Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Javelina & the 243?

In the past I've shot javelina with 357mag (110 grain SJHP), 204 Ruger (45 grain PSP) and 223 Rem (55 grain PSP). I'm thinking of using a 243 Win next year. What bullet would you recommend?

Whatever one your rifle likes...they'll all work on a target the size of a javelina...

I kept a .243 behind the door for a number of years to fend off feral hogs and javelina that ventured into the yard and bothered the bird dogs. Ninety-five grain Ballistic Tips and 100 grain Partitions worked about equally well on both javelinas and hogs. An 85 grain TSX or TTSX would probably work just as well. They aren't hard to kill--I have killed several with 7/8 oz. of 7-1/2s in 20 gauge field loads when the bird dogs got crosswise with them in the field.

It is not the gun but the ax for the plank of choice.grin.

95g Fusion out of my oldest son's 243 settled this old boar's account. He smacked him off my pack from about 175 yards or so - through the shoulders, and the pig (ok peccary or whatever...grin) plowed about a 10 yard row with his nose.



A 60 Partition out of my younger son's Model 7 223 killed this boar at around 100 yards. He hit him through the near shoulder and the exit was behind the off shoulder, and he went maybe 30 yards.



Both were old and toothy, but the little brother got bragging rights by the slimmest of margins.





Both worked dandy, and whistled right through.

We boiled the skulls, and they look fantastic. Very tough looking little critters.

DJ

My kids used handloads with 80 grain TTSX's out of their 243's with great affect on those little stinkers.

One that expands relatively quick.

You dont need a quick expanding bullet at all! Two weeks ago, my buddy and I used the 100 TTSX from my .257 wby and it worked wonderfully. Surprisingly to me, the exit on the off side was the same as any other exit I have seen with that bullet, and I didnt break any bones on that javelina.

DJ; nice pictures your boys sure look tickled. GRF

Gee's when I shot my only Javelina, I shot him with a 7 x 57 and 175 gr RNs I was over gunned some what. More I look at it the more I think a 243 would be Ideal for that and most of the deer size game we shoot.

I've killed quite a few with a bow, though only a couple with a rifle. But that rifle was a .243 and the 75gr vmax I was shooting was pretty effective. I really cant think of many .243 slugs that wouldnt work fine on the little critters.

Ummm, the principles of kenetic shock theory which - constitutes the killing capability of bullet-type projectiles - rely solely on expansion, you know?

Do fmjs kill or no?


I never said anything about using a bullet that does not expand, just saying you don't need a bullet that explodes on impact.

Controlled expansion works very well a well.

You have some of the absolute best pics of young hunters, thanks for sharing!!! I hope to get my boys 1/2 as many good pics and experiences...

Thanks, Pointer and GRF.

I sure have fun taking them, and they have fun going - so it's a pretty good arrangement!

I do a little guiding on friends' ranches, and we have a few little places closer to home where we can go, so we're blessed with some neat opportunities to get out together.

They are getting pretty capable - especially the older son. He's become a better hunter and shot than lots of grown men.

It sure is worth making it happen with them if we can. Hope you get lots of chances with yours, Pointer!

DJ

I have used my .243 on several. It was always while deer hunting so I either had a plain old 100 grain BTSP or a 100 grain Nosler Partition. They have all been DRT.

You keep at it and let me know all the pitfalls! Mine are 1.5 and 4.5 so this year will be the start of what I hope is a long, memorable ride... And I plan on taking pics!

You have some handsome young men coming up there. Those pics are great!

Seems like you'd have a hard time going wrong on a .243 Win & javelina; I'd let the rifle decide.

A favorite "all purpose" projectile in 6mm is the 85 gr Sierra HPBT.

I think most any .243 bullet should work. I don't have a lot of Javelina experience but did watch a friend kill 7 with as many shots from a .223 Remington shooting the 55gr Ballistic tip (all in about 30 seconds). I gained a lot of respect for the cartridge and the bullet from this episode.
Rick

Karamoja - can you give more info on the 45 grain PSP from the .204? It evidently worked; what was the range, placement, target reaction, and damage?