Most Accurate .243 Big Game Hunting Bullet

[Jrjones]

In my 10tw ive never needed more than the 85gr sierra gk. The 100gr sierra’s are good too but i feel the 85 does more internal damage on lung shots. Its just nasty on em. 80-90gr anything has been more accurate then 100gr stuff for me.(stock 10tw) Dead is dead tho. The other heavyweights are tougher. So many will work

 

[Todd Earhart]

I tested some of the 100 Sierra yesterday. Early yesterday the Hornady 100 interlock was my heavier hunting bullet for .243 but after test, the Sierra has taken its place.
Todd

 

[David Milisock]

I posted recently inquiring about the best .243 hunting bullets that would stabilize in a 1:10 twist. My goal was to learn about good terminal performance on big game (I had specified big deer), and I got lots of very helpful answers.

So, if I may, I'd like to ask a more specific question--what have you found to be the most accurate .243 big game hunting bullet? I realize that this ignores the issue of bullet performance on game, and that the most accurate bullet may perform poorly in the field with big game, and that the bullet that gives the best terminal performance (expansion, penetration, etc.) may not be the most accurate. But if we consider accuracy only, what .243 big game hunting bullets have stood out? I'm not interested in match bullets in this discussion or varmint bullets--just those you'd use when hunting deer, for example. Of course, what has been most accurate for one hunter may not have been for others, but I'd be very interested in hearing about your experience. Perhaps the answers I get will mirror those I got in the previous thread!

Questions like the best bullet or the most accurate bullet come from such a lack of experience with any fiream that a good question cannot even be formulated.

First one has to define the term best and accurate, also a 243 hunting bullet can be fired from a multitude of different cartridges so you have to define a functional operating velocity as well as the weight of the game animal and specific range for hunting.

Driving a 243 projectile from a 240 Weatherby or 6MM-06 limiting your range from a minimum of 200 yards to 400 yards at 200 pound game is a different concept then a 6MM pushed by a different cartridge with functional range from 25 to 200 yards on 100 pound game. So BEST set parameters for best.

Same goes for accurate, each and every rifle shoots accurately with different projectiles at different ranges and under different conditions.

 

[Dan Hall]

I’ve had really good luck with the 87 gr Berger VLD hunting in every 6mm I shoot.

 

[Jr solocam]

Any quality cup and core or bonded bullet in 6mm will perform on deer, they aren't difficult to kill cleanly.

Pick the one you shoot the best.

 

[Plumsask]

In my 6 mm AI, the 90 sierra TGK was amazing accurate, 3500 FPS, super flat and I took deer out to 366 yards that never got up when hit. Many coyote at over 450 yards. It's a great performer and a great BC for its weight. My new 6 AI likes the 108 berger elite hunters, very small groups, not as flat as The 90, but better on the windy days.

 

[B23]

the 105 hybrid is a stone cold killer.

The Berger 105 Hybrid, IMO, is one of THE best 6mm bullets out there and would be my first recommendation, but, the OP has a 10tw barrel and that's a little slow for those Berger Hybrid 105's. I'm actually putting together a 8tw 6mm Creedmoor for my daughter right now and those 105's are going to be the bullet of choice for that build.

Berger 95gr Classic hunter, for something with a 10tw barrel, would be a great choice.

 

[DaveTooley]

I've shot a lot of Red Deer in Scotland with a 85 gr. Speer SBT. No problems

 

[South Pender]

This has been very helpful, guys; thanks. I've wondered about Berger hunting bullets as they have very good BCs for their caliber. Two that Berger indicates would stabilize in a 1:10 twist are (a) the 87-gr. VLD hunting bullet and (b) the 95-gr. Classic Hunter. I know I focused on accuracy only in this thread (albeit with respect to hunting bullets), but I wonder whether the bullets Berger designate hunting bullets perform adequately on game. I've always seen Berger bullets as very accurate and appropriate for target and benchrest shooting, but have been leery about them for hunting. What have your experiences been with Berger bullets in a hunting application? It seems that Dan Hall has had good experiences with the 87-gr. VLD.

 

[DaveTooley]

Call me old school but I've always had good/predicable results with exposed lead spitzers. They are always my first choice in a HUNTING bullet.

 

[AckleymanII]

I like the Speer 85g btsp better than the Sierra 85g BTHP, No flies on the 90g Speer Hot Core either! with R#19 or IMR 4831 with cci 250's ussually producing small groups at very decent speeds.

If you can find any, the 100g Hornady flat base acts like a 95g Partition in how it penetrates.

 

[Tesoro]

fyi sierra is making the 85bthp's again after a long dry spell.

 

[rickt300]

I would hate to suffer along with a 10 twist 6MM!

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Nobody likes Hammer Hunters?

 

[AckleymanII]

100g Norma Ornx projectiles are available now, and they cost less than partitions.

 

[Dan Hall]

The 87 VLD hunting has killed 2 deer for me. Didn’t chase either one. Both Heart/lung shots so as usual Shot placement is critical. Anything with a 1-10 twist would benefit from this bullet.

 

[dryhumor]

85 Partition over 4064 seems to be accurate for me.

 

[Mark W]

85 Partition over 4064 seems to be accurate for me.

I have never been successful in getting a partition to shoot in any of my rifles. I have wished they would shoot for me.

 

[dryhumor]

I have never been successful in getting a partition to shoot in any of my rifles. I have wished they would shoot for me.

In my 7mm08, they don’t shoot at tight as I’d like, but do ok. In my 243 they shoot really well. Kind of surprised me. Lapua cases and a lighter charge of IMR 4064, at 33.9 grains. Standard Federal LR primers.

 

[kyreloader]

Remington 770. 42.5g 8208, 69g Absolute Hammer. 3666fps.
Bullseye is 1 inch, 100 yards off bipod and rear bag.
Still waiting to draw blood with this load.