Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 243 bullet choice ????

Anyone usa a 105 grain A max bullet in a 1:10 twist 243 to hunt deer? Does the 1:10 twist stbilize it?

1:10 is going to be a tall order to stabilize a 105 AMAX. My barrel is a 9.125 and it will stabilize them but shoots tighter groups with lighter bullets.

I doubt you'll get the A-Max to stabilize well enough to benefit from the higher BC. Altitude plays quite a factor. I can stabilize them in a 9.125 twist at 4000ft and up no problem. I've also found the A-max to be a bit soft if you hit bone at 243 speed. I suggest you go with 95 gr BT, or with BTSP from Hornady or Speer or Sierra. All very accurate, and all known to shoot okay in a 1:10.

I will second the suggestion to look at the 95BT. It's all I use on deer sized game with my 243. My handloads are at 3000fps and they absolutely hammer deer. I think SPS has blems on sale right now too.

With a 10 twist I'd look to the 95 NBT or the 80 TTSX.


My 1/9.125" shoots the 105 HPBT crazy good but I don't know if a 10 would handle them.

Thanks for all the input. I am a real fan of and love the 260 myself.
I happen to have the 243 and decided to load it for her.

The 80 TTSX bullets perform better than 95 or 105 anyway

Opinions are like ass holes....

no experience with 105 AMAX. as others have said, I wouldnt expect a 1:10 to stabilize it well, but the gun might disagree.

I'm using the 95 BT and happy with it.

But experience is reality

I tried the 105 AMAX in my 1:10 243, wouldn't stabilize. I went with the 95 gr ballistic tip.

Range Day report: shot 3 groups of 3 shots each at targets at 100 yards. Each group was with a different bullet. only
variable was powder charge in each group. I was checking to see maximum powder charge without getting into
excess pressure. All cartridges were H414 powder, Federal 210M primers and unfired winchester brass that I ran
through resizing.

1st group: 105 grain A Max with 37, 38 & 39 grains of powder and the group measured 0.9".
2nd group: 95 Nosler Partition with 40, 41 & 42 grains of powder and the group measured 1.3".
3rd group: 85 grain Speer Boat Tail with 39.5, 40.5 & 41.5 grains of powder and the group measured 1.3"
None showed excess pressure signs.

Based on this it seems that the 10 twist in my Stevens rifle is stabilizing the 105 A Max bullets. I hope to
take it to a 200 yard range next week using only A Max bullets and trying different powders. I will take the
best of this trip and vary the seating depths on the next trip. Next I will try different primers.

95 BTips work well in granddaughters

I was all set to try 103gr Eld-X bullets, but then experimented with seating depth on 90gr ETips. Gonna go with those, since I have about 250 of them. VA is pushing lead-free to protect the West Virginia Condor (Turkey Vulture), and those funny looking eagles with the white head and tail. The alternative they mention is burying the innards, and I ain't doing that!

We shoot Barnes 85gr TSX in our .243 and it has killed a ton of animals. I was not much of a .243 fan before seeing this combo in action. My experience with the caliber is limited and I am sure there are several good bullets that work in it, I can tell you the 85gr TSX is a solid choice.

The Nosler 95 grain Ballistic Tip has always performed well on deer and on target! Shoot them with confidence.

The 95 gr BT is a good bullet. I tried that bullet and then couldn't find any more so I tried the 90 gr AB. Running at 3200 fps it's death incarnate on 'yotes as well as whitetail.

My daughters have used the 85gr TSX in their 243s. Quite impressive actually.

sierra gamekings out of mine

Which Gameking? I am going to try the Sierra 100 Pro Hunter this year.