Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 243 Win - Sierra 85 gr BTHP vs 95 SST for deer?

243 Win - 85 gr Sierra BTHP vs Hornady 95 SST

Is there a benefit to using one or the other for whitetail deer
hunting? I have both bullets. I guess I could shoot both to see which one shoots best in my rifle, but it being a Browning BAR, I'm not expecting benchrest accuracy out of it anyway.

I'm a heavy bullet guy by caliber. However the bullet that gives you the best accuracy in your rifle is what to use. The deer will not know the difference if you put it where it belongs.
Have a great day.
Jim

I always have a fair supply of the 87 BTHP, and never bought the 95 gr SST. Based on both the price, but have had plenty of experience with the 87 BTHP along with the 105 grain BTHP. They work great... so why reinvent the wheel?

I have a couple of rebarreled rifles in 6 x 45. I ordered them with a 1 in 7 twist... to be able to shoot the 100 SPs and the 105 BTHP.... they also shoot the 103 ELD and 108 gr ELD, at over 2500 fps. But I have a couple thousand of the 105s and about 1000 of the 87 gr BTHPs....

Didn't know Sierra made a 87 HPBT. They do make an 85 grain HPBT. Having used both the 95 SST and an 85 Sierra, there's not much difference.

sierra makes a 87gr HPBT bullet, is it new, Hornady makes a 87gr bullet

My bad - I meant 85 gr BTHP.

When I had and used a 243W, I used the Sierra #1530
with good results. Never had a problem. Accuracy
was good. Never used your other choice.

The Sierra must be a capable projectile, because
they were scarce for a long time. IIRC I sold the
last of what I had to a member here when they
were still hard to get.

Good Luck

one of two choices....

1. seafire is displaying Old Timers Confusion Conditions

2. Hornady's is SOO GOOD, that Sierra had to throw one on the market not to miss out on all the sales Hornady gets.

my money is on the latter....




On # 1.... you guys will be there soon enough.....also.

If you're a lung shooting kind of guy, then the 85 HPBT. If you're a shoulder shooting kind of guy, then the 95 SST.

I've used both on a number of deer and I'm with JamesJr. Not much difference.

Go with the one that shoots best and have no fear, Deer are usually pretty impressed with either. I use 100 gr interlokt boattails only because I have an elk tag in my deer areas and am not against sticking one in an unfortunate elk.......

Yes. Go with accuracy.

Thanks, gentlemen.

BTW, irrespective of accuracy, how fast should I be trying to push either one of these bullets for good performance from say 50 to 300 yards on whitetails?

you can push an 87 or 85 grain in a 243 to 3150 fps MV or a little more if you want it to be as hot as possible.

I only have experience with the 85 Sierra and the 87 Hornady BTHP, but I'd tend to run them at the 2800 fps MV...

Slowed down some I think I've gotten deeper penetration than at the higher MV. Both being HPs, they will give a hollower wound, at the faster velocity, wider but less penetration. no one ever seems to consider the resistance of the deer's meat.

Think about slamming your fist into water, while in the lake. Hit it real hard you feel the resistance of the water..

Hit it with your fist slower, and you feel little to no resistance....Same concept in soft material such as meat.

The 85 grain Sierra is an unparalleled killer in the 243. I’ve seen many mule deer and elk cleanly killed with that bullet. That includes some bone broken too. Just works.

Don’t care for sst

Slower will be better for me, since the main reason why I'm fooling around with the .243 Win. in the first place is for a reduction in recoil.

Have you used this particular SST out of a 243 on deer?

I have had immense success with it in .270 Win. Would you expect anything different in a .243?

Used them out a 25-06 several yrs ago not impressed