Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 85 grain TSX for BIG deer, any experience?

I am building a 6mm AI walking varmint rifle and considering using it for deer with the 85 grain TSX. Where I live the deer can get BIG! Anyone out there have any experience with this bullet on deer. I am thinking I should get 3500-3600 fps out of the 6mm AI with this bullet, Should be a whitetails worst nightmare!

There ain't a whitetail made that can hold that bullet shot broadside...

I hear ya on that Bart, but alot of the whitetails we hunt are pushed and running.... That is why the only .243 bullet I would even consider for a big, running whitey would be the TSX. I figure the solid 85 grainer at or near 3600 fps should have enough poop on a quartering away running shot?

biggest ive taken is probably 180lbs, dropped in its tracks, i would have no hesitation shooting any whitetail with a 85g tsx out of my 243ai.....i was hunting elk in colorado a few months ago with mine, unfortunately it was too hot and we didnt run into any, but i was ready

I've used the bullet quite a bit at the speeds you're talking about out of my 6/06. I'd not worry one bit on big whitey's or muleys.

I can't imagine keeping one in an animal from any angle!

On a side note but I'd be for thinking that you're being fairly optomistic about getting 35 to 36 out of a 6 AI. But, do as you wish theres lots of ways to skin a cat.

Good luck to ya

Dober

Out of my vanilla 6mm Rem. I am getting 3430 fps with the 87 grain Vmax, a 26" tube. I am hoping to see a 150 fps increase, but it will be what it is...

What are you burning to get the 3430 and how much?

Thx

Dober

44.8 grains of H-414

I did a bit of research before I decided to go AI and order the reamer. I talked to a few guys pushing 75 grain bullets to 3800 fps, and the 87 grain Vmax to 3600 fps. With the velocities I am getting out of my 6mm rem. it seems to be possible with the 11% increase in capacity? I was considering going with the 6mm-284, but for all practical purposes it seemed over the edge of diminishing returns, really a negligable increase over the 6mm AI.

ever tried R19? I used to run a 240 Page a bit and I used that in it.

One other question what do you run for a clock(chronograph)?

Dober

I'm running 48grs.of Ramshot Hunter in a tight chambered,LH Remington 788 that gets a little over 3300fps...Bolt lift is a bit tight too....Bughole groups though....Even with the 9000lb.trigger...

788's one of my all time loves!

Dober

I have a chroney brand, and it is spot on, comparing to an Oehler that I have shot over at my range. I am sure of this speed. There is published load data for the 6mm rem. in the Lyman manual with a max. of 45.2 grains H-414 @ 3450fps.

With the AI I will try some slower powders as well, but I plan to start with my H-414 load.

How fast do you think I jumped on this one at $375.00? And it's left handed...

This bullet should be ideal. I doubt you can find an angle tough enough or a whitetail thick enough to keep that bullet in him.

Seems I recall someone (I think it was 'Stick) saying it was really tough to keep one of these bullets in a bear out of a 243....

DJ

Thats quite a trigger, do you pull it with the truck?

I put my kid in a .243 for his first go 'round, this year...with 85 X's of course.

Three single bullet kills, furthest was 250 yards.

I'll have me a .243 and 85 X's next year.....

We had a 10 year old kill a buffalo yesterday with factory Federal 243 85 gr. TSX. The bull was probably 1700-1800 lbs and when all done he shot it 6 times. The first shot would have done it though as it got both lungs and ended up in the off side hide at about 100 yards. We just figured on this one the kid needed to keep shooting until it was expired.

How'd that bullet look when you recovered it? Any pics? Was it shot behind the shoulders, or did it hit one?

Thanks!

DJ

Someone pm me their email, I'll send pics you can post of my 85x that stopped offside of a hog at 240 yds, from a 243 #1 Ruger RSI, 20", approx. 3100 fps, DRT kill.

Photobucket.com?