243 bullet choice

goldscud · #1 06-08-2012, 10:55 PM

It looks like I will have access to a .243 for the upcoming deer season for my 12yr old son to get started with. What is a good bullet choice for this gun?

Jordan Smith · #2 06-08-2012, 11:44 PM

80gr TTSX.

Lefty-Canuck · #3 06-08-2012, 11:47 PM

I am sure lots will disagree with me but in my personal experience using a .240 WBY with 90gr ballistic tips works quite well on deer. If they shoot accurately in the .243 I would give those a try.

LC

Redneck Renagade · #4 06-08-2012, 11:49 PM

95gr hornady sst's

deanmc · #5 06-09-2012, 12:13 AM

Access? I am assuming that means you are borrowing a rifle? If so the owner could best answer that question. Get the heaviest bullet that shoots accurately from that rifle. Then let the lucky little guy shoot shoot and shoot.

Have fun. My oldest is 8 and I cant wait till he turns 12.

huntin · #6 06-09-2012, 02:43 AM

There ain't much of a choice of good ammo for the 243 now if you can find a 25cal the ammo get way better quality IMHO

Mulie Madness · #7 06-09-2012, 04:49 AM

Sierra 85gr bthp - shoots accurate out of most 243's - upsets deer quickly from close to far- but definitly need to pick your shot - broadside is best or a neck shot.

TangoKilo · #8 06-09-2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulie Madness

Sierra 85gr bthp - shoots accurate out of most 243's - upsets deer quickly from close to far- but definitly need to pick your shot - broadside is best or a neck shot.

X2

Ive shot quite a number of deer with this bullet!!

Other Great options are the 80Gr Barnes TTSX and the 85Gr Barnes TSX.

BuckHunterBowen · #9 06-09-2012, 07:04 AM

Killed an elk with a core lokt out of a 243 they are great bullets

Duck Buster 1187 · #10 06-09-2012, 08:34 AM

How come nobody suggests a 410 for goose and duck hunting for the beginner hunter?
It recoils little, and has enough jam to get it done if you are patient, and close enough, blah blah blah.

The 243 IMO is the absolute worse choice for a beginner, most youth models now have 20 inch barrels, so what little advantage the 243 had as a big game cartridge is now lost because of the resultant velocity loss.

The 243 and 410 are of the same ilk, for a seasoned hunter they actually perform fine, patience and shot choices are well ingrained with hunters with some experience behind them. Those qualities are not there in a new hunter.

Go buy a Savage Axis youth in 7mm-08, or pick up a surplus 6.5 Swede, and start the kid on that.

I have to ask why would you take such a minimalistic approach to something that could paint the kids whole experience in a not so nice color?

ltw · #11 06-09-2012, 09:13 AM

I like the 80 gr ttsx as well. A great bullet that will stay together with minimal recoil. You can always go to something bigger but will usually have more recoil. It's really dependent on the shooters comfort level and confidence in the rifle.

With practice young hunters can be excellent shooters. The biggest challenge is in getting them into a situation where they have adequate time and a decent rest to make a good shot.

topgun2269 · #12 06-09-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldscud

It looks like I will have access to a .243 for the upcoming deer season for my 12yr old son to get started with. What is a good bullet choice for this gun?

this is a great bullet

densa44 · #13 06-09-2012, 11:31 AM

The 243 is just fine. The key is practice and that is hard to do with a big banger. At the same age my kid could put 3 shots through a milk bottle top at 200M.

goldscud · #14 06-09-2012, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the input.
I'll just be buying factory ammo. Looks like these 2 are commonly used:
95gr Winchester Ballistic silvertip (Nosler) vs 95gr Federal Premium Vital shock (Barnes TSX)? Sounds like Barnes bullet stays together a bit better.

densa44 · #15 06-09-2012, 01:49 PM

They won't shoot the same. If you are happy with either bullet, you'll be able to decide on your own once the young lad shoots 1/2 a box of each.

Jordan Smith · #16 06-09-2012, 02:00 PM

The bullet is FAR more important than the cartridge. And the 80gr TTSX/85gr TSX are two of the best, if not the best, bullets for short-to-medium range hunting with the .243, especially when some "heavy lifting" might be required.

On deer, I wouldn't feel a bit handicapped by the Fusion, Partition, etc. Most any bullet 85gr and over will work well on deer from the .243 (with the exception of the bullets designed for varmints, and even those work okay on broadside chest shots most of the time). The most important thing is that the boy be able to put the bullet where it needs to go, and secondly, that the expanded bullet holds together and penetrates into the vitals.

Ironcowboy · #17 06-09-2012, 03:52 PM

Found 95 grain federal fusion worked well for my step daughters .243. But have just started reloading and we like the Nosler hunting ballistic tips for it now.

Lefty-Canuck · #18 06-09-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironcowboy

Found 95 grain federal fusion worked well for my step daughters .243. But have just started reloading and we like the Nosler hunting ballistic tips for it now.

Here is a thread I started about the .240WBY I bought. I use the 90gr Nosler Hunting Ballistic Tip in it....the thread has pictures of groupings and performance on a deer I took at ~250 yards....it did the trick!

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ht=love+240wby

LC

Cappy · #19 06-09-2012, 06:31 PM

The .243 shoots bullets fast and that means premium bullets in my books. I have used standard cup and core bullets in the 80gr range and yes they work with well placed shots. However I think asking a 12yr old to be precise with their shot placement may be a bit much to ask. If you invest in the premium bullets like the TSX's and Accubonds etc you will be more likely to have a better outcome if a shoulder or a couple ribs get clipped.

RLG · #20 06-09-2012, 08:02 PM

shot a 243 for years, probably 18-20 deer kills. i have hit shoulders, ribs, spine, neck, guts and an occasional ass. the federal bullets from walmart and cad tire are all i have ever bought and i have only ever lost one deer, happened last year and for the life of me I can not figure out how with the amount of blood on the ground it went anywhere.

mcreg · #21 06-11-2012, 10:44 PM

I don't hunt deer, but have had great success with my .243 on wolves over the past several seasons using Winchester's 95gr Ballistic Silvertip. My longest shot was @ 625 yds, and although it did the job he did run 200 yd before piling up. The rest of the time they were 200-250 yds and dropped them where they stood.
I took it to Africa this spring and had tremendous success. taking 2 springbok @ 255/280 yds respectively, a Black Wildebeest @ 185 yds, an impala @ 160yds several warthogs at various yardage up to 300. But the most impressive were the 2 zebra @ 285/310 respectively. All were 1 shot kills with the animals going no more than 10-20 yds. Even the 3 PH's we had couldn't believe the penetration and knock down power these bullets had?
In saying all this bullet placement is still the key!!!
Good luck

Tikka300 · #22 06-14-2012, 04:12 PM

I was reloading 100gr sierra game kings and worked fine on deer. Shot placement is everything, just get used to shooting the gun and being comfortable with it.

pyropete · #23 10-05-2012, 09:46 PM

A great caliber for deer. I have used 85-100 gr all with success. Just find an accurate load and let him practice.

6mmhunter · #24 10-05-2012, 10:41 PM

I've had great success with Speer 85 gr spitzer boattails. Always super fast kills.

sunsetrider2011 · #25 10-06-2012, 05:46 AM

100 gr nosler partitions do the trick on game fine, The 243 has killed more game in the nads of youths than any other calibre out there and probably will so for years to come,, one of the best starter calibres around,

score · #26 10-06-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunsetrider2011

100 gr nosler partitions do the trick on game fine, The 243 has killed more game in the nads of youths than any other calibre out there and probably will so for years to come,, one of the best starter calibres around,

I agree with you 100% on the capabilities of the .243 and myself and my son have never felt under-gunned with it. It is not only a starter tho. The only thing is that a twist of 10 is common in some rifles and while some people have had success stabilizing a 100 gr. bullet, some have not. I guess you have to try them in your rifle to see, but a bullet in the 80 - 90 gr. range is lethal if well constructed. The new bullets now days have put the .243 into a whole different category.

krthegunslinger · #27 10-06-2012, 10:50 AM

We have 2 rifles in 243. Both shoot 95GR Nosler ballistic tips very well and have taken both big mule deer and WT with Bang flop results. They fly very well and hit hard. I'm not sure if you can buy them off the shelf as I reload but both rifles also shoot easily obtained 100GR spire point off the store shelves as well.

score · #28 10-06-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krthegunslinger

We have 2 rifles in 243. Both shoot 95GR Nosler ballistic tips very well and have taken both big mule deer and WT with Bang flop results. They fly very well and hit hard. I'm not sure if you can buy them off the shelf as I reload but both rifles also shoot easily obtained 100GR spire point off the store shelves as well.

What is the twist in your rifles? I know some have said they have had luck with the 100 grainers from a 1:10 twist, but others have not. For me, like I said, a well built bullet of 80 to 90 will get the job done nicely.

Cal · #29 10-06-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldscud

Thanks for the input.
I'll just be buying factory ammo. Looks like these 2 are commonly used:
95gr Winchester Ballistic silvertip (Nosler) vs 95gr Federal Premium Vital shock (Barnes TSX)? Sounds like Barnes bullet stays together a bit better.

I dont shoot a .243 but if it was me I would steer clear of the Ballistic silvertips and Federal blue box amo. My cousin shoots a .243 though and he uses the winchester powerpoint, another bullet I've never been impressed with, and it works just fine. If it was me I'd try Corelocts, Interlocks, Fusion, and Winchester Powermax bullets of at least 95 grains and pick which one shoots best. I've always gotten very good, predictable performance from these bullets.