Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .243 - Shoulder shots or lung shots?

My son has been using a .243 the last couple of years to deer hunt. In looking for something that has light recoil and terminal effects, I've decided on one of two bullets:

- 85 gr. Sierra HPBT
- 100 gr. Remington Core-Lokt

Both of these will be hand loaded. What would you prefer for a shoulder shot or are either of them appropriate for a shoulder shot? I'm only looking at these two this year as this is what's loaded and ready to go.

I'd be busting lungs with those bullets. Both will work just fine.

I've started using the Barns TSX 85 grain. Fantastic shocking power, good wound channel and can get an exit hole in case you need to track it on a not so great hit.

Switched to these from Sierra 100 grain boat tails and very glad it did. The Barns can handle a shoulder hit much better in my opinion.

For shoulders, use the 100gr.

Too each his own, but I just don't do shoulder shots with my .243. I will take a behind the shoulder shot if thats all that is presented--prefer neck,head, or high behind the shoulder (spine)I roll my own with 80gr. NBT's and Varget at around 3400 fps. If you are convinced to do shoulder shots, just use the 100 grainers-Core-Lokts have probably killed more deer than anything out there.IMHO.
G

whats the twist rate in the rifle if its 1:10 go 85 gr. and 1:9 go with the 100 gr.

Twist is 9.125.

With that twist rate you have options from the 85grs to 105. For my son, I'm rolling 85 gr tsx's. If he gets nervous and hits bone, I want to make sure it gets to the vitals.

With the 2 bullets you asked about, especially the 85 gr HPBT, I would be a little cautious on the shoulder shot.

For the guys who say 85gr TSX.....spot on. Shoot em through the lungs or take out shoulders. The carnage is amazing. IMO there is not an animal alive that will shrug off a vital hit with a 243+85grTSX.

Ditto

I've not shot many of the 85's, but the 80TTSX is my favorite 243 bullet. Starting at 3300+, I've seen some amazing results. That's what I'll be toting during the KY gun season.

Shoulders anchor,lungs travel.

Both reliably.

Shot two deer with a 243. Not much of a sample I know but might be of interest to you. First was at 200 yds thru both shoulder drt and found the bullet perfectly mushroomed under the hide on the off side The other thru the lungs about 20 yd drt bullet not recovered In both cases a 100 gr core lokt about 2800 fps.

Around here I like shoulders when using the smaller calibers, as blood trails with lung shots are generally not that heavy. Use a well-constructed bullet and go for bone. I'll shoot lungs with softer bullets in larger chamberings.

My opinion is that the double lung is preferred by archery hunters.
It should be even more spectacular with a high velocity rifle.

Barnes TTX or 100g, anything less lung shots. Problem with the high velocity small caliber bullets is meat damage. I personally would hate to ruin both shoulders with blood/bone shot meat.

If I hunted in the open, I'd always go double lung, as you could watch stuff fall. Around here, that's not the case. In my location, the advantage on a double lung hit goes to the archer, as he will know where his animal was standing within a margin of maybe 5 yards. Finding blood should be easier. With a rifle shot, the deer may be gone in two seconds and you may searching for a while and covering more ground to find blood/sign.

Tested the Sierra 85 gr. JHPBT Gameking in water filled milk jugs last week. I reduced the speed to around 2,400 fps and shot them at 50 yards. The Gameking seem to blow apart but made it into the fourth jug.

Latter the same day I shot a 180 lb. buck at 200 yards with my 6x47 Rem. Double lunged him due to the test ran earlier in the day. He ran 30 or so yards with a good blood trail.

2 1/2" exit wound. Excellent performance for lungs but would shy away from big bones...

We have shot a truck load of deer with my daughters 243 and 85gr TSX's. Great combination that has never let us down. I have zero reservations about putting them through the shoulders and have several times with great results.
I can't comment on the two bullets you have. I would probably go lungs, as the 243 made me nervous on deer before we tried the 85gr TSX. Give the Barnes 85gr TSX a whirl next year. The 243 and 85gr TSX were made for each other.

I've busted both shoulders on a deer without problem with the TSX. And without excessive damage.

Also lung shot them, typically getting the "bronco buck" and a mad dash for about 30 to 40 yards.