Savage Axis in 243 question

[gadeerwoman]

Just picked up a little Savage Axis youth model in .243. Questions for anyone with one or whose kids use one.
What's your cartridge of choice?
What's your shot placement of choice?
What's your average yardage for recovery?
Almost all my deer have been taken with an old Sears 30-30 and in close bush where neck shots are deadly (haven't lost one ever) or lung and that little gun is deadly. DRT with no tracking required.
What can I expect from the little Axis? No reason to get her other than she was a sweet little gun and the price was good. And one can always use another gun.

[sticknstring]

My brother shoots a .243 for a number of years-it flat out knocks the snot out of deer sized game. Try to keep your bullets in the 95-100 grain range.

I bought my daughter the same rifle as you almost 2 months ago for her birthday(in November)-my wife thought I bought her birthday present a little early. I thought the timing was right-I scoped it and sighted it in and put it back in the box. When I give it to her in November-it's going to be game time! Anyway, I bought several different boxes of ammo-the federal fusion and the hornady sst's shot the same windage wise. The fusion shot exactly one inch lower than the hornady's. The hornadys are a noticeably hotter load recoil wise and they chrono about 200 fps faster.

They both shot under 1/2" moa @ 100 yrds(right out of box)-I'm sure it'll tighten up a little as we break it in. I think you'll be happy with the way it shoots.

[gadeerwoman]

Thanks Stick!
Figured more folks would have their kids shooting this little gun. If it shoots anything like my Remington youth model 7 in .243 I know I'm going to love it.