New 243 win load

[Kramerica]

Just picked up a 10 twist tikka. I have brass, primers and a couple hundred Sierra 90 pro hunters, but was interested in the 90TMK’s as well if I can find any. Looking for suggestions on a good load combo. Primary use is whitetails.

 

[K22]

Congratulations on buying the excellent Tikka rifle and an excellent caliber. I have one, I think you'll love it.

I've been shooting the 243 Win since the late 60's. It is truly a dual-purpose cartridge, i.e., varmints/predators and deer.

With the 10" twist, the 90 Pro Hunter should shoot fine. Two powders I had a lot of success within that bullet range are IMR 4350 and IMR 4064. While I never used the Pro Hunter in the 243, I used it extensively in the 308 Win and it performed magnificently.

If you can find them, the best all-around bullet I ever shot in the 243 Win which incidentally is ideal for a 10 twist, is the Sierra 85 BTHP. This bullet shoots like a match bullet and has excellent terminal performance, even on deer with proper shot placement. You can use it on varmints/predators and deer. Having one all-purpose bullet has obvious advantages.

The 90 BT Nosler is also a good choice for deer and a 10" twist.

 

[WyleWD]

Congratulations on buying the excellent Tikka rifle and an excellent caliber. I have one, I think you'll love it.

If you can find them, the best all-around bullet I ever shot in the 243 Win which incidentally is ideal for a 10 twist, is the Sierra 85 BTHP. This bullet shoots like a match bullet and has excellent terminal performance, even on deer with proper shot placement. You can use it on varmints/predators and deer. Having one all-purpose bullet has obvious advantages.

+1^^^^ At some point you owe it to yourself to shoot those Sierra 85 BTHP bullets. There are others that are good too in the 243 for one type hunting or another, but those 85's are special. JME. WD

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

+1^^^^ At some point you owe it to yourself to shoot those Sierra 85 BTHP bullets. There are others that are good too in the 243 for one type hunting or another, but those 85's are special. JME. WD

are these called Gamekings, 1530?

 

[Zero333]

I would use H-4831sc around 44.5 - 45.5 gr depending on brass and COAL.

I use Winchester brass, 2.750" COAL and 45.5 gr.

85 gr BTHP Gameking # 1530 are stupid accurate. Worth every penny and more accurate that TMK's in my rifles. I think I use 2.650" COAL for those and 46 or 46.5 gr of H-4831sc. Can't remember 100 %.

 

[Zero333]

are these called Gamekings, 1530?

You got it.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

My choice would be IMR 4350 or H4350.

 

[ATFIV]

Just for kicks try some hornady factory ammo with the 75 grain vmax.
EXPLOSIVE terminal performance
no issues in the accuracy department either

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

You got it.

thanks, I will add those to my list.

 

[Zero333]

thanks, I will add those to my list.

The 85 HPBT Gameking # 1530 is superb on deer as well. You can have 1 load for a few different 243win rifles for multiple disciplines... I use the same 85 bthp gameking load in my hunting 243win and it shoots superb too.

I have 3 different 243win hunting loads/bullets, because of different environments and shot distances.

I use the Sierra 100 gr Spitzer Pro-hunter ( # 1540 ) for brush / up close shots ( or my SKS with peep sights using soft point bullets ).
The 85 Gameking is for up to 200 meters and either the 105 A-max or any 100 gr BTSP ( Sierra or Hornady or Speer ) for out to 400 meters.

I don't like the idea of shooting deer beyond 400 meters with the 243win.
I guess I just prefer not to hunt big game beyond 400 meters regardless of cartridge.
Sniping game is not hunting in my opinion. I could easily sit in a stand and snipe big game across 600 or 800 yards with my tactical rifles. I just would never do it personally.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

You got it.

thanks, I will add those to my list.

The 85 HPBT Gameking # 1530 is superb on deer as well. You can have 1 load for a few different 243win rifles for multiple disciplines... I use the same 85 bthp gameking load in my hunting 243win and it shoots superb too.

I have 3 different 243win hunting loads/bullets, because of different environments and shot distances.

I use the Sierra 100 gr Spitzer Pro-hunter ( # 1540 ) for brush / up close shots ( or my SKS with peep sights using soft point bullets ).
The 85 Gameking is for up to 200 meters and either the 105 A-max or any 100 gr BTSP ( Sierra or Hornady or Speer ) for out to 400 meters.

I don't like the idea of shooting deer beyond 400 meters with the 243win.
I guess I just prefer not to hunt big game beyond 400 meters regardless of cartridge.
Sniping game is not hunting in my opinion. I could easily sit in a stand and snipe big game across 600 or 800 yards with my tactical rifles. I just would never do it personally.

Agree.

 

[Bugs]

+1 on all of the remarks about the Sierra 85 grain gameking. I would add that, if you can find any H414 or WW760, give that a try as well.

 

[5spd]

90g tgk are tops for deer, antelope
I set those on top of h414.
Same with the Sierra 85g jhp.
1 shot kills on all I've taken with the 243.

 

[WyleWD]

I've had very good results with WW760. I'm sure that H414 works great too (if you have any) since it is the same powder as WW760. H414 has been discontinued. JME. WD

 

[Homerange]

I don't like the idea of shooting deer beyond 400 meters with the 243win.
I guess I just prefer not to hunt big game beyond 400 meters regardless of cartridge.
Sniping game is not hunting in my opinion. I could easily sit in a stand and snipe big game across 600 or 800 yards with my tactical rifles. I just would never do it personally.

Wise.
6mm at extended range requires good shot placement and when velocity starts to wane, precise placement.

However I have seen some wonderful 6mm Rem shooting from a custom rig pushing 105's hard to well beyond anything you will see in print.
That package was capable of providing the magic #'s of 2000fps and 1000ftlbs at 750yds !
And accuracy quite capable of doing the job too.

 

[Zero333]

Wise.
6mm at extended range requires good shot placement and when velocity starts to wane, precise placement.

However I have seen some wonderful 6mm Rem shooting from a custom rig pushing 105's hard to well beyond anything you will see in print.
That package was capable of providing the magic #'s of 2000fps and 1000ftlbs at 750yds !
And accuracy quite capable of doing the job too.

That's a 6mm Rem. shooting a 105 vld hunting at 3,300 fps. Nothing special about that.

I have accurate hunting rigs chambered in bigger cartridges, and I still personally would not want to shoot big game at over 400 yards. Not just because I don't often hunt areas that give me very long shots,.. I just prefer to give the game more of a fair chance ? everyone is different and I'm not judging.

Here is a video with a hunting 243win rig shooting 105 VLD at a Cow Elk at 688 yards. 1 shot and she instantly folded.

 

[Homerange]

Not just because I don't often hunt areas that give me very long shots,.. I just prefer to give the game more of a fair chance ? everyone is different and I'm not judging.

And forgo a trophy of a lifetime ?

Not everyone is prepared to give such up if travelled 1000km and invested good coin for that slim chance......

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Always been a fan of 95g Nosler Partitions in the 243, with a load of N160

 

[searcher]

IMR4064 has long been the "go to" powder for that weight range. Works spectacularly in my .243 as well using the 85's and 90's. Varget is real nice too.

 

[searcher]

Wise.
6mm at extended range requires good shot placement and when velocity starts to wane, precise placement.

However I have seen some wonderful 6mm Rem shooting from a custom rig pushing 105's hard to well beyond anything you will see in print.
That package was capable of providing the magic #'s of 2000fps and 1000ftlbs at 750yds !
And accuracy quite capable of doing the job too.

Better check before shooting the 105 in a factory 1-10" twist 6mm.....