243 shot selection

[Grizzly Adams]

I just bought a 243 youth model savage axis for my son to shoot for deer season. Wondering what you guys that shoot 243 use for deer? The only caliber I shoot is 30-06 that I bought 17 years ago so have no clue with a smaller caliber

 

[svnmag]

If you don't reload, get a couple boxes of Fusion.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I've seen a lot of stuff die with 100 gr soft points. Are you reloading?

 

[Tikka280ai]

80 grain ttsx has worked for me

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Eventually hopefully will reload but not now. I picked up 95 gr. Fusion just to try it out but was curious what others used

 

[svnmag]

Good deal. I started using this stuff when I got a new scope. I got it on paper with left over shells of various types then let the bbl completely cool to ambient between shots. Can shoot dime groups at 100. Pulled off a .50cal hole once.

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Let us know your results please.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

In other news, congrats Grizzly Adams in purchasing a new firearm after only 17 years. You are making progress. Keep up the good work!

 

[SupressYourself]

For factory ammo, I like Hornady Superformance 95gn SST.
The Federal 100gr soft points (blue box) have also shot surprisingly well for cheap stuff, and kill deer nicely.

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From the title, I thought this was going to be more crap about how the 243 is 'undersized' for deer and your 'shot selection' has to be sniper-perfect or the bullet will 'bounce off'.
Thankfully, it's not and I don't have to find a wall to beat my head against. ;:;banghead

 

[SDMF]

Any non-varmint load will work. 80-100gn, whatever your rifle shoots well.

 

[Bed Wetter]

Any non-varmint load will work. 80-100gn, whatever your rifle shoots well.

This. My dad, brothers, and I killed a lot of whitetail and mule deer with 85gr .243 of different varieties.

 

[svnmag]

Suppress,
`
I take it you weren't overly impressed with the Fusion in your 7?...

 

[SupressYourself]

Suppress,
`
I take it you weren't overly impressed with the Fusion in your 7?...

Sorry Svn. I did try. This is the best I can do, which is not bad, but not great either:




Meanwhile, I managed this 4 shot group with a home-grown load featuring a 150 Barnes TTSX:
I think that one is going to work out.


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Admittedly, I've never shot Fusions in my 243. I got a 95gr SST hand load that shoots lights out, so I haven't shot any factory ammo in a few years. When I used to shoot factory, the Hornady Superformance was good stuff.

 

[svnmag]

Sometimes I forget about all the vagaries with rifles. I will maintain you can't go wrong by starting with the stuff. As you can tell, it freaked me out. Are you sure you were holding your mouth right and clear of impure thoughts?


How does the price compare with Fusion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3k5t1Xa1Y

This looks intriguing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfIxjB8ANS0

 

[Migrator Man]

I shoot the hornady superperformance ammo out of my .257 and it is a tack driver. Other wise I would try some accubond loads.

 

[Wildyote]

What bullet do you use?

 

[svnmag]

My groups were better then Suppresses' trophy group. I'm extremely sorry I don't have evidence. I would've creamed with his above vertical group before the Fusion and still would be ecstatic: I would say he didn't let the bbl cool to ambient. His pic of Fusion results were my usual with lots of factory rounds.

 

[Kurtr]

I just loaded some 143 eld x and they are legit.

 

[PrairieGhost]

I just loaded some 143 eld x and they are legit.

I like them. I am on my sixth box of 100 for the 6.5 and the third box of 100 178 gr in my 300 WSM and 308. I have a box of the 30 cal in 212 that I intend to use in my 300 Win Mag. Just not sure they will open well beyond 1000 yards. May have to shoot a sack full of wet newspaper at 1200 yards. I also need to load the 6.5 X284 and see what kind of velocity I can get. I just worked up a load for my son's 264 win mag and I can get 100 fps more than I can with the 140 Berger VLD. I think the bullet is harder and doesn't obturate in bore as much lowering pressure so I am able to load one more grain of powder. I can't get the 3200 fps they talked about years ago, but I can get 3129 fps with Retumbo.

 

[Kurtr]

I am looking for load data for a friend 264. I am at 2776 with 42 of h4350 out of the creed

 

[PrairieGhost]

When I get on my computer Kurt I will send you a site to check out 264 loads. I kept track of the load development, but sent the book home with my son. I remember the loads I settled on though. I'll try remember to get that to you.