Favorite .243 load combination?

[sjalter]

Anybody have a favorite load worked up for a .243 cartridge for hunting deer and coyotes out to 400 yard. I'm shooting Savage with 9 1/4 twist and a 22' barrel.

 

[knightrider]

i just use the ole barnes 85 grain tsx

 

[Kimberman]

My varmint and pred load is the factory Hornady 58 gr Vmax load. It shoots 1/2" groups out of my gun, so its one of the few factory loads that I still shoot. My deer load is a 100 gr Partiton with a max load of H4350. If I was to work up a deer/yote specific load, it would probably be an 85 gr Partition or Sierra.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

i just use the ole barnes 85 grain tsx

X2, Barnes reccomended load set .05 off the lands.

 

[mr.big]

100 Hornady BTSP and IMR4350

 

[vonb]

37.8 gr Varget with a 85 gr. Sierra BTHP in Win brass. Work up to it.

 

[Model70Man]

I use the 95 grain Fusion.

 

[Tiny]

100gr bullet, prefer the Partiion, on top of IMR-4831

 

[sjalter]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like 85 grain and 100 grain are the most popular. I've been using 100 grain Remington core-loks and they work great most of the time however, this past deer season I lost a deer for the first time ever. I saw the bullet go into the shoulder area of the deer. The deer jumped up ran off and I never found him, found some blood but not a lot. I searched for days, I even brought my dog back on a leash and still couldn't find it. I think the main reason I lost the deer is because it was only ten yards away when I shot and the 100 grain bullet did not have enough time to expand. The wound channel was probablly the size of a small pencil and it didn't bleed out enough. Trying to come up with a better bullet that would expand faster and still retain enough energy for a longer shot. I have about 250 once fired .243 brass and I'm trying to figure out what bullet to put in them. I'd like them to serve double duty (deer and coyotes) but my primary objective is to anchor deer to the ground as effectively as possible.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

The 85 TSX will anchor a whitetail, and probably an Elk although I would want something a bit bigger for the elk. They almost always pass through. I've shot 4 with it so far, and it was like they were struck with a lightening bolt. No steps, just Bang---Flop.

 

[jakeway]

i just use the ole barnes 85 grain tsx

X2, Barnes reccomended load set .05 off the lands.

What powder and charge? The Barnes manual only has three or four powders listed, and I don't use them. My current inventory is H4895, IMR 4350, Accurate 4064, and H335. I'd like to stick with one of these.

 

[Tiny]

Jakeway of those you have give the IMR 4350 a look see.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

i just use the ole barnes 85 grain tsx

X2, Barnes reccomended load set .05 off the lands.

What powder and charge? The Barnes manual only has three or four powders listed, and I don't use them. My current inventory is H4895, IMR 4350, Accurate 4064, and H335. I'd like to stick with one of these.

I don't have it in front of me, I'll look it up tonight.