been shooting 95gr Fusion bullets, never really punched paper with em, just shot groundhogs. Shot it at 100yrds today and it wouldn't group to meet my standards (5in group) so I want to try something else...im thinking Federal premium bullets. What has everyone had success with?
this is a single shot Handi-Rifle
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"when the last deer disappears into the morning mist, and the last buffalo falls on the great plains, I shall hunt mice, for I am a hunter, and my spirit shall always be free"-Sitting Bull
I always had good success with 100gr Remington Core-lokt's.
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Savage Model 111 270win
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i have a 243 and love it, i shot federal 100gr nosler, for factory loads they shot pretty tight groups.(about an inch @ 100 yards) I've taken deer at 250 yards with it, and it put them down, HARD. Hope this helps.
Kbeaner...Seems I've heard over on greaybeard that those Handis don't care for heavier bullets, if you want to stick with the Federal Premium line, try the Federal Premium 85gr Sierra HPBT, I've killed about 30 deer with them and a buddy has killed another 15 or so, they will do the job and at 3320 fps, shoot very flat.
Location: S.W. Pa.-- Heart in North Central Pa. mountains-
Posts: 2,508
RE: What ammo for .243?
Two of my .243's loved Sierra 85 gr. HPBT. I haven't started load workup for my current one, but that is the bullet I'm going to start with when I do..........
I shoot Hornady 100 grain "Custom" bullets and they group really well in my Browning A-bolt rifle.I use the Remington Core-Lokt 100 grain bullets in my Daughters Rossi .243 single shot rifle.
If I was going to suggest a factory ammo for the 243 Win it would be in a 85 gr bullet and just about any manufacturer would do. I have shotmost brands ofammo at one time or another and never found one that was that badas far as accuracy goes. a5 inch group at 100 yards
While I don't have experience with factory loadings,I have reloaded extensively for 6mm caliber cartridges. The two best bullets I've found to be superior in accuracy and terminal performance are the nosler ballistic tip and the sierra 85 grain gameking hollow point boat tail. You could check the premium loadings for these bullets from the major ammo manufacturers such as hornady,federal,winchester, and remington.
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Sometimes you earthlings REALLY amaze me!
I've gone through LOTS of .243 ammo over the years, everything from 75s to 105s in factory and home-rolled varieties.
1. It's all dependent upon your rifle. Buying "premium" ammunition doesn't guarantee "premium" accuracy. You're usually buying a better bullet, possibly a variation from "standard factory load" powder and charge weight, and always - "premium" graphics on the box.
2. In my own experience, 100 grain bullets have been the most effective on whitetails, mule deer, and pronghorns. I've used down to 85s (the 75s were"varmint" bullets not designed for big game).
3. Having extensively reloaded the .243, I've managed to build a load my rifle "likes" (meaning that it has the best balance of accuracy and terminal performance) around H4350 and the 100 gr Hornady BTSP. I formerly was a big fan of Sierra GameKings, but while their BTSPs were more accurate than the other bullets I've tried, I recovered a number of .308 (from a .30-06) 165s from deer that had required a finishing shot AND found that all of them had shed their jackets. Same thing from a 300 gr .375 recovered from an elk (this bullet arguably "did its job" since it killed the elk, but I've since switched anyway). For some reason, my rifle didn't like Noslers, in spite of lots of different powders and charges.
4. Though I prefer to load my own, my rifle doesn't seem to have any problem with standard green-box and silver-box CoreLokts and PowerPoints, either. Nor have I had one of those two bullets (or the old Federal Hi-Shok) fail on a deer or antelope.
If I can't get the balance of accuracy and terminal performance I want from standard factory loads, I don't bother with "premium" factory loads - I reload "premium" ammunition to my own specifications.
Last season a friend of mine (who buys into the "premium packaging" frenzy) shot a nice buck. Blew his front leg off at the"elbow" with the first shot, broke his back with the second (how's that for a shot group?). He was still trying to get back up when I finished him. More than a bit disgusted with the affair, I questioned his marksmanship ability, asking him how many times he'd been to the range since last season. None. He pulled the box of .270 Winchester CTs out of his coat and the price tag told me why. I can reload a lot of ammunition myself with "premium" bullets - and then take them to the range and still have enough left over for the season - for the $42 he spent on the "premium" factory loads he "couldn't afford" to practice with at the range.
What ammo for .243?
