Need 2 bullets for .243 win

[Polaris]

Need to select 2 bullets for loading a .243 for a friend.

First should be lighter weight, preferably inexpensive and be a type that will fragment readily and shoot relatively flat for both casual target shooting and coyote hunting.

Second one should be a good bullet for large whitetail deer at medium ranges.

What would you folks recommend? I have a pretty good idea on the second one, but no experience with light varmint/frangibles in this round. With fur prices where they are, saving pelts is of little concern.

 

[Dwh7271]

I'd just load the 95 BT for both, but that's me. :grin:
Otherwise the 95 BT for deer, 70 BT for songdogs.

 

[JD338]

The 70 gr BT served me well for years out of a 243 Win. Before that I used a Hornady SX 70 gr SP. That bullet was indeed super explosive and rarely exited a woodchuck hit in the body.
For deer, the 95 gr BT kills deer like lighting. The 95 gr and 100 gr PT's work well and give you plenty of penetration on deer sized came.
If you decided to use one bullet for everything, go with the 95 gr BT. Stock up on factory seconds and don't look back.

JD338

 

[Dr. Vette]

I'd just load the 95 BT for both, but that's me. :grin:
Otherwise the 95 BT for deer, 70 BT for songdogs.

I'd agree. My preference would be 95 BT for the deer.

 

[jimbires]

100 grain Partition is a deer killer , from any angle .

 

[Polaris]

Any experience with the super light 55-60 grain like Varmageddon, TNT and Vmax?

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I run two bullets in my .243. The 70gr B-tip and the 95gr B-tip. Other than having the same color tip, I love the combo. I just make darn sure of what I am grabbing when I go deer hunting.

 

[JD338]

I run two bullets in my .243. The 70gr B-tip and the 95gr B-tip. Other than having the same color tip, I love the combo. I just make darn sure of what I am grabbing when I go deer hunting.

If you color code the primer pockets with magic markers, you won't ever have a mix up.
I use Red for the heavy weight bullets as seen below.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

I'd just load the 95 BT for both, but that's me. :grin:
Otherwise the 95 BT for deer, 70 BT for songdogs.

I'm with Dewey. Best 243 bullet out there for deer and smaller. Don't worry about how it'll penetrate and kill. It's a great one. 90 AB would be my 2nd choice.

 

[wildgene]

...very good results on mule deer w/ a 100gr. GrandSlam from my .243 WSSM...

 

[bboswell]

I run two bullets in my .243. The 70gr B-tip and the 95gr B-tip. Other than having the same color tip, I love the combo. I just make darn sure of what I am grabbing when I go deer hunting.

If you color code the primer pockets with magic markers, you won't ever have a mix up.
I use Red for the heavy weight bullets as seen below.

JD338

Thanks for this tip!

 

[wildgene]

...I do the same thing for load development, marking the primers black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red from lightest to heaviest charge...

 

[Yoda]

Depending on shot distance, a Partition is
the only way to go inside 100yds

 

[DrMike]

Depending on shot distance, a Partition is
the only way to go inside 100yds

Or even further! I have found Partitions to perform very well in the appropriate cartridges out to 400+ yards. It is difficult to imagine even AccuBonds outperforming the Partitions at distances under 400 yards. It is as good, to be sure. Better? At best, that is a subjective statement.

 

[SJB358]

Depending on shot distance, a Partition is
the only way to go inside 100yds

Or even further! I have found Partitions to perform very well in the appropriate cartridges out to 400+ yards. It is difficult to imagine even AccuBonds outperforming the Partitions at distances under 400 yards. It is as good, to be sure. Better? At best, that is a subjective statement.

Well said Doc. Couldn't agree more.

 

[6mm Remington]

90 gr. AccuBond for both or 85, 95, or 100 gr. Partitions for both. I shoot the 100 gr. Partition for everything in my 6mm Remington and it works very well for coyotes. It does not blow a big hole in the hides. Nothing wrong with the 90 gr. E-tip for deer either.

 

[Bbear]

I run 2 different bullets in one of my 243's - 85 gr Partition and 90 grain AccuBond. Less than 1/2" difference in POI out to 200 yards. Either one will toast whatever you're wanting to shoot with it. For funsies, I load the 95 gr BT. In mine, it doesn't group as well, but, it still smacks steel and I wouldn't hesitate to use it on game from PD's to Mulies.

 

[super-7]

75 gr V-Max for target and varmint, in my eyes the is only one choice for big game that is the 100 gr Partition.
I have loaded for quite a number of 243 & 6 MM's , the success with that combo speaks for itself.

 

[bdbrown66]

I got very good results with both the 55 gr. BT's and 95 gr. BT's in my Marlin XS7. I don't have the load for the 55's handy at the moment, but the load for the 95's was 36.5 gr. of IMR 4064 with WLR primer. Chrono'd at 2930 fps, with very low SD. Accurate load.

Used it to bag this buck on opening day.

 

[DrMike]

That is a fine load and some fine riflery.