243 bullet suggestions

My son's first hunting rifle was a .243, handloaded 95 gr Ballistic Tip. Used it to take whitetail, mule deer, black bear and mountain goat, never had an issue. I've used it myself to take a few deer, very effective. Don't recall exit wounds but a blood trail was never needed.
This is a confidence booster!

Anywhere behind the shoulder at most angles and there are no lungs left. I shot one facing me just below the chin and there was very little neck left, DRT.

I like the way they sound, you have my attention
 
Don't use an inferior bullet in a 243/6mm rifle!! I have shot a lot of deer and a couple of moose with the 100
Partition out of my 6mm Remingtons over the years. Never had to track any distance to speak of.
Other great 6mm bullets are the 90 Accubond, and the 90 Swift Scirocco II.
Like yourself, OP, I am not particularly enamored with most monometals, particularly when you get beyond 300
meters. Dave.
 
Don't use an inferior bullet in a 243/6mm rifle!! I have shot a lot of deer and a couple of moose with the 100
Partition out of my 6mm Remingtons over the years. Never had to track any distance to speak of.
Other great 6mm bullets are the 90 Accubond, and the 90 Swift Scirocco II.
Like yourself, OP, I am not particularly enamored with most monometals, particularly when you get beyond 300
meters. Dave.

Dave! I feel like a celebrity just commented on my post! Thank you sir. I pretty much take anything you say as gospel. Guess I'll load up some accubonds and see how it likes them. After the accuracy in my 280 I'm kinda partial to them. My 30-06 didn't like them but the again that was with 4350 powder. My 30-06 absolutely detests that powder.
 
Hornady 100grn BTSP

That's all we run in our 243's for the kids

"Gophers to grizzlies"


Never actually shot a grizzly with them (thanks NDP), but several huge black bears. Moose. Deer. Wolf. Coyote.
 
100 grn. Nosler Partition Features:
Tapered Jacket: Like most Nosler bullets, the Partition uses a copper-alloy. ...
Partition: While the nose portion is designed for rapid expansion, the rear core holds over 2/3 of the bullet weight.
This weight distribution strikes a balance between penetration and expansion.
Yes, shamelessly pulled from the internet and pimped here.
Then again Barnes X Bullets might be another option.
Rob
 
Dave! I feel like a celebrity just commented on my post! Thank you sir. I pretty much take anything you say as gospel. Guess I'll load up some accubonds and see how it likes them. After the accuracy in my 280 I'm kinda partial to them. My 30-06 didn't like them but the again that was with 4350 powder. My 30-06 absolutely detests that powder.

Your statement on the 30-06 with Accubonds and 4350 proves the old point that different barrels can like different recipes. Nosler Partitions and IMR 4350 powder have been my standard in the 30-06 since the early 70's with stellar results out of my M-70's and Kimber 8400. Straight out of the Nosler manual, 57gr. IMR 4350 under a 165 gr. Nosler bullet. When the Accubond came on the scene I have used them also with the same results.
 
Don't use an inferior bullet in a 243/6mm rifle!! I have shot a lot of deer and a couple of moose with the 100
Partition out of my 6mm Remingtons over the years. Never had to track any distance to speak of.
Other great 6mm bullets are the 90 Accubond, and the 90 Swift Scirocco II.
Like yourself, OP, I am not particularly enamored with most monometals, particularly when you get beyond 300
meters. Dave.

this guy right here... id take that as gospel.
 
The 95 grain Partition is the bullet that my kids used in their .243's and 6mm's starting out hunting deer and bears... I started a fair number of new hunters and ladies with that combo aswell... it was never to blame for a failure on game... when the shot was placed in the boiler room, the deer went down quickly.
 
80 grain soft point at a nice buck this year 150 yards bullet never exit through the shoulder but the deer didn't run 5 yards small entrance wound no exit minimal meat loss
 
Do you get exits? At least enough blood to track?


I've heard deer have become bulletproof these days. Had guys tell me anything less than a 30-06 is a varmint gun... I've seen them killed with a 22lr though.

I have a gun with family history. The youngest of four boys, we all shot our first moose, 5 in all》》》》Ruger M77 tang 243.

So not sure why your quoting me. It can be done, its the best choice i have for my wife. However, she is always going to have me standing beside her. Its marginal, in any other situation than close range, experienced, or good shot. I have many other choices, the 243 hasnt gone for a walk for years. Ethical and responsible hunters use a caliber capable of taking their quarry with one decent hit, not one that requires a specific set of perfect factors. Dont know why it gets overlooked for coyote calling.
 
Hornady 100grn BTSP

That's all we run in our 243's for the kids

"Gophers to grizzlies"


Never actually shot a grizzly with them (thanks NDP), but several huge black bears. Moose. Deer. Wolf. Coyote.

Do you get exits with them? I really like the 180 grain round nose in my 30-06, killed the 2 biggest bucks of my life 3 days apart with them in November and a bear a couple days before that. They penetrate and tear stuff up good on the way through. They're somewheres around 2760fps.

Your statement on the 30-06 with Accubonds and 4350 proves the old point that different barrels can like different recipes. Nosler Partitions and IMR 4350 powder have been my standard in the 30-06 since the early 70's with stellar results out of my M-70's and Kimber 8400. Straight out of the Nosler manual, 57gr. IMR 4350 under a 165 gr. Nosler bullet. When the Accubond came on the scene I have used them also with the same results.

I tried H4350 but man, 3 different bullets and 3 different brass brands later I was about to give up loading for my 7600 till I tried R-16 powder. A world of difference... Now I'm nervous to shoot the once fired brass I have loaded up with the same recipe. The H430 really turned me off of loading for that rifle. Worried it's gonna shoot all over the place now with R-16 in the once fired brass. Shot wicked groups when loaded in the virgin brass, now I'm almost hesitant to see what's gonna happen reloaded for the first time after being fired once

Partition or Scirocco, either. or..

If the sciroccos didn't make me have to mortgage my house I'd definitely give them a go! But the price is ludacris honestly.

I have a gun with family history. The youngest of four boys, we all shot our first moose, 5 in all》》》》Ruger M77 tang 243.

So not sure why your quoting me. It can be done, its the best choice i have for my wife. However, she is always going to have me standing beside her. Its marginal, in any other situation than close range, experienced, or good shot. I have many other choices, the 243 hasnt gone for a walk for years. Ethical and responsible hunters use a caliber capable of taking their quarry with one decent hit, not one that requires a specific set of perfect factors. Dont know why it gets overlooked for coyote calling.

I'm all about that one shot kill deal... But if it's still running I'm gonna knock it down with what I got left. I believe in being quick, ethical and humane just like the next guy. I just believe in doing it faster, I'll shoot till it falls dead. Never understood shooting one shot and watching it either fall down and kick till it dies or watching it run off to die. I guess to me it makes me feel like it's more humane to shoot a gun load and have it dead as fast as possible rather than poking a single hole and watching it expire or watching it run off knowing it's gonna die.

To be clear I'm not trying so sound like a dink. I appreciate your input 109%
 
Do you get exits with them? I really like the 180 grain round nose in my 30-06, killed the 2 biggest bucks of my life 3 days apart with them in November and a bear a couple days before that. They penetrate and tear stuff up good on the way through. They're somewheres around 2760fps.



I tried H4350 but man, 3 different bullets and 3 different brass brands later I was about to give up loading for my 7600 till I tried R-16 powder. A world of difference... Now I'm nervous to shoot the once fired brass I have loaded up with the same recipe. The H430 really turned me off of loading for that rifle. Worried it's gonna shoot all over the place now with R-16 in the once fired brass. Shot wicked groups when loaded in the virgin brass, now I'm almost hesitant to see what's gonna happen reloaded for the first time after being fired once



If the sciroccos didn't make me have to mortgage my house I'd definitely give them a go! But the price is ludacris honestly.



I'm all about that one shot kill deal... But if it's still running I'm gonna knock it down with what I got left. I believe in being quick, ethical and humane just like the next guy. I just believe in doing it faster, I'll shoot till it falls dead. Never understood shooting one shot and watching it either fall down and kick till it dies or watching it run off to die. I guess to me it makes me feel like it's more humane to shoot a gun load and have it dead as fast as possible rather than poking a single hole and watching it expire or watching it run off knowing it's gonna die.

To be clear I'm not trying so sound like a dink. I appreciate your input 109%

So your sayin even if you know you hit it good and it gonna die your just gonna keep shooting it with your 30 o6 until it drops? Seems like a waste of good meat.but must b a common practice sound like a war zone come rifle season round here .all you'll hear from me is one solid hit with the 243 and the tractor driving back to get it
 
So your sayin even if you know you hit it good and it gonna die your just gonna keep shooting it with your 30 o6 until it drops? Seems like a waste of good meat.but must b a common practice sound like a war zone come rifle season round here .all you'll hear from me is one solid hit with the 243 and the tractor driving back to get it

Put your ideas aside for 2 seconds and actually think about it. If somebody makes a perfect broadside shot on you, you want them to let you bleed out and choke on your blood for 30-60 seconds? Or do you want them to hit you again or a few more times real quick to just get it over with. But really imagine that 30-60 seconds and what the feeling would be like before you respond. Plus where I usually hunt there's allot of swamp and water, I want them down NOW before they get into it. Inside 50 yards and I can get them to stop I'll just shoot them in the head, or neck if it's a buck. You say get the tractor so I'm guessing you can shoot and watch them run away and die. I don't have that luxury, especially when I'm dogging. But let's not derail this thread as I posted already. Every thread on this forum turns into a schoolyard brawl of "mines bigger and better, I'm right your wrong" let's try and grow up a little. On another note, tell me about your 243 and ammo selection. Thank you
 
The 95 or 100 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting smaller Big Game would be my choice.

For varmints, the 80 grain Remington PLHP is devastating.
Years ago this bullet failed to exit a ground hog.
This bullet at one time was Remingtons version of their Match bullet.
I have some .224 50 grain bullets that have Match designated on the box.
 
I messed with a Remington 788 in 243 back in the 1970's - shortened and slimmed the stock, glass bedded, shortened barrel to 18 1/2". Built it to fit my wife. After several hundred practice rounds over the summer, she took her mule deer, shooting off hand, with a single shot at about 125 yards. Several years later our 13 year old son took his first white tail with it - probably less than 100 yards, but through a tree line - we saw it jump once or twice and pile up after his shot. Both were broad side standing shots with bullet impact nicely behind the shoulder. 85 grain Speer Flat base - no longer listed, I see. Everyone using 308 Winchester with 165 grain, now-a-days. Just getting a 783 Compact in 243 set up for our grandson - will start with mild loads using 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips on hand for targets, gophers and the coyotes at his other Grandpa's farm; then move to 85 to 95 grain Partition / Accubond for this fall's deer hunting. My thoughts are that 243 might be borderline for big prairie deer and up, but shooter being confident of when able to hit a 6" target (small paper plates) and when not, makes a huge difference.
 
The 95 or 100 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting smaller Big Game would be my choice.

For varmints, the 80 grain Remington PLHP is devastating.
Years ago this bullet failed to exit a ground hog.
This bullet at one time was Remingtons version of their Match bullet.
I have some .224 50 grain bullets that have Match designated on the box.

Everybody talking about the partitions really got lookin at em! I just don't like that exposed lead tip, they'll be run through a semi so I'm still a little in the fence.

I messed with a Remington 788 in 243 back in the 1970's - shortened and slimmed the stock, glass bedded, shortened barrel to 18 1/2". Built it to fit my wife. After several hundred practice rounds over the summer, she took her mule deer, shooting off hand, with a single shot at about 125 yards. Several years later our 13 year old son took his first white tail with it - probably less than 100 yards, but through a tree line - we saw it jump once or twice and pile up after his shot. Both were broad side standing shots with bullet impact nicely behind the shoulder. 85 grain Speer Flat base - no longer listed, I see. Everyone using 308 Winchester with 165 grain, now-a-days. Just getting a 783 Compact in 243 set up for our grandson - will start with mild loads using 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips on hand for targets, gophers and the coyotes at his other Grandpa's farm; then move to 85 to 95 grain Partition / Accubond for this fall's deer hunting. My thoughts are that 243 might be borderline for big prairie deer and up, but shooter being confident of when able to hit a 6" target (small paper plates) and when not, makes a huge difference.

I've heard the 95 grain ballistic tip and 85 grain Sierra game Kings are built stout specifically for the 6mm I been using all the Google fu I have trying to find more info. But yet again in your post there's that partition again. May have to use em. I wish Remington would make a left hand 783
 
The 95 or 100 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting smaller Big Game would be my choice.

Yes sir when I hung up the 280 ( screwed shoulder) and went to the 243 it was reloaded Nosler partitions and despite what I was told every deer so far was dead within 50 yards
I shoot mine out of remington guns. A 700 BDL , 7600 and a 7400 semi
Cheers
 
The 95 or 100 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting smaller Big Game would be my choice.

Yes sir when I hung up the 280 ( screwed shoulder) and went to the 243 it was reloaded Nosler partitions and despite what I was told every deer so far was dead within 50 yards
I shoot mine out of remington guns. A 700 BDL , 7600 and a 7400 semi
Cheers

Ok I'm convinced partitions. What grain you use?
 
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