.243 bullet choice
 

I bought my son a .243 Ruger Compact for his first sure 'nuff deer season (he's 10) and would like to get some opinions on bullet selection.We loaded some cartridges with the 100 gr. Nosler Partition and shot them, so I know those shoot okay in this rifle. I've also loaded up some 85 gr. Barnes Triple Shocks, but wehaven't had a chance to shoot those yet. My guess is that they'll shoot okay too.Of these two bullets, which one would you prefer to hunt smallish sized whitetails with and why. This is new territory for me as I've never used anything smaller than a 150gr. 30 caliber bullet for hunting whitetail.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

Do a search on the topid: Best factory .243 cartridge for whitetail

It has a very good discussion of this issue.

Can anyone tell me how to link to a previous post? If I had know how to do it, I could have included the link and made the search unneccessary.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

The topic you mentioned for the search is a moot point. He already said he's handloading. For the 243 I personally would stay with the partitions, especially for smaller deer. While the triple shocks would work well also I don't feel you'll need them. Realistically a 100 gr corlokt will kill as quick and clean so I would say the partition is insurance.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

I found the thread regarding the .243 factory ammo andit was somewhat helpful. I might just try loading up some of those 85 gr. GameKings the guy from NC was so high on. Sounds like the .243 is good medicine for deer with just about any decent bullet in the 85 - 100 gr. range, so I feel pretty good about the bullets we've selected.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

I shoot 100gr Noslers. I haven't hunted deer with them yet because I hunt mostly shotgun only zone. I can say they work great on antelopes at 350yds though.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

i shoot either the 100gr. partition or a 95gr. win ballistic silver tip. i have hunted with both in my 243 for 15 yrs.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

Solitary -

Glad you found the referenced post helpful. I realized you were handloading, but still felt the discussion of "best factory .243" would be helpful because it gave some good practical information about performance of different bullet types and weights, albeit in factory loads.

Some others who thought it was "moot" should be a bit more openminded and see the big picture... the more knowledge you can absorb about a particular cartridge can always help in your handloading efforts.

Glad I could help...

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

I know this is not the Reloading Forum, but for .243 I
like 105gr Speer RN/ H-4831...

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

I have had good success with Hornady 87 grain bullets. The last few years I've been using Sierra Game King bullets. They seem to be more accurate.
Both these bullets are very effective when chest and neck shots are to be had. Shoulder shots are not advised as a .243 does not have the energy to successfully penetrate dense massive tissue areas and bone.
Well placed chest shots are deadly. I've never had a deer take a single step after being hit in the chest with 85 or 87 grain bullets.
I don't think there's a better caliber to break a youngster in on a high powered rilfle. There's very little recoil from a .243.

RE: .243 bullet choice
 

I appreciate the input guys. I went and purchased some 85 gr. HPBT Gamekings last night and will load some up. Now I've got three bullet choices and I'm pretty confident in all of them.