Most Accurate .243 Big Game Hunting Bullet

[South Pender]

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!

 

[CJ6]

85gr. Sierra hpbt (1530) .This IS a hunting bullet.

 

[WyleWD]

85gr. Sierra hpbt (1530) .This IS a hunting bullet.

+1^^^^

And an accurate bullet in my experience with them. WD

 

[vonb]

85gr. Sierra hpbt (1530) .This IS a hunting bullet.

This. I'd also add that my experience is that Sierra bullets are generally easier to find an accuracy node than others.

 

[Gary in MD]

I'll still go with the 95 gr ballistic tip. This bullet is also built fairly tough. It's been accurate and deadly for me in the 243 WIN & 240 WBY.
The 105 Berger hunting VLD is also super accurate and holds up well at longer ranges.

 

[S Miller]

We’ve had good luck with the Sierra 85hpbt and the Berger 95 classic hunter.

 

[JEFFPPC]

100 gr Nosler Solid Base. Can still be found at gun shows.

 

[farmerjohn]

Hey Fellers, IMHO 6mm should be limited to 200lb or less critters for openers, which is for me deer. I've killed a lot with the 85 Sierra and the 100 solid base Nosler, both good bullets. But the last couple of years I've been reeeeal impressed with the 90gr SGC in the smaller 6mm and the 108 Berger Elite hunter in the bigger 6mm cartridges. They punch way above their weight. I've seen enough evidence out of the last 12 or 15 deer that I now have 1k of each of them put back to do me till I'm called home....john

 

[farmerjohn]

Left out the main point, the Berger Elite and the SGC are the two most accurate bullets I've found to hunt with, the Berger is plenty good enough for 600yd IBS.... John

 

[AckleymanII]

In a a 10 twist, two bullets come to mind in terms of accuracy, the 100g Hornady Flat base spt, and the 95g Nosler ballistic tip. Both are very fine killing bullets in large deer. I consider both of these a more "stout" bullet than any of the Sierras.

Norma is now marketing a Ornx bullet in 100g weight that should be tops on anyone' s list.

 

[TrapperBR549]

My question would be how much accuracy do you need? If I am hunting deer I'd rather have a partition shat shoots MOA than a hollow point boat tail that shoots 1/2MOA.

 

[Thauglor]

You are going to be hunting lions and elephants with a 6mm?

 

[mike mccormick]

Well, I have had really good accuracy in the past with the speer 100 gr spot, as well as the 85 gr version. Going to try out the 95 gr sgc this year.

 

[Clancy]

87 Berger, or I don’t care what the box says the 105 hybrid is a stone cold killer.

Nosler BT are good, and so are Sierra game kings.

I think that’s about all I’ve used

 

[South Pender]

My question would be how much accuracy do you need? If I am hunting deer I'd rather have a partition shat shoots MOA than a hollow point boat tail that shoots 1/2MOA.

That's a good point, and I agree entirely. There's no real need for ½MOA accuracy in the field.

Hey Fellers, IMHO 6mm should be limited to 200lb or less critters for openers, which is for me deer. I've killed a lot with the 85 Sierra and the 100 solid base Nosler, both good bullets. But the last couple of years I've been reeeeal impressed with the 90gr SGC in the smaller 6mm[/attach]

Yeah, that 90-gr. Sierra Game Changer with the plastic tip looks like a nice bullet. However, Sierra notes that it requires a 1:9 twist, and when I plug it into the JBM Ballistics program, it shows it slightly under-stabilized in a 1:10 twist. Has anyone shot this bullet in a 1:10 twist and found it to stabilize?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

In a 1-10 Twist, 22.4" Bbl'd, factory Tikka, in .243 Win.,.. we HAVE, a 5 Shot, .277 dia., Ctr. to Ctr., Group, shot by my Son out of, my old .243 that, my grandson has, Now.
He has gotten 2, Large Bodied, Idaho, Desert Mulies ( Draw Tags ) one, a 3 x 4 at 225 yds and last year at, 13
y/o, a Tall / Hvy racked, 4 x 5 @ over 30 inches, Wide at, 268 yds with, the 87 gr. Berger H-VLD at, 3,165 FPS using, N-160 and "Jumping" about, .070
Both Bucks were DRT W/ Jello internals, very little wasted Meat ( Fragmnt's, in Diaphgram ).
He Practices on Steel to 350 yds with, Same powder load but, uses, the cheaper,.. Horn. 87 gr V-Maxes.
The 87 gr H-VLD is,.. a "Killer" and, extremely, Accurate !
The 105 Grain, Berger's,.. NEED,. a 1-8 Twist

 

[South Pender]

In a 1-10 Twist, 22.4" Bbl'd, factory Tikka, in .243 Win.,.. we HAVE, a 5 Shot, .277 dia., Ctr. to Ctr., Group, shot by my Son out of, my old .243 that, my grandson has, Now.
He has gotten 2, Large Bodied, Idaho, Desert Mulies ( Draw Tags ) one, a 3 x 4 at 225 yds and last year at, 13
y/o, a Tall / Hvy racked, 4 x 5 @ over 30 inches, Wide at, 268 yds with, the 87 gr. Berger H-VLD at, 3,165 FPS using, N-160 and "Jumping" about, .070
Both Bucks were DRT W/ Jello internals, very little wasted Meat ( Fragmnt's, in Diaphgram ).
He Practices on Steel to 350 yds with, Same powder load but, uses, the cheaper,.. Horn. 87 gr V-Maxes.
The 87 gr H-VLD is,.. a "Killer" and, extremely, Accurate !
The 105 Grain, Berger's,.. NEED,. a 1-8 Twist

So, Idaho-Lefty, was that .277" group shot with the 90-gr. Sierra Game Changer bullet? That's a pretty phenomenal group from a hunting rifle with hunting bullets.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ South Pender,..
It was shot by my Son when at, 45 years of age ( Better Eyes than, Me ), Factory Tikka, 1.25 pound, Elay Precision, Trigger Spring, CAREFULLY, "Broke -in", free floated, Barrel and, "Worked Up" Load with, the 87 gr BERGER, H-VLD's @ .070 off Jam. This Rifle,.. "Shoots",.. But this,.. IS, a "Wallet Group" ( ONCE and probably, .. DONE, group ) as it's, a Pencil Barrel, light weight, 7.5 lb., Hunting Rifle.
Berger H-VLD's shoot, AS GOOD as, Target Bullets,.. IF, you can Find their correct, Seating depth.
Of, My 3 Tikka's, the very WORST One, a .270 WSM, "Shoot's",.. 3/4 MOA w/ 140 Berger's at 3,175 FPS ave.
My 6.5 Creed Tikka, does, a 1/2 MOA frequently with, Hornady, 130 gr. ELD-M's, down into, the mid 3's on my,..
good Days.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

90 gr accubond...

 

[Todd Earhart]

I have two hunting loads for my .243. One with 85 Sierra and one with 100 hornady interlock. The 85 @ 3150 and 100 @ 3000. 85 @ slightly under 1\2 moa at 200 and the 100 @ moa at 200. Both get the job done.
Todd