Hunting 243 advice

[furmaster]

Ah no offense taken! By all means its just been my personal experiences. Ive had two 243's and could not get either one to shoot to my satisfaction. Inch groups at 100 was best i could ever do, when every other rifle i own i have developed loads that absolutely bughole and drive tacks... i actually switched to the 6XC for that very reason as it is similar to a 243 just in hopes that i could get me a 6mm bugholing... and my 6XC has ended up the most accurate rifle i own as ive shot a few .0 and .1 moa, yes 5 bullets in 1 hole... type groups at 200 yards... i havent totally taken my 6xc through the hoops yet as i only got it recently but will def stretch it out to a 1000 soon.

You may be right, a 6mm bullet making jelly of the insides, vs a bigger bullet blowing holes may be a winning ticket. Its just personal that i wouldnt use a 6mm on a 200+ boone a crocket mulie, just rather have more horse power and/or knock down.


338 lapua is fabulous! Every so often we come across huge audad up in the mountains... and them boogers are sharp!!!! No sneaking up on em out there... you gotta be able to reach out and put em down... the mountains are huge boulders so its a rock climbing trek to get anywhere... can take a day to get half a mile through em in spots on foot... then its full of caves between the boulders so an animal can be lost easy if it gets to moving... way different than other types of terrain.... just my experiences... and when it is game time id rather have a bigger boomer for reassurance.

So the xc ws accuracy issue. I get it. The xc looks awesome. I was thinking for me the 243 was just simple. A buddy of mine owns a 338 lapua in a savage and it makes a 7mm look like a 22l. I wasn't judging at all. To each 5here own. 8f we all thought alike we would all have the same gun and this forum would suck

 

[Cold Bore]

...seen a lot of injured animals with a 243 too. i went to a 6XC and LOVE it!

As others have said, if you launch a bullet with a 243 and the same bullet with a 6XC, what is the real difference?

Killing power?

One inch groups not being good enough in the 243? In a hunting rifle, to be shot from field positions, at 8-10" kill zones?

... after shooting a mulie once with a 300wm at 100 yards and it not dropping, id never go smaller, and it was a good shot... he went 100 yards before he died...

So on a sample of one, you have decided that a 300 Win Mag is the minimum acceptable on a deer?

... i built a 338 lapua for west texas hunting.....

Well, that does meet your minimum.....

...when every other rifle i own i have developed loads that absolutely bughole and drive tacks....

Every rifle you own shoots bugholes? Must be nice.

... and my 6XC has ended up the most accurate rifle i own as ive shot a few .0 and .1 moa, yes 5 bullets in 1 hole... type groups at 200 yards....

5 shot, .0" and .1", 200 yard groups?

You do realize that you are talking record book territory there?

 

[Sniper338]

So the xc ws accuracy issue. I get it. The xc looks awesome. I was thinking for me the 243 was just simple. A buddy of mine owns a 338 lapua in a savage and it makes a 7mm look like a 22l. I wasn't judging at all. To each 5here own. 8f we all thought alike we would all have the same gun and this forum would suck

Ya you could say that. By all means it was just me though, i know other people get 243s to shoot wicked bugholes.

 

[daniel brothers]

5 bullets in 1 hole... type groups at 200 yards...????

Something smells here...

 

[Gary in MD]

The 95 grain ballistic tips will do all you want out of that 243 Win.
I have used them out of the 243 Win. and the 240 Wby.
Gary

 

[expiper]

Furmaster,,,listen to ole' WyleWD,,,,he has lots of experience with.243's and knows how to make them shoot,,,(me too !!)....if you want to use the rifle as a hunting rifle (fur blaster ,,wink) I like Sierra bullets when meat is being damaged no matter what the distance and also have seen lots of harvesting done with Berger 95-105's,,,,use max loads and dont be disappointed if you only get groups in the .3's or 4's,,,,Roger

 

[hunter243sgk]

I have killed many dear with a 243 using the 95g nbts.They work very well!!! Running them at 3000 or more they really mess up a lot of good meat if you hit them in the wrong place at 75 yards or less.

 

[284winner]

I agree furmaster, the 243 is underestimated and under rated. I too have seen her large elk and muleys drop to a one shot placement on them. Remember tho, its where that shot is placed that makes it happen. Either way, a lung punched animal with a 243 may not drop right there but wouldn't be a tough job for Stevie Wonder to find. I've taken animals out past 800 with a 243 and watched them expire from my shooting location. I shoot 95 gr VLD s and have a 9.25 twist bbl. 105 Amax will not stabilize in my gun. 9 twist maybe but that 9.25 will not. I can't believe that the 105 will do much more than the 95. The deer or elk will be just as dead with either. Impact velocity should be around 1800 either way if possible whatever the distance on a large animal with that light bullet. IMO.

 

[Trapper243]

I also think the 243 is underestimated, but I would not go over estimating it either. I am have no clue what its max effective killing range is but in the 300 yard range the deer I have taken all died. They also all stopped the bullet. Same with Hogs. I took several dozen at ranges of 250 to 350 and they all died. Some were large but for the most part the bullets were caught on the far side of the hide. In the 600 yard arena I had some coyotes that would stop a bullet on a broadside hit. I figure when coyotes start stopping a bullet that is probably beyond that loads good big game killing range. This was with 95grn Nosler Combined technology coated ballistic tip and a 1-10 barrel. Muzzle velocity was close to 3000 fps. When that barrel went I changed to a 1-8. I have not shot any big game with the new barrel, only coyotes. I would like to tell you how well 105s are working, but that plan got stopped. Right now I am just burning up all my lead core stuff. Due to regulations, soon, I will be running all copper.

 

[sbhooper]

If you are planning to hunt deer, then I personally would stay with 100-grain bullets. Stay away from the varmint/target crap and shoot Hornady Interlocks or Nolser Partitions/Accubonds. The 85-grain Sierra has a good rep, also, if you want to go that light.

Varmints don't matter, but with a light caliber, heavier bullets are always a plus for deer or even elk (although I would not use it for elk).

I have killed over 100 deer with a 6mm and 100-grain Interlocks. Up close and out to 400 yards or so. Most had exits.

 

[jsthntn247]

Me and a buddy have been doing allot of hunting this year with our tac competition 243's. It's amazing how well of a killer it is when you use 115gr pills, even waaay out there. Id recommend a 7.5 twist so you don't limit yourself to 107gr and down.

 

[dkhunt14]

5 bullets in 1 hole... type groups at 200 yards...????

Something smells here...

Some holes are just bigger then others. Matt

 

[Zero333]

8 twist 243 is what you want/need, you will regret going with a slower twist.

 

[AckleymanII]

8 twist 243 is what you want/need, you will regret going with a slower twist.

We killed a LOT of big deer in Kansas and Nebraska with a 243 using 100g Hornady BTSP, shots were usually between 200-350 yards, Rem 700's with 4x16 scopes, rattled them in. 6 Rem in is no slouch round either.
The 95g Nosler partition is the bullet for 450 yard and under shots in my opinion, as they will break shoulders on 260 lb bucks on quartering shots and exit on the off side. I have no experience with the 95g Nosler ballistic tip.

Having said that, 600 yards in open plains country, a 7 mag with a 162g sst at 3130 is our choice, due to wind bucking ability. Rem 700's, tweeked, bedded, freefloated, good trigger, solid stock, muzzle break will shoot 3 1/2" groups at 600 yards, the LSS version in particular is our favorite.

I really don' t like the idea of a 105g bullet hitting a shoulder at 600 yards, and you can never know what angle you will have to shoot an animal from. Also, bullet do some strange things when they do hit shoulder blades and big bones, and very often there is deflection involved. A 260 Rem with a 140g SST at 2950 would be a winner as these bullets are tougher than you think, and will penetrate on quartering angles breaking bones on the way.

Having said the above, I have an old friend that moved to New Zealand. He swears that the 243 with the 95g SST is all the bullet you will ever need, and they shoot those large 450 lb deer down there from mountain side to mountain side.

Never think of live game shooting as always having the perfect broadside shot, never.

We hunted elk off of horse back in Az. We could ride up close to the elk and all they ever saw was the horses. I used a 243 on cow elk with a 95g partition, never lost one and never had a goat roping tracking job either.

R#26 takes the 243 to another level, 100g bullets at 3200-3300 fps.

600 yards....... can of worms....no kidding......howling wind, cold dense air, up hill or down hill shooting...always use enough gun and know your limitations. I hope you will have enough scope where you can tell if the buck has broken brow tines off fighting so you can pass on him.

 

[Changeling]

AckleymanII, you are right on in about everything you said . I've always used the 100gr partition and still think they are the best bullets on deer, but you've talked me into giving the 95gr Partition a go so I can see for myself. I figure a little more velocity is always good thing, if the bullets can handle it.

 

[Changeling]

Some holes are just bigger then others. Matt

Matt, you made me drop my hotdog, now I've got mustard all over my keyboard, LOLAL.

 

[Frankr]

furmaster bullet speed is the key. impact speed. I have killed 6 whitetail's in the last two years with the 6mm 105 VLD at a muzzle velocity of 3,150 FPS. all fell in their tracks ,510 yards was the furthest. and you could not tell the difference if you would have used a 7 mag. my buddy gut shot one at 480 yards poor shot it only went 50 yards down hill. I launch them out of a 6XC but you can use a 243 I have witnessed the same result with the 243. I few guys have dropped big mule deer at 650 yards with the 243 win. I think someone had dropped a cow elk at 600 yards with one. I feel 750 yards my max range but a few guys swear a well placed shot at 1k from that 105 will do the job but so far every one I have shot from 175 yards to 500 yards has dropped in their tracks with a good shot. I shot one at 410 yards with a 6mm 115 and it fell in it's tracks..I am convinced you do not need a super magnum to kill deer size game. some people believe the high BC of the VLD bullet is a key factor..the high impact speed they retain and less wind drift. I am starting to believe it also. I passed on a few shots at 750 yards due to I was uncertain of a accurate hit and I did not feel like chasing anything across these hills. But 500 yards is kind of a easy call with that bullet either out of a 6XC,243 win or what ever flavor of 6 bore you prefer.I should also say all the 105 VLD's did exit except one..The 510 yards shot was quartering away head to the right, a bit of wind. 3-4 mph I did not hold it. I hit slightly back at the back of the rib cage bullet exited just behind the off side shoulder. dropped right there. actually upside down with it's leg in the air kicking..I said good thing she wasn't right side up looks like she might have went aways. I even have a few buddy's who like BIG guns 300 RUM they just kind of shake their head but I can tell i'm getting to them.

 

[popapi]

Robert Gradous put me a HawkHill 8twist on a Pierce Ti last year that I shoot THE 105 Berger through, and let me tell you Mr. Gentleman it shoot in the ZERO'S with H4831 lit with CCI200s. All I ask you to do is work up to 44grains starting @ 40.5 and THANK me later!!!!! Mine do the thang @ 43grs!!!!! Retumbo shoot great to you can try it from 43 to 47grs!

 

[Zero333]

Robert Gradous put me a HawkHill 8twist on a Pierce Ti last year that I shoot THE 105 Berger through, and let me tell you Mr. Gentleman it shoot in the ZERO'S with H4831 lit with CCI200s. All I ask you to do is work up to 44grains starting @ 40.5 and THANK me later!!!!! Mine do the thang @ 43grs!!!!! Retumbo shoot great to you can try it from 43 to 47grs!

Every time I test a new 243 barrel, they always shoot best with H-4831, 105-107grainers, 42.5gr - 43gr. is always the best accuracy.

This is no coincidence... I tested in 22" - 24" - and 26" barrels and all respond the same.

 

[furmaster]

Well getting back to you guys on what I have done. I built a .243 on a remmy action that i had layin around. I opted to go with a remage barrel, cuz the switch barrel idea is something I wanted and didnt feel like sending action off for barrel fitting...... mainly Im impatient. I ended up getting a 24" light varmint in a 1-9 twist which I know isnt the twist that I really wanted in my head but I knew it would shoot the 100's good and I felt after input I have gathered, only two bullets that I felt were worth shooting at a critter were over 100, the amax and 105 vld hunter. Plus the 1-9 was in stock and again I am impatient. Also being a switch barrel now, I could get a 1-8 twist down the road. I figured it might be cool to have a 1-8 for hunting big game and a 1-9 if I felt like shooting pd's. I was informed that a 1-8 could be to fast to shoot anything below an 85grain. Anyway I loaded up some 95 grain berger classic hunters (thought they looked cool), 100grain sgk's, and some 105 amax's(hoping I would get away with them). With the amount of snow we have I just shot rock cliff faces.(sorry no paper targets to brag on). I was shooting 358yds. All three bullets grouped unbelievable. I couldnt really measure those groups but they all looked 1"ish. Rock splash is hard to tell at that distance, but they look hole in hole ! Im pretty excited I could shoot the amax's and that the remage barrel shot the way it did.
So now the question is, if accuracy ends up being equal, 95 vld hunter vs 95 classic hunter vs 105 amax??????????
Any input would be great, I know there are others that are great, but dont feel like buying 8 different boxes of bullets., Hard to tell how they will perform when you can only shoot a deer around here every few years, and 7 years for the season I should draw, and my antelope will take all 18pts I have. So I would love your opinions.