|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331 |
JB, wish you had been here a couple of years ago when I shot a nice buck at 60 yards in the ribs with a 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. We finally found him at least a 150 yards away, no blood trail. The bullet went in between ribs and did not exit. We gutted him in the dark so I didn't really get a chance to see the lung damage very well. I don't know if it got one or both but he sure went a long ways if it was both.
I followed your recommendation and this year used a 100 Nosler Partition. Got two holes and a dead deer within 20-30 yards. Damage looked like that produced by larger calibers.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,275 Likes: 12
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,275 Likes: 12 |
I’ve killed a whole bunch of deer and several truck loads of hogs here at the Ranch over the years with a plain ole 100 gr Remington Corelock.
Last edited by chlinstructor; 11/24/19.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,449
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,449 |
My old gunsmith recommended the Sierra 85gr hollow point. Have loaded it for friends in .243 and 6mm Rem with great results on our whitetails.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,275 Likes: 12
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,275 Likes: 12 |
My old gunsmith recommended the Sierra 85gr hollow point. Have loaded it for friends in .243 and 6mm Rem with great results on our whitetails. I’ve killed a schitt load of coyotes with those. Super accurate in my Model 700 Classic in 243.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 450
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 450 |
To the original question. I been through this myself. Monos all the way . What ever flavor you like .
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,432
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,432 |
Used many different bullets in the 243 before I realized I could pay the same amount for a rifle shooting a bigger bullet and not have to balance thin wound channels and penetration against wide shorter wound channels. That said I never lost a deer I shot with a 243. Favorite bullet was the 100 gr. Nosler solid base with runners up being the 95 gr. Ballistic Tip. I used the 80 gr. Remington PSP with pretty good results too. My biggest complaint is that often blood trails are pretty thin and don't start til pretty far from where the deer was shot. I only had a few deer travel far after being hit but others I have hunted with often consistently created complicated tracking scenarios sometimes resulting in lost deer. However I have had to do some tracking with deer hit with larger cartridges also. The splashier blood trails being greatly appreciated. When I look at my collection of rifles where a lone 243 still lingers and I have the choice of a 7x57, 7-08 or a 308 among many others for hunting the thorn tree country of north Texas the 243 is just not the one I pick. Typically if you don't find the deer that night the coyotes or feral hogs get it.
Dog I rescued in January
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,506
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,506 |
Years ago I owned both a 6MM Remington on a Mauser I made, and later a 243 in a Ruger #1. The best bullet I ever used back then in them for deer was the 100 grain Nosler Partition. All of them I shot had exits. One shot by my friend Don was facing us and his bullet (Also a 100 grain Nosler Partition) went about 80% of the way through the deer and was found on the skin.
I have not used them myself, but I have seen Barnes TSX bullets used and they also gave the hunters exits. Deer antelope and several elk. So if I were to get another 243 and hunt deer with it I think I'd choose one of those 2. Barnes TSX or Nosler Partition.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,151 Likes: 13
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,151 Likes: 13 |
Anson,
Would like to hear more details--such as bullet path, internal damage, whether the bullet hit above the mid-line of the body, etc.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
I am looking for the same thing from a 243, two holes. I will try the 100 grain Partition this year.
How far was the shot and how far did the deer go after the hit? Thanks. Killed a nice weird antlered 8 pt last evening with my 243 and 100 Partitions. He was moving at a pretty good clip following some does across a small clearing so had to shoot quickly. Range was about 60 yards. At the shot he slowed and turned toward me then turned broadside and stopped. I was sure he was going down but shot again just to be sure. Last shot was about 30 yards. Both bullets exited doing massive damage to his lungs. Looked to me like the damage done by a 7mm08 or 308. This bullet worked great! Now, what would an 80 grain TTSX have done? In my experience with the 80TTSX, it would have made a smallish straight-line hole through the deer, with not much damage to the lungs. Whether he would have reacted differently is debatable, but I have had not good results on lung shots with that bullet, and have stopped using it in the 243 as I like to shoot lungs.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,732 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,732 Likes: 1 |
So I could use a 264 Winchester magnum but not a 44-40, just not seeing the logic. You're not stating anything new. Hunters here have been saying this for years. Remember that hunting regulations are not decided by hunters, at least, not here. In an earlier post, I mentioned not being able to hunt in S. Ontario for deer with a bullet diameter larger than .275. That was lifted several years ago, but this still apllies. From the Ontario Hunting Regulations: A person hunting small game may not carry or use a rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a muzzle-loading gun, in the geographic areas of Brant, Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington or York.This is much of S. Ontario.
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,933 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,933 Likes: 1 |
So I could use a 264 Winchester magnum but not a 44-40, just not seeing the logic. You're not stating anything new. Hunters have been saying this for years. Remember that hunting regulations are not decided by hunters, at least, not here. In an earlier post, I mentioned not being able to hunt in S. Ontario for deer with a bullet diameter larger than .275. That was lifted several years ago, but this still apllies. From the Ontario Hunting Regulations: A person hunting small game may not carry or use a rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a muzzle-loading gun, in the geographic areas of Brant, Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington or York.This is much of S. Ontario. Fuggin Frenchies cant even spell caliber let alone use sense when making regulations regarding cartridges/calibers for hunting.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,933 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,933 Likes: 1 |
JB, wish you had been here a couple of years ago when I shot a nice buck at 60 yards in the ribs with a 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. We finally found him at least a 150 yards away, no blood trail. The bullet went in between ribs and did not exit. We gutted him in the dark so I didn't really get a chance to see the lung damage very well. I don't know if it got one or both but he sure went a long ways if it was both.
I followed your recommendation and this year used a 100 Nosler Partition. Got two holes and a dead deer within 20-30 yards. Damage looked like that produced by larger calibers. I never had any issues with Sierra bullets in either a 6mm or 243 but did switch to a 95 grain Partition 2 years ago for reasons unknown other than to see if they acted the same from my 6mm as they did from a 22-250. 1 DRT on a 150# 8 point and maybe a 60 yard death run on same sized 10 point last year. I shot pretty high on the 10 as I bobbled when the trigger tripped. He still left a blood trail Stevie Wonder could have followed even though it wasn't needed as I saw him fall. Can't say they work any better on broadside deer but they do give me more confidence on larger bodied deer if I should need to drive from flank to shoulder.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331 |
Thanks, DakotaDeer. Think I'll stick with the Partitions if I use the 243 again.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331 |
JB, not much to add. The hit was about half way up the body, tight behind the front leg. I had already written the Sierra and the 243 off by the time we found that deer. Also was well aware that my neighbor was ready for it all to be over so hurried through the gutting process with poor lighting. Bullet did not hit rib going in and did not exit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 223
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 223 |
AnsonRogers, Try a Sierra 85gr HPBT ... you won't regret it Ben
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,331 |
Ben, I shot one deer with the 85 BTHP in 2000. He was in an open pasture so was in sight the whole time. He ran about 50 yards and stopped for a few seconds then fell over. Massive lung damage but no exit or even marks on the opposite rib cage. There was no blood trail either.
Do you get exits? I use them for coyotes and they work great for that. Very accurate.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,212
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,212 |
AnsonRogers, Try a Sierra 85gr HPBT ... you won't regret it Ben I posted on the Campfire forum the story of the 4 bucks my family killed this year, all from the same stand. Three of those deer were shot with the 243. The youngest granddaughter shot hers with a mild 85 Sierra HPBT, the first shot was too far back, and the buck ran about 50 yards and stopped. Second shot was in the front shoulder, and the deer died right there. Oldest girl shot hers in the front shoulder with a 95 grain SST, with the bullet in the skin of the off shoulder, and the deer died as quick as I've ever seen one. The heart was destroyed. Son shot his in the neck with a Sierra 85 HPBT at 100 yards. Deer dropped in it's tracks. He's killed a bunch with my handload of 45.0 W760 and the 85 Sierra. He says they usually run a little if shot in the lungs, but if he's where he can take a neck shot, that's what he does. That load is deadly accurate in his rifle, so he knows what's he's doing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
Thanks, DakotaDeer. Think I'll stick with the Partitions if I use the 243 again. That'll work, as will most any "heavy" bullet in the 243. For factory ammo, give the Federal Fusion 95 grain a try.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 223
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 223 |
AnsonRogers, When I first started using the Sierra 85gr HPBT, probably back in the 70's, it was classified as a varmint bullet. The deer I hit with it usually went down very quickly, but usually there was no exit. However, I believe Sierra upgraded the bullet somewhere along the line, gave it a heavier jacket, and started calling it a Gameking bullet. Sierra now says that the HP "Gameking" hunting bullets penetrate better than a similar weight Spitzer or plastic tip bullets. Now a days, the bullet still destroys the deer insides and now usually exits. As far as a blood trail goes, sometime yes and sometimes not very much ... but it usually doesn't matter because the deer usually don't go very far after being hit .. if at all ... of course that's provided you hit them where you are supposed to. Ben
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 655
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 655 |
My son had good luck this year with 100 gr Core-lokt Ultra Bonds. For those of you complaining of a slight blood trail, expansion was immediate, HUGE entrance and exits. Blood trail at the point of impact.
One was a neck shot, broke spine, did not exit. Bullet stayed together very well.
We have also had good luck with the 100 Gr Interlock on a dozen big Canadian whitetails and mulies. Including breaking both shoulders and exits.
This week a friend broke the spine and dropped a large bull moose with his .243 and Partitions.,
|
|
|
|
573 members (10gaugemag, 06hunter59, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 1234, 58 invisible),
2,354
guests, and
1,221
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,395
Posts18,488,841
Members73,970
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|