Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors .243 Loads for Savage 99

Good Day,
I would like to get into reloading and would like to start with my .243 in Savage 99. Any of you Savage 99 clan care to share your pet loads in that caliber please?
Thanks
Smiley

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.

I was thinking about trying that 85 grain HPBT as I have read much about it. Thinking coyotes and whitetails here in PA. I am stockpiling some reloading stuff before I retire in four months and was looking for suggestions for loads for this rifle. I tried Remington Corelocks in 100 grain...kinda meh and Hornaday Superperformance, kinda pricy but they grouped well. I have never shot a deer with a .243 and am old enough that I remember all the comments about it being a little light so that always is in the back of my mind. This rifle is a 99F as well.
Thanks
Smiley

Made one of my longest shots with a borrowed bolt gun in 243, just a few yards short of 200. Bang Flop. Shot a nice WV 8 pointer last year with the 22HP, Bang Flop. So, if you are worried about the bullets doing their job, don't be.

Shot placement is everything. My cousin's husband used to shoot elk with a 243. He wouldn't take the shot if they were over 100 yards away and he always shot them in the head. He favored heavier bullets but don't know what powder.

If I were hunting deer with a 243 I would probably load up some Nosler Partitions. My load with RL-22 would be fine with the 85 grain Partition. I would also try 95 or 100 Partitions.