.243 Bullet Expert Needed

[K22]

First - great choice on caliber - just wild about the 243 - a true dual purpose rifle.

You have a large selection of very good bullets. Here are some of the one's I've used:

1. 85 grain Sierra BTHP - probably the best all around bullet I've ever used in the 243.

2. 80 grain Sierra Blitz - fantastic long range varmint bullet on ghogs - great in the wind and very accurate.

3. 87 grain VMax - high BC - very flat shooting and accurate - another good long range bullet.

4. 90 grain Nosler BT - flat shooting - very accurate - and effective on white tail.

5. 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter - good white tail bullet with good penetration.

Best powder I've used is IMR 4350 especially with heavier bullets, IMR 4064 also very good with lighter bullets.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Anybody have any thoughts on if I should get the gun lapped for the Ackley Improved shoulder? Seems to help out the brass life but I'm not sure what else?

Wow...talk about ballistic coefficient...never really knew Laupa made bullets beyond the .338. Anybody ever use this one:

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/9559

 

[Kermit in Va.]

I figured there would be more posts with people using the 90gr. accubonds. They seem to shoot good in mine.
Kiled a yote Sat. about 350yrds and it dropped in its tracks and the exit was about the size of a dime. I like'em and can't wait to try'em on deer this fall. They seem to work real good in all the cals. we've tried'em in so far. 264,308,7mm-08...

Donnie

 

[1holeaddict]

Every single bullet mentioned is going to do the same 3 things.

1-It is going to blow a hole in either a coyote or a whitetail deer.

2- It is going to kill a coyote or a whitetail deer with the PROPER shot PLACEMENT.

3- It is going to send a coyote or a whitetail off running away to suffer with POOR shot PLACEMENT.

Im also from Pa and own 4 -243 wins and love the caliber. I shoot 105 Amax and 87 gr Vmax. We are talking about a mere INCH of fur and possibly a rib bone protecting the lungs of these animals. Killing one of these animals does not take any science or Premium bullets just place a piece of lead traveling 2600-3000fps in the vitals and game over. As for worrying about the 223 killing a 50 pound animal well i wouldnt want to stick my chest cavity in the way of a 55 grain pill traveling 3000+FPS and i go 250LBS. Moral of my rant is choose a bullet u feel comfortable with. Take only unobstructed vital shots. Forget about all that BC stuff for deer hunting PA. If BC is a factor for deer hunting then u need to step up a caliber. Food for thought every sporting goods store in PA is stocked before hunting season with box upon box of Remington Core Lokts 100 gr and this non premium, low bc, ugly looking piece of lead bags a very high percentage of our deer.
Good Shooting

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

I figured there would be more posts with people using the 90gr. accubonds. They seem to shoot good in mine.
Kiled a yote Sat. about 350yrds and it dropped in its tracks and the exit was about the size of a dime. I like'em and can't wait to try'em on deer this fall. They seem to work real good in all the cals. we've tried'em in so far. 264,308,7mm-08...

Donnie

Good to hear Donnie...thank you! What part of the coyote did you hit?

Oneshot...I know any bullet in the lungs will kill the coyote...I was looking for one that was less destructive on pelt and still good for deer.

 

[xpilot]

Sierra 85 grain HPBT +1 Used by a professional shooter to cull deer in Texas. Shot many many deer ea year, almost all 1 shot kills.

 

[expiper]

Well Im no expert but hav had/shot/loaded for several of em over the yrs,,,had one since the sixtys ,,culpa autoloaders,,,several bolt (Rem--Win--Ruger-Browning-Custom) hav shot out one Douglas (14 twist) two Hart (one 14 and one 8 twist) and two' Kriegers (both 8 wtiwst) .....it is a perfect deer and smaller hunting cal and exellent long range target cal....you cant shoot em in the butt and the bullet co'me out their adams apple like with a .270 and up ,,but with and frontal or broadside shot its perfect,,,,I have never found any of the super premium bullets to work bette(usually not as good--you gota hit em to kill em) and no matter what the BC,,,if the accuracy is not there and you are shootin more than 300 yds you better hav a Sierra or Berger bullet....as K22 said ,,,its difficult to beat a Sierra 85 gr HPBT,,,I have seen deer taken at over 300 with Berger 87-95 VLD cleanly and instantly,,,as stated earler ,,shot placement is crucial and with the accuracy potential of a GOOD .243 and GOOD bullets you will be pleased..Roger

 

[WyleWD]

Put me squarely in line with expiper and the fellows using the 85gr Sierra HPBT. Have used that bullet in a number of 243's since 1974. I've shot chucks, coyotes, crows, Pdogs, deer & wild hogs with em. They are accurate, relatively inexpensive, and dependable. You can spend a small fortune chasing accuracy and performance on a bunch of different "wonder" bullets for the 6mm/243 family, but if you want ONE bullet to do it all..... the 85gr Sierra HPBT is the one to get. WD

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Yes, the Sierra "bullet smiths" recommended this as their best bullet for the .243. However, they said pelt damage could be a problem.

 

[expiper]

Dear "seeker" you are using a HIGH powerd rifle here,,not a 17 WRM ,,,you are wanting to kill em out to 300+ yds...any bullet will blow a hole in em...if you want to shoo/t thru,,turn the bullet backwards and put the BT to'wards the friont...it becomes a FMJ but way more accurate ...there is gona be a hole just some are bigger,,the bullet smiths are much beter advisors than an old broken down guy like me....Roger

 

[treeman]

with your criteria I would use the sierra 85gr pro hunter. it doesn't expand as fast as the gameking and would make a smaller exit hole on yotes.it would kill ground hogs with aplomb. unless you are killing game past 350 yrds you don't need to worry about bc inside of 350 yrds its just a number

 

[sarge ret]

i use the 95 gr nosler partition for deer...appropriate load of 7828 in lapua cases.

i doubt if one bullet will be best for everything and why would you want to do this?

varmints...75 gr hornady hollowpoints always worked well

i would think the 95's would work on a coyote...try it and see.

btw the 95 gr & 7828 load shoots bug holes @ 200 yds the few times i fool around checking zero. barrel is a 5R obermeyer 1-8.
i had it re-contoured to #4 douglas when i took it off my match rifle. btw. action is 1951 vintage m-70 in a mcmillan sporter stock.

fred

 

[mmcu]

treeman,

I didn't know that Sierra made an 85 grain Pro Hunter in 6mm. Last I checked the lightest .243 Pro Hunter bullet was 100 grains.

What's Sierra's part number, as I'd like to get my hands on some of these Flat Base bullets!!

 

[GSPV]

It's the ancient problem of "Jack of all trades, master of none".

 

[GSPV]

Sierra currently only lists the 100 grain Pro Hunter in 6mm.

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&brandID=3&displayAll=1

 

[K22]

Sierra sales an 85 grain 6mm flat base spitzer bullet marketed as a "varmint bullet".

 

[K22]

Put me squarely in line with expiper and the fellows using the 85gr Sierra HPBT. Have used that bullet in a number of 243's since 1974. I've shot chucks, coyotes, crows, Pdogs, deer & wild hogs with em. They are accurate, relatively inexpensive, and dependable. You can spend a small fortune chasing accuracy and performance on a bunch of different "wonder" bullets for the 6mm/243 family, but if you want ONE bullet to do it all..... the 85gr Sierra HPBT is the one to get. WD

My experience also - great bullet - extremely accurate - relatively inexpensive.

 

[GSPV]

The 85 HPBT is a great bullet. I've killed a room full of groundhogs with them. Killed several deer. If the bullet gets into the shoulder, it's going to mess up a ton of meat. I also think they'll make a BIG exit hole on coyotes.

It's probably as good as you're going to get to one bullet that does it all. You just need to know its limitations.

 

[Trapper243]

I have killed lots of coyote with 95 ballistic tips.They work great and will handle deer when needed without issue. One person mentioned copper. As good as it may, or may not be on large game, it isn't on coyote. The frangible stuff is really to light, and the big game stuff is to hard. Unless you are forced to use it I would avoid it on coyote.

 

[boltfluter]

Another vote for the 87 V-max. Great for deer or coyotes. Hide damage has more to do with shot placement than anything else. I have had many shots stay inside of a coyote with the 87 V-max. Good luck. Here's a coyote shot at 375 yds. with the 87. .5" exit hole and a shot through the lungs. ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com