Favorite .243 Whitetail Bullet?
- Thread starter JR1968
- Start date
The only 2 I use out here for antelope are the 85g SGKHP & 95g Nosler Hunting BT bullets.
Of the 2 the 95g has been the better bullet as it just drops them on the spot from 78 to 389 yards.
I have had a few broadside punch throughs with the 85 sgk bullet, and have watched them run 100 yards before dropping. The angled shots dropped them on the spot though.
Every one shot w/the 95g NBT never walked past 4 steps no matter the range or angle of hit.
I run them in my 6x45/6x6.8 & .243 rigs.
Of the 2 the 95g has been the better bullet as it just drops them on the spot from 78 to 389 yards.
I have had a few broadside punch throughs with the 85 sgk bullet, and have watched them run 100 yards before dropping. The angled shots dropped them on the spot though.
Every one shot w/the 95g NBT never walked past 4 steps no matter the range or angle of hit.
I run them in my 6x45/6x6.8 & .243 rigs.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
I agree with the above shooters.
I have used the 85 grain Sierra, but mostly on varmints. It is super accurate and has a great reputation on varmints and deer. I have killed quite a few deer with the Nosler 95 gr BT and it is also super accurate and has completely penetrated deer with plenty of internal damage. It has worked for me in the 243 Winchester and the 240 Weatherby.
Pick the one that shoots the best in your rifle and you can't go wrong.
Gary
I have used the 85 grain Sierra, but mostly on varmints. It is super accurate and has a great reputation on varmints and deer. I have killed quite a few deer with the Nosler 95 gr BT and it is also super accurate and has completely penetrated deer with plenty of internal damage. It has worked for me in the 243 Winchester and the 240 Weatherby.
Pick the one that shoots the best in your rifle and you can't go wrong.
Gary
The 95g nbt is my all time favorite. It works great close or far range.I like the sierra 85g hpbt but I don't think it is as good out past 200 yards.Another of my favorites is the sierra 100g spbt.It seems to do good out to 350 to 400 yards maybe more.I don't take shoots out any farther so don't know for sure.Any one of these you try you will be more than happy. But I have seen with the 95g nosler bts they drop fast. Like they were hit by lighting. Good luck!!!
WD
Hornady 87gr VMax and 4350 for me.....
It has been a few years since I've hunted with rifle in 243, but when I did it was with a Steyr Mannlicher Model L. That Rifle loved the 100gr Nosler Partition over 42.5gr of IMR4831 for 2900fps out of a 20" barrel. That load took everything from Coyote and Mule Deer to Prong Horn and Elk. All dropped quick and there was full penetration on everything, I never recovered a bullet with that gun.
100gr SPT Sierra with 41gr IMR4350. But the 85gr Sierra Gameking is legendary.
Three I've used are: 85 Sierra BTHP - extremely accurate and deadly especially in the lungs; 90 Nosler BT, good long range bullet, very accurate; 100 Sierra Pro Hunter - excellent heavy cover deep woods bullet.
You're on the right path with powder: IMR or H 4350 - excellent for the heavier bullets in the 243.
You're on the right path with powder: IMR or H 4350 - excellent for the heavier bullets in the 243.
85g Hornady Interbond for deer, 87g Vmax for everything else (varmint/practice). I load them both with the same die setting, charge, etc. and they have same POI out to 400 yards with my testing.
Perfect plan.
Perfect plan.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
JR, the 95g Nosler partition is a particularly accurate bullet behind 43g of h4350 and a win primer. This bullet will spoil you. We have taken a lot of deer to 350 yards with this bullet over the years, some 200lb bucks just fold up at 300 yards, and we are the type that like shooting them through the shoulder.
Second choice would be the 100g Hornady Interlock behind 42.3g of H4350 with a win primer. THis is a poor man's partition and few would believe the accuracy of this bullet and it's ability to break bones and penetrate. Nephew killed a 220lb Kansas buck at 330 yards 5 years ago, the buck took 3 steps after the impact and fell over dead.
Hogs prove a bullet/load's worth, and we have killed a lot of hogs with the two above bullets/loads.
Second choice would be the 100g Hornady Interlock behind 42.3g of H4350 with a win primer. THis is a poor man's partition and few would believe the accuracy of this bullet and it's ability to break bones and penetrate. Nephew killed a 220lb Kansas buck at 330 yards 5 years ago, the buck took 3 steps after the impact and fell over dead.
Hogs prove a bullet/load's worth, and we have killed a lot of hogs with the two above bullets/loads.
Barnes 80gr TTSX.
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