Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Favorite 243 deer loads

I’m certain this has been kicked to death before but I’m just working on one again that I inherited from my dad. Platform is a Ruger M-77 carbine SS with the green/black laminate stock. 1:9 twist 16.5” barrel. My dad’s pet loads for deer where either a 100 grain Hornady SPBT interlock or a 95 SST sitting on 42-ish grains of IMR 4831 standard CCI 200 primer. These bug hole at 100 yards. I have a bunch of 65’s, 75’s 95’s and 100’s in various configurations. Obviously I’m sticking with the 95 and 100 for deer and leaving the 65 and 75 for vermin. Inherited #8 of Varget and 4831 plus about 3K primers. Probably set for a while but just curious about other good options.

80 Barnes ttsx

I’m using this bullet also in my two 243’s

Lots of good options. The 95gr NBT is a tough bullet and highly effective. I use 4350 and H414. The Sierra GKs are great bullets, too.

Nowadays the 95 NBT definitely gets the nod for deer...if elk are on the menu maybe a Barnes TTSX and /or for sure a 100 gr. NPT. Lots of good powder choices. Ive personally killed elk with the 100 gr. Hornady, and 100 Gr.NPT and oodles of deer with both plus the 95 NBT

I've used the 95 NBT to kill elk and it worked very well, even with a high shoulder shot. drt on a cow.

100 gr soft points at 2900-3000 have worked fine for us for decades

Sierra Varminter 85 grain SP is my favorite in 6mm or 243. Shoots through 90% of our deer and ones that don't go down in their tracks don't run but 15-25 yards max. Mature deer too.

I have also used 100 grain Gamekings and Prohunters, good for DRT kills for the most part.

Hornady 100 grain BTSP weren't bad, maybe a fuzz tough for my tastes but didn't kill many with them so sample size is small. Killed a few with the Hornady 87 grain BTHP, it worked too

My last 2 bucks have been killed with a 95 grain Partition, nothing to complain about with them. Have several loaded so will stick with them for now.

100 grain Sierra over N160. Been killing deer for years. The 95 NBT is highly effective. My gun shoots the 85 TSX over Varget well, but I just keep using the 100 Sierra since I have so many loaded and ready.

My favorite was the 105 Amax, but since I've ran out of those, I have went back to 95 NBTs. No complaints/failures of either. Barnes worked fine, as did 100 gr Interlocks, Corelocks, and 85 gr Sierras, but I always get exits and good expansion with the 95 NBT. BC isn't great but they still fly pretty good out to 500.

If the Interlocks bughole @ 100 and you aren't shooting long range, I'd probably stick with his load.

Good information from all and thanks for that. I’m using his 280 Remington, Browning Abolt as primary this year in memory of him. It was his favorite caliber and rifle. I’ll use the 243 for filling my second tag or doe tags. Not to mention it will do the heavy lifting after deer season chasing down coyotes.

My daughter has a Model 10 Savage and it shoots very nicely with 100 grain Nosler Partition in Federal Premium Ammo. We started hand loading 100 NP and a max load of IMR 4350. This load as does the Federal factory load shoots sub MOA. She has killed 22 deer with 22 shots and no misses. Also this load killed a huge Russian feral hog and a bunch of smaller hogs, some weighing 2-300 lbs. I've shot a few deer with it myself, one a large DRT 9 point.

I have found the Sierra 85 gr HPBT really effective on deer.

My partner and I did deer control in the early 90's we shot several 100 deer in that period all with Sierra HPBT never lost a deer.....

95 NBT with 41-42 grains of H4350 has always been a sweet spot for several 243s I’ve reloaded for. Bullet offers a good mix of expansion and enough penetration to exit.

105 Hornady BTHP despite its “match” billing is a excellent bullet and I’ve converted to it completely. 40.5-42 grains of RL17 is where I end up. Inexpensive, easy to load for, exits squarely placed high shoulder shots and has a excellent BC.

It's my favorite all around bullet for the 243. I have never owned a 243 that did not like this bullet and a stiff load of W760. My son and I have killed a number of deer with it, and never lost one.

16.5 barrel and I'd go the 90gr NBT over the 95gr. Considerably more velocity possible, way more than 5gr difference would suggest.

A 243 needs velocity and expansion to kill well and with a 16.5" barrel it will pay to get all the velocity you can. The sierra 85gr bthp is good but has the bc of a brick which if you dont start fast isn't exactly desirable. The 85gr IB is also very good.

It includes 4064, and a host of 6mm bullets...

Last deer with a 243, took a 100 gran Sierra Soft Point to the neck, with a charge of 38 grs of 4064....

dropped dead on the spot...

similar charge of 4064 with a 95 grain Ballistic tip is a favorite....

The BC has never worried me. The farthest I've killed a deer with this bullet is 410 yards. That's about as far as I'm willing to push this bullet. Beyond that, it's running out of steam anyway.

we've had great luck with Barnes 80 TTSX

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.