Bullet recommendations

[Dcrafton]

I do not own or have ever owned a 234, therefore I have no experience with loads.
My father is loading his 243 for deer in Arizona.
He is wanting a good load for a 100g bullet. He is also wanting information on a good 100g bullet.
Any info from those that have experience with the 243 would be appreciated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Yote Klr]

Do you know what twist rate your barrel is?

 

[bitbckt]

I'd start with a Nosler Partition if it had to be 100gr, but I'm not sure why such a heavy for caliber bullet would be needed for deer.

 

[Yote Klr]

If he doesn't know the twist rate I'd suggest Berger 95gr Classic Hunter they are rated for 10 twist and they're easy to tune.
Berger bullets have always produced quick kills on whitetail for me.

 

[Newtosavage]

I developed a load for my buddy's Tikka 243 using 100 grain Hornady Interlocks and H4350. That load was a one-ragged-hole load at 100 yards and extremely deadly on deer. It's a proven combination.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have killed more deer with a Winchester 100gr Power Point than any other bullet I can think of. The Hornady 95gr SST has worked well for me as well..

 

[elkguide]

Hornady 95 grain, .243 SST.
Deadly.

 

[bitbckt]

Happy to be the odd man out, but I'd stick with a 95gr SST (great suggestion) or BT, or an 85gr Partition or TSX. The days of a 100gr cup and core .243 running at pitiful velocity are long past.

[edit] Not so odd apparently.

 

[Yote Klr]

Happy to be the odd man out, but I'd stick with a 95gr SST (great suggestion) or BT, or an 85gr Partition or TSX. The days of a 100gr cup and core .243 running at pitiful velocity are long past.

[edit] Not so odd apparently.

I had a 6AI running 105gr Hybrid Target almost 3400fps with RL26. Death for whitetail.
Unfortunately the barrel lasted only 750 rounds...but I did shoot a couple of 600 yard BR matches with it (dumb).

 

[LaHunter]

I have a 243 that my kids all used for deer hunting. I got several boxes of nosler partitions 100 grain federal ammo along with the rifle. Out of the 10-15 deer that my kids killed with this rifle / ammo combo, 100% of them that were not spine shot ran 50-100 yards with very little / no blood. Luckily I had access to a tracking dog. These deer were shot either through both lungs or heart. I would go with a accubond or another type of rapid expanding bonded bullet in the 90+ grain range.

 

[Cahunter805]

95gr Berger’s or Nosler BT is where I would start. H4350 would be my first powder choice followed by 4831SC.

 

[30338]

Killed a lot of critters with a 85 grain Sierra HPBT. Any of the bullets mentioned above would be fine. Whatever the rifle likes, roll with it.

 

[Dcrafton]

If he doesn't know the twist rate I'd suggest Berger 95gr Classic Hunter they are rated for 10 twist and they're easy to tune.
Berger bullets have always produced quick kills on whitetail for me.

I believe it’s 1-10 twist,
I have many different rifles and hand load for all of them just never for a 243.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Totoro]

Sierra GameKing has worked well for me in the past with various powders.

243 aint fussy...

 

[wildwilderness]

I loaded a 85 gr TSX over RL 17 with a very accurate load. The bullet penetrates great and has taken several deer, antelope and black bear. With the copper bullets I prefer to aim for the shoulder and break the animal down. I’m thinking of trying Hammer bullets next.


If you know the make and model of the rifle and approx manufacturing year it’s easy to google the twist rate. Another easy way is to put a cleaning rod in the barrel with a piece of tape and measure the twist with a ruler. My rem 700 243 is 1:9.25 using the tape/ruler. Google says it’s a 1:9.125

 

[TNKnoxville]

My son has shot several deer bang/flop with his Win Model 70 243. He's used 95 grain Federal Fusions and Win 100 grain Power points. Both shoot great of of his rifle,