Factory ammo Recommendations - 243 and 7mm-08?

[ssramage]

Looking to maybe change things up this year. I've been shooting the Hornady American Whitetail rounds for the last couple of years because of availability and have had decent success, but have also lost a deer (with the .243).

What factory loaded ammunition would you recommend for these calibers for whitetail deer at normal ranges (50-250yds)? Both would be shot through a suppressor if that matters.

Primary .243 is a CVA Scout 20" 1:10
7mm-08 will either be a Tikka Compact suppressed or a Model 7 not suppressed

I keep threatening to get into reloading, but I just don't shoot enough.

 

[david2duck]

7mm-08 the Hornady precision hunter 150eldx does well out of 2 of our rifles.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Looking to maybe change things up this year. I've been shooting the Hornady American Whitetail rounds for the last couple of years because of availability and have had decent success, but have also lost a deer (with the .243).

What factory loaded ammunition would you recommend for these calibers for whitetail deer at normal ranges (50-250yds)? Both would be shot through a suppressor if that matters.

Primary .243 is a CVA Scout 20" 1:10
7mm-08 will either be a Tikka Compact suppressed or a Model 7 not suppressed

I keep threatening to get into reloading, but I just don't shoot enough.

Thats just a 100gr interlock. Its not fancy but they have killed a pile of stuff. If it shoots decent, why change?

 

[ssramage]

Thats just a 100gr interlock. Its not fancy but they have killed a pile of stuff. If it shoots decent, why change?

It shoots ok... I lost one deer with it with the .243 a couple of seasons ago. I've had a couple of deer with pretty spotty blood trails that were tough to find. Most have been DRT with no exit wounds.

I've probably killed 20 deer with them though.

 

[taskswap]

7mm-08 the Hornady precision hunter 150eldx does well out of 2 of our rifles.

I'll add a vote for the Hornady Precision Hunter. I took my first bull with this so it has sentimental value for me. Always performed well.

I've also had good luck with the Sierra GameKing HSM. The Hornady has been on/off available since the pandemic - they seem to only run it in small batches. The Sierra is more readily available if you need a backup.

 

[Loper]

95 grain Nosler Balistic Tips will do the trick in the 243. You can also get these bullets loaded in factory ammo as Winchester SilverTips.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

In my 7mm-08 I use the 139 gr Hornady Superformance SST. It has been money on deer and hogs.

 

[CJ_BG]

For factory ammo the 95gr winchester ballistic silvertips are amazing in the 243. In my limited exposure to it, out to 300yds the 7mm-08 wrecks deer with everything loaded in it. Interbonds, interlocks, hammer hunters, and sierra gamekings have all left very impressive wound cavities. Hornady 150gr eld-x are the easy button in a lot of ways but I don't personally have experience

 

[Steve300xcw]

It shoots ok... I lost one deer with it with the .243 a couple of seasons ago. I've had a couple of deer with pretty spotty blood trails that were tough to find. Most have been DRT with no exit wounds.

I've probably killed 20 deer with them though.

Hard to say what happened on a lost animal...

I've tipped over a bunch with either a btsp or a bthp. Agreed not really much if any blood trail, Never needed one though......

If I were wanting that I would be looking at ELD's or similar

 

[Jdavis77]

Hornady precision hunter in 7mm-08 is phenomenal in my kimber

 

[ssramage]

Well I didn't realize I had gone quite as crazy as I did on 7MM-08 ammo but I have about 20 boxes of the Hornady American Whitetail in the safe. Looks like I'll be sticking with that.

I'm going to look for some of the Winchester Ballistic Silvertips for the .243 and start there.

 

[06 SB]

Federal Fusion are some of the most accurate and deadliest bullets available. They are now making a Tipped Fusion which should be even better. If you cannot find them, the Federal blue box is a close second.