The best all around 243 bullet

[BlaserNut]

Thank you, Ozarkansas for that input. In the past I've heard concerns about ballistic tips fragmenting early due to a thinner outer copper jacket. I didn't fully buy into this until my friend shot a bull elk at 75 yds., he put it down practically on the spot with two quick shots to the front shoulder area with 180 gr ballistic tips from a 30-06. On cleaning the elk it was clear that he had hit the shoulder/humerus with one of the shots and the bullet had exploded into tiny fragments, destroying a lot of meat without penetrating any bone. I'm surprised that I've seen them recommended so often in this forum, it's rebuilding my confidence to test them.

 

[BlaserNut]

Got to zero the .243 yesterday. I shot a mix of Herter's and Federal 100 gr. SoftPoint's, they shot the same at 100 yds. It was the typical Savage 100 yd. "New In Box" Zeroing experience for me. If not dead-on out of the box, tiny turns until I end up where I think I may have been where I started. I can't find ANY .243 Win Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammo...Anywhere!

 

[kkp005]

Got to zero the .243 yesterday. I shot a mix of Herter's and Federal 100 gr. SoftPoint's, they shot the same at 100 yds. It was the typical Savage 100 yd. "New In Box" Zeroing experience for me. If not dead-on out of the box, tiny turns until I end up where I think I may have been where I started. I can't find ANY .243 Win Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammo...Anywhere!

Your wish is my command

Federal 243 Win 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Vital-Shok 20/Box

243 Win 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Vital-Shok 20/Box for sale at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.

www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com

243 WIN 95 Grain Ballistic Silvertip, Box of 20

Ballistic Silvertip ammunition provides hunters proven explosive impact and extreme precision. Innovation combined with engineering excellence makes Ballistic Silvertip the choice for those who appreciate the legendary excellence Winchester is known for around the world.

rogerssportinggoods.com

Winchester SBST243A 243 Win Ballistic Silvertip,95GR, Polymer Tip, 20RD Per Box 020892210707

Looking for high quality ammo with inventory AVAILABLE? Shop no further than AmmoYard.com today.

ammoyard.com

 

[Blind Squirrel]

so I don’t have much experience to share, but I’ll pass along what I do have. My 8yo daughter put a perfect shot on a white tail doe at 172 yards with a 95g hornady sst. The vitals were obliterated. Doe dropped in its tracks and kicked for a couple seconds, and it was over. When we got to her, she had coughed/vomited out a decent amount of liquified tissue. Bullet passed through and splattered quite a bit of blood and other stuff out the ground on the other side of the deer. I have not seen a bullet have that impact before. I’ve usually used larger caliber bullets with less expansion. They worked, but this thing was different. I also just wanted to make this post to brag on my daughter for making a perfect shot at 172 yards on her first hunt.

 

[BlaserNut]

Thank you for the leads, kkp005! Blind Squirrel, a very experienced shooting buddy of mine made the same suggestion to me a couple days ago when I had the discussion with him. I have been interested in trying the Hornady sst's for awhile, sounds like it's time. Great story, BTW. I first taught my boys how to shoot in my basement with a BB gun and a Styrofoam target at ages 5 and 3 (my 3 year old would NOT accept that he was too young to participate). I've always been a pretty good shot, but they've both been able to outshoot me since they were 10 or so, I say that with some disgrace and a lot of pride. To the Gun-Fearing segment of our population I've always believed that an early responsible education is the answer, I congratulate you for doing that.

 

[Jrkotz]

@General RE LEE That's a really sharp looking rifle. How do you like the Howa action? I am drawn to the mini length. I've heard mixed opinions on them. I've heard Unknown is going to start doing builds with them, which is very interesting.

 

[General RE LEE]

@General RE LEE That's a really sharp looking rifle. How do you like the Howa action? I am drawn to the mini length. I've heard mixed opinions on them. I've heard Unknown is going to start doing builds with them, which is very interesting.

It’s a great rifle no doubt. It’s got over 1200 rounds on the barrel so I shoot it a lot.

 

[Jrkotz]

It's a Model 700 youth rifle so it came with the Remington 9-1/8 twist (9.125"). I tried 103's but they wouldn't group great, the 95's do and so does the 90 ELD-X. I believe the BT is a tougher jacket though.

I got terrible SDs though with the load I was using, even after switching to Magnum primers on a hunch, so still working on a load to get these going nicely. Will try N555 next.

With a 9.125 I'd be looking hard at the 95 gr TMK. They've been out of stock for a while, but I understand Sierra is doing a run towards the end of this year, should be on shelves at the beginning of 2025

 

[texasbbq]

Not sure about elk, moose and bear but we have whacked a chit load of whitetails and axis with the 95gr BT and I couldn't recommend it enough.

 

[Trapperkid]

I just shot a whitetail this morning with the 95 BT and it worked very well.

 

[Jlop_2]

Maybe a dumb question here but did Winchester get rid of the black coating on the 95gr BT? I finally ordered some and noticed the mfg number and upc number match but box is obviously different and bullets were not coated. I’m assuming it’s the same ammunition just did away with the coating, anyone have some insight?

 

[Formidilosus]

Maybe a dumb question here but did Winchester get rid of the black coating on the 95gr BT? I finally ordered some and noticed the mfg number and upc number match but box is obviously different and bullets were not coated. I’m assuming it’s the same ammunition just did away with the coating, anyone have some insight? View attachment 798948

Same exact bullet- no Lubalox coating.

 

[Jlop_2]

Same exact bullet- no Lubalox coating.

Awesome, thanks for the clarification @Formidilosus.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

My son shot this smaller doe. I think we were about 50 yards away. Perfect shot. She ran about 50-60 yards and fell over. Half the heart was turned into burger, lungs were the same. Some of the lung tissue came out of the large exit hole. .243 Hornady SST. We also have the eld-m and the Winchester silver tip we’ll be testing this year.

Not the most straightforward pic, but you can see the very large exit hole. Meant to take a photo of the heart, but oh well.
She did sprint as if unaffected post shot (son was initially deflated because he thought he missed), but she didn’t make it out of the field. I didn’t really look around to see if she left a blood trail.

 

[Trapperkid]

I absolutely love the hornady sst and the Winchester ballistic tip. I have much more experience with the first than the second but from my limited experience I think the winchesters are a great round as well.

 

[VernAK]

I like the 95g LRX.

^^^^^^ Wolves to caribou easily and reliably.

 

[Trapperkid]

I believe it was a LRX that my cousins husband shot with a 7mag hit her in the spine but it was absolutely devastating got me to thinking about how that bullet would do in 6mm.

 

[bnsafe]

the 108 eldm out of my 6 arc this morning was devastating. bottom part of heart was, well, gone

 

[MT-nuffgun]

I believe it was a LRX that my cousins husband shot with a 7mag hit her in the spine but it was absolutely devastating got me to thinking about how that bullet would do in 6mm.

Any bullet to the spine is devastating