6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[OFFSHORE]

8 twist tikka 243 with an impact velocity of 2365fps. Didn’t do much inspection on this one just because it was late when we got to him. If you look back through this thread at post #2996, I have a more detailed post about the 95tmk on a cow elk at 434 yards. My personal experience with them hasn’t led me to feel one bit like they wouldn’t kill anything I wanted as long as I stayed within the velocity threshold.

Thanks for the reply. That is good info. . .1800fps. threshold assuming?

 

[Hooskerdrew]

Thanks for the reply. That is good info. . .1800fps. threshold assuming?

Correct, and no worries

 

[walkingduckwaterfowl]

Question for the group...Between the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 95gr Hornady SST, and the 95gr Berger Hybrid hunter, what are you taking hunting and why? Let's assume accuracy is the same.

 

[The Guide]

Question for the group...Between the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 95gr Hornady SST, and the 95gr Berger Hybrid hunter, what are you taking hunting and why? Let's assume accuracy is the same.

Cartridge and twist rate play into my choice. For my 6CM I'd choose the 95 Berger, for my 243 I'm shooting the 95 BT, and for my 6mm ARC I'd choose the 95 SST. All 3 bullets will work well within the expansion threshold of the bullet.

Jay

 

[walkingduckwaterfowl]

Cartridge and twist rate play into my choice. For my 6CM I'd choose the 95 Berger, for my 243 I'm shooting the 95 BT, and for my 6mm ARC I'd choose the 95 SST. All 3 bullets will work well within the expansion threshold of the bullet.

Jay

Thanks - I have a 20" 8 twist tikka 243 and looking for the best terminal performance from affordable factory ammunition.

 

[WhoGarrDen]

Thanks - I have a 20" 8 twist tikka 243 and looking for the best terminal performance from affordable factory ammunition.

What's your definition of best terminal performance?

 

[The Guide]

Thanks - I have a 20" 8 twist tikka 243 and looking for the best terminal performance from affordable factory ammunition.

Your terminal performance is really going to be based on the velocity that you are launching them at and the velocity that they are arriving on target with. You have 2 different types of bullets in mind. While all 3 are cup and core, one is an OTM fragmentation type and 2 are tipped cup and core. With the Berger, I'd not expect an exit but not exclude it. That bullet will give you violent trauma after it enters the thoracic cavity. The other 2 bullets will give you good penetration and medium fragmentation with deeper penetration and likely exits but only when kept to lower velocity impact speeds. When the 2 tipped bullets see very high impact velocity they both are known to act more like varmint bullets and shallow explosive penetration. And a super low impact velocities they will not expand at all. You need to know what your distance needs are and your velocity limitations before you can accurately understand what bullet is the best.

Jay

 

[walkingduckwaterfowl]

What's your definition of best terminal performance?

Great question! I'm no scholar but I've come up with the following:

The most tissue damage that can occur with adequate penetration to kill most north american big game cleanly within the given options.

I know there is quality factory ammunition available loaded with 95 berger, 95 SST, 95 NBT bullets that my rifle shoots great. From the research I've done the TMK is king but has been difficult for me to obtain. Velocity has me capped to about 450 yards at sea level with all of them based on 1800 min threshold, but I have killed far more animals inside 100 yards than past 100 yards. I've killed one animal with the 95 NBT at about 60 yards and it was a fast death. I've killed several with larger SSTs and all were quick deaths. Have yet to use a berger of any sort.

If it was the end of the world and you had to pick between these three bullets for your hunting, which are you taking and why?

 

[The Guide]

Great question! I'm no scholar but I've come up with the following:

The most tissue damage that can occur with adequate penetration to kill most north american big game cleanly within the given options.

I know there is quality factory ammunition available loaded with 95 berger, 95 SST, 95 NBT bullets that my rifle shoots great. From the research I've done the TMK is king but has been difficult for me to obtain. Velocity has me capped to about 450 yards at sea level with all of them based on 1800 min threshold, but I have killed far more animals inside 100 yards than past 100 yards. I've killed one animal with the 95 NBT at about 60 yards and it was a fast death. I've killed several with larger SSTs and all were quick deaths. Have yet to use a berger of any sort.

If it was the end of the world and you had to pick between these three bullets for your hunting, which are you taking and why?

At your distance needs of say sub 300 yards, I'd choose none of those. My choice would be Remington CoreLokt 100 grain or Hornady American Whitetail 100 grain Interlock. Ammo is cheap, bullets perform well, and I've personally killed everything from rabbits and grouse to big deer using one or the other. My brother killed a cow elk with the 100 grain Remington CoreLokt when he was 13 and she didn't take a step. Stop looking for validation. Those are all good bullets for the 243. Buy what shoots the best. Practice a bunch. Kill what you shoot this fall. The bullets and cartridge can handle the job if you pick the proper placement and execute the shot without error.

Jay

 

[sierracharlie338]

Great question! I'm no scholar but I've come up with the following:

The most tissue damage that can occur with adequate penetration to kill most north american big game cleanly within the given options.

I know there is quality factory ammunition available loaded with 95 berger, 95 SST, 95 NBT bullets that my rifle shoots great. From the research I've done the TMK is king but has been difficult for me to obtain. Velocity has me capped to about 450 yards at sea level with all of them based on 1800 min threshold, but I have killed far more animals inside 100 yards than past 100 yards. I've killed one animal with the 95 NBT at about 60 yards and it was a fast death. I've killed several with larger SSTs and all were quick deaths. Have yet to use a berger of any sort.

If it was the end of the world and you had to pick between these three bullets for your hunting, which are you taking and why?

I’d say 95 SST or BT or the 100g interlock. The Bergers generally need 2000 fps for reliable performance unlike the 1800 for the other tipped cup and core. Just food for thought.

That said, I love the elite hunters. They are devastating in the right velocity window.

 

[Formidilosus]

The other 2 bullets will give you good penetration and medium fragmentation with deeper penetration and likely exits but only when kept to lower velocity impact speeds. When the 2 tipped bullets see very high impact velocity they both are known to act more like varmint bullets and shallow explosive penetration.

The 95gr NBT does not do that at all. Not even at 3,400fps impact velocity.

And a super low impact velocities they will not expand at all.

Jay

What do you consider super low impact velocity?

 

[Formidilosus]

Question for the group...Between the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, 95gr Hornady SST, and the 95gr Berger Hybrid hunter, what are you taking hunting and why? Let's assume accuracy is the same.

95gr NBT is the bullet for killing in that genre.

 

[nm.otter]

A genre of bullets. I like it.