best deer bullet for .243?

The Baron

The Baron

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
537   0   0
Location
Kingston, ON
There's quite a bit around the worldly web on the topic of 6mm deer bullets, but I'm never sure if guys on US sites are talking about 90#deer or actual 200+# critters like we (hope to) run into up here. So let's hear some real Canadian experience with "deer" bullets in the .243 (and similar MV 6mm's). My apologies to those bursting with internet opinions, but I'm looking for first hand or direct witness feedback. ;)

So... what deer have you shot with .243/6mm and how did it work out?
popCorn.gif
 
95 grain Partitions over 42.5 grains of W760 is the deer load I worked up for my .243's... between myself and the kids probably 20 deer shot with that load... couldn't tell much difference after the shot between that and 170 grain Silver-Tips from an M94 .32 Special.
 
I didn't get a deer this year but do hunt them with a 243. I load my own and my current bullet of choice is the "not fancy" Sierra hollow point boat tail (85 grains).

My buddy who also runs a 243, albeit with a faster twist than mine, shoots 100 grain Federal soft points. He took down a sow black bear that went 170'ish pounds (field dressed) this year with that round (about a 90 yard shot - bullet passed through the neck - bear dropped where it stood). I shot a second bear about the same size less than an hour later from roughly the same distance with a 140 grain partition out of my 7.08 and wasn't "any deader" :)

I do agree you can't go wrong with a partition, but if you are hunting deer at typical Eastern Ontario ranges where most are shot at distances well below 100 yards you probably wouldn't find much that wouldn't work - a soft point or pointed soft point in the 80 to 100 grain range is more than enough.
 
I duno tho, where did your 7m08 bullet impact the bear?

a neck shot is a neck shot but is a pretty specific shot placement story.

that could be the difference..
 
I've had good luck with the 100 gr sierra game king. I have found it tougher than the Hornady 100gr bullets which r rediclously soft for deer yet people use them with good success. I will stick to the tougher sierra. Still comes apart plenty but higher weight retention.
 
95 grain Federal Fusion performed well on both deer I shot with it. I would probably opt for a 80 - 85grain TTSX now though.
 
Last edited:
All with a 243win, 50-175yds

1 with a 100gr Win PP
1 with a 95gr Fusion
1 with a 100gr CL

All were Bang Flop, all were about 125-140lbs
 
I have used partitions but mostly the silver /grey box winchester 100 gr #2432. Deer looked like they were hit with a bang stick or electrocuted. Mostly drt or within 15-20 yds.

Deer size 135-180 lbs and average distance of 100-125 yds.

Partitions wouldn't shoot very acurately in my Stevens 243 1/10 twist
 
I have only shot a half dozen of so with the .243. I like 100 gr. partitions, and have also a lot of confidence in the Norma Oryx in this and other cartridges. The standard cup and core bullets I have seen others use in the .243 killed deer OK, but did fragment a lot and penetration was just adequate. I prefer the extra margin of assurance premium bullets give in such a small caliber.
 
I use some cheap 87gr hollow points as hunting bullets in my 243 win. I found that they just worked the best out of any thing I have ever tried. That's what I shot my moose with and it died in a step and a half. Though I did shoot it twice and both were through the lungs.
 
I started out with a 6mm Remington. Generally used 100 gr pointed soft points. Killed a few dozen critters with it. Deer, black bears, a moose. Now I use a 243AI with 105gr Amax exclusively in it. That has smacked several coyotes/wolves/mule deer. I'm comfortable with that out a long ways on big deer, given what I've seen from on game performance.

My hunting buddy's wife uses one exclusively, she's killed elk with hers and 80gr TTSX's. Bullets matter more than headstamps.
 
I've shot oodles with 100 grain anything, both 243 and 6mm. Federal, Winchester and Remington factory loads. Also used 80 gr Winchester factory loads, they worked OK too.

Reloads - I tagged a couple big does with the 90 grain accubond, not too impressed, they seemed to blow up and ruin a lot of meat. I have some TTSX loaded for this years hunt.
 
My hunting with the 6mm Remington goes back to the early 70's, and I have shot a lot of game with this round.
I have loaded exclusively Partitions: 100's, 95's and 85's. They all kill very well. In the 6mm Remington with a 24" barrel,
these will make 3180+, 3260+ and 3400+ respectively, using Norma MRP.
40+Deer between 75 lb and 275 lb dressed, 2 moose, about 15 black bears, all attest to the effectiveness of the round.
I also have taken about 50 coyotes with this round, but prefer 70 grain pills at 3600 or so for that pursuit.
Regards, Dave.
 
Last edited:
I use 87gr Berger VLD Hunting for deer and 87gr V-Max for coyotes. My Savage shoots either really well and to almost the same point of impact so it's very easy to resight when changing seasons. All the deer I have shot with the .243 which is quite a few, have mostly been bang flops. It's a great deer round IMO.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom