Hunting 243 advice

[dkhunt14]

I believe any of the three will work on deer. Matt

 

[AckleymanII]

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.

Something is just magic about the 95g partition on accuracy, don't ask me what. We have seen this in numerous 243's and 6 Remingtons. I shot IMR 4831 with a Rem 9 1/2 in the 6 Rem and IMR 4350 with the 243 with a 9 1/2 or Win primer. Accuracy in a tweeked factory rem should be in the 5/8" area at 100, and seating depth is critical. The 95g partition liked to jump quite a bit, but your rifle may be different. You will not ever feel the need for a larger caliber on deer after shooting this combo, especially if you dress out your own game vs taking it to a processor.

 

[furmaster]

I have no doubt they will all kill. Just curious about personal experience with terminal performance. Ackleyman I have heard great things about that bullet as well as what you said. Im sure I will give them a try. My buddy says he has some of the partitions and the ballistic. He loves them as well, he also only shoots them exclusively in his 25-06

 

[284winner]

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.

Hope you found out that your 9 twist barrel will shoot the 105 Amax bullets. Mine does not. Too slow of twist for my gun. 95 Berger's are ideal. Wish I'd have gone with an 8 twist. An 8 twist WILL shoot down to 70 grainers. At least in the match type bullets.

 

[SHootSTraight22]

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.

I'd listen to this advice if not your asking for a bullet to fail at the wrong time (a trophy animal maybe lost.) The Nosler Partition has a long history of killing in a 243Win or similar cartridges... The reason is it expands back into a mallet shape instead of rounded which acts as a wad cutter... Plus that partition running through the core holds its mass/weight and aids the little bullet in penetration.. The Swift Scricco (spelling) shouldn't be over looked though but will expand more and in a rounded shape causing more energy to be lost as it works it's way through tissue.. (The rounded shape acts to push around tissue instead of through like a wad cutter.) I would test both bullets in a test medium.. Put a 1 quart oil container in front of some card board backing to imprint the expanded mallet shape of the projectile into... Shoot this medium at whatever range you think you need the bullets to perform at... You should have good expansion in the first card board backing for good terminal performance... If you use enough card board you can capture the bullets and study them... Keep in mind what I said about expanded meplat shape... If it's flat and boxy looking it can be argued that's positive for tissue destruction and more penetration vs. a rounded shape pushing tissue out the way.. Testing hunting bullets are really simple, check out the "Shooting Holes in Wounding Theory" on the internet... It's very enlighten.. I wished Bryan Litz would do a book on just terminal performance alone (including all popular hunting bullets) but I'm afraid he want because of the findings..

 

[furmaster]

well I got some 105 amaxs, 95 berger classics, 100 sgk, 95 Nosler partitions and some sst's. Im gunna go give em hell and see which one is the most accurate and using a test like above try to verify penetration expansion. Should be a blast. I will let you guys know what I find.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Keep us posted. I'm real curious how things go for you.

 

[furmaster]

I wasn't able because of time constraints to do any kind of terminal ballistics test but today I was able to shoot some rounds on paper and a steel plate. At 200 yds the partitions and bergers were the clear winners in the accuracy department. Both shot .75 ish" groups. The amax and sbk,s were around 1.5". I then shot a bunch at the 500 yd plate and the same occured. The berger and noslers both were outstanding. The edge going to the bergers. At 500 The amax were around 4" with the sierras. Granted I didn't tweek all the loads as I'm sure a guy can get them all to shoot, but why change what ain't broke. The partitions and berger classics are both shooting 5 shot groups the size of chew cans at 500yds. The bullet that performs better with a good terminal ball test will be the one I pick. I am excited about the gun thus far. I will keep u updated to further testing

 

[Zero333]

I vote Berger Classic for deer. Higher BC than the Partitions will help a lil bit with longer shots in windier conditions.

 

[furmaster]

My thoughts too. Supposedly they will act like a vld.

 

[acssa]

I like a 87gr Vmax... for hunting. I have 2x 243WIN and a 6XC. My Wife shoot 6XC, 6BR.... we have the 6 covered.... I have see a guy hunt 36 buck in one day with a 243win 8 twist barrel using 80gr noslers... it makes bugholes at a 100 yards and 1/2moa at 200... I still cant get over it.

 

[acssa]

Proof that a 8 twist 243 can work for hunting even when using 80gr in it.

 

[furmaster]

That looks fun

 

[furmaster]

Well... I opted out of my goat and deer tag to draw my bear tag. This ended up being a good idea because weather was so warm this year. Either way I 3nded up shooting my bear at about 400yds with a 95gr berger classic hunter. That bullet totally bitch slapped that bear. No lungs or heart left to talk about. If I wasn't on tablet i would post a pic. I am super impressed with that berger. I'm sure other bullets would have same result, but I only can shoot one at a time. I will get a pic up. Plus I will be doing my deer and pronghorn this coming year. Thanks for all the input, if you were wondering about that classic hunter.......it's a winner!!!!!

 

[stacy]

Proof that a 8 twist 243 can work for hunting even when using 80gr in it.

DANG I'LL SAY !!!!!!!!

 

[Dale700]

I have shot the 243 since 1972 and started printing them in 1978 , IMO it is truly one of the most versatile calibers I own. The first and foremost thing you have to do is match your bullet to what you won't to do.
My favorite mid range bullet is the 85 Gr Nosler bt hunting bullet on deer size game to 500 if you shoot well . Beyond that I have stoned white tail at 800 with the 100 Gr partition, spinning down a 1 in 9 Douglas. Beyond that I personally would only shoot steel . Then I like the Berger vld , as finicky as they are, for targets. I plan to try the Hornady ELDM soon.

 

[WyleWD]

Well... I opted out of my goat and deer tag to draw my bear tag. This ended up being a good idea because weather was so warm this year. Either way I 3nded up shooting my bear at about 400yds with a 95gr berger classic hunter. That bullet totally bitch slapped that bear. No lungs or heart left to talk about. If I wasn't on tablet i would post a pic. I am super impressed with that berger. I'm sure other bullets would have same result, but I only can shoot one at a time. I will get a pic up. Plus I will be doing my deer and pronghorn this coming year. Thanks for all the input, if you were wondering about that classic hunter.......it's a winner!!!!!

Congrats on dropping that BEAR! It shows that you are a capable marksman with a capable round..... the 243 properly matched to the correct bullet for the task at hand. Again, congrats and looking forward to seeing the pics. WD

 

[furmaster]

 

[Webphut]

I know this is an old thread, but getting back to what I was curious about too, which twist rate offers the best in terms of shooting larger spread of hunting bullet weights? I am ordering a 243 for my daughter and she will not be shooting a 30 caliber anything, let alone small magnum for years to come. She will be 12 when she starts shooting with it. The story's passed down from my grandparents to my parents to me are uncountable when it comes to hunting deer and grey squrrels with the 243 Winchester as kids. I'm sold and honestly after years of shooting a 7mm rem mag, my shoulder is too. What twist rate is the best for hunting with 70 to 110 grain hunting bullets? I have read several places 1:8 is good up to 105. What is 1:10 good up to, 90?

 

[hunter243sgk]

I know this is an old thread, but getting back to what I was curious about too, which twist rate offers the best in terms of shooting larger spread of hunting bullet weights? I am ordering a 243 for my daughter and she will not be shooting a 30 caliber anything, let alone small magnum for years to come. She will be 12 when she starts shooting with it. The story's passed down from my grandparents to my parents to me are uncountable when it comes to hunting deer and grey squrrels with the 243 Winchester as kids. I'm sold and honestly after years of shooting a 7mm rem mag, my shoulder is too. What twist rate is the best for hunting with 70 to 110 grain hunting bullets? I have read several places 1:8 is good up to 105. What is 1:10 good up to, 90?

. I went with the 8tw so that I could shoot the heavies on down and I don't regret it at all. I have shot the 115dtacs to the 80g nbts. I haven't shot any of the 110s yet but they are not a hunting bullet anyhow. And yes the 10tw should be able to run the 95s or 90s and lower.