243 Winchester deer round

If I were to purchase factory ammo for a deer hunt (I have yet to actually do so), I would buy Federal Fusion 95 gr, provided it proved accurate in the rifle(s) in question. Even the formerly inexpensive and available Federal 100 gr soft point blue or red box ammo was very accurate in my .243, and would probably work just fine. IF you can find some.

Assuming the young men are of the classic paradigm, shooting 0-100yrds and not wanting to blow much budget on ammo, I’d say if they can’t knock down deer with Hornady 100grn Interlocks, it would be no fault of the ammo.

I second the Federal Fusion 95gr or 100gr offerings. Usually accurate and with great bullet construction.

My handload is a 75gr HPBT at 3500fps.

30-30 lever gun

Although not very exotic, I would vote for the Federal 80 Grain Power-Shok. It is very easy on the shoulder and very lethal at reasonable ranges. This load was easy to find at most "Mart" type stores as well as the smaller stores before the pandemic.

Lots of reviews from deer hunters here:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001662370?pid=587928

Buy a Savage axis 243 it has enough to put a deer down loaded with 100 gr. Interlocks

95 grain Fusions do a good job.

I roll my own but when I first got my 700 I didn't have time to work up a load so I bought a box of 95gr Fusions. Shot 2 deer the first day of the season. Worked swell.

I too handload my own, but had to start over with the new 243 win to get components, brass, to make more accurate rounds. Tried several brands Peters 95 gr, ppu 90 grain and hornandy 100 interlocks, all provided decent accuracy. I personally like heavier bullet weights in the 243, 90 to 100 gr. I did try the scriocco 90 gr, a Remington premium several years ago with my first 243 and found it to be explosive on game with a lot of bloodshot meat at close range.

I don't know of any factory loaded round with heavy for caliber bullets that will not work just fine on deer. Experiment for accuracy, and go hunting with the best in your rifle.

I think they will all do fine, but my preference has always been Partitions. They can be hard to come by in factory ammo, and expensive to boot, so add me to the growing list of those who recommend Fusion. It expands violently, retains good weight, penetrates deeply and can bust bone. That based on my experience with it in 223, so I am assuming the 243 is more of a good thing.

I to would suggest Hornady 100 gr. interlocks. I've taken them with less bullet in 243 than that, deer ain't armor plated.

The fusion series are fantastic ammo for the price and I used for my 270 this deer season. Took 4 with it and on all the bullet performed great on all 4. I am also a fan of the hornady interlocks and american whitetail season. Both rounds shoot great out of every gun I use them in. (that's 7 to count).

Fusion first, Power-shock second along with Hornady American Whitetail.

I have been using the 100 grain Winchester power points- the cheap rounds from wally world from back when a person could buy ammo. Been using them for about 20 years for deer from my 243, and haven't even come close to losing one. On the rare occasion when they run out of view, there has always been a blood trail a blind man could follow a short distance to a dead deer.

100gr Core Lokts are my cup-and-core bullets of choice. With sedate velocities and flat noses, they're never going to win any long-distance matches, but I've never seen an issue with any Core-Lokt not expanding.

I still have a few Remington factory 100 grain Core-Lokt rounds on the shelf left over from before I started hand loading. They always did the job well. I trust they will be available again when Vista gets Remington ammunition back on line.

Remington factory Core-Lokt is usually my go to for standard cup and core bullets. The price is usually good, and the just work. As suggested Hornady Interlocks are a good choice as are Federal. It'll be more a factor of what you can find vs what you want I'm afraid.

These days I load my own.

-Jeff

Hornady 103 gr ELD-X.

Whatever you can find at the moment. Deer aren’t hard to kill.

Edit to add: And is accurate in their rifle.

Remington factory 100 grain Core-Lokt rounds on the shelf left over from before I started hand loading. They always did the job well.

Click to expand...

Sure did!
Used nothing but a 243 for deer for the past five decades. Shot a lot of deer and never had a deer get away or go further than 30 yards...like ever. That is a fact!

Federal fusion is my preferred factory deer ammo. At the moment you might have to settle for whatever you can get.

Right now the 95-100 in what you can find and if you can find them. Alternative is to know a 243 reloader that will make you up some 243 for sight-in and some hunting stuff for the young men, at least until they find some factory ammo they like.

If you can not find anything that suits, let me know, I do reload for the 243 and live in the greater Florala area, we can probably figure out a way to get the young men outfitted to go.

I only hunt with Fusion or Partition bullets. I don't like surprises.