shepdogwv

I think that an 85 gr. would be more than adequate, I just don't like the hollow points, those are the only bullets that I have actually seen problems with.

nchawkeye

Kbeaner...Given those parimeters, I'll expand on my answer a bit....

I've used my .243 since 1980, killed better than 150 deer with...The first 75 or so with 100gr CoreLokts, I decided to test others....I have killed deer with the following...100gr CoreLokts, Winchester Supreme Power Points, Federal Classic, Federal Premium in the Nosler Partition, Sierra GameKing SPBT, Nitrex GrandSlam and the Hornady InterLokts...In the 85gr, the previously mentioned Sierra GameKing HPBT...They all kill deer, I have killed 7-8 with all of these...

I have down in my gun room a target that has been shot with 5-6 of the above mentioned loadings...I know that I'm currently sighted in 2 1/2 high at 100 with the 85gr and 2 inches high with the CoreLokts and 1 inch high with the Nosler Partition...All group within 1 inch....

When I know I'm going into the woods and shots will be within 50 yards, I can take the Partitions and CoreLokts....When I go to our soybean fields down east, where shots can run out to 300, I can take the 85gr HPBT...

I first heard of the 85gr about 8 years ago...Guy in a sporting goods store down in eastern NC suggested that I try it...Of course I said "That's a groundhog bullet"....He told me that his guys hunting over bean fields and power lines with a .243 use that bullet.....

I went back to our farm, shot 3 shots at 100 yards, I was about 2 1/2 to 3 inches high, I left my scope alone, went hunting....The bullet in my chamber was one of those 85 grainers, rest were 100gr Hornadys...I had 3 mature does step out of the woods and went into the beans, about 100 yards in front of me...I put one of those 85grs into her shoulder blade, she dropped...I jacked another round in, dropped another...

Since then, I have killed deer from 20 steps or so from the base of my tree, to about 300 yards...The one hit at 20 steps did not exit, hit him right behind the shoulder, he ran about 25 yards...

This bullet isn't really needed if you are shooting within 200 yards, but at 3320 fps, it is actually going faster at 300 yards than a 150gr .308 loading is doing at 200 yards...Faster velocity "out there" means the bullet opens up faster and does more damage, killing the deer faster....

I called the Bulletsmiths at Sierra after killing 3-4 with this bullet, just to verify what I was seeing, they said it was designed for deer, not groundhogs...The lead has an alloy mixed in to make the core harder and the jacket is harder than their soft points, so it actually penetrates more than their soft points.....

If your Handi doesn't like 100 grainers....These do work...

White-tail-deer

Believe it or not my .243 shoots the cheap Federal Blue Box 100 gr. the best. You can buy them for 9.95 a box and can get a $5.00 rebate on two boxes at the moment.

jboynjazz

I'm a reloader and i love the 95 gr. hornady sst bullets. they are a flat base bullet but they hit like the hammer of thor. i have made shots on coyotes with them out to 425 steps and dropped a big doe this year at 277 steps. i tipped over a big 9 pt buck that was facing me at 175 yards and not one of the deer needed a follow up shot. i am pushing the at close to 3000 fps. when i shot factory loads i shot winchester 100 gr psp and they shoot pretty good. with a soft nosed bullet you dont want to go any lighter than an 85 gr bullet. anything lighter and they are made to fragment rapidley(varment bullet).