Author Topic: Best Factory deer loads 243? (Read 1141 times)

oktx · « **on:** May 20, 2004, 04:57:56 AM »

What do you like best. Have used core-lockts, pmc. They work ok for me. Nothing great.

Bis · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2004, 03:18:33 PM »

oktx- my 243 ultra will not stabilize 100 grain bullets, but is dead on with the lighter stuff (3 rounds all touching at 110 yards with 80 grain bullets) so I called and talked to a rep at Sierra Bullets that happens to use a 243 for deer. He claims that their 85 grain Gameking will stop a Whitetail in its tracks. I am going to try loading some up this weekend and see what happens. Good luck.

PS Welcome to Texas. Its a great place, I'm a transplanted Californian and love it here.

marv · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2004, 03:36:07 PM »

I have a 243 {not NEF} all it has had go down the barrel is 85 Sierra HPBT
Never used more one per deer. they layed down on the spot. When I did my part it place them in 1/4 inch. pushing them with ample dose of IMR 4320. lite with CCI LR Primers. Marv.

Bis · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2004, 04:14:22 PM »

Marv- have you ever tried IMR 4831 with the 85 grain Gameking?? That is what Sierra recommend.

marv · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2004, 04:56:06 PM »

No, never did when I started with my 243 I had some IMR 4320 on hand It was so easy to get a load that shot D---good, never tried any thing else.
Why should I? 1/4 to 1/2 groups vol at 10 feet 3400 + fps.
In a 26 inch barrel. Marv.

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2004, 12:39:58 AM »

My dear departed dad used a Remington 7400 in 243 on Ga deer for years. He bought Federal's "Premium" line of ammo. I think they had 85gr bullets in them but I forget what brand they were. He never had one get away.

Ian

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2004, 06:35:33 AM »

My Grandson has a 243 youth model and it does not like 100 gr. bullets of any brand. However when we go to 80 gr. it is a different story. He uses Remington core-loct ammo and has taken 4 deer in the two years he has been hunting. I have heard only good things about 85 gr. game king bullets, so we may give them a try.

marv · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2004, 09:05:51 AM »

What Haywire said about the Federal's with 85 gr bullets, I think
I heard or read so where those are Sierra 85 HPBT's. I have never looked at them. :eek: Could be wrong, I have once or twice.
Marv.

flintlock · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2004, 11:32:39 AM »

oktx....the Federal Premium 85gr BTHP...will do the job...look at my 2 posts over on deer hunting for more details....I posted 1st to see how many other .243 shooters were using...later post gives more details of my experience with them...They are all you need for whitetails....flintlock
PS....They are Sierra GameKings

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2004, 02:28:18 AM »

I've had success with the core-lokts, and the federal premium 85 gr as mentioned by others. I've also used fed premium 100 NP they worked great but shot about 2-2.5 inches at 100yds. My 243 handi has been a problem child for me. It doesn't shoot very well with most of the loads I've tried. However, I just stumbled across something that shocked me. I tried some PMP 100SP ammo (I bought to break in a new Weatherby since it was cheap $9/box). While at the range I decided to run some thru the handi since its a load I've never shot. Well the first 3 shots were touching but were 6 inches low and 4 inches left. I thought it may be a fluke so I shot the rest of the box thru it and had it averaged about 0.5". This gun has hardly ever turned in sub MOA groups but it shot .5MOA with cheap 100gr SP ammo from PMP. I'm still not convinced that this was not a fluke so I will be ordering some more PMP ammo. If it continues to shoot that well I will try it on deer this fall.

oktx · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2004, 02:48:52 AM »

Did you have any ejection problems problems with the pmp ammo? I did the same thing with sellier and bellot, they grouped well but about half would not eject. This is my sons 243 but I like to shoot it because it does not give me a beating. oktx

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2004, 10:16:26 AM »

No problems with the PMP ejecting. I polished my chamber in the 243 (everything used to stick) now the only ammo I really have ejection problems with is S&B. I've also had flattened primers, and punctured primers with the S&B. I won't shoot it thru a handi anymore. The 243 loads are way too hot and usually 1 out of 2 stick in my chamber sometimes all of them stick.