243 LOAD CHOOICE FOR DEER?

jred · 09-20-2003, 07:18 PM

For any hunters whom hunt with the awesome 243 what is your Gr. and head preference and why?

Thanks...

strut · 09-20-2003, 07:29 PM

What type game jred?

Vapodog · 09-20-2003, 07:56 PM

being from Georgia, I' ll assume you' re after deer.

All the major factory loads of 100 grains will do the job nicely. If you can get hand loads I' d suggest Hornady' s 100 grain spire point.

JagMagMan · 09-20-2003, 09:53 PM

To me the .243 is the minimum caliber for deer! With any good hunting bullets of 100 grains, it is a very good minimum choice!

thenuge15 · 09-20-2003, 10:14 PM

Federal Premium Nosler Partition 100 gr

halcon · 09-20-2003, 10:17 PM

I have been using a 243 win for quite awhile and have tried just about every kind of bullet out there and find the 85gr Barnes XBT works fine for me . That might not be a popular choice with a lot of people but it has always worked for me .

seattlesetters · 09-20-2003, 10:17 PM

It' s a great varmint round that is marginal for deer.

DANTHEHUNTER · 09-21-2003, 06:48 AM

I prefer the 100 gr. bullet for whitetail . It is the best choice with factory ammo

rdish50 · 09-24-2003, 08:05 PM

THIS ADVISE WILL BE CONTRARY TO ALL THOSE MAGAZINE ARTICLES THAT TELL YOU TO GO WITH THE HEAVIEST BULLETS YOU CAN...I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, AS WE BUTCHER OUR OWN DEER SO THAT WE KNOW HOW BADLY THE BULLETS FRAGMENT...I HAVE USED HORNADAY INTERLOCK BULLETS SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN HORNADAY LIGHT MAGNUM AMMO...THEY ARENT A BAD LOAD AND ARE A QUIK KILLER...HOWEVER,SIERRA MAKES A 85 GRAIN HOLLOW POINT BOAT TAIL BULLET ...GAME KING..THAT I HAVE SHOT DEER IN THE SHOULDER WITH THESE AND DOWN THEY FALL..THE BULLET HOLDS TOGETHER WELL, WITH LESS FRAGMENTATION ON AVERAGE THAN THE HEAVIER INTERLOCK BULLETS...I KNOW I AM LETTING MYSELF OPEN FOR A LOT OF CRITICISM HERE,BUT I SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE...I CALLED SIERRA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THIS IS THE BULLET THEY RECOMMENDED FOR DEER...I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT THEM MYSELF...BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUTTING..EVIDENTLY THESE BULLETS ARE MADE OF A TOUGHER MATERIAL...I ALSO TRIED WINCHESTER 100 GRAIN POWER POINTS,AND THEY WERE TERRIBLE..MY DAUGHTER SHOT A DOE ,PERFECT SHOT ,AT 50 YDS...AFTER MUCH HUNTING WE FOUND IT ,ABOUT 300 YDS AWWAY WITH A SURFACE WOUND IN THE RIBS...NO EXIT HOLE...SO MUCH FOR THAT 100 GRAINER...GOOD DAY!

swampdog_ · 09-25-2003, 06:33 AM

I,m with VAPODOG on this one I have always had good results with the 100 gr.Hornady boat tail spire points.I have buddies that use the 85.gr. hollow points ,But mine just liked the 100s better.