Author Topic: Capable .243 Whitetail bullets (Read 1045 times)

KAYR1 · « **on:** March 10, 2009, 02:30:56 PM »

Several years ago, I bought my wife a Ruger Compact in .243 when she showed an interest in hunting. The rifle was virtually unfired, except for a few boxes of factory ammo. Well, 5 years, and two young boys later, she sounds like she is serious about it again. I have shot some hand loaded ammo with light 85 gr Sierra Varminters for sighting in and practice loads. I need to work up some deer loads with heavier bullets. Has anyone hunted large bodied whitetails with the .243? What bullets have you used successfully? I was thinking something along the lines of 95-100 grains, in either the Hornady SST, Swift Scirrocco, or Nosler Accubond (if they make it in this weight)

The truth is, I also bought her a Browning 7-08, and she will most likely hunt with that. I founf the rifle so handy that I may have to borrow "hers" this season.

I appreciate your input!

j104wd · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2009, 02:34:50 PM »

I load 95 ballistic tips in my wifes 243 she took a 180 lb buck with it. If you live up north with bigger deer I belive either the 95 or 100 grn partitions would be better suited

GameHauler · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2009, 02:46:21 PM »

Dude

Go with the 08
My daughters have taken:
4 Elk
3 whitetail
3 Javelina
1 Antelope
and some friends have used it on more
IMAA, best smaller caliber there is.

KAYR1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2009, 02:51:42 PM »

Yeah, that's what I was thinking when I bought the 7-08. I own over 40 rifles in deer capable calibers, and the .243 is by far the lightest. All of the others would pound her with recoil. I havent shot anything bigger than a groundhog with a .243, but I know that its capable with the right bullets. Id just hate to see her wound her first deer because I didnt choose the right load.

jhalcott · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2009, 03:04:24 PM »

85 to 100 grain bullets will kill any white tail you hit CORRECTLY WITH THE .243! Gut shoot them with a .375 H&H and they will run off. I've used Sierra and Hornady bullets to kill deer both large and small. I've also used the .223 with 55 grain bullets on deer with great success.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2009, 03:11:00 PM »

My favorite whitetail bullet in a .243 is the hornady RN 100grainers Knocks deer silly.

BTW I do tend to hunt close and prefer shots inside of 200 yards max and more like less than 150 yards, But to me thats where the RN bullets really shine. That little ruger should be great for putting them in the boiler room at less than 200.

ozarkhillbilly49 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2009, 03:28:50 PM »

the 85gr. hpbt sierra is the best deer bullet i ever shot. i have hunted deer with 30-06, 300 mag, 45-70, 7 mag and several others. the 243 with the 85gr. sierra dropped'em in thier tracks better than anything else.take care and good shooting.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2009, 04:18:03 PM »

This topic has been hashed over too many times... and usually ends in disagreements.

IMHO, In .243 diameter, 95gr and up weight bullets are the only ethical bullets for big Game hunting. Two exceptions are the 85Gr Nosler Partition and the 85Gr Barnes solid copper bullets. Even these are intended for more specialized applications.

CW

woods · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:54:26 AM »

My niece shoots the 100gr nosler partition. in 243 she is in her 20's now but that is still her only rifle she hunts with. She has killed 1 buck and 3 doe's whitetails. As for the 7mm-08 my son shoots it, I bought it in a model 7 youth rifle then up graded the stock. With 140 ballistic tips it is one of the most acurate guns in the cabinet.

woods

Doug B. · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:55:16 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on March 10, 2009, 04:18:03 PM

This topic has been hashed over too many times... and usually ends in disagreements.

IMHO, In .243 diameter, 95gr and up weight bullets are the only ethical bullets for big Game hunting. Two exceptions are the 85Gr Nosler Partition and the 85Gr Barnes solid copper bullets. Even these are intended for more specialized applications.

CW

I agree 100%. One thing to remember.....solid copper bullets may not be legal in the state that you hunt whitetails. They ARE NOT in Wisconsin. Please read your regs, irregardless of where you hunt.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:05:24 AM »

ive killed quite a few with 100 grain corelocks, partition and 100 grains sierra flat based spitzers and they all worked fine if shot placement was correct. Ive shot a few with 85s and they do dump a deer if you make a perfect shot but dont give any knd of a exit wound and make tracking even with snow very difficult. Something that you might want to keep in mind considering its your wife not you shooting.

BRL · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:53:22 AM »

If you're not going to load em, the Remington 100 grain Core-Lokt. Heck, even if you are going to load em. You can't beat the price either.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:14:10 AM »

Quote from: Doug B. on March 11, 2009, 12:55:16 AM

Quote from: cwlongshot on March 10, 2009, 04:18:03 PM
This topic has been hashed over too many times... and usually ends in disagreements.

IMHO, In .243 diameter, 95gr and up weight bullets are the only ethical bullets for big Game hunting. Two exceptions are the 85Gr Nosler Partition and the 85Gr Barnes solid copper bullets. Even these are intended for more specialized applications.

CW

I agree 100%. One thing to remember.....solid copper bullets may not be legal in the state that you hunt whitetails. They ARE NOT in Wisconsin. Please read your regs, irregardless of where you hunt.

I did not know solid copper bullets were not legal in WI, do you mean non expanding bullets. I have used Barnse solid copper hollow points on deer and never gave it much thought.

Cheese

Doug B. · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2009, 06:21:54 AM »

They refer to "full metal jacket, non-expanding" bullets on page 12 here.......

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/Deer07.pdf

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:06:13 AM »

Go with the 100gr bullets in front of some H4831 or H414. Your deer will be piled up right close to where ya shot it. I really like the 100 RN and 100 gr SP Hornady bullets, but have killed them with Sieras, Remingtons and Winchesters (all 100gr bullets).

Hope ya have fun figuring it out...

HWD

Dave in WV · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:34:41 PM »

My son and I use 100gr Core-Lokts with no problems.

GameHauler · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2009, 02:57:24 PM »

I hope no one thinks I was putting down the 243.
I had one and used it to harvest a few deer, Worked fine.

(got stolen)

I just thought that since you have a 7MM-08 thats the way I would go.
Better trajectory, flatter shooting and more knock down power
with very little more recoil.
My $.02

cwlongshot · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2009, 03:02:09 PM »

Quote from: GameHauler on March 11, 2009, 02:57:24 PM

I hope no one thinks I was putting down the 243.
I had one and used it to harvest a few deer, Worked fine. (got stolen)
I just thought that since you have a 7MM-08 thats the way I would go.
Better trajectory, flatter shooting and more knock down power
with very little more recoil.
My $.02

I for one certainly did not read it that way. BOTH are great calibers!!

CW

jhalcott · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2009, 05:28:56 PM »

I also have both and use them. http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/traj/traj.html go here and plug in your numbers and see the "calculated" differences. While the 7mm 139 gr Hornady starts @2800 and has 2043 #energy at 100. it has dropped -13.8" with 1410# e and 2138 v at 300 yards
A .243 87HPBT zeroed at 100yds & started @3200fps with 1671# e, v of 2941 reaches 300 yds with 2450 V and 1160E but drops -9.9"
The 100 grain Hornady zeroed @100 and started at 3000fps will have 2756 fps at100 1683E. it gets to 300 with 2290fps and 1164 E and drops -11.7" I do not see a lot of difference in these numbers. Experience with these 2 calibers doesn't show any big differences either. I've shot deer with the .223 on up to the 45-70 and learned that it's where you put the bullet that counts. A gun/caliber that does not scare the person pulling the trigger is better than a cannon.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2009, 05:38:13 PM »

Quote from: BRL on March 11, 2009, 01:53:22 AM

If you're not going to load em, the Remington 100 grain Core-Lokt. Heck, even if you are going to load em. You can't beat the price either.

Thats my call, been using them in 243 and 6 mm for years and they perform flawlessly!

KAYR1 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2009, 02:47:17 PM »

Well, Everyone, thanks for the input. I fired them both side by side today. The Ruger Compact .243 handles great, is lightweight, and certainly accurate enough. Groups will probably shrink with a trigger job, and more handload exploration. The Browning A-Bolt 7-08 is an absolute tack-driver, and incredibly mild recoil-wise. After a few years of hunting with a magnum muzzleloader, a slug gun, a .450 Marlin, and .300 WSM, I have forgotten how much fun it is not to see stars after shooting 50-100 rounds!

Either one will do the trick with good loads and of course, good shot placement. I may let my wife use her 7-08, since she is new to hunting, and "borrow" her .243!

FW Conch · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2009, 03:12:53 PM »

KAYR1, it's also really nice to SEE THE HIT !

Jim

Steve P · « **Reply #22 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:53:30 AM »

H4831 and Nosler 100 gr Partitions. Very accurate in my .243 Win and in my .243 WSSM.

This is me on the right and my '08 fall table fare......shot with .243 WSSM mentioned above.

Steve