Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Best exit wound with 243 win on wt deer

What bullet are you shooting for ranges under 200 yds?

95 gr nbt flat out kills. I took a cow elk at 535ish once with one, dropped her in her tracks. Killed lots of deer and antelope with the same bullet pushed by rl-22

100gr Corelokts.

Been using the 95 gr, Ballistic tip and some partitions mostly lately. Have not recovered any so far on about 25+ or so deer. I have only had one bullet perform badly and it was the newer thinner jacket Corelock that deflected off a rib on a sharply angled shot. Only hit one lung where if the bullet had gone straight I would have hit both lungs. The deer went into head high Johnson grass and I didn't find it until too late the next morning. I have lost track of the number of deer killed with the 100 grain core lock (lokts) with no issues. The 85 grain partition works well as does the Barnes TTSX's.

Speer gold dot/Federal Fusion are good too.

95 grain Partition. 4 or 5 deer, only 1 has moved after the shot.

He ran 50sh yards. Shot a bit high but farther back than I wanted or he would have been DRT.

Entry.

Exit visible.

2x so far on the 95 bt.... reason I'm asking on this thread is I have had poor results previously. 95 bt at 90yds broadside. Right behind the shoulder and no exit. It was caught by the offside hide. This was 23 yrs ago on my first deer at 12 yo ( guess I should post 35 on the avg age of goobers here in the campfire). First deer ever, 190# 8pt in Avera, GA. Anyway, it was a miracle my dad found the deer with no blood trail at all.
Fast fwd to now inhale a new 243 I'm wanting to add to the mix and want better results. Part of me thinks this was a major non typical result.

Exit is about yellow dot. 30-40 yards. DRT. 95 Partition.

What kind of meat damage/ bloodshot do you see with the 243 95 partition on a shoulder shot?

Entry, DRT. 40-50 yards. 95 grain Partition, 6mm Remington.

As you can see I like my shot placement forward and a bit high. I get same results from cup n core bullets with equal shot placement. Went to Partitons when I started hunting very thick areas where I may not be able to be super choosy on shot placement and wanted to ensure penetration from about any angle.

Some but I also don't worry about meat damage on shoulders. The areas I hunt are thick and a deer that travels could cross a creek or make it to thick stuff making them hard to track.

I will trade losing 5# of mediocre meat vs a tedious tracking job or a lost animal.

Lose less than I did with Sierras but switching to Noslers was more about wanting deeper penetration on something other than broadside sbots.

We have shot a couple dozen deer with my daughters 243 and a Barnes 85gr TSX. Only ever caught 2, both mature bucks at 200 yards plus after going through both shoulders. Was just under the offside hide on both and fell out while skinning. I can’t argue with how well they work and have never bothered looking elsewhere.

I’ve had pass through with the 95 nbt, the 80 ttsx and the 80 gmx. I use the ttsx and gmx more because I have a lot of them.


I’m a shoulder shooter as well, meat loss doesn’t concern me nearly as much as deer loss or a tracking job.


Mono, partition or 95nbt is never a bad place to be with a 243.

Shot 2 this year with 85gr Sierra Spitzer.

1st was 25 yards. All ribs straight through.

2nd was 157 yards. Bullet went through 1 shoulder and lodged in the bottom of the spine. DRT.

was very pleased with both kills. My only other 243 kills were head shots.

105s in my 8 twist 243 have been very accurate and deadly. If looking for a mono bullet I’d go with the Hammer hunters.

No telling how many deer my step dad and I have killed with this bullet.

Not lacking for anything other than hard quartering shots.

80 TTSX many deer and pigs, all pass through shots. Haven’t recovered one yet!

90 grain Ballistic Tip last 4-5 years. Moving to the 95 this year because have depleted my stash. If they moved out of their tracks there has always been good blood trails.
GreggH

Y'all STOP IT!

Everbuddy knows you can't kill a deer wit a two fordy tree!

ding ding ding. i shot a spike years ago and put a 100 CL all the way through the boiler room on an angle. thing was blowing blood like a fountain for its short run. ironically, i thought i missed it because it didn't react and just kept trotting at the shot. when i climbed up to where it had been, it looked like texas chain saw massacre.

Shot 90 gr Speer Hot Cors for some years. Never caught one.

Seems that maybe my experience with the bt not exiting was a fluke. Sounds like the are a very popular choice. Unfortunately all I've got right now is factory hornady 100gr interlocks American whitetail. Hoping to get it sighted in an tonthe woods for a trip or 2 before the season goes out. Seems like these interlocks are on par with corelokt or other soft points

100gr Sierra Pro Hunter. Son has been shooting in his 243 last several years and has exceeded my expectations. Actually, has reset my expectations of what a 243 can do. Killed several mature whitetail, mule deer bucks and boar hogs with excellent performance. Only one didnt exit was large hog, but I have shot large hogs with 300 and 7RM and hornadies (180/150/162 gr) and they didnt exit either

Lou

I used the 100 grain Prohunter in the older semi pointed configuration a few years ago.

They worked about like all Sierras I have tried, gun goes off, deer falls over deader n hell.

Yeah they lose a little weight, shed cores and all that other BS people worry about but on deer of 250# or less they are perfect.

Only reason I shifted from Sierras to Partitions is I started hunting some very thick brush and cannot be as choosy on shot placement.

If a deer gives me a very hard quartering away shot I feel better about having the Noslers.

Never tried the Sierra on hard quartering shots so I can't say they wouldn't work just fine I just chose to go with the Partitions.

I would have no issues going back with the Sierra if the Partitions weren't available.

The 100 grain Horn interlock is a good bullet. Use with confidence.

I started using the Hornady 100 gr. interlock . I got my 1st deer with it. It was a smaller doe and ran about 40 yds. I did shoot a bit high and back. I got the liver , that is for sure. If it was a big buck, it would no doubt have went further.

That's a very good point that is often overlooked.

The Partition is never a bad choice in the 6mm chamberings. Reasonable amount of tissue damage and fairly predictable exits. Never caught one in a deer, unlike the NBT or Interlock in 6mm. I hate tracking with zero blood. I’m cool with those cup/core options in larger calibers, just not in 6mm.

I haven't used my 243 in years and don't know why really. I've shot a bunch of deer both whitetails and mule deer along with antelope. I have always used the 100 grain partition and a shoulder shot whenever possible.

Yep, can’t go wrong with partitions. My boy shot a big (200lbs+) mature whitetail this year at 80 yds quartering towards this year. Little sierra busted the shoulder, angled through chest, and exited back of opposite rib cage. I originally intended to use sierra in reduced recoil practice loads when son was younger and switch to partitions to hunt. So I bought a bunch of Sierras. Decided to just try the Sierras for hunting in full power loads and never looked back

Lou

95BT is hands down the best bullet made for the .243........

80 grain TTSX

x2. Use them in my 240 Weatherby also

I don’t think I’ll ever say any bullet is the best but I sure think highly of this one too. I used it growing up in factory form. When I started hand loading I tried lots of bullets because it was all new. I went back to the 95nbt several years ago in our 6mm’s that don’t have the twist for 105’s. They work very well for us.

well....guess that ends this thread.

I’ve been using the Hornady 105gr A-Max to good effect for several years culling deer and pigs.

For sure one of the best.

Used 85hpbt to perfection then decided to get more perfect with 100 grain Pro hunters- for no real reason I am going back to 85 grain. Just for something different and dual purposey....

For under 200 yards, I loaded up some RCBS 95gr cast bullets that weigh exactly 100gr lubed and gas-checked this past year. Worked superbly on two deer, including maybe the biggest-bodied buck I've seen killed. Muzzle velocity was close to 2200fps, and the deer were shot at 25 and about 75 yards.

I'll be the elephant in the room.

I, just, love the 95gr SST !

Hit 'em in the slats, & you got a blood trail Stevie Wonder could follow.

The 95 SST has been very good at my camp.

I always shot the plain based 100gr H spire point. Killed deer very dead and never had one stop in the animal. Bought the last box I saw at local gun shop. H decided to stop making them. Had a 95SST spit out it’s core... which shot through both shoulders and exited but left the jacket just inside the hide on the exit side. Loaded 100 gr partitions for my cousins step son this year.... they raved about it. It shot through both shoulders and the buck left a very nice and short blood trail.

This bullet also gets My vote, a buddy of mine hunts Whitetail's exclusively with a .243 Win and this bullet and I have seen excellent results 👍.....Hb

I shot ballistic silver tips in mine back in the day had a few bad tracking jobs/ lost animals and sold the rifle.

Knowing what I know now if I were going back with a 6mm bore I’d shoot a TTSX probably the 80gr. Or the 95 gr. LRX if I felt I needed to reach out and the rifle was twisted right

Another vote for the 80 gr TTSX. I had all but stopped using my .243 after I had a big bodied ND buck soak up five 100 gr. Sierra BTSP’s. The deer was all adrenalined up after being chased into the draw I was set up in by some road hunters. Four of the five shots would have killed him but he kept on his feet and moving so I kept shooting until the 5th shot broke his neck. Once my sons started hunting I began using the 80 TTSX and it has hit everything like a hammer with most shots ending up being DRT. The only one we have caught took a big axis buck a little far back (liver shot) and was caught in the hide on the offside. Those little bullets punch way above their weight class and have restored my faith in the 243 as a deer rifle.

Same for me.

what Dave said. Yeah, there are more 'modern' bullets out there, but those dang Remington's just keep killing, and killing, and killing. Consistent, reliable, deadly.

I was an outfitter for over 30’yrs. Macho men wouldn’t often bring their wives along to hunt. Husband would have high dollar latest gun and caliber. Woman often had a 243 and 100gr corelokts. Buck would maybe run 50 yds with a blood trail a blind man could follow.

I've always been a big fan of corelokts. Wish I could find some in 243. All I have is hornady factory loaded interlocks. I suspect there will be no notice difference between the two

Ditto 95 gr nbt

Other than consistency.

I tried the .243 Corelokts and didn't like how inconsistent they were in on game performance.

One would operate nicely, one would act like it never opened, had 1 shear off at the cannelure at the onside shoulder of a decent bodied buck.

Gave up on em and have never looked back.

Could have been a bad batch as I bought em in bulk and shot the hell out of em.

Winchester offers their Deer Season line of ammo that is quite effective.

Sherwood

it ain't fancy, but the 100 gr 6mm corelokt has never failed me, and has always been good enough for deer at 250 yds and under..

my usual load is 38 grains of 4064, in the 2900 fps range...in the 243...

Sierra 100gr SPT Game King.

I have shot a lot of most mentioned over the years in 243 and 6 Remington. Cow elk with 100g partitions and 4350's with WLR, and IMR 4831 with 9 1/2M.

The latest and greatest, where someone mentioned that headstamps do not matter is the 105g Berger Hunting with a load of R#26 at 3200 in 243 with proper throat and twist... Buy all you can while you can, no down side. Hell of a bullet, hell of a powder to put some azz behind a great bullet!

Some things you just have to see to believe! NO SCHITT!

80 ttsx or 85gn partition, unless you are going to shoot em way out there. RL-17 or IMR 4350 have worked well for me powder wise.

85 & 100 gr Partitions for me.

Lots of good bullets out there, most of them already mentioned. My son shoots 95 bt in his 243 and they are outstanding in accuracy, and on game performance. He killed a big mule deer buck with it this fall at 280 yds. Excellent penetration, and expansion. I shoot 105 Berger hybrids, and it is scary how good they work on game. I have killed lot of deer, and other critters with it, and for those shooting a fast twist 243 or a 6 CM they are definitely worth a look. Extremely accurate.

We have killed several deer with the .243/6mm Rem. using the 85 and 95 gr. Partitions and they worked well, but have now switched over to using the 90 gr. Accubond bullet as they seem to group a little tighter in our rifles and work just as well on deer.

If you happen to stumble across some, the 90gr Speer Deep Shock work great!

I only shot one deer with a .243 Win. It only went 40 yds. It was with a Hornady 100 gr. Interlock . The number is # 2453. I saw a bunch on the shelf today for $ 22.99 plus tax , so for $24 a box, I figured I better go for it. I rarely miss a tennis ball bullseye @ 200 yds with this bullet. My son shot a big doe with is .243 Win. It hit way forward , almost in the neck and went 40' ? It was a Speer 100 gr. ( # 1220) . I have confidence in the .243 Win. I know a guy who shot a 280 lb black bear with an 87 gr. Hornady , but I dont think that is a big game bullet, but it worked.

Biggest exit or best exit? To me a small exit is best. What I got from 80 soft points years ago in the 243 you could sometimes throw a softball through. Flat horrible waste of game.

Now. 80 TTSX would be my hands down go to.