Recommendations for a .243 deer hunting bullet

slimjim

Elvis, I thought you were using the Barnes TSX in your .223?

Elvis

that is my load I will put in if targeting red deer yes,but Ive shot a couple of reds with the 52s and a couple of pigs not to mention countless wallabies which at end of day are from roe deer size right up to fallow hind eg body weight up to 40kg/90lb so are very confident in the preformance of them.
nosler ballistic tips have never let me down but the price means not normally my go to load.....I can buy 2nds in 30 cal 125grns and use these in the x39mm with good results too.

Deer Sniper · Super Member Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 539

The BEST bullet I have ever found for the 243 Winchester was Sierra's 85 gr. B.T. - H.P. Game King. When culling deer for Game and Fish, plus my own personal hunting, I have shot well in excess of 800 deer with that bullet, with excellent results!

Now days, I shoot 9 different 6mm rifles, all in different cartridges, and all shoot that same Sierra bullet, with no exceptions. Best bullet ever!

hunterjoe21

Deer Sniper wrote:

The BEST bullet I have ever found for the 243 Winchester was Sierra's 85 gr. B.T. - H.P. Game King. When culling deer for Game and Fish, plus my own personal hunting, I have shot well in excess of 800 deer with that bullet, with excellent results!

Now days, I shoot 9 different 6mm rifles, all in different cartridges, and all shoot that same Sierra bullet, with no exceptions. Best bullet ever!

DS

Is that Sierra’s #1530?

If so, I had heard it was a great deer bullet, but never seen it that highly endorsed.

Deer Sniper · Super Member Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 539

Yes, Sierra's bullet number is 1530 for that specific bullet.

Here is my list of 6mm cartridges that I shoot, that all shoot that same bullet:

1 - 6mm Bench Rest

2 - 6mmX30-30

3 - 6mmX30-30 Improved

4 - 243 Winchester

5 - 243 WHITE EXPRESS

6 - 6mmX74R

7 - 240 Weatherby Magnum

8 - 6mm-284

9 - 244 H&H

ALL CARTRIDGES listed shoot Sierra's 85 gr. B.T. - H.P. Game King bullet and all cartridges listed have accounted for many deer, not to mention the coyotes and crows...

Two reasons I shoot this bullet. ACCURACY and BULLET PERFORMANCE! I have shot deer as close as 30 yds. and out to a little over 1,000 yds., and I have never been disapointed. I wait for a broadside on deer, and I always put the bullet at the top point of the front shoulder, and it's lights out! I'll also mention that 95% of the deer that I shoot are does, with the biggest one weighing in at just over 140 pounds. I am a meat hunter and could care less about shooting a buck...

Yes, I do like my 6mm cartridges...

Dawgdad

Deersniper, do you have a favorite Hand load for the .243?

Aloysius

that 6 mm Bench Rest, is that a 6 mm Norma BR? Then please share your favorite reload. I got my son-in-law a 6 mm Norma BR, a Swiss Grünig & Elmiger. You could help to save me much time... and no, not me nor my son-in-law is going to start with these 107 grs Lapua pills because we don't do competition so cannot verify their price. (except competition against your own skills).

Deer Sniper · Super Member Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 539

Mine is a 6mm BR Norma - Lapua brass.

What is your barrel length and twist rate?

I do NOT shoot any of the Lapua bullets, Berger bullets or any of the other VLD bullets. My only bullet is Sierra's 85 gr. B.T. - H.P. Game King with no exception!

MY load in MY gun:

CASE: Lapua 6mm BR Norma

PRIMER: Remington 7 1/2

POWDER: H-322 / 28.3 gr.

BULLET: Sierra 85 gr. B.T. - H.P. Game King / bullets are seated .007 into the lands...

VELOCITY: 3,062 fps

ACCURACY: 5-shot groups at 100, 200 and 300 yds. do NOT have paper between the holes, meaning one ragged hole!

I am not a target shooter or a bench rest shooter. I shoot deer, coyotes and crows, and hopefully one day prairie dogs! I build rifles for a living and I do enjoy an ACCURATE rifle!

gelandangan

Back when I had 243, I used 87gn hornady

English Mike

All this information is great stuff & thanks to everyone for their input.
The Sierra #1530 looks ideal for my intended use, though that doesn't mean I'll not try others, even if only at paper.
Roll on January, when I'll have everything in place to get stuck into this project.

Vince

DS...I really like the look of your 243 White Express, and it's accuracy is outstanding...7/8" at 600 yards is nothing to sneeze at I can tell you.

The rifle you have chambered for this cartridge looks awesome as well...lovely clean lines and a monster bull barrel...very impressive mate.

Deer Sniper · Super Member Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 539

Hi Vince,

thank you for the compliments!

That barrel is 1.450" in diameter and 30" long.

I believe that one group is the best I have shot at 600 yds..

chambered221

The Sierra 85gr is definitely a good shooting bullet...... was my go to for groundhogs until the Ballistic Tips came along.

Deer Sniper .... Do you have any experience with the 95gr B-Tips or SST's ???
Would love to hear your thoughts if so.

Deer Sniper · Super Member Joined: Apr 26, 2007 Posts: 539

chambered221,

I have never reloaded or shot an SST bullet.

I did shoot the 95 gr. Ballistic Tip bullets for a short time, but found the accuracy from them to be very erratic. One group would be 1/2" and the very next one would be over 2", then the next would be 3/4", then the next would be over 4". These were groups that were shot at 200 yds. with match prepped brass. I have never had this happen with the Sierra bullets...

Elvis

thats interesting as its the first time Ive EVER heard a bad report on ballistic tips at all....coming from you Mate I believe it 100% but then it is after all a EBRG so anything possible Very Happy