Best 243 bullet for deer?

[bigngreen]

The best I've seen or used is the Berger 105 gr hand down!!!!

[veeman]

Originally Posted by bigngreen

The best I've seen or used is the Berger 105 gr hand down!!!!

I am shooting Berger 140 gr VLDs in my 7 08 and love them. Have not tried them on deer yet but so far they have worked great on paper, coyotes and the odd gopher lol. I haven't thought of them for my son yet but I think I might have to try them. And thanks everyone for all the suggestions as this fall will be my son's first deer hunt and my first in about 14 years. As long as he fills his tags it will be the best hunt ever.

[moombaskier]

Originally Posted by CogburnR

The Sierra 85g HPBT GameKing Is one of the best for the 243 on deer.

I've had great results with the Sierra 85HPBT on Blacktails out to 450yds. All shot behind the ear or in the neck...Bang Flop! I would hate to see the bloodshot if shot in the shoulder with one. I have a load that shoots the Nosler 95 Ballistic Tip at 2850 fps. using H4350 that is real easy to shoot and doesn't bloodshot them much. I use it at my tree farm for shots under 200yds. H4350 has allways been good in a 243 for the 85-100gr bullets, IMHO. Try the CCI BR-2 primer with it. They shoot best with a .010' or so jump, for me and factory Rem 700 or Ruger 77 MKII.

[CogburnR]

Originally Posted by moombaskier

I've had great results with the Sierra 85HPBT on Blacktails out to 450yds. All shot behind the ear or in the neck...Bang Flop! I would hate to see the bloodshot if shot in the shoulder with one. I have a load that shoots the Nosler 95 Ballistic Tip at 2850 fps. using H4350 that is real easy to shoot and doesn't bloodshot them much. I use it at my tree farm for shots under 200yds. H4350 has allways been good in a 243 for the 85-100gr bullets, IMHO. Try the CCI BR-2 primer with it. They shoot best with a .010' or so jump, for me and factory Rem 700 or Ruger 77 MKII.

Try RL 17 with a BR2 and the Sierra 85g HPBT. 3400fps+

[moombaskier]

Originally Posted by CogburnR

Try RL 17 with a BR2 and the Sierra 85g HPBT. 3400fps+

OUCH! That's gotta put the hurt to them! Is the anything left to eat if you hit them in the meat? My wife shot a decent Blacktail buck at 80yds. right through the spine above the lungs with that 2850fps/95gr Ballistic Tip load. The bullet went through the backstrap too and you could eat right up to the hole! The buck was DRT too!

[CogburnR]

One time I did hit a big buck antelope in the rear haunch with a 85g HPBT Sierra GK.

It looked like somebody took a chainsaw and whacked off the lower leg leaving a 8" oval stump. The lower leg was completely gone.

Usually I try to hit the heart-lungs and it typically leaves a 50cent piece exit hole.

The 243 doesn't leave nearly as big of holes as my 270WSM does with the 140g HPBT Sierra GK. you can usually put your fist in those holes right into the space that used to have a heart and lungs in them.

[hokiehunter]

87gr Berger Hunting bullets laid 2 down for me this year. Depending on your twist rate you may be like me and not able to stabilize some of the heavier bullets suggested.