Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 243 Win bullet suggestions

Just got the wife a Browning X bolt in 243 Win as her first hunting rifle. I have only owned hunted with 308 and 30-06, just wanting to get some factory loaded suggestions for the 243 for deer and antelope sized game.

Thanks

Bullets for hand loading or factory ammo?

Swift 90 gr Scirocco and IMR 4064 makes the 243 ready for anything up to Elk

95 grain nosler BT. hands down. awesome load for anything the .243 is legal for

For handloading:

Sierra 85 gr BTHP or Nosler 100 grain Partition (can't go wrong).


For factory loads:

Federal Fusion.

Good suggestions, all.

If it was mine, I'd try different loads, leaning toward heavier bullets, looking for the combo that shot best.

NPT's and NAB's would be on my short list and I'd try TTSX's, although in lighter weights than the others, pushed hard.

Lots of load info on line.

DF

The 100 grain Nosler Partition is a great bullet. Although I use a 6MM-06; I've killed Mule Deer, Whitetail, Antelope, BigHorn Sheep and Caribou with them --- Never a problem.

Good answer.

+1. They have worked great for me on deer and antelope

Sorry, to clarify for factory ammo options. I have not started reloading yet. I was unsure if the smaller diameter caliber would be any different from the 30 caliber choices. Seems to be about the same as far as suggestions go.
Was wondering if anyone preferred bonded or mono metal to keep the retained weight up.
Thanks

At this point, any brand you can find would probably be a good start.

100 grain Federal Blue Box and 95 grain Federal Fusions.
We shoot a lot of them and they are accurate and inexpensive.
Best of all, they are deadly.

stumpy

For factory ammo... just to repeat myself, using somebody else's words :



In factory ammo, I favor Federal Premium in the smaller cartridges (groundhogs, etc), and Federal Fusions in big game stuff.

I've never been disappointed.

In a factory load, this would be my preference:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...-np-20-rounds.aspx?a=148333&bi=39509

...and we shot a lot of 95-grain SBs and BTs before switching to 100-grain Partitions in our .243s.

My single most favorite is the 95 grain Nosler Partition. It probably isn't required for shooting deer, but it is a good one.

I have seen a bunch of whitetail killed with 100 gr. Winchester Power Points.

Not a .243 shooter, but I think you can get the 100 grain Nosler partition factory loaded from Federal. That's where I'd start if I were in your position.

I've always had good luck with the Hornady 100 Spire Point in both my 243 and 6mm Rem handloads. It's available in 243 factory ammo.

Dale

Can't find 95 gr partitions in a factory loading, just 85s and 100s. Has anyone used the 85 gr partitions? Or the newer xp3s? I researched the fusion and do far allot of people are liking them, good price too.