Posted By: Regular Guy
Update on Perfecta .243 Winchester 100 grain soft points, performance on deer - 12/01/15 09:37 PM
I recently killed my first deer. I used Perfecta .243 win 100 grain soft points. I chose this ammo because it is accurate in my rifle. I put 10 rounds of this in a group measuring 1.5" across the widest point, center to center. Zeroed about 2" high with the most accurate load I have tested (Winchester 80 grain softpoints), the Perfecta is dead on at 100. I figured that since it is accurate and can be used with the same zero, with 20 grains more weight it would be the best choice for deer.
I shot my deer in the neck, near the neck/shoulder junction. It did what it was supposed to do, and he fell dead instantly. There was no exit wound, and very little blood- none on the ground and barely a splotch on the wound.
I tried to find the bullet in the hide, but there were no remnants of a bullet to see. Not even a fragment of the jacket. There was a double handfull of shredded bone, congealed tissue and coagulated blood where the bullet struck, and inside of that mess I only saw a few shiny, almost translucent flakes. The esophagus and trachaea were intact. Most of the damaged meat was opposite the side of the impact. I suppose that bullet turned to dust when it hit the spine. I did shoot him at pretty close range, probably about 80 yards.
The 100 grain Perfecta soft points are obviously not a choice where penetration is important. They are accurate, and they do a lot of damage. I am not sure if a hit in the shoulder would have been as lethal as this hit in the neck.
I figure, as long as you pick your shots, the ammo is fine as long as it's accurate. I have no doubt it will expand from longer distances. But up close, the neck or spine is probably your only shot.
As for me, I am going to test a few other loads. I would have preferred to see at least see part of the jacket intact, and I am afraid to attempt anything other than a neck shot this close based on what I have read about bullet performance. I also don't think I'd use it on game bigger or tougher than whitetail deer.
Obviously, I am working with very limited experience. It would be helpful to me, if you share your experiences with other .243 loads on deer and make some recommendations, on both handloads and factory ammo. Thanks in advance!
I shot my deer in the neck, near the neck/shoulder junction. It did what it was supposed to do, and he fell dead instantly. There was no exit wound, and very little blood- none on the ground and barely a splotch on the wound.
I tried to find the bullet in the hide, but there were no remnants of a bullet to see. Not even a fragment of the jacket. There was a double handfull of shredded bone, congealed tissue and coagulated blood where the bullet struck, and inside of that mess I only saw a few shiny, almost translucent flakes. The esophagus and trachaea were intact. Most of the damaged meat was opposite the side of the impact. I suppose that bullet turned to dust when it hit the spine. I did shoot him at pretty close range, probably about 80 yards.
The 100 grain Perfecta soft points are obviously not a choice where penetration is important. They are accurate, and they do a lot of damage. I am not sure if a hit in the shoulder would have been as lethal as this hit in the neck.
I figure, as long as you pick your shots, the ammo is fine as long as it's accurate. I have no doubt it will expand from longer distances. But up close, the neck or spine is probably your only shot.
As for me, I am going to test a few other loads. I would have preferred to see at least see part of the jacket intact, and I am afraid to attempt anything other than a neck shot this close based on what I have read about bullet performance. I also don't think I'd use it on game bigger or tougher than whitetail deer.
Obviously, I am working with very limited experience. It would be helpful to me, if you share your experiences with other .243 loads on deer and make some recommendations, on both handloads and factory ammo. Thanks in advance!