80 grain for deer?
#1
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: baraboo, wisconsin
is an 80 grain .243 sufficent for deer? reason i am asking is I bought a rossi with full intenet of usung 100 grain bullets and they arent holding groups. when i called rossi they said that they test with winchester 80 grain bullets and to try them. but before i go out and buy them i want to make sure that 80 grains is enough.
#3
Typical Buck
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From:
I use 100 gr, but I reload 80 gr nosler's for my brother's .243. They are fine as long as you get in behind the shoulder. 85 gr sierra's are probably better suited for deer than the 80 gr nosler bt's
#4
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Gaylord Mi
Hey, I just bought what might be the same rossi .243 for my son. I sighted it in with 100 grain but only shot it about six times. wha t were you experiancing when you shot the 100 grain shells.
#5
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: baraboo, wisconsin
did you get a group? I was experiancing a group about 6 inches then i wouldnt hit paper for a couple shots then a larger group then a couple more strays and so on. called rossi and they said i needed to go winchester 80 grain. gonna try it soon and let you know what happens. if that doesnt work ill call again until we figure out what is wrong.
#6
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Gaylord Mi
The first time I shot it we got a group of three dead onwitin an inch at 100 yrds. but I took it out the next day and it shot a group of three but about 4 or 5 inches high. I figured it must have been me but now you got me thinking. To bad I bought 2 boxes of 100 gr
#7
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: baraboo, wisconsin
i went through 4 boxes so far we were thinking scope problems, ie. scope, mount or rings.i would shoot some more from a rest before i was worried, if i was you.
#10
I have killed a couple deer with a .243 but all with 100 grain bullets. As a general rule I consider 100 grains the minimum for deer sized game, but as other have said it is all about shot placement. As long as you are careful with your shots I'm sure 80 grains will do just fine. Good luck with it!


