.243 Loads for Deer

H

heymax

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I know some folks think that a .243 is too small for Deer but I know a guy who has taken dozens of Deer, big and small, all with a 22-250. With that said, I'm trying to figure out what my best choice of grain of bullet to use. Biggest is not always the best and they make quite a few bullets from 55 grain to 100 grain. What do you folks use if you shoot a .243. I have thought about getting the 75 grain vmax Hornady load. Any thoughts? I shoot a Marlin XS7 with a Twist rate of 1:10.
 
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Sorry about the double jump. I thought you were asking about reloading for the .243. I don't think you were.

That said, as the .243 is considered a dual purpose caliber, equally well thought of for both varmints AND deer sized game, you need to match bullet construction to the size of your critter.

Using a varmint bullet on a deer might well result in a wounded, but lost, critter.
 
I have had good results with 100 grain win power points and 100 grain rem corelocts, but switched to 95 win supreme NBT and have found that they seem to drop them a bit quicker, and they turn their lungs into jello. My dad likes the 95 rem accutip which is a similar bulet to the win NBT. Most of our deer here are farm fed and run between 125lbs - 150 for the does and 150 + for a mature buck. Bigger deer might call for a larger cartridge and heavier bullet.

With any cartridge shot placement is critical and with the .243 it is even more important to take a good broadside shot and put the bullet in the lungs and heart. Don't expect it to plow the length of a deer to reach the vital areas and don't expect it to break both shoulders if you hit them there.
 
I would NOT load the V-Max in the 243 for deer. You really need a 'big game' bullet in the 85-100 grn range. I took a deer last Fall with a 95 grn partition over a charge of H. 4350. It worked as well as anything. If you are buying factory ammo I'd go with 100 grns or so. My gunsmith is a great fan of Hornady 100 grn bullets in the 243.
 
I have shot low end Remington factory 100gr ammo in my 6mm/.243's for over 25 years. 3 shot 100yd groups that look like 1 ragged hole, and deer that are dead before they hit the ground. Some of these new fangled super duper bullets may perform better, but I have never felt the need to experiment with bullets or caliber. Your .243 will more than likely out shoot you, more than enough gun for deer.
 
I've never shot a deer with anything other than a .243 win. and never lost one. You need to use a bullet with controlled expansion, killed many with factory rem. corelokt but reload the hornady 100gr. round nose interlock and they work great too.
 
I shoot a XS7 .243 also :). I have killed deer with both the 95gr federal fusion and Winchester super X 100gr. Very accurate and droped them in their tracks :)
 
I've got one friend that uses the Winchester Super X 100 grain Power Points from Walmart with great luck. Another friend used these Winchesters the season before last and also liked them. Last season he switched to Hornady 95 Grain SST's and really likes them. He says it does the most damage of the bullets he has tried and he really likes them. I wouldn't have a problem using either of these as they have great luck with them. I also have a few friends that hunt but not really with us much and they use the Federal Power Shok soft points in 100 grain and like them. I think really any bullet in the 95-100 grain range that's either a soft point or ballistic tip will probably do just fine if the shot placement is good.

I see a guy above mentioned Federal Fusions. I've never known anyone that's shot them in a .243 but I like them in my 30-06. In that they seem to be a good bullet.
 
I come down on the side of a premimum bullet.

NOT because the lessor bullets won't kill, but because in the case of a poor shot, which over the years most of us will make at some point in time, the quality bullets cause less damage to good eating flesh.

I have used the Nosler Partition since the days they were made on screw machines, in .243s, 7mms and 30calibers, and they, or bullets of that quality level are truely the best value.

Again, not because the others won't kill, but because of all the plus points found in that quality of bullet.

The most damage I have ever seen on a deer was caused by a 30/30 with an old cup and core bullet and it only gets worse as speed of the cartridge gets higher.

In the 60s, my first deer with a 243 was with a cup an core bullet and I was hunting with the Nosler by the next season.

Keep em coming!


Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
85gr Sierra Gameking to the center brisket of a nice buck a couple years ago and it was all over. About a 80yd shot I'd say. I think the .243Win is plenty adequate for whitetail after I did that.
 
I have used 100gr Hornady BTSP with 37 gr of H380 and have nothing but good results. I have only shot one deer with another bullet and it was an 80gr. It was factory load (can't remember the manufacturer) and did its job but didn't exit.

mt_dren
 
.243 @ 212 yards.......

Deer001.jpg
 
I know some folks think that a .243 is too small for Deer
Click to expand...

But they're wrong.

Pick a 90-100 grain bullet that shoots goood from your rifle and you should be fine.

I used Sierra bullets back in the 80's, and now use Speer. All were 100 grain, and all worked fine.

When you get below 80-85 grain bullets in .243 caliber, many are constructed for varmint shooting. Those won't work well on deer. Stick with the heavier bullets and you'll be fine.

Daryl
 
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