.243...85gr. bullet for bambi or higher?

[Buckeye_Buck]

Hello all!  I have a .243 Savage with a 22" barrel and I intend on using it to take a couple of Kentucky deer next season.    Most people on here say that a .243 is too small, but I know plenty of people who swear by it.  So, what is the proper bullet weight.  I shoot 100 gr. core-lokts now and they shoot ok, but I thought of trying Federal factory ammo with either the 85 gr. Sierra Gameking HPBT, or the TSX.  Are these bullets reliable for broadside shots up to 275-300 (mostly under 100 yards) yards, or should I  shoot 100 gr. partitions or core-lokts?  I've heard people say the Sierra HPBT is bad ass, and I've also heard people swear by a 95 or 100 gr. bullet...Please offer me some guidence.  Thanks!

[super mario]

I have used the .243 for 30 yrs now.  I also have no problem killing deer with a .22 hornet pushing 45 gr of lead a 2700 fps.
 85 gr of lead at 3300 fps will kill deer farther than you have business shooting .  I have used the 100 gr mainly, but have heard that 85 is one bad mutha.  My friend used it a couple of years and I didnt see a difference in the wounds compared to the 100 gr.  So buy some and let us know how they work for you, and work they will.

[Val]

I use the 100 grain Nosler partition in my .243 with excellent results on deer. This load chronographs at 2872 in my tang safety Ruger with a 22" barrel.

[Tunaman]

Although I rarely shoot my 243 at deer, not that I have any problem with doing so, when I do, it is with the same load and out of the same gun as Val. The 100gr partition has always done its job for me.

[flintlock]

I have killed deer with the 100gr Hornady, 100gr CoreLokt, 100gr Federal Premium Nosler Partition, 100gr Winchester PowerPoint, 100gr Federal Classic HotCore, 100gr Nitrex, 100gr Federal Premium Sierra SPBT and the 85gr Federal Premium Sierra HPBT...

Inside of 200 yards, I'd go with either the Partition, Hornady or the CoreLokt...If shots will be on the long side, go with the 85gr Sierra HOBT...

My gun groups CoreLokts very well and I have killed about 90 deer with this bullet alone...The advantage to the 85gr is you can sight in 2 1/2 inches high at 100 yards and you are only about 2 1/2 inches low at 300 yards, it's going 3320 fps so you do need tto be careful with very close (inside of 50 yards) as it will fragment...I hit one buck at 20 steps with this bullet, he only went 20 yards, but I didn't have an exit, no big deal but if you are one that wants exits every time, go with the Hornady, Partition or CoreLokt, as these gave me the most consistent pass throughs on center lung shots...

Now, as far as which bullet drops the deer closest to the shot, it would be the Federal Premium 100gr Sierra GameKing SPBT or the 85gr Sierra GameKing HPBT...They will usually exit on center lung shots if the deer is in the 80-100 yard and further range...I can't remember a deer going more than 50 yards with either...

[Texas Hunter]

I too have killed several deer with the 243 and 6mm over the years using 100 grain corelocks Win Power Points and Federal blue box Power Shocks which they say are now equipped by Speer Grand Slams.
They all work quite well.
Of course your Nosler Partions  and the Barnes TSX will dig in deeper and more reliably on raking shots(which i do not suggest) and long distance shots.
On the other hand you can also try the Federal Fusions which are closer in price to the every day soft points that are widely used .
Myself since i consider all of the above mentioned more than lethal and reliable on deer i will pick the manufacturers round that shoots best in my rifle.
Example...My Remington 600 243 shoots the Federal blue box Power Shocks lights out.
But my Remington 600 6mm shoots best using Win Power Points.
I recently purchased an Ithaca LSA -55 in .243 and after my stimulus check arrives i will put a nice scope on it and see what ammo it prefers.
Never lost a deer, hog, or coyote using any 100 grain bullet by any of the above manufacturers.

[charles p]

I'd stay with 95 and 100 grain bullets.  Nothing wrong with Corelokt.  Partition should be very good.  Avoid Ballistic Tips which are not my favorite in any caliber - but they are very accurate.  Shot placement is critical.  Even more critical is bullet placement, but that's true with any caliber.

I remember when my son was 10 years old and sat in my lap in a tower stand.  We found every deer he shot with a 243 featherweight, but we had to track every one of them.  One day he missed so badly he hit one in the head and it dropped in its tracks.  I thought he had finally learned not to shoot deer in the middle of their body - only to be surprised when we examined the deer.  The next year when he was 11, he shot them in the shoulders and recovery was a breeze.  Shortly thereafter, he got the same disease many kids do, he wanted a bigger gun.  He would have hunted with a 50 cal if I had owned one.  Now he's in his 30's and he has gone full circle on his rifle selection.

[Buckeye_Buck]

Thanks for the info guys!  I trust your judgment and I appreciate your replies.  Hopefully, we all have great luck next season!

[flintlock]

Thanks Buckeye...fwiw...It ain't LUCK!!!

[Jim n Iowa]

Sierra 85 g hpbt the most accurate bullet #1530 35.9 of IMR 3031 col 2.60. Will drop a white tail and antelope inside 150 yds for me.
Jim

[T.R.]

FEDERAL ammo featuring 80 grain Sierra bullet was offered about 10 years ago.  I shot 4 antelope from this box of ammo.  They all went down quickly at distances between approx 250 and 280 yards.  I have no idea how these bullets would hold up at closer distances and their much higher velocities.

Remington's new 95 grain AccuTip is a good blend of accuracy and stout bullet construction.  My oldest daughter toppled two mule deer with two shots last season using this ammo.  Both animals bounded away but toppled after a couple jumps.
  - First animal was a heavy buck shot through the chest ribs at about 125 yards or so.
  - The second animal was a medium size doe shot through the chest ribs at about 175 yards. 
  - Neither bullet was recovered; they disappeared into the snow well beyond the animal.

My neighbor's son hunted fallow deer in Texas last September.  He downed a handsome spotted trophy with his Sako .243 using Hornady Interlock bullet. That bullet was not recovered either. 

.243 fans have more bullets to choose from than ever before!

Good hunting to you.
TR

 

[rickt300]

95 grain Ballistic Tips for deer and 100 grain Nosler Solid Bases for feral hog. I have used the 80 grain PSP from Remington also and it worked fine.  I only shoot behind the shoulder or the neck in front of the shoulder.

[backstrap]

I shot 100gr core loks in my NEF 243,shot 1 of the bigest deer i have shot with this factory load i would keep useing this load but i am in to reloading now,and i loaded up some sierra 100gr BTSP gamekings i am going to see how they work,i think they will work fine on close and long shots heart lung shot is all i take.i would try to stay with 95 to 100 gr  bullets if it where me

[daddyof4]

I shoot a 6mm and a friend shoot a 243. He has anchored many a white tail with the 85 hpbt from Federal. I have had nothing but happy times with my #1 and the same bullet

[T.R.]

This older Remington 760 in .243 is a genuine tack driver with 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips as loaded by Black Hills Ammo.

TR

[Mohawk]

  I have used a .243 all my life on deer here in Texas. I have used nothing but 100gr soft points, and on occasion the 80 grain soft point. Never lost a deer with either. Place the bullet behind the shoulder, deer will run about 75yds, or much less, and deer will die, and you have harvested the game animal. I retired me Remington Mohawk .243 about 5 years ago to save it as an heirloom. I shoot a .280 now but the .243 is a deer killer, doesn't matter what state.

[charles p]

Like most of us on this forum, I have more rifles than I actually need.  Sometimes a particular rifle doesn't come out of the safe for many years, and to justify why I need it, I declare to myself that I'm going to use that rifle exclusively for an entire season.  This may be the return year for the 243.  It's been in the safe over ten years without a breath of fresh air.  When I last used it, I had some disappointments.  In my experience, it is a marginal deer caliber.  Where I hunt in Eastern NC, we have to anchor our deer right where they are standing, else they will likely get away (land is swampy and thick).

This past year was the 7mm-08 year.  Year before was a 300 WSM and year before that was 25-06.  Can't remember past that year.  The 243 year does stand out in my memory because I lost a few deer that year.  Heck, I've lost deer with many calibers, so the problem is probably my aging eyes and/or my sight selection. 

Everybody has their favorite caliber and rifle.  Changing your mind from year to year is good for the ammo people and the gun manufacturers, but don't tell my wife I said so because I'm about to spring for a larger gun cabinet (on the account of the arrival of our first grandson).     

[AtlLaw]

<major snippage> In my experience, it (the 243) is a marginal deer caliber.

Uh Oh!     You've gone and done it now!     INNNNCOOOMMMING!!!

[Mohawk]

 A .243 marginal?? Thank God I did not mention the .38 Special using #1. 158 grain Lead Round Nose #2. Remington 110grain SJHP(standard pressure) I have used in the past. Both deer have been cooked and eatin' years ago................ Anything thru the lungs is a dead deer........

[flintlock]

Funny, I hunt in eastern NC (Gates County, between the Dismal Swamp and the Chowan River)...It doesn't get much thicker than that...If you want to drop them, put it through the shoulder blade and they drop...

[T.R.]

The dark cross with brighter aim spot is typically where I aim my .243 ; even a big 300 lb muley can't remain on his feet for very long.   Marginal?  HUH?

I agree that a direct impact into shoulder bone causes impressive drop dead performance.  But the fast .243 bullet tends to damage shoulder meat as well.  This may or may not be a concern for you.

TR

[SingleShotShorty]

The 85 grain in 243 has done the job for years but I like the 100 gr Nosler Partitons in mine. I took a deer last year with it at just over 400 yards and nailed him to the ground.

[rickt300]

While I recommended the 95 grain Ballistic Tips as my first choice for deer looking back over the results of shooting many deer with many different bullets in 6MM I can't say there was actually a problem using any of them.  Also looking at it subjectively not one bullet I have fired at a deer with either a 243 or 6MM Remington didn't hit it in the intended place. Beyond that every deer  has been hit behind the shoulder within 4 inches of vertical center or in the neck in front of the shoulder, about 3/4ths of them exited. Some even made good blood trails for he short distance they traveled which has never been more than 30 yards. So if your shot placement is thus then almost any bullet of 80 grains or more will work very well. I am like the other poster who has too many deer rifles and have to do sort of a lottery to give my rifles fair play. If I had only one deer rifle it would be my 7x57 loaded with either 140 grain Partitions or 150 grain Ballistic Tips.

[super mario]

Theres a new load in the federal web site. It's classified for medium game.  Its an 80 gr speer hot core.  Those balistics on that round are outstanding, shooting flatter than just about anything and the wind drift is less than most.  3330fps out the barrell and 2088fps@500 yds with a 34.2" drop @ 500 with a 200 yd zero.
It puts every .243 factory loaded ammo to shame.  I think I will be trying that round.  Speer claims 200% expansion with deep penetration.

[victorcharlie]

Funny, I hunt in eastern NC (Gates County, between the Dismal Swamp and the Chowan River)...It doesn't get much thicker than that...If you want to drop them, put it through the shoulder blade and they drop...

+1

That's been my experience with the .243

IME, the 85 grain Sierra BTHP has been a fine deer bullet.

[Lead Poison]

The dark cross with brighter aim spot is typically where I aim my .243 ; even a big 300 lb muley can't remain on his feet for very long.   Marginal?  HUH?

I agree that a direct impact into shoulder bone causes impressive drop dead performance.  But the fast .243 bullet tends to damage shoulder meat as well.  This may or may not be a concern for you.

TR

That's exactly where I aim and hit them as well! I've never had a problem killing deer using this aiming point 

[MGMorden]

Most people on here say that a .243 is too small, but I know plenty of people who swear by it.

I think most .243 shooters have a persecution complex .  Every time the question is asked on these boards it seems that the overwhelming majority say .243 is fine for deer, but the person asking always starts out saying that they know most people think it's too small .

Not picking at ya - just an observation I've made.

[pigguy]

I own a new england arms handi rifle in .243.The 85 grain sierra gameking bullet is awesome in this gun!!! I switched to this load for lighter recoil for the children in my family to hunt with. It has fired twice at deer, and neither one ran more than forty yards.Outstanding bullet. I also use the the same federal loaded bullet in my 308 survivor rifle, only at 165 grains.Same accuracy, same same deadliness on whitetails. Great bullets, both of em!

[mag-check]

I shoot the Barnes 85gr. X bullet at 3,200fps. never recovered a bullet Ive been shooting and reloading for the .243 for years tried all the 6mm bullets that would work for deer all worked good but the 85gr. X bullet just works better. I think its the only 6mm bullet that will give almost 100% weight retention. The next bullet I would use is the 100 or 95gr. Partition.

[cjclemens]

I've had really good luck with 87 grain hornady's in either the hollow point or v-max.