Author Topic: Deer Ammo in 243 (Read 2597 times)

squirrel_hunter6 · « **on:** July 12, 2005, 10:55:16 AM »

Hi,

I just bought a Remington 7400 in 243 and I was wondering what kind of factory ammunition would be best for deer hunting. I typically hunt in the woods where shots are fairly close.

I have read on this forum about using Federal's 85 gr Gameking BTHP so, I think that I might try this ammo. I have also heard of people using regular Remington Core-locts and Winchester Power-Points with good luck. Just to let everyone know, I am a pretty patient guy and I will make sure to shoot the deer only behind the shoulder.

On Remington's website it lists the rifle as having a 9.125" rate of twist. How will the rate of twist affect my choice of ammunition?

Remington 7400

Thanks in Advance.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2005, 03:29:36 PM »

If I did not reload I think I would give the Federal's 85 gr Gameking BTHP a try.

squirrel_hunter6 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2005, 05:26:29 AM »

I ordered some ammo from MidwayUSA.com.

I got the following:

Federal 85 gr Gameking BTHP
Remington 95 gr Accutip
Hornady 100 gr Spirepoint
Winchester 100 gr Powerpoint

I got one of each brand to see what will shoot the best.

Quote from: Redhawk1

If I did not reload I think I would give the Federal's 85 gr Gameking BTHP a try.

If this shoots the best that is definitely what I will use.

Lone Star · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2005, 08:34:49 AM »

I have had spotty-to-poor performance with the 85-grain Sierra bullets in the .243. While very accurate, the bullets rarely penetrated through even smaller deer and feral goats, and only with perfect lung shots did they come close to anchoring the animals. At the close ranges you will be shooting I'd recommend the slower 100-grain bullets for best all around performance. While I too am an excellent and patient game shot - no one can guaranty that they will always have perfect hits. IMO the latter three loads would be superior for your hunting.

mmsb27 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2005, 08:57:54 AM »

Factory ammo is great - but you may want to reload for it, and use 95 or 100 grain Noslers. Federal may still make a Premium roud with the Nosler or Barnes. Years ago - Antelope fell fast with 95 grain Noslers..........
regards

cal sibley · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2005, 12:24:10 PM »

My impression of the Gulf Coast states is that it's mostly fairly flat with dense brush in most places. I doubt if most of your shots will be in excess of 60 yards. With that in mind I'd prefer a semi-spitzer or round nose bullet, preferrably 100grs. There are several good ones out there. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Ramrod · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2005, 04:30:56 AM »

squirrel_hunter6, I vote for the 100 grain bullet also. And Core-locts or Powerpoints are all you will ever need for your type of hunting.

And here is a little ancient history. Remington came out with the .244 to compete with the .243 Win. but the barrel twist was too slow to stabilize the heavier bullets. They thought of it as a varmint gun, but the buying public wanted to hunt deer with it, and that meant 100 grain bullets to them. It sold poorly, so Remington increased the twist, loaded up the heavies, and re-named it the 6mm Rem. By now Winchester was so far ahead, that the ballistically superior Remington round could never catch up. Just another example of what Big Green does best, messing up a good idea.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2005, 09:34:26 AM »

Squirrel Hunter6

My suggestion would be for Deer loads stay with the heavier loads. You will get the best results with the heavier bullets as opposed to the lighter ones. For Varmint hunting you may want to drop down to a lighter bullet.
The 243 is a great rifle for all kinds of Game.........Joe.......

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2005, 11:37:26 AM »

Squirrel Hunter - I have the good fortune of owning a rifle that shoots the cheapest .243 ammo around here very well - 100 grain remington core-lokts. I have had very good relults with it on a whitetail buck up close and an antelope far away. For me, it has worked very well to buy the cheap stuff and use the extra money on practice, expensive bullets would have performed no better.

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2005, 11:42:11 AM »

Squirrel Hunter - I have the good fortune of owning a rifle that shoots the cheapest .243 ammo around here very well - 100 grain remington core-lokts. I have had very good relults with it on a whitetail buck up close and an antelope far away. For me, it has worked very well to buy the cheap stuff and use the extra money on practice, expensive bullets would have performed no better.

John R. · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2005, 02:56:06 AM »

Federal still loads the excellant 100 gr. Nosler Partition in the premium line. This bullet really wakes up the 243 as a deer cartridge. :-)

Dave in WV · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2005, 07:32:52 AM »

You may want to try 100 Rem Core-Lokts. That's all my son and I use in our .243s and we reload our ammo.

drdougrx · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2005, 03:21:44 PM »

Hi,

I've shot a couple of fallow deer and some goats and sheep with each of my 243s over the last few years. I used 95gr nosler BT and then 100gr partitions. I didn't see much difference in either, though I don't think the shots were all that difficult.

Anyone have experience with barnes triple shock?

Doug

Savage .250 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2005, 07:41:03 AM »

.243 good round for Deer .
Federal shells,100 gr.
Pick your shot WISELY.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest buy in the experience".

kudzu · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2005, 04:30:02 PM »

Rem. 90gr Swift Scirroco

Savage .250 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:55:40 AM »

Factory ammo: Federal, 100gr. Used it for years.
One thing about a .243 it`s not a "cannon" so shot selection is
paramount.
I`ve had a Savage 110 for years and it has killed(harvested: to be
politically correct) many a deer over the years.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

PEPAW · « **Reply #16 on:** September 09, 2005, 07:28:49 AM »

I think the HPBT would be the last bullet I would use for deer. I have used 100 grain Core-Lokts for many years and never had a reason to complain.

My wife shot a 117 lb pig from 40 yards last week with the 80 soft point. The bullet hit the near shoulder and did not exit. We will not be using that bullet for deer, although it will probably do the job on our small whitetails.

pepaw

oriole · « **Reply #17 on:** September 09, 2005, 02:02:10 PM »

I don't know what it is about cheaper ammo, but I've seen time and time again; if you put a remington 100 gr. core lokt where is belongs, I doubt many whitetail stand a chance. If you plan on making marginal shots....I don't know that there exists a bullet that is going to be your savior. In this case, with a .243, I would not let price dissuade you from buying 100 gr. coke lokt's. I have seen them do some horrific things to whitetail. The part I like the most is, on a well placed shot, under 150 yds, there is a very good chance you will not have to track the deer. I've seen many whitetail die in their tracks. Is it possible with a Federal Premium? Absolutely. But you just may not have to go any higher than the bottom of the barrel. In the case of the .243, Remington has done something right with the core lokt. Can't say as much for other calibers though.

rickt300 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 14, 2005, 07:53:48 PM »

PePaw, which 80 grain bullet? Remingtons? I have a lease where a bullet that kills quickly and does not exit is just what I need. Most of the deer I see are less than 100 pounds. Other than the bullet not exiting what did you not like about it's performance?

PEPAW · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2005, 09:32:47 AM »

Quote from: rickt300

PePaw, which 80 grain bullet? Remingtons? I have a lease where a bullet that kills quickly and does not exit is just what I need. Most of the deer I see are less than 100 pounds. Other than the bullet not exiting what did you not like about it's performance?

I think I had Remingtons. I bought 80's for the minimum recoil for my wife to shoot. But there was absolutely no blood trail and I followed the tracts for approximately 20 yards into the brush and found the pig stone dead. It did work out, but I want a small hole going in and a bigger hole going out.

Why would you not want an exit on a deer? Shoot high on the shoulder and they should drop. I hunted many years in the Hill Country and understand how small most of those deer are.

pepaw

pepaw

rickt300 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2005, 05:51:04 AM »

I hunt a lease where a lot of cows are around and it is thickly brushed. I would prefer to know exactly where my bullet ends up. My shots will all be under 75 yards at standing relaxed deer. I want a bullet that gets into the rib cage and destroys all within, and ends up as fragments under the hide on the far side. On hogs that I have shot I have noticed that they don't leave a lot of blood even if you get an exit hole unless you hit them low in the chest.

squirrel_hunter6 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2005, 07:34:37 AM »

I tried all the ammo I listed in one of my posts plus a box of 95 grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertips. The following are three shot groups at one hundred yards.

Winchester 100 power-points = 1 inch :agree:
Hornady 100 grain Interlock = 1 inch :agree:
Winchster 95 grain Ballistic Silvertips = 1.75 inch
Remington 95 grain Accutip = 2 inch
Federal 85 grain Gameking BTHP = 2.5 inch

The cheap Winchester power-points and Hornadys grouped the best. I can get the Power-Points at Wal-Mart so, I will probably just use those. I may try out the Win Ballistic Silvertips just to see how they do. I was kind of surprised at how big a difference there was between different brands and bullets.

Thanks for all the advice.

flintlock · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2005, 08:26:09 AM »

I'd go with Hornadys over the PowerPoints...In my testing I got much better penetratoin with the Hornadys...PowerPoints seldom gave full penetration with lung shots....

JKump · « **Reply #23 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:36:45 AM »

I have shoot two deer this year with a 243 (NEF superlight 243). The 1st was with Winschester 95 grain Ballistic silver tips, hit the doe at about 15 yards from the stand, just behind the shoulder. This deer ran over 100yards and jumped a creek. Real good blood trail to follow, when found had part of lung hanging out exit hole. The 2nd deer a spiked buck I shoot at about 45 yards with the Hornady 100 grain light mags BTSP. This deer was also hit just behind the shoulder, but dropped right there. From my experience this year I would use the Hornady light mags. Also on paper the ballistic look better with the Light mags.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:29:06 AM »

Quote from: John R.

Federal still loads the excellant 100 gr. Nosler Partition in the premium line. This bullet really wakes up the 243 as a deer cartridge. :-)

Well said. I`ve shot Federal`s for years with great results.........

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."