243 bullet?

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Limomaker

New member
Guys I have been hunting deer with a 243 for the past couple of years. Mainly because I had a couple for the boys growing up and they have taken my 25-06 and 30-06 since they have grown up. The youngest and I both are still using the 243's. I have been reloading for them and have loved shooting them. Been using 100 gr interlocks. I have been mostly satisified but with only one problem. On several of the deer killed over 150 yards I keep finding the bullet on the far side just under the skin.

Would another bullet offer the same performance but maybe punch on through on a more regular basis? Just thinking of an increased blood trail just in case?
 
Try a bonded bullet. I shot nut hong but the 85gr Sierra bthp in my wssm. Look into the partition or gmx or a Barnes ttsx. Of all them I'd go to Barnes but they're more money and can be finicky to get to shoot good. Or try Berger bullets. Wouldn't need to worry about tracking, deer would be piled up shortly after the shot
 
I'm sure somebody will say it so I will go ahead & be the first...

A Barnes will likely get you very consistant exits and leave a dead deer at the end of the trail every time. However, I have found that cup& core bullets like the interlocks kill deer faster. They shed some wight & send that "shrapnel" all through the vitals creating a larger wound channel.

A good option would be a partition. It will shed the front weight in the deer & lock the rear section & most time exit. The 95gr BT is a very hard bullet & usually exits as well (acts a lot like a partition & usually shoots better). It also works well with shoulder shots.

I personally like the siera 100gr Gameking or Prohunter for deer. I nearly always get exits on broadside deer. If shooting 1/4ing or completly facing I don't get exits much but the deer is laying were it stood instead.

Just wondering, are you shooting in the shoulder on your "non-exits"; or are you shooting typical broadside "bowstyle" shots. I havn't used the 100gr interlock much but couldn't imagine it not exiting through the ribs/lungs...


------edit

There it is...^ a barnes suggesting while I was typing...
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Sounds like you are using the right bullet as all the energy is left in the animal. I would stick with it.
I use the Nosler 90 grain hunting BT. Never failed me in all the years I have used it.
I also have been shooting all my deer threw the neck lately and they drop in their tracks. Main reason is its not as messy when you go to gut them. When you get old you never want to work much or get dirty.
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Lemomaker, the Hornady 87 gr. Interlock is the bullet you are looking for and it won't break the bank either. One tough bullet that wrecks a whitetails day and it is very accurate. Shoot a Winchester M70 in 243 and it groups it in half inch groups every time out, but it likes a dirty barrel to do that tight, otherwise about 1 to 1 1/2 if a clean barrel. I just leave it dirty till end of season--been doing this for years see no need to change. Give it a try and I do reload. My best for this bullet is 4064 38.6 gr. and 2.693 COL somewhere around 3000 to 3100 fpe according to Hornady manual. Getting close to max. so start out lower if tried. Let us know what you decide.
 
Barnes has always punched an exit for me, but, more importantly, the animals have gone down quickly, with no tracking or follow up shot needed.
 
Thanks everyonr for the suggestions. Alot to think about. I may try the barnes or a bonded bullet and check out how I can get them to work out. Then again its working, but.... oh well. alot to think about
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Barnes 80 grain TTSX. I've used Nosler partitions but at any significant range, they just don't open up. At least that's been my experience.
 
I shot a deer up close last year with my 243 using fusion ammo loaded with the 80gr TTSX. I recovered both bullets and the petals had sheared off both of them and the base penciled almost all the way through, I found them both under the skin on the far side. The range was pretty close, 40-50yds or so. I also shot a wolf in the chest with those rounds and never recovered it.

I am currently doing load development with 95gr berger hunting VLD's. I am hoping they will work out a little bit better. I really like the TTSX bullets but I expected a lot different than what I got with the 80gr 6mm ones.
 
Remington makes the 100gr Core-lokt that is bonded. They are cheaper than most other bonded bullets out there. I haven't used anything other than the factory 100gr Core-lokt loaded ammo on game. I sold my .243Win years ago and only recently replaced it with a newer one.
I haven't drawn a deer tag lately so I haven't had a chance to test out my 100gr Sierra game king load yet. I am sure they will perform much like the Core-lokt does.

I have experience with the Barnes bullets in 25-06 on other game and think they would work equally well in the .243Win. Swift makes a 90gr Scirocco II that works well. My friend's Son used it this year to harvest a large Kansas white tail Buck.
 
Core-lokt bullets bonded ? A pizz poor bonding job if they are,which I don't believe they are bonded.

They seperate core from jacket and loose alot of weight. While they do work, they are not even close to bullets like Fed Fusion.
 
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