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The .243? Hunting and Reloading

UTGrad

UTGrad

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Cookeville, TN
My son wants a rifle for Christmas and I am considering a .243.

Is the .243 a good deer killer? Also is it a good reloader cartridge? I might get a .243 and the die, powder and bullets.

What about ammo availability?
 
My wife and daughters have used 243's for years. They have had very good results. I load 100 grain hornady interlocks over imr 4350. Before I started reloading they hunted with 100 grain core lots in my wife's Savage and 100 grain Winchester power points in my oldest daughters Browning.

As to ammo availability, I have not bought factory ammo for deer calibers in a long time, so don't know.
 
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backyardtndeer said:
My wife and daughters have used 243's for years. They have had very good results. I load 100 grain hornady interlocks over imr 4350. Before I started reloading they hunted with 100 grain core lots in my wife's Savage and 100 grain Winchester power points in my oldest daughters Browning.

As to ammo availability, I have not bought factory ammo for deer calibers in a long time, so don't know.
Click to expand...

Interlocks are my favorite cup and core deer slayers. They aren't fancy high BC ballistic points but they will slay them.
 
The .243 is a fine deer cartridge IMO, but you either love it or hate it. There are plenty who like to kick it in the ribs and trash it, but I love it. I've used it for years, as have several friends. We've never been disappointed. Use deer bullets and not varmint bullets, and it kills well.

I've settled on the Sierra 100 grain Pro Hunter. I've only recovered one, and it was a hard quartering toward shot at 40 yards that hit a big bodied buck in the shoulder, destroyed it and I found it perfectly mushrooomed under the hide at the last rib on the opposite side. The 100 grain Gamekings have been good as well.

A friend has loaded the 100 grain Remington CoreLokt bullets for years and I'm tired of dragging his deer for him.

I'm gonna try the newer 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, which has a very thick jacket, unlike the older ones. I've heard great things about it.

It's a reloader friendly cartridge IMO, and several powders work well, but H 4350 is your best friend.
 
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I've killed several with the 243 without any complaints. My son is currently shooting a Savage youth model 243 that he's about outgrown. Trying to decide on another 243 or a 7mm-08 for the full size gun. Currently loading IMR 4831 under 100gr Interlocks and they shoot good, but finally found some H4350 so I may hafta try that next.
 
If you are looking at .243 you should also look at the 6mm offerings out there: 6mm Dasher, 6mm Rem, 6mm Creedmore, 6.5 Creedmore, 6mm PPC, 6mm BR, 6mm ARC, 24 Nosler, to name a few.
 
I have shot a pile of deer with a 243 (over 100) and have never lost one. Have killed a lot of other critters with it as well. Was the first rifle my dad ever bought me and 30 years later I still use it here and there. Match a good bullet with it and you should not have an issue with deer sized game and smaller.
 
If I had to get rid of all my deer rifles but one, I'd keep my stainless Ruger M77 in 243. One of the most versatile rounds in my opinion. Shoot 55 grain to blow up varmints, shoot 90-110 grain to shoot deer. Flat shooting and little recoil in a light weight package.
 
Deer Assassin said:
I hate the 243

Kills deer fine

95 Nosler ballistic tips
Over re15
Set it forget it


I have loaded this rd for several members

They have killed the best bucks
Female Buffalo
Plenty of does

Works good for kids too
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I had to read the last line carefully since it was under things that had been killed. 🤣🤣
 
MOST IMPORTANT: find a rifle that has the fast twist. The standard is 1:10, fast twist is 1:8
Had a 243 since late 1980's, loaded for it since purchase.
The best loads are over RL15 and RL19.
Dadstargets078.JPG

I have tried many bullets but have settled on the 95 gr Partition & RL19

Now, to go back in time......
I placed the 105 and 100 gr Partition on top of max loads of IMR7828. 46 grains of that will get you 3000 FPS and you can take it down to 42.5

Note: I have been unable to achieve accurate rounds with the 90 gr Accubond. Still working on that issue.
 

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