Good 80 Gr 243 Bullet?

[TenDriver]

Looking for some first hand experience in suggesting an 80 gr .243 bullet for whitetail. Sierras are readily available here in many flavors, but I can usually get my hands on Hornady products as well.

Most anything Nosler is going to be getting a little too pricey.

 

[Riceman98]

I have had very good luck with berger bullets. They make an 87 gr vld. They are devastating on deer.

 

[gibble888]

Ya nosler is quite spendy...im partial to sierra 85g gamekings but i dont believe are avalible in 80 grain. They shoot sub moa in all my 243s but i have been tagging out in archery so i cant personally tell you about penetration etc. But many people love them which is why i chose them.

 

[243winxb]

Sierra 85gr HPBT Gamekings #1530 & IMR 4350 or H4350 about 42gr. Work up from a starting load.

 

[osteodoc08]

I've used Sierra game kings 85gr, nosler BT 95 gr and I think 100gr core lokts on deer with the same result, DRT. Heck, my ex wife used the nosler a to anchor 2 fat does the first time she went hunting with me!

Edit: Barnes X bullet too. Same result

 

[TenDriver]

85 gr GameKings it is then. Thanks!

 

[gamestalker]

I just completed three work ups for the .243 over the last several weeks. They were for three different rifles using 87 gr, 90 gr, and a 100 gr. I have field tests the 100 gr. as of yet. The 87 gr and 90 gr. have been very effective on our small couse deer. The 100 gr. are Speer SPBT, I'll try to let you know how they do, as the hunt starts on the 27th.

I'm running them with a mid range charge of H4831. They are grouping very well, so that's one hurdle that's been over come. I noticed that the 100 gr. is grouping slightly better than the lighter Noslers did.

GS

 

[merrill]

I've had good luck with 85gr. Sierra BTHP over 43.5 gr. of IMR 4350.

 

[gamestalker]

I believe the OP said he is hunting deer with these loads, so I wouldn't recommend a HP. But for paper punching paper or varmints, those Sierra's would do great.

GS

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Man, I'll tell you gamestalker. Those 85 grain SGKs are pure poison on whitetails. My wife shot one from 157 yds. DRT. Bullet exited too, which surprised me.

 

[TenDriver]

I think I've pretty well decided to use those 85 gr Sierra Game Kings. I really don't know why, but for some reason I've become a Sierra fan. Probably has something to do with the price.

Haven't looked at any manuals yet so I'm not sure what powder to try, but it might turn out to be 4350. I've got an lb of 4064 now that I generally use for my M1, but it might get pressed into .243 service.

 

[blarby]

Tsx is a winner for me !

 

[NCsmitty]

you're in stock IMR4064 and the 85gr SGK should be a good combo, but like any load, it needs to be worked up in your rifle to see if it passes muster.
Don't overlook the bonded bullets from Hornady and Nosler for reliable expansion and penetration.


NCsmitty

 

[jmr40]

Don't go cheap on deer hunting bullets in a 243. Buy a good bullet to hunt with and use the cheap stuff for plinking at the range. Any old cheap bullet will work just fine in a 30-06, but the smaller you go in caliber the more important good bullets become.

Some guys worry too much about paying for the better bullets without really putting it in perspective.

200 conventional bullets from most any bullet maker $60-$70
200 Bergers $90
200 Barnes TTSX $120
200 Nosler Partitions $140

To work up a load and get my rifle zeroed 200 of any of these bullets would last me 5-15 years worth of hunting. The savings between the most expensive to the least expensive wouldn't buy 1 tank of gas for my truck. The cost of 1 tank of gas spread out over at least 5 years is nothing.

 

[gamestalker]

I think JMR40 hit the nail on the head. For hunting, the .243 needs a well constructed bullet due to it's light weight. One such bullet that I have personally had stellar results on deer and larger game is the Speer Hot Core, and they aren't super pricey either

I've seen a number of bear and elk taken using the .243 win. with the Speer Hot Core, and they performed very well.

GS

 

[TenDriver]

It will depend on what I can get. It's not necessarily about going cheap, just not spending more than I have to.

My grandfather and I have hunted together for around 30 years. He's always carried a 243, either a Winchester Model 100 or a Remington 742 shooting off the shelf 80 grain Winchester ammo bought from Kmart. He still has the last box I bought him when I worked there 19 years ago. Definitely not afraid to shoot a light bullet at the ranges we shoot from. I thought it very odd that when I started shooting just for sake of shooting, people chastised me for hunting with such a small rifle. It just wasn't fashionable back then I guess.

I do appreciate the suggestions. The SGKs sound like the right idea, and the Speer option sounds good as well if I can find some around here.

 

[gibble888]

243 is a fine whitetail gun....if you shoot a deer in the toe with a 338 rum diesnt mean its head will explode....shot placement shot placement