Best 243 bullet for deer?

[veeman]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and was wondering if anyone had a bullet suggestion for a 243. It's for my 12 year old son, will be on whitetail deer and because he is going on his first hunt this fall the distance will be under 200 yards. I know with a smaller cartridge like the 243 bullet choice is very important and would really like some advice. Thanks in advance!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I'm shooting Hornady BTSPs in all three calibers of guns I use most. In my .243 Sako I go with the 100 grainer and it is great for what you described on out to twice that far for deer and antelope.

 

[smittys300rum]

When my nephew uses my Remington model 7 predator in 243 I have him using Federal 85 grain Barnes Triple-shocks of course the deer dont like it. LOL

 

[veeman]

Thanks Topgun. What powders seem to work well with those? So far just loading up Hornady 87 gr vmax over varget for him.

 

[veeman]

Thanks smittys300rum, I've heard good things about the Barnes' bullets.

 

[CogburnR]

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

 

[Topgun 30-06]

veeman---I'm using IMR4064. min is 29.4 grains and max is 34.2 grains, which will get you about 2800 fps. IMR 4831 at min of 35.0 grains will get you about 2500 fps and max of 42.5 will get you way up to about 3000 fps. The same goes for H4831 with min of 36.7 grains to max of 45.5 grains. The B.C. is 0.405 and C.O.L. is 2.630 for the 100 grain BTSP. The straight SP has a B. C. of 0.381 and the same C.O.L. and can be loaded under those same spec for those different powders. The S.D. on both is o.242.
You may even want to try their 105 grain A-MAX. Hornady touts it as a great long range bullet for the .243. It has a S.D. of 0.254, a B.C. of 0.500 and same C.O.L. as the others. A couple of max loads are 39.5grains of IMR 4831 to get about 2700 fps, H4350 with max of 41.0 grains to get about 2800 fps. My book also shows a max of 47.7 grains of WIN WMR will take it up to 3000 fps. Hope that helps a little!

 

[bigngreen]

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

 

[veeman]

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]

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]

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]

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.