Favorite bullet for your .243?

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11 December 2008, 08:17

DWright

Favorite bullet for your .243?

Wondering what bullet everyone has been using with good effect on big game from their .243s?

11 December 2008, 11:51

Bo Rich

100 gr. Sierra Pro hunter BT. My son has killed 5 Whitetail bucks, and one doe over the last five years. All one shot kills.

11 December 2008, 16:25

Red C.

Speer 80 grain Soft Point Flat Base. Varget powder. (My Ruger M77 shoots the 80 grain better than the 100 grain, but the 80 grain does a great job and is extremely accurate.) I have killed four whitetails over the past 3 years with them and they all fell within 30 yards.

11 December 2008, 17:26

miles58

85 grain TSX at 3100 works good, extremely accurate, easy work up.

11 December 2008, 17:54

30378

I like the 100gr Sierra BT with 37gr of Varget, WW neck sized brass seated to 2.715".

11 December 2008, 19:00

carpetman

If you read ANY forum you KNOW it requires a premium bullet with a .243 (which is marginal at best on deer). This is true. A premium bullet is one being one that was placed in the right spot. The marginal deer are the deer that read forums and know a .243 wont kill them---the rest are vulnerable. For years I have used 100 grain Winchester bulk packed ( a cheaper priced bullet)for myself,son in law and grandsons ammo and we've taken a bunch with them.

11 December 2008, 19:19

kelbro

Sorry. Won't kill 'em. Not a magnum caliber.

Seriously, the Sierra 100gr GKs are awesome. Got a couple of boxes of Barnes 85gr TSX that I plan to try next year.

12 December 2008, 05:28

JPK

I've always like the 100gr SGK's. But for my son'e 243, we'll try the 85gr TSX.

JPK

12 December 2008, 20:08

vapodog

Right now I'm shooting Remington ultra bonded core lokts 100 grain in a Remington 600.

Accuracy from the light 18.5" barrel is amazing and so far this year it has killed two deer with two shots.....I'm sold!

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13 December 2008, 02:09

The Derek

I took 3 whitetail with my 243 using 85 TSX this year. I have tried 95 SST, NBT 85gr sierra's and the TSX is my fav. I wouldnt hesitate to shoot an elk with that bullet, were it legal here and I had a shot I was confident with.

13 December 2008, 02:16

tiggertate

I've had such good luck with Remington green and yellow plain 100 gr Core Lokts I never got aroung to reloading for that rifle. I suppose the bonded Core Lokts are about the same.

13 December 2008, 02:46

phurley5

My .243 WSSM likes either the 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip for small game and 95 grain Nosler Partition for Deer. Good shooting.

13 December 2008, 02:56

Stonecreek

The original Nosler Solid Base with lead tip 100 grain bullet is usually available through Shooter's Pro Shop. It has been a great performer on deer for me for many years in the .243.

13 December 2008, 08:37

DWright

Well, mine will shoot under 1/2" groups with the 85gr. Barnes TSX, so think I'll give it a try next season. For varmints, the 68 gr. Berger hollow point shoots pin holes. I gave up the .243 about 25 years ago because of poor bullet performance, but sounds like they have that remedied.

14 December 2008, 04:41

Sagebrush Burns

My 243 likes the Hornady 100 BTSP Interlock. My load goes about 3150 fps out of a 22" bbl and performs with distinction on antelope and mule deer out to 400 yards.

14 December 2008, 04:57

260remguy

I like the 95 grain BT for varmints/paper and the 95 grain Partitions for deer. I have heard good things about the 85 grain Barnes, but have not shot any of them, as the 95 grain Partitions shoots nice groups and has always given me through/through penetration on lung shots.

Jeff

14 December 2008, 07:18

Fjold

I like the 85 grain Partition

Frank

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14 December 2008, 08:47

Keith1

I loaded some old [before Interlock] Hornady 100 grain spire points for a friends rifle. His daughter killed a cow elk with it. One shot at around 100 yards and hunt was finished.
Regards, Keith

14 December 2008, 11:23

seafire2

My 243s seem to see more service in a varmint capacity...

my favorite bullet for that service is the 75 grain Hornady HP.... and it will do a job on antelope sized deer also....

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15 December 2008, 00:53

merganser1

From the posts, it seems like they all work from 85 gr. and up with PROPER SHOT PLACEMENT. I worked some 90 gr. Speer Hot Cores up to max with IMR-4831 and really got good accuracy out of my Tikka. Last week, I shot a spike buck with it at about 70 yds. and it completely severed the spine so I did not have to cut any bone while cutting the head off. I'm sure other cup and core bullets would have done the same thing. Its whatever you have confidence in from and accuracy standpoint. 95 gr. Nosler BT's are also accurate but have not tried them on game. Merg

17 December 2008, 05:56

rpfisher

I use 87 gn hornady hp's. If you ever try them you will be amazed with the results on Deer.

17 December 2008, 08:41

Pancho

Antelope - 89 gr Hdy I-Lock
Prairie Dog - 75 gr Hdy HP

Pancho
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17 December 2008, 10:32

Bobby Tomek

I no longer have a .243 WCF in the safe, but the old Nosler 100 grain Solid Base was one of my favorite bullets as it offered superb accuracy and predictable terminal performance. (As StoneCreek noted, the Nosler Pro Shop still has a few from a recent production run, so if you want any, act fast!)

The 100 grain Sierras, both in Pro Hunter and GameKing format, also do very well, and for smaller deer, the 85 grain BTHP-GameKing kills like lightning.

The .243 reloader has lots of options as there are a number of good bullets out there, including Noslers BTs and Partitions and the 100 grain Hornady IL to name just a few.

17 December 2008, 19:44

rickt300

I have had very good results from the current 95 grain Ballistic Tips. I just ordered 500 of the 100 grain solid base Noslers to test soon. Probably on feral hogs.

18 December 2008, 05:54

Stonecreek

quote:
Originally posted by rickt300:
I have had very good results from the current 95 grain Ballistic Tips. I just ordered 500 of the 100 grain solid base Noslers to test soon. Probably on feral hogs.

I think they're an excellent hog bullet. They open nicely, but penetrate more deeply than most cup/core bullets, apparently due to the solid base of jacket material. I killed a medium-large hog at about 275 yards last week with the companion bullet out of a .270, the 130 gr. Solid Base. One shot, dropped on the spot.