243 bullet choice

CBB

FNG
Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Messages
19
I load 85gr TSX for my dad in his 243... it's been his favorite load since I developed it.

I run 85gr Sierra in mine. That's the load my pap developed and killed truck loads of deer with it. No reason to change it.
 
Joined
Sep 24, 2016
Messages
1,867
Location
Conifer, CO
95 grain partition
Sierra bullets will kill just as well for about half the price at 100gr. They make a soft point spitzer (I think under the Pro Hunter label) and an SBT with a thicker jacket.
 

jbravo13

FNG
Joined
Dec 13, 2021
Messages
15
100g core lokt killed whitetail at 20 yds and 155 yds for me last year


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nubbin

FNG
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
35
Location
NW Arkansas
I know there’s a lot of doubt around the .243 but i love my savage .243 because it’s boringly accurate and fun to shoot. I’ve shot everything through it and it’s crazy accurate, but it prefers hornady ammo more than anything. So i hunt with hornady products out of confidence. I’ve used 100gr interlocks and 95gr SST’s. Both work, but i have a slight preference for the SST and the reason being is i know it’s gonna hit where I’m aiming. You get a good shot angle and tuck an SST behind the shoulder and the deer aren’t moving far. Everything in the path of the sst is jelly. Only negative is if you hit shoulder it causes pretty severe meat damage, but it’s a dead deer regardless. I got a box of the 90 grain eld-x I’m going to try out this year. But first i got a new to me marlin 30-30 i got to get a notch in its belt first.
 

KenLee

WKR
Joined
Jun 9, 2021
Messages
2,491
Location
South Carolina
I've seen well over a hundred whitetail killed with factory 243 ammo.
Nothing better than the Power Max bonded. Expands well and if you need to trail the deer, Ray Charles could follow the blood.
 

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BIG_KUMAR

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
138
I have been very happy with the NBT 90 grain on deer. One of the best blood trails I have ever seem came from that round, even though I watched the deer go down and didn't have to track it. I know they hold together well too because I have used them as close as 8 yds, but they aren't screaming out of the muzzle either (2880 fps).

My biggest problem related directly to the rifle (H&R Handi Rifle) and not to the bullets, but the NBT was the first one that I could get a decent group with. The SST 95 grain was consistently the worst group at 100 yds being 6-8 inches with multiple powders. Factory Remington CoreLokts were generally grouping around 4 inches. I was really frustrated with everything I tried because I know those bullets are game getters, but my rifle apparently has very particular tastes. The NBT shoots under an inch for me and has always put animals down cleanly.
 
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Messages
830
I shoot 75gr Vmax out of my 243. Pushing about 3250fps if I remember right. Kills everything I’ve shot with it real dead.


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