Updated with a poll! Best big game bullet for 243 Winchester

[trapoholic]

I'm looking for opinions and preferably personal experience on bullets for them (bonus points for pictures) it'll be used for deer huntin, maybe a bear if one walks by during deer season.

The shot will range from 20 feet to 60 yards, might be able to get a 80 yard shot in a few places. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the following bullets

- 95 grain nosler ballistic tip (purple or silver tip don't matter)
-80 grain Barnes TTSX
-85 grain Barnes TSX
-100 grain Speer grand slam

I'd use a partition but Jesus Murphy they're expensive! Won't use accubonds, shot a deer with a 150 grain accubond out of a 308 last year and I've never seen a mess like that in my life.

I'm open to other bullet options as well, I'd prefer somethin that's gonna punch through both sides of the animal though.

Might as well make this thread a all rounder for overall so everybody can get a idea of bullet choice.

 

[Gatehouse]

Either of the Barnes would be my choice. Impact speed will be high, If you didn't like NAB performance you sure won't like the BT's.

 

[hoytcanon]

Nosler 100 grain Partition #35642

 

[Fox]

What did the accubond hit? They are suppose to be one of the best bullets, any chance you blew bone fragments into the deer?

 

[diemaco]

"One of the best" is highly debatable. While I personally really like the accubond as a general purpose big game bullet, they're still pretty soft.

What I like is that they open relatively easily, have a decent BC, reasonable penetration, and are consistent.

Personally, I'd probably pick the partitions, but if the OP wasn't happy with ABs, he may be better served by Barnes or one of the other monos currently available.

 

[Fox]

"One of the best" is highly debatable. While I personally really like the accubond as a general purpose big game bullet, they're still pretty soft.

What I like is that they open relatively easily, have a decent BC, reasonable penetration, and are consistent.

Personally, I'd probably pick the partitions, but if the OP wasn't happy with ABs, he may be better served by Barnes or one of the other monos currently available.

The partition is soft too, the first half of it.

The 308 is not a super high velocity cartridge, even at the muzzle the accubond should not explode, I assume he smoked a bone and that blew in to the rest of the deer.

Now a 130gr 270 at 15 yards, that is messy.

 

[canadaman30]

I have a family member who hunts both whitetail deer and black bear. So far every animal he's shot under 100 yards didn't make it more than a few steps before expiring. He uses 100 grain Remington core lock, 100 grain winchester PowerPoint. Shots through the ribs and exits out the other side. From my personal experience on deer size game, no premium special bullets needed. Underrated cartridge imo.

 

[dgradinaru]

I haven't used any of the listed bullets but remington corelokt 100gr has been preforming very well out of a ruger m77 hawkeye that i bought for a youth gun. Shoots great and had some of our younger family members harvest a few deer out to 200 yards and a bear that squared 7' at 150 yards, one shot, bear dropped on the spot with a double lung shot, with no issues. In saying that the 100gr grand slam or barnes would be top choices out of the list. I agree with the above, it's a under rated cartridge.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Nosler Partition 100grn or Barnes bullet of choice.
Your not going to be target shooting so the cost should be reasonable for your required task.
Buy once cry once and enjoy those deer roasts and backstraps after the hunt.
This coming from a guy who owns a Browning in 6.5CM and a Brno 21-h in 7x57 shooting factory Sellier Bellot ammo.
Tight Groups and Good Hunting.

 

[trapoholic]

What did the accubond hit? They are suppose to be one of the best bullets, any chance you blew bone fragments into the deer?

They started out kissin the 2900fps mark, he was about 50 yards away. I cut wood on the way to his ribs but I've done that with other bullets as well and never seen anything like that kind of damage. The entire entrance side was dog food, all the meat was black and so mushy you could poke your finger through it like hamburger. The exit was maybe 45 caliber size and I didn't even know there was a exit till I skinned him, not a single drop of blood. He still managed to death dash for 40 yards or so.

Nosler 100 grain Partition #35642

Those things are ridiculously expensive, $100+ for 50 is a little insane, I'd try them though.

I have a family member who hunts both whitetail deer and black bear. So far every animal he's shot under 100 yards didn't make it more than a few steps before expiring. He uses 100 grain Remington core lock, 100 grain winchester PowerPoint. Shots through the ribs and exits out the other side. From my personal experience on deer size game, no premium special bullets needed. Underrated cartridge imo.

I'm thinkin pretty hard on the grand slam, not gonna drive them stupid fast, gonna try to hover around the starting load mark.

I haven't used any of the listed bullets but remington corelokt 100gr has been preforming very well out of a ruger m77 hawkeye that i bought for a youth gun. Shoots great and had some of our younger family members harvest a few deer out to 200 yards and a bear that squared 7' at 150 yards, one shot, bear dropped on the spot with a double lung shot, with no issues. In saying that the 100gr grand slam or barnes would be top choices out of the list. I agree with the above, it's a under rated cartridge.

I'm leaning towards the Grand slams, I know they're tougher n stink out of a 30 cal. If I did go the Barnes route I'd drive them as fast as possible.

 

[Fox]

So you hit a tree before the bullet got to the deer and you are blaming the bullet for failing?

 

[track]

I've had superb accuracy, velocity and deadly results with the 90 grain Nosler Accubond. Because of various big game rifles I own, I only had taken the rifle out three times, however connected with three animals with the 240 Weatherby. All three animals fell stone dead in their tracks. Distance was from 50 to 175 yards. I know it's not the 243 Win. however, same caliber. I've only used the rifle in the Great Plaines of Alberta, hence wide open long shots. I might take it on a northern boreal hunt, sitting on the edge of a meadow or cutline. I refuse to look back at any other bullet for small and medium big game, other than the 90 grain Accubond.
https://imgur.com/a/89Mqoc9

 

[FLHTCUI]

I've had superb accuracy, velocity and deadly results with the 90 grain Nosler Accubond. Because of various big game rifles I own, I only had taken the rifle out three times, however connected with three animals with the 240 Weatherby. All three animals fell stone dead in their tracks. Distance was from 50 to 175 yards. I know it's not the 243 Win. however, same caliber. I've only used the rifle in the Great Plaines of Alberta, hence wide open long shots. I might take it on a northern boreal hunt, sitting on the edge of a meadow or cutline. I refuse to look back at any other bullet for small and medium big game, other than the 90 grain Accubond.
https://imgur.com/a/89Mqoc9

That is one gorgeous Speed Goat and the Mulie is a monster as well.
Rob

 

[trapoholic]

So you hit a tree before the bullet got to the deer and you are blaming the bullet for failing?

Sent it through some tagalder scrub before it got to him yes. I do it every year with my 30-06 loaded with 180 grain round nose interlocks and never have those kinds of results; being a dogger (nobody I know ever called us that it was always "runners") my shots are pretty much 95% less than ideal, they plow through some stuff and a lot of animal once they get there.

Here's another example of a lighter non bonded bullet that went through far worse than that accubond did and didn't act anything like it. I shot a bear with my wife's 308 a couple years ago loaded with 165 grain flat base interlocks at 50 yards. That bullet went through some actual maple saplings, a 2" hemlock, spine and both shoulder blades of the bear and buried in the mud on the otherside of him. If there was gonna be some sort of failure it should have been that one but nope, straight line. Or the 3 point my wife shot 2 seasons ago 20-30 yards through the nastiest beech scrub you never wanna see. Same 165 grain interlock.

Moral of my story is for the little switches that accubond hit before it hit the deer there's no way or reason it would have opened up unless a toothpick sets it off.

I never said the bullet failed, I also never said the bullet hit a tree. The bullet killed the deer like it was supposed too. I said I've never seen a mess like that in my life. Don't try and start a argument where there's no need startin one.

I've had superb accuracy, velocity and deadly results with the 90 grain Nosler Accubond. Because of various big game rifles I own, I only had taken the rifle out three times, however connected with three animals with the 240 Weatherby. All three animals fell stone dead in their tracks. Distance was from 50 to 175 yards. I know it's not the 243 Win. however, same caliber. I've only used the rifle in the Great Plaines of Alberta, hence wide open long shots. I might take it on a northern boreal hunt, sitting on the edge of a meadow or cutline. I refuse to look back at any other bullet for small and medium big game, other than the 90 grain Accubond.
https://imgur.com/a/89Mqoc9

That 240 Bob got a little more stank than the 243 my friend XD

 

[Suther]

Double Post.

 

[Suther]

If you really want something that'll maximize chances of an exit wound then the TSX/TTSX is a good option.

I agree with you on the cost of partitions. I have a few boxes on the shelf for my 7mm08 but I fear I'll have to switch bullets again when I run out if prices don't come down. Accubonds are the same sort of crazy high price, so I won't be going to them either.

 

[Fox]

I've had superb accuracy, velocity and deadly results with the 90 grain Nosler Accubond. Because of various big game rifles I own, I only had taken the rifle out three times, however connected with three animals with the 240 Weatherby. All three animals fell stone dead in their tracks. Distance was from 50 to 175 yards. I know it's not the 243 Win. however, same caliber. I've only used the rifle in the Great Plaines of Alberta, hence wide open long shots. I might take it on a northern boreal hunt, sitting on the edge of a meadow or cutline. I refuse to look back at any other bullet for small and medium big game, other than the 90 grain Accubond.
https://imgur.com/a/89Mqoc9

Funny how you take a Weatherby out there for shots under 200 yards, just seems like how things work out. If you go out with your close in gun you will see a big buck at 500 yards and if prepared for 500 yards they will pop out at 15 yards, ha ha.

 

[hoytcanon]

Alright so I got a 7600 in 243 that'll be here today and I'm looking for opinions and preferably personal experience on bullets for them (bonus points for pictures) it'll be used for deer huntin, maybe a bear if one walks by during deer season.

The shot will range from 20 feet to 60 yards, might be able to get a 80 yard shot in a few places. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the following bullets

- 95 grain nosler ballistic tip (purple or silver tip don't matter)
-80 grain Barnes TTSX
-85 grain Barnes TSX
-100 grain Speer grand slam

I'd use a partition but Jesus Murphy they're expensive! Won't use accubonds, shot a deer with a 150 grain accubond out of a 308 last year and I've never seen a mess like that in my life.

I'm open to other bullet options as well, I'd prefer somethin that's gonna punch through both sides of the animal though.

Nosler 100 grain Partition #35642

Those things are ridiculously expensive, $100+ for 50 is a little insane, I'd try them though.

The original question was what is the "BEST" big game bullet for .243... in my experience, that is the 100 grain Partition. If you introduce other criteria like price or impact distance, that answer will change. The best budget .243 hunting bullet that I have experienced and witnessed is the one pictured, my kids and friends kids and wives and girlfriends etc... have shot alot of deer and a few bears with these and they work.

P.S - Corlane's has the .243 100 grain Partitions for $85 in stock... still alot of money, but if you want to try them. My local shop is cheaper than that.

 

[Suther]

The original question was what is the "BEST" big game bullet for .243... in my experience, that is the 100 grain Partition. If you introduce other criteria like price or impact distance, that answer will change. The best budget .243 hunting bullet that I have experienced and witnessed is the one pictured, my kids and friends kids and wives and girlfriends etc... have shot alot of deer and a few bears with these and they work.

P.S - Corlane's has the .243 100 grain Partitions for $85 in stock... still alot of money, but if you want to try them. My local shop is cheaper than that.

I see you like the 90gr HotCor, any experience with the Speer 100gr BTSP? I bought a few boxes for range use because they were on sale for a very good price from a dealer last year...

 

[trapoholic]

If you really want something that'll maximize chances of an exit wound then the TSX/TTSX is a good option.

I agree with you on the cost of partitions. I have a few boxes on the shelf for my 7mm08 but I fear I'll have to switch bullets again when I run out if prices don't come down. Accubonds are the same sort of crazy high price, so I won't be going to them either.

I can get both versions of Barnes for a pretty good price, thinkin pretty hard on em. At the same time every Barnes experience I've had minus the expanders for my 50 cal have been long track jobs and pin drops of blood at best. Reading the midway reviews the 6mm Barnes seems to be a different animal as far as blowin a hole out the otherside for blood though.

I'm actually contemplating having this 243 rebored to 7mm-08 cause I've always wanted a 7mm-08 pump. I just have no clue who would do it.

The original question was what is the "BEST" big game bullet for .243... in my experience, that is the 100 grain Partition. If you introduce other criteria like price or impact distance, that answer will change. The best budget .243 hunting bullet that I have experienced and witnessed is the one pictured, my kids and friends kids and wives and girlfriends etc... have shot alot of deer and a few bears with these and they work.

P.S - Corlane's has the .243 100 grain Partitions for $85 in stock... still alot of money, but if you want to try them. My local shop is cheaper than that.

Funny you mention the hot cores Hoyt, if they made them in 100 grain this thread wouldn't exist cause I would have went with them. I have 100% confidence in hot cores cause I've seen them work out of a few different 30 cal flavors and they are waaaay tougher than they should be for a cup n core bullet