bag, no pun intended.

[HAVOC5150]