Author Topic: Balistic Tip, Soft Point, or Round Nose in .243 for neck shots on deer? (Read 4037 times)

Tikker · « **on:** April 10, 2009, 07:10:31 PM »

I don't hany any first hand experiance with what the 243 does to flesh and i want to keep shots in the neck area to save from wasting meat. I had started to order some Hornady RN bullets or some Rem. CoreLokt's to try out but know i'm unsure on what to get now. I'll be reloading my own so i have a large choice of bullets to use. The Balistic Tips i would usally never look at, but they seem like they might work to cause more trauma to the spinal cord if it's not a direct hit. Or maybe i'm thinking to much into it.

So is there a certain bullet that outshines the others for that shot? If i don't get a positive answer i'll buy the Round Nose to try first and see if i can get an accurate load with it.

mike243 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:23:34 AM »

i dont like wasting meat either,i shoot for the lungs/heart,there's not much meat on a deers ribs,the neck has a lot of meat that i make roasts out of,you will want 1 that will open up quick so ballistic tip would be my choice if thats where i want to hit it,dont blame the calibur if you loose some deer,i have a brotherinlaw that takes a base of the neck shot every chance he gets,seems to work for him,mike243

drdougrx · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:32:16 AM »

I've taken quite a few deer and other animals with the 243 and use 95gr ballistic tips or partitions. I have no experience with the RN. My opinion is that the 243 is just ok for deer......just ok.

nomosendero · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:04:29 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on April 11, 2009, 01:32:16 AM

I've taken quite a few deer and other animals with the 243 and use 95gr ballistic tips or partitions. I have no experience with the RN. My opinion is that the 243 is just ok for deer......just ok.

Same here, it works but not my idea of a good allround Deer load. OK works for me.

nomosendero · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:07:50 AM »

Quote from: mike243 on April 11, 2009, 01:23:34 AM

i dont like wasting meat either,i shoot for the lungs/heart,there's not much meat on a deers ribs,the neck has a lot of meat that i make roasts out of,you will want 1 that will open up quick so ballistic tip would be my choice if thats where i want to hit it,dont blame the calibur if you loose some deer,i have a brotherinlaw that takes a base of the neck shot every chance he gets,seems to work for him,mike243

I agree. I don't know anyone who eats Deer Lungs. The neck at least on a decent Buck has lots of meet for a roast or burger.

The neck shot can be risky at some angles as well.

rickt300 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:57:56 PM »

I would use either the 100 gr. Nosler solid base bullet or the 95 gr. Ballistic Tips. I do a lot of neck shots myself, generally hitting in front of and a little below the front edge of the shoulder blade. A frontal neck shot is also deadly, I'll shoot at a level even with the top of the deer's shoulders and centering the neck. I like the 243 and 6MM Remington for deer myself anytime I can properly place my bullets I get quick results and dead deer. I also shoot behind the shoulder into the ribs about halfway up the chest and find this to waste no meat. In reality a neck shot close to the shoulder can damage the front end of the backstrap, some neck meat and even some of the far shoulder if the deer is a bit quartering toward you.

IOWA DON · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:56:01 AM »

A buddy did a neck shot on an antelope and I did a head shot on a deer and did not like the results. We cut the animals up right away and noticed a difference from the ones we shoot in the heart/lung area. The meat is not bled out. It seems the meat is very saturated in blood. When cuttng off a leg, shoulder or backstrap it seems that the meet just oozes out blood. Anyway, with a shot in the heart/lung area the meat is more solid and dry. I like that better.

BBF · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:59:37 AM »

I go along with the "why neck shots" bunch but if you insist.

WW Power Points are fragile bullets similar to the Nosler BT's, PE's and so are some of Hdy types.

charles p · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2009, 10:46:14 AM »

The largest amount of waste possible is when your deer runs away and dies without being found. Shoot to kill.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2009, 10:52:09 AM »

When I owned a 24. caliber, my favorite was 95 grain BTBT. As almost everyone has said, less meat will go towaste over the long run if a behind the shoulder shot is taken.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2009, 01:49:17 PM »

For the 6mms I prefer 100gr RN shot thru the lungs works well for me.

kiddekop · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2009, 06:28:01 PM »

Quote from: charles p on April 12, 2009, 10:46:14 AM

The largest amount of waste possible is when your deer runs away and dies without being found. Shoot to kill.

You need to carry a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide when you hunt to follow your wounded deer it causes the blood drops to foam making tracking easier.100gr nosler solid base will drop a mule deer.A friend of mine hunted elk & mule deer in colorado with a Ruger #1 in 6mm. I saw the neck shot 4x elk dead up the side of a large steep hill plus others over the years along with mule deer!

Tikker · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:58:22 PM »

It seems many of you like Nosler bullets so i am going to give Partitions a try in 100gr and i'm gonna buy those Hornady RN and see what they can do, I have yet to come across a bad review on them so i think they should be a safe bet. I just got my scope in the mail today so this weekend i am going to sight it in with some 100gr Corelokts to get an idea what kind of groups i can get with a 4x.

Thanks for all the input guys, i will stay away from any neck shots untill i am certain about the conditions and then i may try it out to see the outcome. After all, it could be a lot worse for the meat if i was hunting with a magnum cartridge

as it was either buy the 243 or the 7mm mag. I'm happy with the choice & i like the light recoil of the gun after a days worth of shooting at the range.

Tikker · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:01:56 PM »

A quick question, has anyone used the Nosler E-Tip bullets?

ThunderStick · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2009, 05:20:37 PM »

I have used the 100gr Rem. coreloct and switched to the Sierra 85gr gameking the last 4 years. I have shot'em in the head, neck, most behind the shoulder through the lungs, and a few into the brisket. My son shoots the Winchester 100gr silver box stuff in his .243 and they all kill deer!
I have only lost 2 deer with a .243 in 25 years of hunting with it. They where both very long ranges (over 400 yards) and shot with the Remi coreloct. Well realy only one lost, followed the blood trail to where a young man next farm over harvested it. I choose to keep my shots inside 250 or so yards now.
Gun feaver bit me and I have a .260 to try out next season!

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2009, 04:46:49 PM »

Tikker, I bought some 30 cal. 180's a year a go in Ore. But 180's are not my favorite 30 cal. bullet so I haven't tried them yet.

kudzu · « **Reply #16 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:10:58 AM »

For a 6mm bullet for deer (no matter where ya shootem) 90 gr swift scirocco

Savage_99 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:54:35 AM »

Tikker,

I have shot many deer over the decades in both the neck and ribs and other places as well! The thing about neck shots is that the area is small and more important the deer may move its head at the last second just before the shot.

Now if the deer is close and stable of course neck shots work. Even then I aim lower towards the shoulder or the 'base' of the neck as someone wrote.

If the neck shot breaks the spine then the deer will fall and stay there. If a pure lung shot is made sometimes the deer will run some. Thats not an advantage is it?

I would not worry about round nose or spitzer bullet tips. Instead use a bullet suggested for deer. The 243 is not my favorite by the way as its not as effective as larger cartridges.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2009, 06:39:35 PM »

Tikker -

Dave, my hunting buddy, took his first elk with a neck shot. "Hank" now hangs on his wall. It was a one-shot, drop-straight-down affair.

Never cared for neck shots myself, and I counseled Dave against them. His second elk was also taken with a neck shot. Dave, a bow hunter, had dropped down into cover after the shot and lost sight of the elk. He was sure he had hit it but there was no blood trail. It had run off, mixing its tracks with those of the other 20 or 30 elk in the herd. Five of us hunted for the elk but we didn't find it until the next morning. Even thuh daytime temps were in the 20's and nighttime temps were below zero, the meat had already started to spoil - the hide is a wonderful insulator.

If you don't want to waste meat, I recommend a behind the shoulder shot. Unless you like rib bones. I've been using that shot since 1982 and have not had to track any animals - they either go straight down or they don't go very far. Only a coulpe have made it more than 15-20 yards and I don't think they made 40.

Doug B. · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:09:14 AM »

Quote from: charles p on April 12, 2009, 10:46:14 AM

The largest amount of waste possible is when your deer runs away and dies without being found. Shoot to kill.

BINGO! I go for the boiler room myself. Always!

ms · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2009, 06:30:06 AM »

DON'T DO A NECK SHOT YOU'LL BE SORRY IF YOUR DEER GETS AWAY.

jtech · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2009, 04:32:42 PM »

I have seen great results with a neck shot and I've seen sorry results. I'll admit i've done it with both results. Won't do it again unless someone is starving and it is the only shot I think i'll get. The sorry is wounding a animal. Seen to many times a neck shot and have to search a 50 yd. radius to find a drop of blod and never find the animal. There is to little in a neck that will drop a animal compared to the size of the target. Dad shot a big buck 2 years ago in the neck with a .308 180 gr. win. power point bullet ( he was busted and the buck was standing with a tree behind the front shoulder). My brother and I looked for a hour and found a little blood appx. a 100 yds. from where it was when dad shot. Follwed tracks with no blood for 1/2 mile. Hunted that mountain all season and never found the deer. Never had that problem with a boiler room shot, bigger kill zone,more margin for error.

rickt300 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2009, 12:52:23 PM »

Neck shoot a deer with a fast expanding bullet and it will go right down, the best spot to hit the deer is just in front of the shoulder blade at the bottom edge of the shoulder blade. This is a pretty big target area, if you hit a little back you still hit the shoulder, if you hit a little forward you still have some spine to hit. While I like to take neck shots as explained I will not shoot a deer in the head.

mitchell · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2009, 03:58:20 PM »

come on now guys he wasnt askin what yall think about neck shots just what bullet you would use .

i like the 95gr CT works well anywhere you hit em!!

BBF · « **Reply #24 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:03:45 AM »

I would prefer lighter then 100 gr in a Nosler PT

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #25 on:** July 11, 2009, 09:42:31 AM »

Tikker
I've shot deer with most of the 100 gr offerings out there and can say anytime I've neck shot one, it didn't go further than the ground. Just about any bullet, PLACED CORRECTLY, will put the venison on the table for ya. Deer shot up in the neck will leave ya with blood shot meat as will a dead on shoulder shot. I prefer to take them back in the ribs and have had every bullet but one pass thru leaving good blood. Those Hornady 100gr RN bullets along with a good dose of H414 or H4831SC are the ticket as far as I'm concerned.

HWD

High Brass · « **Reply #26 on:** July 17, 2009, 08:11:17 AM »

I've shot deer in the neck, head, shoulders, and behind the shoulders with 100gr Remington PSP core lokts out of my 243, they all died.....quick.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2009, 04:59:13 AM »

I have shot several deer in the neck. I'm not a fan of it. It works but I didn't like the results. If you hit the neck without hitting the spine or artery you have a downed but wounded deer.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #28 on:** July 19, 2009, 05:11:47 AM »

Just to put things into perspective. If you hit or come really close to the spine any of these bullets will do the job just fine. But for me this is a high percentage shot and not something I advise. Its my opinion we owe more to the game we hunt than taking such a shot.

Now with a gun and because of the average range of my own shots. I like to shoot for bones. The high shoulder is my shot of choice. If this range surpasses 150yards or so I will shoot for the center of the lungs. But I much prefer the bang-flops I get with my high shoulder POI.

Again taking into consideration the ranges I typically shoot within. I really like the RN bullet design. Its my go to profile to say the least. Truthfully there isn't really much measurable difference until you get out to 250 yards or so. If I know I will see longer ranges a spitzer or spire BT would be my choice.

CW

john keyes · « **Reply #29 on:** July 19, 2009, 05:53:58 AM »

this place (GBO) has really gotten me interested in that 6mm hornady RN

but I just bought a box of 100 gr Hot Cor