Do it all .243 bullet selection

[Ckat]

The 95gr NBT has been excellent for me - kills in a hurry!

 

[TaperPin]

In most little gun stores across Wyoming they always seem to have at least one box of 100 gr Partition bullets. It’s a great deer and antelope bullet that opens up quickly, but the rear 2/3rds stays together. I keep some loaded for a loaner rifle that has been used more than my hunting rifle and it’s sold at least a couple of guys on the little bullet. The first wife took a very nice antelope at 450 yards, the grandson will take his first deer with it, and it gets loaded up in my new 6mm-06. It’s a boring bullet that works reliably. Maybe Accubonds or something else is a better bullet - I’ll probably never find out since I don’t change things that work well.

As good as it is on deer you’d think it would do well on cow elk, but a big cow took it through both lungs and ran over 300 yards, so I wouldn’t use it for that again unless it’s easy tracking or it’s out in the sage.

 

[Mtaylor]

The 95gr NBT has been excellent for me - kills in a hurry!

It’s one that seems to be a good performer from what everyone says!

 

[Mtaylor]

95 / 90 NBT or 90 / 103 Eldx

Seems like since Covid every sportsman’s store has boxes and boxes of Hornaday bullets on the shelf. Sierra and Nosler (which used to be plentiful) only has a couple boxes on the shelf ( at least here in Eastern Washington)?

 

[Dust Rider]

Seems like since Covid every sportsman’s store has boxes and boxes of Hornaday bullets on the shelf. Sierra and Nosler (which used to be plentiful) only has a couple boxes on the shelf ( at least here in Eastern Washington)?

Nosler online has the .243/6mm 90gr ballistic tip in stock.
95gr. Silver tip was out of stock.

 

[Ozarkhuntr]

Been reloading 243 and 243 wssm for a while. Mainly shooting out of an old sako and browning A bolt. Best luck has been with 95 or 100 grain Nosler partitions and 95grn SSTs. The 243 wssm likes some 80 grain stuff as well but neither one seems to like high BC bullets. Shot all of my deer/ antelope with SSTs and have had no issues with tracking with a decent shot.

 

[The Guide]

Nosler online has the .243/6mm 90gr ballistic tip in stock.
95gr. Silver tip was out of stock.

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

 

[2ski]

I have a Savage 110 that likes all 100gr factory bullets and puts them in groups that all share the same hole. I switched to copper recently and the groups went to wider apart. So not happy with what I have yet but they killed a mule deer this last fall on a hunt with my dad.

 

[Rich M]

I load 100 gr Sierra Pro Hunters and 100 gr Nosler Partitions. Shoot well.

 

[CJ_BG]

If you ask around rokslide you'll probably hear the 95 ballistic tip more than anything else for a 10 twist 243, and for good reason. If all I could use was 95 ballistic tips I'd be happy. Here's a few others I would consider based on what I've seen personally and read.

90gr ballistic tip
90gr eld-x
85gr sierra hp game king
87 vmax
87 vld
85 partition


95 partition (what I'm shooting this year)
100gr partition
103 eld-x if it'll stabilize
95gr classic hunter
95 DRT terminal shock

I'd happily use any of these for deer and black bear. The second half + the 95 NBT would be my choices for elk in a 243, though I don't know quite enough about the DRT to definitively place it. I'm sure it would (has?) killed elk just fine though

 

[EmperorMA]

Yes, that 95gr Ballistic Tip is the huckleberry in a 10" twist .243 for anything you want to hunt.

 

[SloppyJ]

I've had great success with the following in a 6 creed.

95 Nosler Ballistic Tip (The original application for the ballistic tip is this bullet)
108 Berger Elite Hunter
108 ELDM

There is also high praise for the 95gr TMK.

In your standard 243 chamber, I'd recommend the 95NBT. You seriously cannot go wrong with that bullet. My gun likes that one with N555 with H4350 a close second.

 

[CJ_BG]

I've had great success with the following in a 6 creed.

95 Nosler Ballistic Tip (The original application for the ballistic tip is this bullet)
108 Berger Elite Hunter
108 ELDM

There is also high praise for the 95gr TMK.

In your standard 243 chamber, I'd recommend the 95NBT. You seriously cannot go wrong with that bullet. My gun likes that one with N555 with H4350 a close second.

What did those 108 EH do in game? Been eyeing them for a fast twist 243 Ackley

 

[SloppyJ]

What did those 108 EH do in game? Been eyeing them for a fast twist 243 Ackley

They hold together a bit more than the ELDMs and provide a bigger exit which i appreciate in some of the thick timber I hunt. So far, that's my favorite but the 95BT is neck and neck.

This was about 80yds on a buck last year out of my 18" 6 creed mid 2900fps range.

 

[FredH]

Anyone use the 87 gr. Hornady BTHP or the Speer 85 gr. BTSP? Is the Sierra 85 gr. BTHP actually better than the other two?

 

[Weldor]

100 gr spbt. Sierra.

 

[TxLite]

They hold together a bit more than the ELDMs and provide a bigger exit which i appreciate in some of the thick timber I hunt. So far, that's my favorite but the 95BT is neck and neck.

This was about 80yds on a buck last year out of my 18" 6 creed mid 2900fps range.

Planning on using these as well this year with the same setup/velocity. Glad to see a positive first hand report.

 

[CJ_BG]

Anyone use the 87 gr. Hornady BTHP or the Speer 85 gr. BTSP? Is the Sierra 85 gr. BTHP actually better than the other two?

The 85gr sierra is violent. Unknown MV but it was a mild load in a 19 inch 243. On a broadside shot just under 200yds we found 13 pieces of jacket and core through the deer. I believe there was an exit but I may be remembering that wrong. Lots of other deer with that bullet at 2750 MV and once again good performance

The 85gr speer is okay in my experience. Impacts under 2300 that don't hit bone haven't impressed me like the sierra. I would rather the sierra if I was shooting deer in the lungs. If you still want great expansion/fragmentation with good penetration the 85 partition does fantastic in deer.