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.243 Bullet Expert Needed

Seeking_Coyotes

Going to use a .243 as a multi purpose gun:

Whitetail Deer
Eastern Coyote
Groundhogs

Decided to use a bullet around 85-90 grains that will kill a deer humanely, not rip a coyote in half, and shoot accurately for groundhogs. Most shots will be around 250 yards. Will go with some type of hollow point or soft point. Is it just a matter of picking the below bullet with the best ballistic coefficeint. What am I missing? The Speer and Hornady looks like my top choices. Help me with your input to confirm my thoughts or disprove my thinking.

Have not been impressed with Berger VLD bullets on deer so although they seem to have a great ballistic coefficient...kinda biased against them.


Horandy
6mm .243 85 gr InterBond®
Details


Features:
Bonded design for deep penetration and 90%+ weight retention.
Streamlined design delivers ultra-flat trajectories.
Devastating terminal performance across a wide velocity range.
Unequaled accuracy and terminal performance for long-range shots.

Details
Item Number 24539
Weight 1.42 lbs
Ballistic Coefficient (G1) 0.395
Sectional Density 0.206

Price: $60.87


6mm .243 87 gr BTHP
Details

Features:
Streamlined design for ultra flat trajectories.
Match grade jacket design provides maximum accuracy at all ranges.
Explosive expansion, even at low velocities.

Details
Item Number 2442
Weight 1.31 lbs
Ballistic Coefficient (G1) 0.376
Sectional Density 0.210

Price: $28.17

NOSLER

90 Grain Accubond Spitzer Ballistic Coefficient .376

85 Grain Partition .315

90 Grain Ballistic Tip .365

SPEER
85 Grain Spitzer BTSP 0.404

BERGER


87 gr Match Grade VLD Hunting
.243
87
0.412
0.211
10





Sierra


Bullet Name
Diameter inches
Weight grains
Sectional Density
Ballistic Coefficients
.243 dia. (6mm) 85 gr. HPBT
.243
85
.206
.311@ 1800 fps and above
.304 between 1500 and 1800 fps
.285 @ 1500 fps and below





Barnes

· 6 mm TSX 85 Grains .333
 
Probably will be one of these guns...leaning towards the first:

Savage Model 10 Predator Hunter Max 243 WIN
Rate of Twist:

9.25

Weight:

8.5 lbs

Overall Length:

44"

Barrel Length:

24"

Ammo Capacity:

4 round(s)

MSRP:

$945.00

or

Savage Model 12 VLP DBM
243 WIN


Rate of Twist:

9.25

Weight:

10 lbs

Overall Length:

46.25"

Barrel Length:

26"

Ammo Capacity:

4 round(s)

MSRP:

$1080.00

Still on the fence if it is worth getting it Ackley Improved.
 
Hey, I love the 243 win and my favorite bullet for deer has been the 95g nosler ballistic tip.. I have a heavier gun with a 1-8 twist i like the hornady 105 amax for deer...Good all around gun, have fun..
 
The Sierra 85 grain HPBT GameKing gets my vote.

I use them in my 6BR and 243 as an all-purpose bullet. Effectively takes South Texas deer, hogs and coyotes. These have also proven to be a very accurate bullet in every gun that I've used them in.
 
I like to use the 85g HIB bullet for deer and the 87g Vmax for varmints. In my nephew's rifle, I use the same load with the same die settings and they shoot to the same POI out to 300 yards. The 85g HIB worked very well on a large 8 point whitetail with complete penetration and the 87g Vmax works very well on coyotes/crows/groundhogs. The BC on those two bullets are very close. Works very well for us.
 
Just me but the 90gr swift sirocco 2 fits the bill nicely. Stated BC of .419. I've had very good luck with these on game and for accuracy.
 
proper barrel twist for bullets over 100gr is an 8tw in the .243

Seek_"""""
you mite want to try either H4350 or better H4831sc with a V-max 95gr, fed-210m in your 9.5 tw barrel
 
All that you need is the Barnes TSX or TTSX, 80-85 gr. It will be the best performing bullet in a 24 cal. Kills everything, doesn't come apart and more accurate than most cup & core bullets. Best part is one bullet for everything.
 
I know it's 5 gr over your supplied criteria but I've had excellent luck over the last 10 years with the 95 gr. Hornady SST's on whitetail. The velocities out of my two 243 carbines are pretty reasonable which probably has a lot to do with it, but they're stone killers on whitetail.
 
If your shots are 250 yards, I wouldn't be overly worried about ballistic coefficient.

A couple of thoughts:

I've killed several deer with the Sierra 85 grain HPBT as it was my go to bullet for groundhogs back in the day. It will kill a deer like a lightening strike, but it will mess up meat, too.

I might give the Barnes a try on deer. It'd scare me on groundhogs. I really want something that will blow up. I've even had the 85 HPBT get away from me a couple of times.
 
Doesn't meet your criteria but the 100g Horn Interlock or the 95g Nosler Partition is all I use. I've had equal performance from each out of a 6MM-06, which maybe says the partition is not needed on such light game.
At 250 yards, BC is at the bottom of my list.
 
With a 243 Win you have two options go light for varmints 70 grains or less. and Go heavy for deer, antelope, etc. Remember a heavier controlled expansion bullet will kill both deer and varmints.

These are my recomendations:

1:8 twist barrel for bullets over 85 grains.

Here are the bullets I recomend for a 243 Winchester 85 Grain Barnes tripple shock, 90 grain Swift Scirrocco, 90 grain Nosler Accubond, and 90-105 grain Nosler Partitions.

I have killed many deer with a 243 and by far the 90 Scirrocco has been the best performer.
Rustystud
 
Wow....lots of great input from everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Please keep your input coming. I do apppreciate everyone's different perspectives.

Here is where I am at right now... Hornady 87 grain hpbt for both.

I do want to save pelts on coyotes. Stopped shooting them with my .17 Fireball...lost several. Worried the .223 is marginal on a 50 pound coyote. Isn't it wierd that we send our soldiers out with a gun I am worried is not enough for coyotes. I have no idea why they are not getting a 6mm gun. Sorry...on my soapbox. Don't really get the Geneva conventions... our soldiers face hidden landmines and they can't use a hollow or soft point?

I love getting a free turret wtih the VX - 6 but the bad part is that pretty much leaves me shooting one bullet. Unless I can get a second turret set for another bullet and they are easy to just put on and remove. Then again, one bullet simplifies things.

I've been on this quest for a while and have been blessed to get alot of input. Not sure this is accurate but the general concensus seems to be...

Barnes TSX is the best deer bullet...deadly...but destructive. $$ Expensive

Sierra 87 grain similar to Barnes bullet but not quite as good. Deadly but damage. Reasonably priced.

From my personal experience which is very limited...

Berger VLD stink in killing power. Extreemly accurate however.

Nosler Ballistic Tip (purple) or Combined Technologies Ballistic Silver Tip I have had great results on deer. Also an accurate bullet. Bullet stinks in my 30.06 (splashes) but works great in my .243. However, never hit a shoulder bone with one so I cannot comment on penetration.

Have some Nosler partitions waiting for me to load but their low ballistic coefficient and expense makes me a bit shy. Think pelt damage would be ok.

Really would like to hear some input on Speer bullets in the .243. Is there anyone out there who shoots them?

New Thoughts:

Wow...the ballistic coefficient on that Swift bullet seems amazing!

Like to hear from folks about pelt damage on coyotes from the different 6mm bullets.

Like to understand the Sierra Game King more, too.

Sure is fun and amazing running this through my head. ;)
 
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