.243 for Northern Whitetails

I've used tipped Barnes in 300WSM on bear, never found a bullet ,got both bears. Currently loading 185 TTSX in 338Fed, hope to try it in a couple weeks.

This is a .224" 62gr TSX recovered from a deer. It's a little beat up since it was shoulder /neck hit and found back near the tail,IIRC.

 
100 grain Partition Noslers are my standby, have worked well on a dozen or more for me. Always get an exit with those. Also good results with the Sierra 100 grain flat base spitzer. Usually with 33 - 34 grains of 3031. 'Course, these are Alabama whitetails, not big northern deer, but I wouldn't hesitate to use either load on any deer, given good shot placement (true no matter what caliber/load).
 
This is the recipe I used for about 6 deer before I sold this gun to a bud. He has since taken 2-3 with it using same load.........

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Next time I shoot one with a 243 it will be a 95gr Berger or 87gr V-max. Don't worry about the V-max. I don't like a mess. I know where to put it
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I load my 10 year old son up with barnes ttsx 80's in his 243 always does the job even if the excitement gets the best of him and it's not a perfect hit. It still puts them down.
 
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I ve started using Sierra 85 gr BTHP, 2 down for the season so far. Neither went more than 30 yes. Of course you cant go wrong with off the shelf corelokts or WInchester Power points either. Ive heard a lot about the Barnes bullets also. Whatever you use just hit em right.
 
I did a lot of reading in years past on people having DRTs with Nosler BTs in 95 grains. I picked up some 100g partitions to load but am going to try the BTs too. I load 90g scirrocos at 3350fps for a friend. He kills deer every year with them but they travel 40 to 60 yards on average before expiring.
 
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Originally Posted By: WI3DerThe 95gr Nosler BT is a very good deer bullet. My younger brother had a good string (8 I think) of DRT's on WI whitetails with this bullet before he jumped up in caliber. I was amazed! I am currently loading the 85gr Barnes in 243 for my 14 year old but no track record yet. He hammered a few deer with the 53gr Barnes in a 22-250 but I suppose the 22 cal. naysayers would have a fit!
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There are lots of good bullets now days, so what ever you can get to shoot just go with it.

+1 On the 95gr NBT's.Probably my favorite deer bullet in the 243.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim Neitzke
I've not loaded any 243 Barnes since the X bullet, but plan on running 80 TTSX soon.


You are going to like the results of this bullet. I load it
in my 6mm Rem. Fast, flat, and a hammer when it hits. I
use this rifle for antelope, for the fast and flat part. The
processor of the last buck, asked what I was shooting. He
was expecting the answer to be a larger caliber from the
entrance/exit hole. It was a high shoulder shot, with a
2" entrance hole, and a 3" exit hole...At 320 yards. I
would use it on our northern whitetails, except I have
25-06 Rem, 260 Rem, a 308 Win, and a 300 WSM rifles in line
in front of it. This year the 25-06 Rem. got bloodied, and
one of the others may, in an upcoming antlerless hunt. So
maybe in a few years, the 6mm Rem. will get it's chance. I
have no concerns it is up to the challenge, with the
80 gr. TTSX.

Squeeze
 
You can't go wrong with the 80-85gr Barnes bullets for deer IMO. Heck, the 70gr .223 offering will kill one from any angle. Just put it where it needs to go, it'll do the rest, every time......
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeHands down the best factory lead bullet ammo is the Fed Fusion 95 gr.

You can shoot ribs or smash shoulders with it.

It does seem hard to find right now ,however.


Tim,

The Walmart up here has a bunch of these rounds right now. $21 out the door.

Want any?
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeWithout seeing the post about them I highly dought the "bent" ones are from animals. Like anything the bad stuff lasts forever online.

It can be rather tough to recover a TSX/TTSX ,since they penetrate so well. Shooting critters from nose to tail will get you a bullet or 2.
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I'd put any high dollar hunt in the hands of Barnes and never worry one second about it.

I've not loaded any 243 Barnes since the X bullet, but plan on running 80 TTSX soon.

Also have some 120gr TTSX for my 280AI ,that need tested too.

I hear ya...

Check Google Images...
 
Originally Posted By: WI3DerThe 95gr Nosler BT is a very good deer bullet. My younger brother had a good string (8 I think) of DRT's on WI whitetails with this bullet before he jumped up in caliber. I was amazed!

Agree. My father used my 243 last year and took a buck with this bullet riding on top of Varget. The deer literally fell over in its tracks. Didn't move one step. This was a heart/lung shot. Being a dedicated "use enough gun" man, he was dubious about using the 243, but was impressed with the performance. I've used 100gr down to 85 grain and they all kill deer dead.

There seem to be a lot of people who feel the need to invent archair theories on why they 243 can't/won't/hasn't worked for deer. Most of these theories are based on little or no actual experience.

Also, one can never account for all the variables in any hunting situation. One twig from low scrub, one flinch, one guest of wind, a few blades of tall grass, everything matters, so there is a limit to the conclusions you can draw based on a single experience.

Grouse
 
Agreed. Plus, with todays bullet technology, the 243 will kill better than ever. Even though your grand daddy's soft points still work great on deer IME................
 
I've never seen an issue killing WT with a 100 gr ProHunter. I haven't tried any Monos, but I'm certain they'd work rather well.
 
Originally Posted By: The Famous Grouse...There seem to be a lot of people who feel the need to invent archair theories on why they 243 can't/won't/hasn't worked for deer. Most of these theories are based on little or no actual experience.


Grouse


I always get a chuckle out of dudes at the gunshop counter that talk about how certain cartridges just wound deer and aren't good killers (.243 and .30-30 seem to get the most attention around here from this crowd). Every year tens of thousands of deer are killed deader than heII by little kids and women using those very same cartridges these guys put down as a runty little wounder suitable only for chipmunks and coyotes. The lady's and kids seem to do it with little fuss so it would seem only hairy chested he-men have difficulties with the .243/6mm tribe.
 
this was my son's youth day hunt this year

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this was his youth day hunt last year. BTW, these were the result of ONE BULLET at 160yds. Both of these fell to a 9yr old, with 1 sinlge 100gr core-lokt pill

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My 243 has taken several mule deer with the 100gr Hornady BTSP from 50 to 350 yards. Same bullet my Grandpa used for years and swore by.
 
Originally Posted By: DoogerOriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeHands down the best factory lead bullet ammo is the Fed Fusion 95 gr.

You can shoot ribs or smash shoulders with it.

It does seem hard to find right now ,however.


Tim,

The Walmart up here has a bunch of these rounds right now. $21 out the door.

Want any?

Tempting,but I'll pass. UPS is to pricy.
Thanks
 
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