243 Non lead hunting load?

[00Scot]

I am waiting my ten days to receive my new Savage Predator hunter in 243. So while I am waiting for the DROS and ten day waiting period to end I thought I would start doing some research on the hunting round I plan to use.

What I am looking for is a California legal non lead round that I can use for multiple game. I will be using this round to hunt Boar/Deer/Coyote/Bobcat and fox.

So I need a round that can do it all. Or at least cover most of the above game to a satisfactory level.

I will be mainly hunting Coyote, then boar/wild pig. So those are my main concerns when working up this load. It has to be lead free because there are parts of Californistan that only allow the use of non lead ammo. I know this severely limits my loading options. But I gotta work with what my gun hating animal loving state allows.

I noticed that Hornady offers a non lead 80gr. in their GMX bullet. Anyone have any experience with this bullet?

I am open to any and all suggestions. I have never hunted with non lead so I am new to it. What other manufacturers offer non lead bullets that would be good to take hogs and coyote? And by the way, I am not looking to preserve the pelts on the coyotes so that is not a concern of mine.

What bullet weight would be the best choice to hunt mainly coyote and still be able to take a decent size hog and maybe a deer when needed?

 

[00Scot]

I forgot to mention that the 243 has a 1-9.25 twist

 

[ar15topgun]

Barnes and nosler offer bullets that are all copper and work great.

 

[watercam]

I have had terrific luck with Barnes Triple Shock bullets. The nearest caliber to the .243 that I have hunted is the 6.5x55 Swede w/ 120s and 130s. I also hunt in California and have taken all the game mentioned, except fox, with good results. I would want to keep my shots under 200 yds. for boar I think but the bullets work great. Hold together well, accurate for me as long as you do as Barnes says and seat them at least .050" off the lands to start.
I believe they have an 85 gr. bullet but don't let the low weight bother you. They hold all their weight all the way in instead of shedding 20-30% so they are similar to 110 gr. Partitions (if there was one of that weight).
Best of luck with your hunts!

 

[Bulseyetom]

I have a 6x47 Lapua that just loves both the Barnes 85 grain TSX and the Nosler 95 grain E-tip. I have decided to use the E-tip next year. Non-lead bullets are somewhat sensitive to bullet seating depth. Follow the manufacture's recommendations and vary in small increments from there and you should find a sweet spot. Tom

 

[Wrangler John]

If you want a varmint bullet, I use the 62 grain, 6mm Barnes Varmint Grenade. It shows stable in the 1:9.25" twist using the Stability Calculator at www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

I use it in the .243 WSSM in a Brux 1:8" barrel, it just phenomenally accurate. Again, as in the case of the TSX bullets, it likes to jump rather than be seated out into the lands.

Nosler also produces a 6mm/.243 55 grain BT Lead Free varmint bullet. Both are good choices.

 

[00Scot]

Thanks for the replies, I was wondering what bullet weights are best suited for a 1-9.25 twist. I would like a heavier bullet for when I do encounter a larger deer or hog.

What I'm hoping to do is find one load that will work for all the game mentioned. Obviously there are better choices for each specific game animal. But I want to be able to carry one load year round to hunt anything from Coyote to deer and hogs.

My main focus is Coyote/Bobcat. But I do plan on going after some hogs this year. So I am hoping to find a happy medium.

Would something in the 80-90 gr range handle most deer/boar that I might come across?

 

[darrenk75b]

An 80 TTSX or 85 TSX will be more than potent enough for deer/pigs

 

[Double Tap 45]

LOVE me that 85grian TSX in my vintage ('68) Sako Forester I get sub-MOA with them and they hit like a load of bricks for that bore size.

Ray

 

[00Scot]

I was planning on working up a load with the 80gmx and now the 85 TSX.

Anyone have an opinion on which bullet will work better for my hunting applications? Any experience with both of these bullets on deer or hog sized game?

 

[brown82]

2 Savage 243s and they both love the 85 tsx, 42gr. IMR 4350, WIN. LR primer

 

[Longshooter70]

I love my little 243 with the 85gr Barnes TSX loaded in Win brass, RL 19, and CCI 250's. Barrel has been shortened to 18" and I still get 2950fps with this combo. It's my #1 deer stand rifle for distances out to 400. Only drawback with the short barrel is noise! Hard to go wrong with the TSX!

John

 

[Larryh128]

+ about 12 for the 85 gr TSX. 4350 or 4831 will work well. All the bullet that you'll need.

 

[PepeLp]

My son has shot several deer with the 85gr. Barnes TSX. One shot, at 250 yards, broke the shoulder, went through the chest, and broke the other shoulder on the way out. We have had excellent luck with the .243, it's my favorite caliber.