Best varmint factory load for .243?

[martinj1977]

So glade I found this site.. My wife bought me a new .243 handi with the heavy barrel.  I hunt coyotes around our land and my norm cal. Is a 223 and a 22mag. What is the best factory round in your opinion?  So far all I can find in factory is the  varmint express in the 58grain, federal v shoc in the 70 grain and the varmint gernades.  I use express in my .223 and love them. I need something that frags well to help prevent ricochet. Have 60 acres but farm houses all around me.  "I need to learn how to hand load. Lol."

[cwlongshot]

Well I handload, so factory stuff is kind of foreign to me.. But some time back I shot some Federal 70Hp's that where exceptionally accurate.

Just a note, varmint bullets are hell on pelts.

CW

[mogwai]

My boss used 87 gr bullets for deer and coyotes.  One load fits all.  Can't remember if they wre factory or handloaded.

[243shooter]

i,ve had good luck with 80 gr. psp remingtons in mine. best group i've shot was a four shot vertical string just under an inch. that was with the rem ammo. same gun same day would have been lucky to hit beer can with the federal or winchester stuff i had. not badmouthing fed or win, thats just what worked for me.

[btomlin]

My .243 handi hates the winchester stuff, but it loves the 80gr Federal "BlueBox" powershok ammo.  It will shoot a 1" group consistently and prob. better if I'd get brave and work the trigger over.  I've never tried the Remi greenbox ammo.

[Qaz]

First 60 acres is tiny and with houses all around it is even smaller! I have a 243 and would not use it on that small property, and I have a 57 acre plot to hunt, 22mag any day, 223 on a good day. I know what they tell us about fragmenting bullets, but I have had experience with them shooting right through the animal. I have shot quite a few ground hogs with the 58 gr, 70gr, 75gr and 80gr factory ammo and nothing stays inside. The Federal power shok 80gr kills exceptionally well be it coyote or ground hog, but it is still getting it on its way out also. Personally, too much gun for that small piece of property.

[martinj1977]

Well I tried 3 differant brands last weekend. Varmint express in the 58 grains did well. Once sighted in. Little less then one inch groups. I agree with the last post. 243 is a lot of gun for 60 acres. When my wife asked what I wanted for CHRISTmas. I asked for a handi in .223. Some reason. .223 and .243 sounded the same. Lol.  Oh well. She tried. Sending off for a new barrel.