the best 243 win bullet

Joined
Jan 12, 2024
Messages
441
Location
Gulf Coast
In my experience, the polymer tipped bullets are just too explosive,
I prefer straight line penetration with a bullet that mushrooms but
stays together.
 

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
901
Location
Montana
Bullets I've found effective in a 243 Winchester over the last 36 hunting seasons include the following:

In a 1/10" barrel
100 grain Remington CoreLokt and Hornady Interlock factory ammo. These soft point kill well if kept to reasonable distances (sub 250 yards). I've killed close to 60 deer and antelope using these bullets in factory ammo.

95 NBT and Partition were handloaded by my hunting partner for his kids to kill elk with. I saw those kids kill a dozen cows and bulls while they were growing up along with piles of deer and antelope.

85 Sierra Game King HPBT worked amazing in my wife's Tikka SS Superlite. She has double digit deer and antelope with these bullets. They work great if kept off bone. Hit a shoulder or spine you will relieve the animal of a large portion of their carcass. Never a problem with penetration but more damage than necessary. The only issue was the loss of velocity at distance and poor trajectory. Very low BC. Keep them 300 and in and you're good.

In a 1/8" barrel
The 90 ELDX, 103 ELDX, and 108 ELDM have all shot well from my newest rifle. Accuracy is good and have made good marks in steel. Have not hunted with that rifle yet. Might try and kill a doe before the end of the season with the 108 ELDM.

Might buy some 112 Matchburner bullets to see how they work in the 243. I can use them in my 6CM if they aren't working for the 243. The only bullets I would avoid at 243 speeds on big game would be those below 80 grains.

Jay
 
Joined
May 22, 2023
Messages
334
I recently bought my wife a tikka 243 compact, most because I inherited my grandfather’s reloading everything. He was an avid 243 and 6mm rem hunter so I have a lot of different .243 bullets. There are as a fresh box of 95gr partitions and of course I immediately found a pretty spicy and accurate load.

And now they pretty much don’t exist anymore. I find some at some point.
Bullets I've found effective in a 243 Winchester over the last 36 hunting seasons include the following:

95 NBT and Partition were handloaded by my hunting partner for his kids to kill elk with. I saw those kids kill a dozen cows and bulls while they were growing up along with piles of deer and antelope.
 
Joined
Oct 20, 2019
Messages
14
I use the 85gr Barnes TSX. On everything, coyotes, deer, elk, you name it. It's a killer. Oh and putting up .25" groups from my 6XC.
 
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
94
Location
N. Idaho
We took our third deer this year so far with the 95 gr ballistic tip. These have been great from an accuracy and effectiveness standpoint. The buck taken today made it 30 yds, which is the furthest so far. He did it with the top half of his heart gone, some animals are just plain tough. The other two were down in 10 feet or less.
 
Last edited:

rbaney

FNG
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Messages
72
Location
North Central Pennsylvania
I have shot a few with the 85 Gr HPBT by Sierra and it lays them out. As previously mentioned it can do some pretty heft damage if it hits bone. But it has always worked great for me. I have also tried the 95 gr BT but only have one deer with that one and it was a head shot so no real data for comparison. But they shoot great out of my 243. I hand load the Sierras and recommend them to anyone looking for a good Whitetail 243 Bullet.
 
Joined
Jan 9, 2024
Messages
4
I tried Nosler trophy grade 90grain accubonds this year and it worked great out of my 1-8twist tikka
 

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