.243

[Arkansas Paul]

Yes they are.
I killed a doe last year with a 100 grain soft point factory round. It ran about 50 yds into a thicket and didn't leave a drop of blood. I almost lost it, even though it didn't go very far.
But these SGKs made a believer out of me. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any whitetail with one. The wound was massive.

 

[243winxb]

Sierra GameKIng 85 gr hpbt # 1530 with IMR 4350. Deer, woodchuck, crows.

 

[fallout mike]

That's cool paul. That little shop I told you about has those bullets in stock. As well as several powders suggested here.

 

[slamfirev10]

great 1st deer rifle for young 'un

buy 1 box of factory and be set for at least a couple of years

 

[ssyoumans]

I took a 7pt buck this year with a 95gr SST over a stout load of Ramshot Hunter. The round blew up inside the deer and did its job, deer dropped within 15 yards, but only fragments of the bullet remained. I'm not sure I would use it again. I think next time I will try with: Barnes 80gr TTSX, 85gr TSX, or a 90gr Accubond. I prefer a bullet that will exit and create a large blood trail.

As far as powders, I've been using H414/W760 and Ramshot Hunter. Both give great accuracy and velocity. While I like Varget in several calibers, it didn't come close to published or other powders velocity.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

buy 1 box of factory and be set for at least a couple of years

Ha. He doesn't know us very well does he?

 

[fallout mike]

No, I think not. Maybe buy one box of factory and be set for several minutes. My son likes shooting as much as me. He likes shooting several guns. His favorite is my ar. And he doesn't just shoot. After each shot he makes he feels the need to check the target with the spotting scope to see where he hit exactly. He is a very good shot. I got him started at 4.

 

[fallout mike]

Ssyoumans, im not sure about the barnes TTSX. I've loaded those in a few calibers and they are the pickiest bullets I've ever loaded. Just my experience anyway.

 

[Kachok]

I use SGKs in every caliber I load for, they shoot great and perform great on game, expand violently about 3" in and leave the largest exit wounds I have ever seen in person. Only one deer this year took a step and that was because of an accidental gut shot (my load but not my shooting) still only made it 20 yards.
In contrast my Ballistic Tips expand a little quicker, often times leaving visiable signs of expansion only 1-2" in (though the entry wounds can be very clean, even had one I could not find) and fragment the front portion of the bullet making a shotgun like effect through the vitals, leaving chunks of lead and jacket on the far side of the rib cage. The rear portion has one of the thickest jackets you will ever see, it does a great job keeping the rest of the bullet together and ensures adequate penetration, despite what you may read I have never had one completely blow up, even on close ranged shots from a 270 WSM pushing 3300fps! They do dump alot of energy so they don't exit with the authority of the SGK but the vitals are liquified from the shock and fragmentation so they rarely move after being hit.
Two slightly different approaches with the same result, quick clean kills.

 

[tbob38]

When I loaded commercially, I used mostly 105 gr Speer spitzer bullets for .243 and 6mm Rem. There were probably several hundred deer killed with them in Eastern Washington in those days (1982-1999).

 

[kingmt]

I took a 7pt buck this year with a 95gr SST over a stout load of Ramshot Hunter. The round blew up inside the deer and did its job, deer dropped within 15 yards, but only fragments of the bullet remained. I'm not sure I would use it again. I think next time I will try with: Barnes 80gr TTSX, 85gr TSX, or a 90gr Accubond. I prefer a bullet that will exit and create a large blood trail.

As far as powders, I've been using H414/W760 and Ramshot Hunter. Both give great accuracy and velocity. While I like Varget in several calibers, it didn't come close to published or other powders velocity.

Quit pushing them so hard. Your causing your own problems. The harder you push it the more it will expand & the less penetration you'll get.

 

[ssyoumans]

I ran the 95gr SST at 3,000 fps, which was 50fps over the Hornady Custom load ammo, but is 150fps less than factory Hornady Superformance loaded ammo. I may try them again and will back them down to 2850-2900 fps and see if that helps them hold together. I don't need top speed since typical deer is less than 60 yards away where I hunt.

 

[ShortFatHokie]

For .243, Ramshot Hunter, IMR or H4350, H4831, and Hybrid 100V plus any 90-100 grain pill makes fine deer medicine...

 

[targetshooter22]

Personally, I have had great success with 88-100 grains bullets and Varget, 4350, and Reloader 19 in various rifles and combinations. Seems to me that 243 is not fussy....

 

[leeggen]

243

lovly rifle and what a steel. I load 46gr 7828 with cci mag primer, 100 gr seiarre game king. Stay away from the fast burn powders they can cause barrel errosion at the chamber/rifling. That was the big complaint in early years of the 243. IMR 4350 or 7828 are great 243 powders, although others are great also.

 

[Strongbad]

I use 95 gr. SST's in both of my 243's. One uses H-4350 and the other IMR-7828. The SST's at a moderate velocity (carbine length barrels in both guns) dump whitetails on the spot. My 788 has killed 20+ in the last 6-7 years by my hand and everyone I've loaned the gun. None of them took a step.