Pet loads for deer or varmints? I don't have a 99 in 243, but have shot 243 bolt guns a fair amount. My all-around load is 48 grains of RL-22 under a 85 grain Sierra HPBT bullet. I can't say if a lever gun would tolerate 48 grains, so I would start low. I used that load for varmints for years with good results. There are hunters who swear by that bullet for deer, and my results on big woodchucks has convinced me that they are right. I like the same bullet design in 25 caliber in my Savage 99 F in 250-3,000 chambering.
