.243 deer bullet choice

[jeffpenland123]

Winchester Ballistic Silvertips 95 grain.
Have killed between 0-220 yards. Flat Shooting, no recoil. Not a huge entry or exit obviously with small bullet, but they don't make it far if they don't drop in the beginning.

Those are really good bullets. I can't find them anywhere.

 

[The Guide]

Those are really good bullets. I can't find them anywhere.

Loaded ammo is available from Winchester and the bullets are available from Nosler/Combined Technology as components.

Jay

 

[BPT0586]

I've only used 95 ballistic tips and 100 gr interlocks. Both are great, but I'd have to say the 95 gr BTs are likely my pick. Purple meanies all the way

 

[badgeralum99]

I use the Hornady

243 Win 95 gr SST® Superformance®​

Shot well out of my sons Savage 110 Hunter and have never had any issues with it not doing its job.

 

[jeffpenland123]

Hornady 100gr Interlock, 100gr Corelokt,100gr Sierra GK, Barnes 85gr TSX, and 80gr TTSX have all killed deer for me out of a 243 or a 6mm Rem. I usually load the Barnes stuff now. I think a 95gr Fusion would work perfectly too. Stay away from the SST.

I had very bad problems out of the SST first deer 100 yards I'm very sure of a hit but I didn't see any blood so I thought I missed that evening 110 yards bang mule kick 3 drops of blood no more tracked up the creek where I thought she might have went didn't find her or anything else. I started shooting 100 grain federal blue box wasn't very accurate about a 1.5 inch group then I bought some cheap 80 grain Remington core lokt on sale, 4 shots 1 inch group ( the guns a 18.5 inch 1-9 twist.) deer season this year pretty good sized for come out 125 yards off hand quartering away hit the right side front shoulder pretty high up exited out the neck didn't move at all. That 80 grain core lokt made me trust the 243 again.

 

[TWard]

Those are really good bullets. I can't find them anywhere.

Still have about 5 boxes left. Yes, can't find them anywhere either.

 

[The Guide]

Those are really good bullets. I can't find them anywhere.

Still have about 5 boxes left. Yes, can't find them anywhere either.

Bullets can be found here...

Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip Hunting 6mm, 243 Cal (243

Combined Technology bullets are state of the art, aerodynamically optimized hunting and varmint bullets designed to put unparalleled accuracy, flight...

www.midwayusa.com

Loaded ammo can be found here...

Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Nickel Plated Brass .243 Win 95-Grain 20-Rounds RCEPT

The Winchester Ballistic Silvertip in .243 Win is engineered for precision and rapid controlled expansion, making it an excellent choice for medium-game hunting. Featuring a 95-grain Rapid Controlled Expansion Polymer Tip bullet, this ammunition delivers 3100 fps muzzle velocity and 2021 ft-lbs...

grabagun.com

Jay

 

[Bugger]

SC DNR did a study some years ago proving 243 is literally the worst. If you do well with, take all the credit for your shooting. Give none to the cartridge, because it deserves none.

Picking the best .243 bullet is a waste of time when .223 works at least as well. Whatever you think .243 does, .223 actually does. Both depend on your exceptional marksmanship. So take the easier route with .223.

Yeah that’s not what happened…


Seems to me the larger the caliber the longer they run, with the anomoly being the 243 which can be explained by it likely being used mostly by kids and flinchers taking bad shots. Unfortunately they didn’t show average accuracy per caliber in the study. The 223 isn’t even mentioned.

Would you look at that, bullet construction matters a lot more than price/advertising. It’s almost like I’ve heard that somewhere before.

 

[Poe]

You mean this one-

SCDNR - Wildlife Information

If so, it doesn’t say what you stated that it does.

I am in the process of working up a load to try the 103 eldx in a 9.25 twist .243. So far at 100 yards it looks promising so hopefully soon Incan run it out to some distance and see if it’s stabilizing. I was wondering if you know of anyone or if anyone on here has had luck with these bullets in a 9.25 twist

 

[coyotekilla]

I love a 243, its my number 1 deer catcher by the #'s. Bullet of choice, a 100 softy. Today probably federal if I was buying factory. I used to be a rem man but quality dived.

Now that I handload, bullet of choice, 85 hpgk, and 100gr softs, wouldn't be scared of a 85 and heavier poly tip. Shoot what your rifle likes.

 

[T-town]

100 gr soft points. Let deer turn broadside, shoot behind shoulder. Go load deer up.

If I wanted to be less picky about shot angles, shoot Nosler Partitions.

 

[NB2506]

Partition is the way to go

 

[WVltd90]

I never seemed to have issues when I used .243 win for my primary hunting rifle. Granted, the deer here in the east I have hunted my whole life are not that big, with a 200-225 lb buck on the hoof being a pretty good specimen. I wouldn’t call myself a big buck killer either and especially not early on in my hunting career, but I never would hesitate to take a quartered too shot and usually aimed for shoulder on a broadside deer. I shot the 95 grain ballistic silver tips for a while and later on just federal blue box 100 grain soft points. May have to do some scientific testing this fall on a few for old times sake.

 

[MiddleFork]

People in my area of the Appalachians swear by the 243. 100 grain soft points of any reputable make were plentiful in the deer woods.

 

[Kcollins01]

80gr Barnes ttsx or 85gr Sierras have always performed on game. Last couple seasons have been loading bergers and they haven’t disappointed yet. And either using h4831sc or h4350

 

[Tyrus001]

87gr Absolute Hammers at 3350 work great in mine for Eastern Deer. Killed a few with 70gr HH's and they worked fine as well. I like the 87's best though. I wouldn't hesitate taking any shot on any deer out to 300, and as far as I can shoot on eastern deer. 0 hesitation on a black bear if I had the opportunity as well. They penetrate and create havoc on the inside!

 

[cuerro viejo]

with standard twist

95BT

Or in little China
80 TTSX but becareful at extended ranges

 

[Poe]

I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more people trying to get the 103 eldx’s to shoot out of the 9.25 twist .243’s. I’m working up a load and so far at 300 yards it’s looking promising. I’m going to try them again at 600 to make sure they are stabilizing enough but fingers crossed.

 

[Tiger243]

Any experience with Hornady lite 87 grain? Want to use it for youth hunt. 20-60 yards

 

[CJ_BG]

Any experience with Hornady lite 87 grain? Want to use it for youth hunt. 20-60 yards

I have some experience with the 87 vmax which is probably lighter construction than the 87 sst in that load. I have no fears with it on deer, and at 20-60yds for kids I would just have them put it behind the shoulder and get the knives ready

This isn't to say it wouldn't work with a shoulder shot, I was far more worried about meat loss than any real penetration concerns with the 87.