Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Favorite 243 deer loads

How much damage does it do to the meat? I loaded some up but didn't kill anything last year.

Damage was minimal. It's a pretty stout bullet for its weight. I've shot deer at 280, 350 and 410 yards with it. In all cases, they were pass-through shots in the lung or high-should area.

85gn npt and 43gr imr4350

85g Speer BTSP is a stout bullet, right at max load of R#19 will give you 3300 in a 24" barrel.

100g Hornady BTSP is an incredable deer, hog, and cow elk bullet, I load in Win brass at a max load for the rifle of IMR 4350, WLR primer.

used 95gr NBT stoked with H4350 for years, last year went to Sierra 90gr gamechanger stoked with Hodgdon Hybrid 100.
Itty-bitty groups and complete pass through, high shoulder shots.

In my 18" barrel model 600 I like the 95 Partition on top of 4895. I also like the 100 grain Horn over 4064

Same here, also the Hornady GMX. I use IMR 4064 and IMR 4350 powders.

My kids did a few in with the 85gr TSX. One shot each. BIL used Hornady factory ammo can't remember if it was 100's or 105's but he said he never had to track anything.

I'd think with decent shot placement and normal big game type bullets it wouldn't matter much as long as they shoot well.

I load the 85gr TSX with IMR4895 for my kids and they have never lost an animal. They just work well. So well, that I put together a lightweight 243 for myself!

Thanks again. I’ve never used the 243 much before but that’s about to change. It seems to be a favorite for deer with anything from 85-105 grainers. Growing up I always heard how my grandfather could kill anything that moved with his 99 Savage 250-3000 as long as he could see it. Oddly enough we were in the 270, 280 and 30-06 camp. Myself, wa ndered a bit owning a smattering of all those plus a 25-06 or two and a couple 300 win mags and WSM’s for flavor. Now I’m a fan of the 280AI and the 6.5 Creedmoor with emphasis on the Creedmoor for the simple efficiency and realization that more is just more of everything else and it’s not needed. So, the 243 will fit right in the “just enough but ,not too much” category along with the Creed.

My wife shoots a Browning BLR 243 for deer. I load 100 grain Sierras with IMR 4064 and WLR primers. Doesn't kick and shoots straight.

90-95gr federal fusion work well for me.

100gr Nosler Solid Base at about 2900fps in a pre64 FWT.

90gr Speer Deep Curl in a RAP at about 3200 fps.

80 gr. TTSX has given me a renewed appreciation for the .243. It punches way above its weight class.