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Post by ukwil on Mar 7, 2021 9:10:42 GMT -5
Finally found the kids a .243 to hunt with. Main purpose is for out west, but it will be used around here also. It's the Savage Axis Compact.
What grain weight seems to be best for deer or antelope?
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Post by titanium700 on Mar 7, 2021 10:26:34 GMT -5
Depends on bullet construction.
I’ve personally used/have seen the Barnes 85 tsx and the 80 ttsx work wonders. My son killed a coues whitetail at 401 yds with the 85.
Also my son killed a bull elk at 137 yds with a 100 grain npt with one shot...took 3 steps and dropped over.
Myself I’ve killed several deer though at closer ranges with both the Barnes bullets with a 6x45 and .243
And one last thing.
If it helps....I killed a nice buck with a .223 shooting a 53 grain Barnes tsx in KY several years ago.
It dropped him too.
So it depends on bullet construction and placement.
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Post by deadeer on Mar 7, 2021 10:33:16 GMT -5
Depends on bullet construction. I’ve personally used/have seen the Barnes 85 tsx and the 80 ttsx work wonders. My son killed a coues whitetail at 401 yds with the 85. Also my son killed a bull elk at 137 yds with a 100 grain npt with one shot...took 3 steps and dropped over. Myself I’ve killed several deer though at closer ranges with both the Barnes bullets with a 6x45 and .243 And one last thing. If it helps....I killed a nice buck with a .223 shooting a 53 grain Barnes tsx in KY several years ago. It dropped him too. So it depends on bullet construction and placement. Definately look at the Barnes, or Hdy 80gr GMX. The do work great. The 100gr bullet is most popular and available, but also hear of more issues. Although, I have found what other people's issues can be traced back to poor shot placement, brush, etc. I have killed a lot of deer, and be it small or large bullets or broadheads, one thru the vitals works EVERYTIME. |
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Post by titanium700 on Mar 7, 2021 13:04:26 GMT -5
I’ll also add one more thing.
The 100 grain npt blew on through the bull elk.
Mass destruction inside him.
IF you can find Sierra 85 grain bullets, they are great too.
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Post by deadeer on Mar 7, 2021 13:32:52 GMT -5
I’ll also add one more thing. The 100 grain npt blew on through the bull elk. Mass destruction inside him. IF you can find Sierra 85 grain bullets, they are great too. That's what I use, the 85gr Sierra HPBT. Yes, they are a great bullet! |
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Post by esshup on Mar 7, 2021 15:53:59 GMT -5
I can't tell you how many deer I have killed with the 85g TSX in the .243. I have never recovered a bullet, even when I shot a Northern Wisconsin whitetail that was facing me with it's head down. Bullet entered top of the neck at the shoulder and went out the other end of the deer. That one I thought I would recover. Nope..... All handloaded ammo, muzzle velocity is right at 3350 fps. (Yeah, it's hotter than the Barnes reloading book, but there are no signs of pressure, even in 80°F temps. That is where the accuracy node is and that's where I'm going to keep loading them. 3/4" c-c group at 300 yds. from bags on a bench.)
A large running sow at 300 yds? Not so lucky. Heard the bullet hit but never recovered the pig, I watched her run for 1/2 mile after getting hit (open private property in Texas) and she never slowed down.
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Post by dbd870 on Mar 7, 2021 18:29:51 GMT -5
95gr Noslers have worked fine on a couple
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Post by parson on Mar 7, 2021 19:33:23 GMT -5
I have a Savage 110 .243 that I bought in the mid 80s. It has always been most accurate with 100 grain bullets. I've taken quite a few deer with it; the farthest at about 200 yards.
I had a Savage Striker in .243 that shot much better with 70 - 80 grain bullets. You'll probably need to shoot a few to find out what your particular gun likes.
I've never really had poor performance with any bullets. Typically have used either Hornady or Sierra.
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Post by jman46151 on Apr 1, 2021 8:17:03 GMT -5
I use the Hornady Whitetail 100 gr in my Rem 700 .243. I have taken 5 pronghorn and 1 whitetail with it with no issues. I have a couple boxes of Remington core-lokt if you want to try them out.
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