Thread: .243 uses

Have shot the .243 Win for almost 40 yrs.

What I found time and time again is that after dicking around experimenting, I always come back to a flat base 100gr softpoint. Sierra ProHunter these days. At 2850-3000fps, it’s a very effective bullet on medium game. Just make sure you put it into the front half of the chest cavity.

The other candidate is the 85gr Sierra HPBT GameKing. I’ve had that really flying at above book max loads and come to seriously respect how it flattens smaller deer.

I decided recently that my ongoing 6mm fascination needed a different twist, so now I’ve got a 6mm Creedmoor. Amazing what a 7.5” of twist can do for a calibre...

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Have shot the .243 Win for almost 40 yrs.

What I found time and time again is that after dicking around experimenting, I always come back to a flat base 100gr softpoint. Sierra ProHunter these days. At 2850-3000fps, it’s a very effective bullet on medium game. Just make sure you put it into the front half of the chest cavity.

The other candidate is the 85gr Sierra HPBT GameKing. I’ve had that really flying at above book max loads and come to seriously respect how it flattens smaller deer.

I decided recently that my ongoing 6mm fascination needed a different twist, so now I’ve got a 6mm Creedmoor. Amazing what a 7.5” of twist can do for a calibre...

Do you find that a lung shot or liver is not a quick kill?

My 100 grain Winchester ammo punched through the front shoulder of a fallow esisly enough.

savage 243 and 85gr gamekings

Bloody hell even blew its skin off some 243 your using there Tahr

Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

So what's your go to bullet for deer in a Tikka .243

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Deer, Tahr, Wallabies, the 95 Berger VLD is doing it all for me, no "failures" sacks them on the spot. (Up close at times too) I'll send you some with useful load data if you need. The Targex is essentially a Berger VLD with a rebate boat tail and any number of people using them to kill everything they point at.

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Deer, Tahr, Wallabies, the 95 Berger VLD is doing it all for me, no "failures" sacks them on the spot. (Up close at times too) I'll send you some with useful load data if you need. The Targex is essentially a Berger VLD with a rebate boat tail and any number of people using them to kill everything they point at.

What twist rate is your 243 I tried The Targex 95 gr they did not seem to like my 1 in 10 Winchester 243 ?

The 105 gr Amax went through the 100 yard target sideways !

Berger 87gr VLD Hunting from a savage 99 20" and 24" bolt action.
I have shot Goats (out to 450 mtr), Fallow and up to Red hinds and yearlings (out to 260 mtr), Tahr at 260 mtr recovered base of bullet under the off side skin. Entered went off and shredded all around 3 vertebra. (Flicked it 6" high and back behind the shoulder so plenty of destruction to allow for a pulled shot.)
Z

95gr Targex 85gr hpbt Sierra 87gr sp or hpbt Hornady 90gr BT all work well as a number of others will to take your pick really.


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Re twist, the Sav 99 would be 9.5 or 10" and the bolt action is 8" twist. Both shot the 87gr well.
Interestingly I could not get the berger 105gr vld's to shoot that well in my 8" twist but the 108gr eld-m's look to be shooting nicely, now I just have to try them on a goat or deer.

87 gn hornady SPs for fallow and or 100 pro hunters and corelokts for heavier stuff.

I found all this very intersting....im not sure if re loaders are a different breed or some of the people making comments are very mis informed.
Yes, i dont reload but i hunt with a 243 and have shot many big stags, deer, pigs, goats with one and its my go to Cal over a 308 which i have as well.

I bush stalk so ranges arent far, but have shot out to 300m but 95 % under 150m A simple softpoint will so the job very very well. Theres no need to use some fancy projectile, or 5 dollar round etc which
i hear quite often when it comes to a 243.
I use Fed Powershok 100gr sp factory rounds, They are totally awesome and will drop anything.Think they use a speer projectile.
They are overkill on fallow thou, the damage is way over the top(will use a 223 on them now). Yes, ok, if you into longer range being choosy on what you use seems like the go, but
if you using one bushstalking which the 243 is so well suited for a good softpoint and doesnt need to be that fancy will be more than enough

For some people fiddling around with reloads and projectiles adds another dimension to their sport. Some don't. Each to their own.

I know through experience that 80 grain blue box is excellent stuff, but it just isn't "interesting" enough for at least me anyway.

Originally Posted by Tahr

For some people fiddling around with reloads and projectiles adds another dimension to their sport. Some don't. Each to their own.

I know through experience that 80 grain blue box is excellent stuff, but it just isn't "interesting" enough for at least me anyway.

Thats cool, yes, i figured it makes hunting and getting your rifle shooting well far more interesting and can see why people have such opinions on use this and that and talking some fancy projectiles to use.
Thats more than fine, im sure they work and its all good.
Im just stating thou that for a 243, which many use for shorter range, bush stalking etc so many projectiles will work and a simple, unfancy softpoint will do the job very well and its not total rocket science.

But of cause reloaders are into rocket science so each to their own and im sure theres some more satifaction getting a animal with your own reloads. But for a factory round those blue boxes are totally awesome and cant be beat for bush ranges

My 243 tends to get used for long range stuff as well, out to 600m at Te Puke earlier this month, and gongs out to 860m last year.

Originally Posted by Cigar

My 243 tends to get used for long range stuff as well, out to 600m at Te Puke earlier this month, and gongs out to 860m last year.

It's quite good at that. Relatively economic.