243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

dose anyone use this load for deer? what results are you getting?

thanks

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

There are two different BST bullets for the .243, make sure you use the CXP 2. Use the 130 gr BST in .270 WIN and love it.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

I use and have killed 1 deer this season with the Winchester .243 Ballistic Silvertip. It worked very well in my opinion.
The deer dropped right in its tracks, and never moved again. Its a very fast bullet, going around 2,500-3,000fps. Dont know
if I was using the 55 or 95gr, but it sure got the job done.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

I used the 95 BT (same bullet) in handloads to kill 2 deer this year. One at 40 steps in the brisket head on. The deer dropped in its tracks but penetration was minimal (about 8 inches). The other was at 230 yards, broadside and the results were good. Typical BT performace. Next year I'll be shooting a tougher bullet. Nosler Partition.

Opinion: They're a little tender up close and avoid bones at all costs. The BT is very reliable on deer in .270 and above but the smaller bullets are a tad fragile. Just my opinion.

My father-in-law has used the 95 BST to kill a dozen or so with good results but there were a couple that got away due to no blood trail in the thick stuff. pass-thru's would have been nice. These problems occured on out there.... 250+ Powerline cutaway's mainly. Just pick your shot's and hit where you aim.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

i shot a doe with the 55g. i hit it just below the ear it took everything off but the nose needless to say the ole girl never moved nor knew what hit it.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

why are the bullets black? are they molly coated?

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

If not mistaken they have a proprietary blend of a coating, Lubalox or something like that.

Description from their website:

http://www.winchester.com/products/c...N0ZXI=&type=32

Supreme® Ballistic Silvertip®: Solid based boattail design delivers excellent long range accuracy. In varmint calibers, the Ballistic plastic polycarbonate Silvertip® bullet initiates rapid fragmentation.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

The 55gr version is a varmint bullet and should NEVER be used for anything bigger than a coyote! These bullets are designed to and do literally explode on impact, and the small fragments, while VERY deadly on small animals, may not penetrate into the vitals even on a perfect broadside shot. The result could be a deer with a very nasty flesh wound that runs off to die days later of infection. Not worth it when there are MUCH better bullets available. I, personally, wouldn't use a BT even in 95 grains in my 243. I would choose a very stout bullet that will ensure complete penetration through at least the vitals no matter what angle you hit them from. I handload, so I'd choose a Partition or a Barnes X-bullet in the heaviest weight the rifle will shoot well. I'd rather make a slightly smaller hole all the way through than a great big flesh wound that doesn't reach where it counts.

Mike

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

Well, I dont know about you driftrider, but when I shot my doe this season with that Ballistic Silvertip, the deer dropped in its tracks, and there was a clean exit wound out the other side. I hit and broke 3-5 ribs, and as far as I know, there was no bullet shattering/fragments. IMHO, it is a good deer round.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

Then you were definately not using the 55gr version. Never said the 95gr bullet wouldn't work, it just wouldn't be my choice. I said that MY personal preference would not be for the 95gr NBT, and that I'd choose a Partition, not that the 95gr version was not suited to deer hunting. I'm starting to believe that Nosler has worked out the problems with the CXP2 BT's and they aren't as easily upset as they once were. I think that the Nosler BT's are excellent for deer and smaller in moderate velocity applications which they seem optimized for. I wouldn't trust them in a high velocity rifle like my 7mmSTW where impact velocities could exceed 3000fps, but in a 7mm-08 the same 140gr BT would do very well. Back to the 243, the reason I'd choose a stouter bullet is more because of penetration. It seems yours did well, but I wonder how it would perform on a shoulder shot. I guess I look at it from the perspective of what bullet offers the greatest chance of excellence performance in the worst case scenario.

Mike

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

Actually I hit my doe in the right front shoulder, she was broad-side to me; I couldnt have asked for a better shot.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

I have used the Sierra Boat Tail 100 gr Fed Premiums on a few deer. All I will say is I wont be using them again...bullets are very frangible. I wont carry the 243 back out with anything less than a Nosler and its probably not gonna see deer duty again. Too many variables with that round for me.....lthough most report good success with the 100 gr Noslers...so I may load some of those and give it another crack.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

My gun [savage] wont shoot the 95 grain winchesters , but loves the 100 grain fedrals . I wont shoot deer with it though , dont think its enough gun for 200 pound animals , I hate tracking at night .

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

On deer you should use 80gr and up, those 55gr are not intended for deer and shouldn't be used on them. the 95gr should work fine.

RE: 243 with 95 gr Ballistic Silvertip
 

Used a 95gr from about 20 yards and broad side too, won't do it again. Can't track w/o blood trail. Couldn't have had a better shot. I was told that these need to be used at 100 yrds or longer. Wish I knew that before the shot. Had better choices with me...

They (95 grain) are moving about 3100 feet per second at the muzzle which is a pretty hot for a deer bullet in a small caliber. If you are hand loading and you know most shots will be within 100 and certainly with 50, load it down a bit to about 2900-2800. Even with it loaded down, I'd keep it strictly CNS or behind the shoulder. the speed of the round is great however, meaning you can if you need to take longer shots. (1000 lbs of energy at 400 yds meets ethics imo) .close it behind the shoulder and watch as the bullet sprays the lungs and heart pulp in every direction, Might as well be sending 6mm grenades.

And by a newbie, as usual ;)

Holy sheet-starter Robin!

my bad. I just got so excited I failed to read dates.