Got a (new to me) 243! Let's discuss big game bullets and loads

[Propbndr]

Sierra 100gr Pro-Hunter. It is a flat base Spitzer. Shoots great out of my rifle. Dropped the deer I have shot in their tracks.

 

[Boondox]

If you can find the 90 gr. Nosler Accubond it will do well with putting deer down quickly. The little bullet simply does a great job even with end to end shots. Last one I shot was @ 75 yds. head-on frontal chest. Bullet stayed together and stopped between the hams.

I won't use accubonds my man. Used 150 grain accubonds in my uncle's 760 308 last year. Shot a small 6 point bout 50 yards broadside... I've NEVER seen damage like that in my life. From any gun. His entire chest cavity was literal clumps of jello that poured out when I cut his diaphragm. All that was left was about a 3 inch piece of windpipe to cut out.

The entire entrance side ribcage, shoulder, leg, half the backstraps and base of his neck was blacker'n a boot and the consistency of playdough. I literally pulled his shoulder off when I peeled his hide down.

I really can't bring myself to use a accubond after what I saw last year. Bullet never even touched a rib goin in or out.

Sierra 85 BTHP.

I've heard a few people say they're good bullets. Say they're ridiculously tough too?

Have had probably 40 deer killed with a .243. Always had the issue of either no penetration or no expansion. Until I started loading TTSX!
Load TSX or TTSX and never look back.

I've been on some very long track jobs when ttsx were involved with 30 Cal's, I've never used them myself.

Well said. When my son was 10 we trapped a bear. He shot the bear 5 times with a 243 before getting it off of its feet. If a true giant black bear comes out where would you put one of these so called "well placed shots". They have extremely thick tough ribs and you need to get both lungs or more then likely the bear will not be retrieved.
I did buy a new 243 Rem 1.5 years ago. I load 95 gr Berger VLDs for coyote. I had a doe tag so I did use it on the doe. It worked fine but if I was hunting to fill my buck tag I would not have taken it.

What da hell kinda bear you killin? I've shot 20 or so of the stinky buggers now and I always tell people the toughest part of a bear is their hide. Whitetails got bigger, heavier ribs than a bear, bear leg bones are pretty stout though. They're honestly a pretty easy critter to kill, right up there with deer, then again I've never had to shoot one pissed off in a trap either; that could definitely change how tough they are being angry like that.

It would be tough to beat the 100 gr grand slam, especially if you want exits. Close range(under 50 yards) exits with tipped/hollow point bullets leadcore will be unreliable. Bear hide/hair/bone a big issue for many high velocity tipped bullets at close range.

I keep looking at the Grand slams, for some reason I really want them to work... I don't know why though.

My furthest shot would be 70 yards. Most of them are 15 feet to 50 yards though

 

[Boondox]

Sierra 100gr Pro-Hunter. It is a flat base Spitzer. Shoots great out of my rifle. Dropped the deer I have shot in their tracks.

I happen to have some of them loaded up right meow. Gonna see how they shoot

 

[MrK.]

I have two .243 Winchesters. One I don't shoot much, it's a pre 64 Model 70 that likes the now discontinued 105 grain Speer over a mild charge of IMR 4350. The other is a Krieger barreled Remington 700 that shoots the Speer 90 grain Hot Cor at about 3350 fps. Reloader 22 is the powder for that one. Both of these bullets are great deer bullets and have served me well on deer up close as well as out past 300 yds.

I only have a handful of loaded rounds left for the Model 70. I have a bunch of 95 gn SSTs and some 100 gn InterLocks I'm going to try using RL19 or H4831sc.

 

[hotshot828]

IMR 4831 or H4831 100 Gr. Bullets.

 

[Gman]

The 95 gr Ballistic Tip was designed with you in mind. Devastating game bullet. The Winchester 95 gr. Ballistic Silvertip is the same bullet.

I wouldn't choose a BT for BIG black bear. I don't believe that it will penetrate deeply enough before exploding. Just my opinion, not trying to be confrontational.

 

[Gary in MD]

Actually, the 95grain ballistic tip was supposedly designed to be quite tough for a .243 caliber bullet.
I

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Bear with a 6mm? I will devise a nice epitaph for your headstone. Something alone the lines of "Too late reafised why the 30-06 with 200g bullets was so popular round here"

 

[CJ6]

I'm a big fan of bonded bullets for hunting, that being said with the way the Sierra 100gr. Tipped Game Kings are working I may give them a try next time I get a chance. 46.5grs. Of vv 165.

 

[Gman]

Actually, the 95grain ballistic tip was supposedly designed to be quite tough for a .243 caliber bullet.
I

Thank You for that info on that bullet. I did not know that.

I do know 2 guys who shot PA black bears with the .243 Win cartridge, but they were using 100 grain bullets. (don't remember which manufacturer or type) One bear weighed 175 lbs field dressed, the other was a little over 260 lbs dressed. I'll stick with my 7x57 Model 70 using 140-150 gr pills if going after black bear.

 

[243winxb]

7600 in 243

A twist rate of 1:10 may not like Long bullets?
https://jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml

Sierra #1530 85 gr hpbt

 

[slm9s]

My Mom tipped over a few Roosevelt elk with her 243 model 88 and 100gr Core-Lokts