I see on Midway USA's site that Hornady has a new 6mm (.243) Interbond out this year. Its an 85 gr. bullet. I wonder how well it would do on white-tail?

Mark in GA

I wouldn't think you would need a Interbond for DEER. But it would do the job.

I wouldn't think you'd need a TSX for deer either but some must! Sales and marketing, ain't they something!

I sure can't tell what is right.....but I can tell you what the history is......and in my history the 100 grain flat base interlock has killed more deer than you can shake a stick at.....I see no reason the lighter interbond won't do the same but why?

Dead deer is dead deer!

Here are some links for the component bullet and an up-coming factory Light-Magnum loading.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=424018

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=541133

Mark in GA

I would guess it is for those antelope or whitetail hunters that want to shoot long distances w/ the high velocity jewels like 6x284, 6mm IMP., etc.

Well theres whitetails and then theres whitetails. If you stood a Texas whitetail beside a northern Alberta whitetail it would look like DeVito standing beside Schwarzeneger. Obviously the interbond would be more necessary on the bigger deer. One question: why is it most times someone shows up with a 243 on a deer hunt we end looking for a wounded deer?

Don't blame the bullet for poor shot placement.

Couldnt agree more but there is a pattern here!

Being that I am in Texas I think I'll try some. I just love my Winchester SS Featherweight 243.

quote:

Originally posted by bwest:
One question: why is it most times someone shows up with a 243 on a deer hunt we end looking for a wounded deer?

-------because it is, at best, slightly better than marginal for deer.

and that is where I am...I bought a .243 and I like it, light, accurate, handy... and my question continues to be..is a 100 grain cup and core bullet of common manufacture as effective as a 30 caliber 150 grain bullet of like construction applied in the same manner to the lungs/heart of a 120-140 pound WT deer!

Jimmy, IMO, a good old 100 grain Hornady Interloct bullet is good enough for lungs. However, if you plan on breaking the shoulder, I'd choose the 85 grain TSX or 100 grain partition.

Oh please, partitions and Barnes bullets needed for deer!
Come on now.
My ex wife killed several whitetail bucks and a buck antelope all one shot kills with her .243 and the lowly Sierra 100 grain bullets. All one shot kills all penetrated the animals completely except one and it travelled the full length of the animal from brisket to rear ham and stopped just under the skin weighing 85 grains, I know sounds impossible for a cheap cup and core bullet but it happens. Think about it this bullet entered the brisket, scrambled the lungs, ran the full course through the guts, penetrated the rear ham missing the bone and nearly exited.
Premium bullets are not required to effectively kill deer size animals, decent shooting is required however.If an Interbond in 85 grains becomes available I'm sure it will make a fine bullet for deer size game if shot with the care that the animals deserve.
For me I see a 100 grain plain jane bullet more than adequate from a .243 for deer, hogs, antelope and even caribou sized animals. You must shoot every animal as if you intended to kill it with that first shot NO MATTER WHAT SIZE RIFLE YOU SHOOT. Big rifles and premium bullets mean nothing if you can't shoot.

You must have missed my first statement where I wrote:

quote:

Jimmy, IMO, a good old 100 grain Hornady Interloct bullet is good enough for lungs.

But I stand by my other statement regarding hitting bone and premium bullets. It is my opinion that it is a wiser choice.

Don't knock the .243 on deer. I've seen more big Mo. whitetails killed with it than any other caliber. Deer are easy to kill, I've killed a half truckload with a .220 Swift and seen some big bucks flattened by kids with a .22-250. I see at least 12 or 15 a year shot and the .243 is not a marginal caliber for whitetails, even big northern ones.

jstevens I have got to agree with you. My daughters have been using a 243 on mulies and whitetails for years and we have never had to go looking for wounded deer. In fact we have never had one go more than 50 yds most have dropped within a few feet, then again the girls used a 22-250 before that and only one ever needed a second shot, thats on 30+ deer taken with it.

Bothers me when folks blame a caliber or cartridge for poor shooting. Fact is I have had to track more deer shot with the larger calibers than with the small ones. Usually because they used a bullet tough enough for armor plated wildebeasts and then they wunder why it penciled through and we had to track the critter for ever.

Boy, that will probably start a war I'll shut up now.

bluedot I agree with you 100%!
And to add more fuel to the fire and completely off topic the most often referred to cartridge when I hear of people wounding and losing animals goes to the 7mm Rem Mag, Deer or Elk. I have heard more wounded and tracked or wounded and lost stories involving 7 mags than all others put together and for the life of me i don't know why. That cartridge is very capable but why so many stories.

Well, honestly, I don't like to "dawg" any caliber, and I apologize if it seems I'm rather down on the 243.

But, the 243 is cursed as THE caliber that hangs it's hat on most deer lost, with the hunting clubs I used to join in the south, my hunting buds in Kirksville, MO, guys I know and hunt with in WY, and Colorado. Not to mention what I've personally seen.

I've actually had my second highest series of bang flops from my 7mag.

The more threads I see like this, the more I want to borrow a friend's little Ruger 243 and have a go myself for this upcoming season.

I know many of us always chime in on the "go-to" excuse regarding poor shot placement being the culprit. Unfortunately, that is certainly not always the case.

Doc I really wasn't trying to "dawg" your favorite "bang flop" cartridge, I didn't know you have a thing for 7 mags but I was just trying to point out how in some circles a cartridge gets a bad reputation and everyone gets down on it. This time (thread) it is the .243. Next time it may be the 7 mag or the ".396 Woolly Bugger" who knows.
You really should give the .243 a run it really does kill way better than it should with proper bullets and decent shooting.
Sorry if'n I stepped on your toes!
Sorry about getting off topic too.

Hey, no problem, you didn't step on my toes at all. That's the bad thing about the internet, we can't read much in the way of tone or emotion.

I didn't suspect you to be doggin the 7mag anyway. It's not even my favorite caliber. I just happen to own one and I've used it quite a bit in the last few years and it really dumps whatever it hits.

I emailed my friend and asked him if I could use his 243 this fall. He said yes.

I'll use the 95 Btip, Rem. Accutip, or some Hornady factory ammo. The first 2 we've already tested for accuracy, and they both get thumbs up.

Now it's up to me to kill something!

Doc I think you would set yourself up for a disappointment with the first two bullets you listed. In my experience those two are pretty frangible and won't penetrate deep. Our best luck has been with 100 grain Sierra's, something comparible would be suggested unless you went to a lighter bonded bullet as what started the topic.
Just an opinion.

Well, then what about a Speer Grand Slam 100 grain? I have some of those on hand that I loaded for this guy a couple of years ago.

I think he also has some Hornady factory stuff with a 100 grain bullet. You think those are ok?

I have very good luck with accuracy on the Hornady Interlock bullets. I get best accuracy with most calibers with the flat base bullets. But a couple of loads in a couple of rifles the BT's shoot well also. I have limited experience with interbonds, so far I have not shot a good group with them and frankly I have lost interest in them.

I have seen quite a few bucks killed with the 7 mag and elk too. Still say you gotta use the right bullet.
Lots of guys buy a 7 mag cause it shoots real flat and want to use the same load for deer and elk.
If you use a 140 or 150 grain bullet on an elk, you better not go through the shoulder joint, unless its an X bullet or mabye a partition.
My Buddie was real happy with a 160 grain acubond on a coastal bull he shot with his 7 mag. If you shoot Elk with any fast steping magnum you need a prety tough bullet unless placement is perfect.
As for the .243. I. have a couple but never killed game with the round.
I would use witch ever bullet in the 90 to 100 grain range shoots best in the particular rifle. ...tj3006

Previously posted by Doc:

quote:

Well, then what about a Speer Grand Slam 100 grain? I have some of those on hand that I loaded for this guy a couple of years ago.

I think he also has some Hornady factory stuff with a 100 grain bullet. You think those are ok?

Yes, I think those would do fine, either one.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Oh please, partitions and Barnes bullets needed for deer!
Come on now.
My ex wife killed several whitetail bucks and a buck antelope all one shot kills with her .243 and the lowly Sierra 100 grain bullets. All one shot kills all penetrated the animals completely except one and it travelled the full length of the animal from brisket to rear ham and stopped just under the skin weighing 85 grains, I know sounds impossible for a cheap cup and core bullet but it happens. Think about it this bullet entered the brisket, scrambled the lungs, ran the full course through the guts, penetrated the rear ham missing the bone and nearly exited.
Premium bullets are not required to effectively kill deer size animals, decent shooting is required however.If an Interbond in 85 grains becomes available I'm sure it will make a fine bullet for deer size game if shot with the care that the animals deserve.
For me I see a 100 grain plain jane bullet more than adequate from a .243 for deer, hogs, antelope and even caribou sized animals. You must shoot every animal as if you intended to kill it with that first shot NO MATTER WHAT SIZE RIFLE YOU SHOOT. Big rifles and premium bullets mean nothing if you can't shoot.

I would like to comment, as DOC makes a point, I saw a TROPHY sized buck killed (not me that shot it) with 243 shot at close range...under 50 yds with new Fed fusion...believe it's 95gr, and the deer went a good ways, 200-300 yds through swamp here in Louisiana, LARGE buck, hit in body not sure where but from high angle from climber, now that deer likely would have went 30-50 yds with either a better hit, OR say a medium bore slug at moderate speed.

AND the blood trail was slim to none with 243, which had it been a late evening shot, would have made recovery frustrating, or worse perhaps not possible.

There IS a place for larger guns and premium bullets in small calibers.

I busted a hog at 240 yds this year as I had always wanted to try a 85x on a deer, well, never would have guessed it but a 160lb hog stepped out half broadside/half facing, dropped it right there, and do you know what, high shoulder hit, clipped under spine, and stopped ...YES STOPPED just under hide.

Would I want to EVER shoot anything less than an 85 x bullet in a 243 or any 6mm on hogs? NO, if I had my 6BR with 105amax with me, I'd been forced and only taken a head shot.

Caveat. When hunting, one not ALWAYS gets the shot of choice, else you may have to pass, OR be ready to do some hard tracking or worse, lose a game animal.

1) I hate tracking
2) I hate worse losing an animal, not found or killed.

3) I opt to limit my shots when using a marginal gun/or shooting a marginal bullet to select known shots when I can confidently put bullet into vitals understanding the limits of my cartridge load combo

4) OR, I am carrying a combo that will do it under all adverse conditions, then I KNOW I still have to do my best to place the shot, but can rest easy when I break the trigger that if I am doing my part, the animal will be recovered having traveled little to none, OR at least having a good blood trail to follow which increases recovery, and minimizes time and frustration.

Cost of premium bullets to hunt? Well, the above 243 I had never shot the 85 x on paper, BUT had sighted in with a non premium brand 85 gr (Sierra BTHP-I trust on broadside deer, but would want more for poor angle deer, or any hog) so I knew POI would be close, costs of bullet non-issue.

Premiums can be loaded, a few shot to ensure POI is on, and then hunted with.......

Just some thoughts. I am not arguing that MANY LARGE deer are killed and recovered, but conditions vary. Distance, animal tenacity, and terrain. Easy when hunting in open terrain to watch where an animal falls IF it travels much, and the open terrain allows no chance of any unseen limbs etc. to stray a bullet off course, but hunt in the south and not only shot placement risks present in timber, but recovery issues come to play.

There ARE in my opinion, things to consider using smaller cartridges in less than ideal situations, those limitations sometimes have to be considered in HOW or IF a shot is taken, OR if a premium bullet is beneficial.

That being said, I head shot my doe this season-40 yds, just because it was close and I had a high chance at making the hit w/o the head moving during shot being taken. No meat damage and DRT kill (which I really wanted as it was at dusk). Other times, the same 6BR 105 AMAX did the deed out to 400 yds double lung-traveled 25 yds or so.....it was in a field with good light conditions to watch 'post hit travel', and I was 100 % sure of my placing the shot. BUT had it been a hind end angle, or frontal shot, and I was not sure of neck or head shooting, I would have passed. A premium bullet in chamber would have changed the odds if that presented, but I chose that bullet as it's scary accurate, I know the trajectory, and it retains very well downrange.

Thanks for reading my thoughts.

I guess what I find interesting is that my friend that I have referred to owns 2 rifles. One is a custom 243 Ruger/Pacnor bbl, 1-9" twist, painted stock, whole 9 yards. (I paid for his custom package as a thankyou for him letting me hunt his property).

The other is a 300 Win Mag.

Now.....here's a guy that has owned a 243 for years and years and has killed AND TRACKED a bunch of deer with it.

Since we've been hunting together in various states for deer and antelope, he's taken his 243 on ONE trip, and that was our 2005 Antelope hunt. All other trips for any game, he used his 300 mag with factory Remmy ammo loaded with 200 grain Aframes (very good groups).

I asked him in an email why that is, and his response was short. He stated that, while the 243 will kill anything we hunt, his 300 "does it better and quicker, no tracking."

HIS WORDS.

True! And sometimes, the bigger the rifle, the worse the shooter.

True! and sometimes no matter what the size of rifle (and especially the 243) the worse the shooter! The 243 ......... the worlds best coyote caliber and the worlds worst deer caliber.