Author Topic: 243 Winchester ammo choices for deer ? (Read 4280 times)

bcraig · « **on:** August 02, 2011, 01:57:30 PM »

Just got a Remington 7600 in 243 Winchester and gonna try it on deer this year with Barnes 80 grain ttsx bullets.Loaded to about 3150 fps and will be used for shots out to max 300 yards or so. Curious about hearing from others regarding these bullets and whitetails from woods ranges out to 300 or so as well as other suggestions both for factory loads and reloads for deer weighing 100 to 250 pounds with most 150-175 pounds.Pics would also be appreciated.

Craig

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2011, 02:07:06 PM »

I prefer a good heavy bullet to a speedy fast one... So it 95-105Gr bullets for me! I have used the 95 Partition, 90 Speer and 100 RN Hornady with excellent results...
CW

BBF · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2011, 02:52:16 PM »

The most reasonable priced bullet that will do the job and do it well IMO is the 100 gr Rem Cor-Lokt. If you want to spent more $ you got plenty of choices.

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2011, 06:32:10 PM »

My "go to" .243 load is a 100 grain Sierra Gameking over H-4350.It's good for just about everything.

flintlock · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2011, 01:51:11 AM »

Out to 300 yards, any bullet rated for deer will do...

I bought a Ruger M-77 in 1980 chambered in .243, it's the only centerfire I own...I've killed over 300 deer with this gun and around 200 fell to the 100gr CoreLokt...

About 15 years ago I wanted to try something different so a buddy and I tried almost every factory loading out there...When it was all said and done, I went back to CoreLokts...He went to the Hornady 100gr Customs and another buddy is using the Federal Premium 85gr HPBT Sierra GameKing...We all kill deer, life is good...

The only loading from that test that I quit using was the Remington Premier 100gr boat tail bullet...Thankfully they don't make that loading anymore...If I had never killed a deer with a .243 and that was the only loading I had tried, I would have gotten a larger bore...That bullet was too hard...Lung shot deer would run 100 yards or better...It was an extremely accurate loading and would drop deer on shoulder shots, but it didn't open up quick enough and left a small exit hole and less internal damage than others...

Of the rest of the bullets used, deer would fall between 20-60 yards with lung shots and all were hard enough for high shoulder shots...Some gave more consistant pass throughs but the ones that didn't exit would drop the deer quicker with lung shots...

As my rifle seems to love the CoreLokts I went back to them and never looked back...

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2011, 02:20:58 AM »

yup ive shot them with corelocks, sierras, speers, nos ballistic tips and partitions and they all worked about equaly well.

Quote from: flintlock on August 03, 2011, 01:51:11 AM

Out to 300 yards, any bullet rated for deer will do...

I bought a Ruger M-77 in 1980 chambered in .243, it's the only centerfire I own...I've killed over 300 deer with this gun and around 200 fell to the 100gr CoreLokt...

About 15 years ago I wanted to try something different so a buddy and I tried almost every factory loading out there...When it was all said and done, I went back to CoreLokts...He went to the Hornady 100gr Customs and another buddy is using the Federal Premium 85gr HPBT Sierra GameKing...We all kill deer, life is good...

The only loading from that test that I quit using was the Remington Premier 100gr boat tail bullet...Thankfully they don't make that loading anymore...If I had never killed a deer with a .243 and that was the only loading I had tried, I would have gotten a larger bore...That bullet was too hard...Lung shot deer would run 100 yards or better...It was an extremely accurate loading and would drop deer on shoulder shots, but it didn't open up quick enough and left a small exit hole and less internal damage than others...

Of the rest of the bullets used, deer would fall between 20-60 yards with lung shots and all were hard enough for high shoulder shots...Some gave more consistant pass throughs but the ones that didn't exit would drop the deer quicker with lung shots...

As my rifle seems to love the CoreLokts I went back to them and never looked back...

bcraig · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:23:02 AM »

Thanks guys,beginning to sound like as long as I stay away from a strictly varmint bullet that just about anything will work !

Craig

BBF · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:28:48 AM »

Where the difference comes into place is the close up shots. This is were you get bullet failure to penetrate, even some of the heavier cup and core types are at risk.

gr8ful · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2011, 07:12:19 PM »

95gr Partitions are hard to beat at any distance.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2011, 12:28:00 AM »

Quote from: bcraig on August 03, 2011, 07:23:02 AM

Thanks guys,beginning to sound like as long as I stay away from a strictly varmint bullet that just about anything will work !

Craig

DING DING DING!!! With conventional bullets at your discribed distances YES, stay 90 Grs or heavier.
Some will argue the 85Gr BT Bullet and I would agree of your shooting at consistant, longer ranges OR your gonna choose a monolithic bullet.
Good luck,
CW

BBF · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:05:08 AM »

Quote from: gr8ful on August 04, 2011, 07:12:19 PM

95gr Partitions are hard to beat at any distance.

That would be one of them pricey ones

LanceR · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:09:29 AM »

The TTSX would be a fine choice for your application. For practical purposes it has no upper limit to the impact velocity so short range shots won't be a problem. Since the TSX penetrates like a heavier lead core bullet they allow you to use a lighter or slower bullet to get the same job done. They fully expand within about 2-21/2" of penetration so I would not use them on a coyote if you are pelt hunting. They will make on heck of big hole in the pelt.

I think my only concern with 300 yard hunting with a 7600 is the accuracy of the rifle. While some shoot very well many only shoot a 1-1/2 to 2 MOA. At 300 yards the best your rifle will do may already result in a 6" group without any shooter error, range estimation of windage thrown in. At 300 yards, your target velocity and with a 10 MPH wind that bullet will drift over 9". Depending on the angle, a deer the size you mention may only show a heart/lung area of 10-12".

One good thing about that bullet at your target velocity is that with the scope around 1.5" above the bore, for example with medium rings and a 3-9x40 scope, the bullet will never be more than 3" above or below the crosshairs right to 296 yards. It is dropping fast though. At 350 yards it has dropped another 5.5".

You ask for pictures but the only Barnes bullet I've ever recovered was a tipped MZ Expander launched from my Savage muzzle loader. It had gone from high on the last rib on one side of a buck down diagonally through him and exited through the lower part of his second rib on the other side. It hit the shoulder of the farm road he was standing on and I found it about 30 yards away laying in the road. It shows the perfect six petal expansion Barnes shows on their website. It had lost only 6 grains and I suspect that was all from the tip. It was almost exactly 2x the original diameter.

The only other recovered Barnes bullet I saw was from a somewhat similar case. It had been through a large doe that was kind of twisted up looking back over her shoulder when it hit high on the inside of her front right shoulder. It exited from the rear opposite side of her ribcage and went into the left hindquarter and was dug out from about an inch below the surface at the rear of the hindquarter. It too was a perfect mushroom and it sure tore up a lot of that hind quarter.

They sure do hold together and penetrate well.

As others have said, there are a lot of bullets that will work well for you. My favorite for centerfire rifles is the Sierra GameKing but I use a lot of Barnes bullets as well.

Good luck and happy hunting.

Lance

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:19:10 AM »

If Sierra's Pro Hunter and Game King in identical cal. and weight use the same lead hardness and jacket thickness the 100 gr 6mm bullets are on the hard side for cup&core.

bcraig · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2011, 07:29:18 PM »

Yet if the rifle shot 6 inch groups at 300 it would still be placing all of the shots with 3 inches of point of aim.
The only way I would be shooting at such a range is if I had a good solid rest and deer was standing still and wouldn,t take a shot in such high winds,a real 10 mph wind will almost take your hat off .I take as many of the variables into account as i can such as if it was barely legal shooting time and the deer was standing within 50 yards or so of the woods I probably wouldn,t take the shot as if it didn,t drop right then I would have to try and find him with a flashlight.If it was going to rain that night I would know there would not be a blood trail to follow etc.
I aggree with your premise about long range shooting though and definetly would prefer as much group ability as possible. Now if it shot 1-1/2 inch at 100 and (theoretically 4-1/2 at 300 then that would mean ALL shots would be within 2-1/4 inch of point of aim with some being closeI.As well when I mention groupability I say this because their is a difference to me between groupability and accuracy.Let me explain as best i canIi have had a lot of rifles that would for the first shot or two put the bullet or bullets within 1/2 inch of where I was aiming yet when the third fourth or fifth was fired the group would spread out to be a 1-1/2 to 2 inch group.Seeing as how most hunts are ended with the first or second shot anyway the most important thing to me is where the rifle (with a cold barrel) will place one or two shots from point of aim.
I have never used the Barnes and curious as to whether the bullets would expa at the impact velocity at 300 yards(approx 2250)?
You are certainly right about extra drop past 300 yards as this applies to most all catridges used for hunting.I have a little advantage in that i hunt on the same farm i have hunted on since I was about 12 (I am 51 now) so I know dips in fields ,certain trees,all kinds of landmarks and the distances between pretty well.I thank you and all who have responded to my question and look forward to hearing and seeing more.
thanks,Craig
PS as far as pics go it doesn,t have to just be pics of recovered bullets I would be satisfied to see and hear of the kind of damage and penetration they get on deer from different shot angles ,different yardages and velocities.

LanceR · « **Reply #14 on:** August 06, 2011, 03:14:50 AM »

The centerfire Barnes TSX bullets will reliably fully expand down to around 1600 FPS and a lower for some. The muzzleloading and pistol bullets will expand at somewhat lower velocities.

If you have a specific question a call to 800-574-9200 will get a specific answer for any particular bullet and caliber.

Since they mushroom so consistently to 2x or a little more diameter and keep all, or nearly all their weight, they make quite large wound channels.

Last year I loaded some 150 grain TTSX reduced recoil 30-06 loads for a friend's young son to use in a rifle length 760 using H4895. They were probably clocking around 2400 FPS at the muzzle. They hunt in an area that is heavily wooded and where most of the terrain is quite steep. In order to not loose the deer or face a long track and drag in steep terrain the lad was told to shoot until the deer was down.

He got a good first shot into a 225 pound or so buck from about 70 yards. As he racked the slide the buck stepped forward and with his second shot he got a spray of splinters from a 6" maple tree that was about 10 yards in front of the deer. He put in a third shot into the deer and the deer went out of sight but was on the ground within 45-50 yards.

Either of the first or third shots would have been quickly fatal since both were solid two lung hits with big exit holes. The second shot had exited the tree, hit a rib and ended up passing between the ribs on the other side but not penetrating the skin. I did not get to see the bullet but was told that it did not expand (small wonder, there).

I live in a "shotgun only" area of New York and have to travel a short distance to use a centerfire rifle. Since I do most of my hunting on our farm I also use 20 gauge Barnes 3" tipped Expanders in my Savage 220 slug gun. Last year I fired 4 shots with the Expanders and harvested 4 deer. All had big wound channels. I often use Barnes 275 grain XPB pistol bullets in my .50 caliber muzzleloader. They too leave big holes in deer.

Since we can hunt black bear in some areas and not others I use Sierra GameKings in areas where I can't hunt bear or am unlikely to ever see one. If there is a better chance of seeing a bear I use TTSXs. It didn't take much work to cook up loads that keep the trajectories within an inch of each other out to about 230 yards which is a long long way here. It has been many years since I shot a deer at more than 160 yards and most are in the 60-70 yard range.

I know what you mean about the way the group will often open up with a 760 or similar rifles. My first bought new deer rifle was a 30-06 model 760 BDL. The first two or three shots hung together and then the group would open right up. If I let the barrel cool to the point where I felt little or no heat then the groups would shrink right back down. Mine sure wasn't a candidate for an all day prairie dog shoot.

Lance

gr8ful · « **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2011, 01:14:48 PM »

Quote from: scatterbrain on August 05, 2011, 05:05:08 AM

Quote from: gr8ful on August 04, 2011, 07:12:19 PM
95gr Partitions are hard to beat at any distance.

That would be one of them pricey ones

no pricier than the TSX bullets, and after a bad experience with the old X bullet i just dont trust small caliber monolithic bullets. Partitions have always performed exactly as expected 100% of the time.

equinoxbuilders · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2011, 07:27:15 AM »

Listen to what LanceR is saying. "Barnes"!

equinoxbuilders · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2011, 07:28:56 AM »

Partitions are a fine choice for a clean kill, but have been known to ruin quite a bit of meat!

jbrray · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:40:43 PM »

Hornady 100gr Interlocks, factory or roll your own. I have killed 50+ deer with these, mostly within 100-200 yards and none, I repeat none have ever taken more than a few steps. Most just collapse on the spot.

JB

pastorp · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:59:56 AM »

In a 243, give me a 100gr bullet everytime.

Regards,

purpledragon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2011, 10:03:38 AM »

100gr.Nosler Partition will take an elk with a good shot.It's all I use in a.243 for deer........

jrchurch254a · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2011, 05:12:53 AM »

I used 100 grain Nosler Partitions for years on big Idaho Mulies, always dispatched even the biggest ones with a single round. I never had to shoot a deer a second time with the .243 Win. Now days I load it with Remington Core lokts in 100 grain pills, dispatches little Texas Whitetails like clock work. I loaded a bunch of Nosler Solid Base bullets some years back after I found a close out deal on the internet. Both my son and I used them on whitetails at distances under 100 yards and the bullets really did some damage to the animal, lots of meat loss due to blood shot and the bullets coming apart, will try them when I know the shots will be a bit longer. I am not sure I would actually go out after anything bigger than mule deer with the .243 but I know of people who have killed elk with the .243 and 6mm back home, most shots under 100 yards and usually in the head or neck. Great cartridge that .243, I sure like mine and have total confidence in its killing ability.

Chief