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243 bullets #5506975 12/29/14 11:49 PM
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Sirrah243 Offline OP
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I have been loading 243 win for a few years now. I started out using Sierra 100 SP and they performed well the first couple of year and then I noticed that the exit wounds on deer where small and left very little blood to trail.The only thing I can figure is that Sierra started producing bullets with harder lead. I don't know the reason but they just didn't perform the same. I was fortunate because all the deer fell within 20 yards of where they were shot. But still I didn't want to leave anything to chance so I did some research and decided to switch to Sierra 85 gr BTHP. They had a good reputation for performance from what I had read.

My wife shot a fairly large buck this weekend and there was no blood trail at all. she made a good shot right behind the left shoulder exiting through the right shoulder and the entrance and exit were the same size. Luckily, like the other he ran about 20 yards and fell.

I think I'm going to switch to Hornady.


�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5506981 12/29/14 11:52 PM
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What rifle and twist rate do you have?

walter


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5507079 12/30/14 12:34 AM
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kmon11 Online Shocked
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In a 243 the Nosler Partition is hard to beat 65+ years and it is still the standard that premium bullets are compared to for a reason. Want to go higher tech get some Nosler Accubonds.


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5507106 12/30/14 12:41 AM
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Heck, if the deer are not running more than 20 yards, I'd say the bullets are working just fine. I've killed lots of pigs with Sierra's 85gr BTHP.


Retired U. S. Army, which means I still have to work to make a living.
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Jhop] #5507372 12/30/14 02:11 AM
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Deans Offline
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Might give the 95gr Nosler BT a try.


“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508002 12/30/14 12:44 PM
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Sirrah243 Offline OP
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wburke I'm shooting a Rem 700 1 in 9 and a Rem 600 mohawk and I believe it's 1 in 10


�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508006 12/30/14 12:50 PM
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I run 90gr Accubonds in a 600 Mohawk. Haven't shot much besides pigs and didn't care to dig too deep in the performance besides it exited the other side of the head.


"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508374 12/30/14 04:14 PM
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Sirrah243 Offline OP
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How do you like that 600? I've really come to like mine.


�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508416 12/30/14 04:42 PM
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One of my favorites and will never leave the family.


"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508445 12/30/14 04:57 PM
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I would get some 90 grain bergers and give those a try, but like said above if they are dying in 20 yards I wouldn't change a thing...

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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Jhop] #5508897 12/30/14 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: Rcinit
Heck, if the deer are not running more than 20 yards, I'd say the bullets are working just fine. I've killed lots of pigs with Sierra's 85gr BTHP.


^^^This. I have had great luck with the 85gr GameKings in my 6x45 on deer and pigs. I use the 95gr Nosler BTs and 100gr Sierra ProHunters in my 243, also with great results.

I like a good blood trail as much as anyone; but if an animal goes 20 yards or less before dying, it is really a non-issue... The bullet has done its job.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5508906 12/30/14 09:02 PM
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I always figured the chest cavity had to fill with blood to the level of the hole before it would run out. I don't think it would fill in 20 yds.


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509211 12/30/14 11:46 PM
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Sirrah243 Offline OP
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I've been lucky so far because they have all been found within 20 yards but a less than perfect shot and I might not be so fortunate. I believe that a hollow point should expand and create an exit that is larger than the entrance.

Last edited by Sirrah243; 12/30/14 11:49 PM.

�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509280 12/31/14 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sirrah243
I've been lucky so far because they have all been found within 20 yards but a less than perfect shot and I might not be so fortunate. I believe that a hollow point should expand and create an exit that is larger than the entrance.


I think you are right. It might be interesting to write Sierra and see what they think is going on.


Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509306 12/31/14 12:16 AM
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80gr TTSX.

I stopped using GK after I had one blow up on impact.

80gr TTSX is the perfect pill of the speed of the 243


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509458 12/31/14 01:07 AM
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I shoot 85 grain barnes tsx in my 6mm Remington. Devastating bullet and sure to get an exit.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509496 12/31/14 01:21 AM
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I too have moved to an 80 grain mono metal bullet. If they'll shoot well in your rifle the 80-85 grain metal bullets are amazing. Really.


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509546 12/31/14 01:46 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sirrah243
I've been lucky so far because they have all been found within 20 yards but a less than perfect shot and I might not be so fortunate. I believe that a hollow point should expand and create an exit that is larger than the entrance.


Keep in mind that the Sierra is in their GameKing line... It is not an explosive varmint-type HP, it is a heavy-jacketed bullet designed to penetrate big game. Just a thought. My experience with them has been exit wounds about 2-4x the entrance with a quick death.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5509549 12/31/14 01:48 AM
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I have had very good luck with my 243 handloads using Sierra 85gr HPBT on game. The 2 deer, 7 pigs, and coyote that I've taken since Nov 1st didn't like em a bit. None of them took a step. I use 35gr imr4064 and only push the HPBT about 2900fps. I really think keeping this bullet under 3000fps is the key to it's performance. It's a ragged holer in my rifle and on game.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: ckat] #5509640 12/31/14 02:46 AM
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Originally Posted By: ckat
Originally Posted By: Sirrah243
I've been lucky so far because they have all been found within 20 yards but a less than perfect shot and I might not be so fortunate. I believe that a hollow point should expand and create an exit that is larger than the entrance.


Keep in mind that the Sierra is in their GameKing line... It is not an explosive varmint-type HP, it is a heavy-jacketed bullet designed to penetrate big game. Just a thought. My experience with them has been exit wounds about 2-4x the entrance with a quick death.


FWIW, the Sierra manual says that despite its GameKing moniker, the 243 85gr HPBT is intended for varminting.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: JJH] #5510365 12/31/14 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: JJH

FWIW, the Sierra manual says that despite its GameKing moniker, the 243 85gr HPBT is intended for varminting.


yes but it also states its a deer boolit as well.
straight from there web site.



For rifles chambered in 6mm cartridges, the #1530 85 grain hollow point boat tail bullet has proven to be highly effective on medium game, such as deer and antelope, and it is outstanding in this application. It is one of the best all-around bullets for rifles chambered in 6mm Remington or 243 Winchester. It is one of the most recommended bullets for varmints such as prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, to medium game such as deer and antelope. Shooters using any rifle in the entire range of 6mm cartridges will find this to be an excellent bullet. This bullet shoots like a MatchKing and expands like a hunting bullet.

back to the op question. the lack of blood trails is just due to the small caliber. 243 for the most part doesnt leave big holes, sometimes they can for the most part they dont, but that doesnt mean its ineffective , insides are usually mush.. any sp bullet is all you need in a 243 and actually preferred over harder booolits, anything harder expect smaller holes and less internal damage.



Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5510816 12/31/14 07:51 PM
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I have used 95 gr Nosler Partitions on deer, hogs and coyotes for 8 or 9 years now and have been very pleased with their performance.

Adding on to Vanguard's reply, above: I shot a medium-sized buck last week with a high shoulder shot. He went about 20 yards and rolled over. I found only a tiny exit hole and not a single drop of blood, which seemed strange. Neither shoulder was broken, but the lungs were total mush. Not typical, but it worked!

Re: 243 bullets [Re: papa45] #5511098 12/31/14 10:13 PM
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30+ years using 100 gr Partitions in Rem 600 - if it ain't broke don't fix it.
TC


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Re: 243 bullets [Re: Sirrah243] #5511205 12/31/14 11:14 PM
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I run the 95 gr. Hornady SST's in two different 243's. Those things are insanely effective at reasonable velocities. My two carbines run about 2800 at the muzzle and they consistently drop deer on the spot. It's uncanny just how well they do.

Re: 243 bullets [Re: vanguard] #5511208 12/31/14 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: vanguard
Originally Posted By: JJH

FWIW, the Sierra manual says that despite its GameKing moniker, the 243 85gr HPBT is intended for varminting.


yes but it also states its a deer boolit as well.
straight from there web site.



For rifles chambered in 6mm cartridges, the #1530 85 grain hollow point boat tail bullet has proven to be highly effective on medium game, such as deer and antelope, and it is outstanding in this application. It is one of the best all-around bullets for rifles chambered in 6mm Remington or 243 Winchester. It is one of the most recommended bullets for varmints such as prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, to medium game such as deer and antelope. Shooters using any rifle in the entire range of 6mm cartridges will find this to be an excellent bullet. This bullet shoots like a MatchKing and expands like a hunting bullet.

back to the op question. the lack of blood trails is just due to the small caliber. 243 for the most part doesnt leave big holes, sometimes they can for the most part they dont, but that doesnt mean its ineffective , insides are usually mush.. any sp bullet is all you need in a 243 and actually preferred over harder booolits, anything harder expect smaller holes and less internal damage.



We can each draw our own conclusions. it's clear Sierra didn't design the bullet with a thicker jacket and harder core than their GameKing Spitzer Boat Tails (as they did with the heavier HPBTs). But I'm sure they still work fine on our smallish Texas whitetails on lung shots. But I would prefer a different design for hunting where a quartering or shoulder shot might be required.

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