What is the best .243 hunting bullet that will stabilize in a 1:10 twist

[Jrjones]

makes it hard to choose when there is so many good bullets. They can all do a good job. No your limitations with the .243. Theres is nothing more deadly than a well placed shot regardless of suitable caliber. Know that your deadly and you will be a killer. Get em dude!

 

[qldreloader]

Don't know if it's the best but I purchased 1k of Speer 85gr SPs quite cheaply. They shoot well out of my Tikka and put down pigs very effectively. Haven't shot any deer with them but I've found deer easier to kill than pigs as a general rule. They do open up pretty well but nothing like a VMAX. Fun to shoot rabbits and hares with.

 

[AckleymanII]

The last deer that I shot in Kansas was a 320 yard shot with a Rem 700 in 243 Winchester.
IMR 4350 with 100g Hornady BTSP. The buck dressed out was 240 lbs. So, your 10 twist is great for the 100g Hornady's!

For years we also shot the 95g Partitions in the 10 twist, max load of IMR 4831 with 9 1/2 Primer @ 3150 fps.

95g Nosler ballistic tips work very well, so do the 95g SST that is a very tough bullet.

 

[ATFIV]

Sierra # 1530 85 gr HPBT imr 4064
Lapua brass.. proven

 

[K22]

Thanks, guys for some great advice. I can see the appeal of a 90, 95, or 100-gr. bullet, and you've suggested some good ones. I'm encouraged to learn that the Nosler 90-grain Accubond will stabilize in the 10 twist. The Sierra 85-grain HPBT recommendation surprises me a little. First, its hollow-point form seems a little odd for a hunting bullet. Wouldn't it do better with a more pointed tip? Second, its BC is very low (.311) largely because of its hollow point which would seem to limit its range. But perhaps its inherent accuracy makes up for this.

K22, when I mentioned "big deer," I guess I was thinking of some of the mountain mulies we have in B.C. that can go 250 lbs., although most are lighter than that. The other"big deer"species we have here are mountain caribou, and these can go 400 lbs. or more, but I think a .243 Win. is just a little too light for them. I've a .270 Win. and a 7x61 S&H that are more appropriate for caribou.

Your skepticism about the 85 BTHP for deer was also my initial reaction when it was suggested to me many years ago. At first, I used in mostly for doe hunting until I felt confident in it before hunting bucks with it. The double lung shot is extremely effective with this bullet. If they run, mine typical never made it more than 50 yards. Regardless of the low BC, this bullet in my rifles shoots like a match bullet, 1/2 moa groups are fairly routine in sporter weight rifles with IMR 4064, Varget, or IMR 4350.

The two largest bucks I ever shot were taken with a 308 Win when I started hunting locally at some local farms. The deer are much larger here than in the mountains due to the superior food supply. I am not saying the 243 Win wouldn't have taken them, I just felt more comfortable with the 308 Win. since I anticipated a chance at a deer of a lifetime which came to fruition twice, and I was glad I had selected the 308.

I love the 243 Win; it was my first centerfire rifle and I've been shooting it for over 50 years. However, quite honestly, for the size of the game you posted, I would choose a heavier caliber. As I said previously, the 243 Win shines as a dual-purpose option. For strictly big game, I would choose a 270, 30 06, 308, or similar cartridge.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Find some 100 gr Speer grand slams.

 

[sw282]

The 85 Sierra BTHP is the best general-purpose bullet I have ever tested and used in the field with the 243 Win, 10" twist in over 50+ years of experience with this wonderful cartridge. This bullet will take varmints, predators, and deer the latter with careful shot placement which should be observed with any bullet selection for deer hunting.

Having one bullet / load for all hunting purposes has inherit advantages of getting familiar with the rifle's field capability which will increase confidence which will increase positive field results. It will simplify component inventory and reloading. Load a box and you are ready for any season of hunting adventures. The 243 Win shines as a dual-purpose cartridge especially in the hands of a skilled field marksman.

However, the OP's statement "big deer" gives me pause. I have used this bullet successfully on mountain bucks that normally range in weight under 150 lbs. For hunting strictly "big deer", I would choose a Nosler Partition bullet or better yet a larger caliber like the 308. But if a 243 Win is all you have and you use proper shot placement at reasonable distances, it is capable of filling your freezer even on "big deer."

Kenny Jarrett told me once he killed 59 deer in one year with a 243Win using 85gr Sierra JHPs. l have a Remington factory Varmint barrel in 243 in need of a home. Since l retired my 700 Varmint in 22-250, l think swapping that 243 Varmint barrel on to my 22-250 would make a perfect deer KILLER shooting 85gr Sierras

 

[muleystalker]

These Badlands Bulldozer ll perform great out of my 6x204 they would rock out of a .243 or 6 Creedmoor. I am going to try they in a 6 Dasher they ought to do great.

.243 80gr Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.153″ BC (G1): .420 BC (G7): .215 Twist: 1-10″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

 

[David Milisock]

How good of a shot are you in the field? The 6mm bullet selection is awesome to say the least. Try some in the 85 to 100 grain weight, if you're hunting shoot what's accurate at near maximum speed.

My question is really to the point, limit your range based on the size of the game and your skill, place the shot where it needs to be, don't exceed your limitations, push the bullet hard enough to expand, in close stay off heavy bone.

 

[rjtfroggy]

100gr soft point. In 50 years of hunting with a 243 I never had one drop out of sight using them.

 

[K22]

Kenny Jarrett told me once he killed 59 deer in one year with a 243Win using 85gr Sierra JHPs. l have a Remington factory Varmint barrel in 243 in need of a home. Since l retired my 700 Varmint in 22-250, l think swapping that 243 Varmint barrel on to my 22-250 would make a perfect deer KILLER shooting 85gr Sierras

I never lost a deer using that bullet, but I was patient, waiting for a broad side double lung shot opportunity. Also, the distances were under 200 yards. It is the only bullet I prefer for the 243 Win when I can get them. What is really nice about this bullet is the excellent accuracy thus it's a good choice for varmint and predator hunting and a real hammer on those critters.

 

[Edd]

Find some 100 gr Speer grand slams.

I have a box of those I've been saving for something special. I bought them about 35 years ago.

 

[AckleymanII]

Back in the Late 80s here in the South, a good friend of mine killed 19 deer out of a box of 20 of the Winchester factory 80g in his factory Rem 700 in a single hunting season.

 

[South Pender]

Well, the Sierra 85-gr. HPBT bullet sure gets a lot of love! I'll pick up a box and try them out in my Schultz & Larsen .243 Win. According to QuickLoad, I should be able to drive that to about 3225 fps mv safely with a load of Alliant Re26, which I have. Even with a lousy BC, it should range reasonably well at that velocity. With a setting of +3" at 100 yds. (my fallback for open range hunting; thank Jack O'Connor for that!), it will be about ‒12.5" at 400 yards.

 

[Handi204]

I have never had a 10 twist 243 that didn’t like a 95 gr. BT.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Jip, 95gr BT

 

[tydaws]

95gr Nosler BT

 

[Dan Hall]

87 gr Berger VLD hunting

 

[expiper]

I have tinkered with 243's since the 60's and have pondered the same questions,,,,it all boils down to nothing with a G1- BC higher than .434 or length greater than 1.080" ,,just a quick measurement or look on the box and read the BC---prolly the best for the money and give great accuracy and tissue damage are the Sierra 85gr HPBT (1530) and Sierra 100 gr SBT (1560)---however if you want to go to Berger the 90 gr BT---87 VLD Hunting--and the ultimate is the 95 BT Hunter (NOT VLD),,,,,,Roger
Edit---just to note these are what I have found to be best in factory rifles with no more than 9-1/4" twist---which was the question that was asked originally ,,,if you have a custom with 8" or more twist then the heavier bullets would be better for larger deer and longer shots (400 plus yards),,,,the light bullets (95gr and below) have much more MV which offsets the high BC 105 class bullets,,,,

 

[284winner]

I ran the Berger tool and it said their 90 Gr boat tail @ 3000 fps was marginally stable. The partition would stabilize and you'd never have to worry about the bullet doing its job. My nephews have killed a truck load of deer with the 90 Gr Swift Scirocco out of a Remington 700 ADL, 243 but I don't really know what the twist is. Maybe some better input will come shortly

Sierra 100 SBT