good 243 bullet for deerhunting?

[mullez]

Hi guys,

just bought a 243win rifle with a 1:10 twist.
I need to go out and get some factory ammo for deerhunting (roedeer = small deer)

I would like to get your opinion on which of the following rifle ammo I should get.

I only shoot at relatively short distances: 50-300 feet.

Ammo is expensive where I live (denmark) and the following ammo is reasonable in price:

Hornady sp 100 gr.
Hornady sst 95 gr.
Hornady interlock 100 gr.
Remington corelokt psp 100 gr.

Which cartridge would you prefer on small deer?´
will the sst expand correvtly on the short distances?

[Bamashooter]

Mine shoots Remington Cor-lokt 100gr. near moa. I have killed several deer with that round. There might be better but I tried them first and they were accurate enough. If your just hunting the cor-lokt is great hunting ammo.

[natman]

At distances less than 100 meters, I'd recommend the corelockt or the interlock. You won't need the streamlined SST and you certainly won't want extra rapid expansion.

[hooligan1]

It all depends on what bullet that rifle likes, first of all. My daughter has a Rossi Youth-Model single-shot that shoots the "grey box" winchesters in 100 grns, really well. But she has a new rifle now an Interarms Mark X (.243) that we have yet to fire, that I'm working up some 95 grn Nosler Ballistic tips, with IMR4350. After we get the powder weight close to what we like we'll try the 100 gr Partitions maybe. The Rossi is 1-10 rifling, and so is the Mauser.

[Saltydog235]

It all depends on what bullet that rifle likes, first of all. My daughter has a Rossi Youth-Model single-shot that shoots the "grey box" winchesters in 100 grns, really well. But she has a new rifle now an Interarms Mark X (.243) that we have yet to fire, that I'm working up some 95 grn Nosler Ballistic tips, with IMR4350. After we get the powder weight close to what we like we'll try the 100 gr Partitions maybe. The Rossi is 1-10 rifling, and so is the Mauser.

Mine did OK with the 4350 but outstanding with 4831SC and the 90grn BT. Dime sized groups even considering the scope I have on it has thicker crosshairs for low light situations. Varget under the 70grn BTs.

OP any of those bullets will do fine for smaller deer and even decent size deer. Its all about what the gun shoots best and proper shot placement on your part.

[publius]

I'd go with the 100gr. Core-lokt. Better yet, get one of the thousands of 6.5 Swede's floating around in your part of the world.

[PawPaw]

100 grain Nosler Partition. Or a 90-ish grain Barnes TSX.

[jimbob86]

When I was a kid, I used 100 grain Winchester power points ...... they put them down like Zeus' lighning bolts, even out to 250 yards (what is that in meters? 225?).

Any of the ammo you mentioned will be more than enough at the ranges you mentioned, so long as it groups well (only hits count!).

[jimbob86]

100 grain Nosler Partition. Or a 90-ish grain Barnes TSX.

Overkill for roe deer. The ones I saw in Germany were probably less than 50 pounds.

[BIG P]

I like the SST's myself but any you have listed will work just fine.

[big al hunter]

Of those choices listed I would use the one that shoots the best groups in your rifle. All of them will perform well on deer.

[bamaranger]

Don't know anything abut roe deer. But 100 gr corelocks (rem) and now 100 gr NOsler Partitions are working for me on 125-150 lb white-tails. (or smaller)

[jimbob86]

Roe deer are around 50 pounds, guys ....... perfect for a 62 grain .223!

[mullez]

Thanks for your replies.

Will go for the corelocks if the rifle likes them.

The roedeer is about 50 pounds.
So far, I have been shooting them with .308win - 150 gr. federal sierra gameking.
Yes, I know it is more than adequate firepower for roedeer, but is drops them and makes very little damage to the meat.

Time to use a 243 instead on the roedeer.

[MOshooter65202]

I have a 6mm rem the Nosler 90-100 grain Partition works good.

[taylorce1]

100 grain Nosler Partition. Or a 90-ish grain Barnes TSX.

Actually I think PawPaw hit it on the head with this one. I'd use as heavy of a bullet as possible on small deer. The heavy for caliber bullet will slow down the impact velocity on light skinned and boned animals. This will have less damaging effects on the animal, less lost meat. I think for Roe deer I'd look for the heaviest bullet I can find and one that is going to hold together the best and open the slowest.

That said I'd run any of the 100 grain options you have.

[roberto mervicini]

My son Eric used .243 on 3 deers, 2 drop right in the spot, the 3rd did about 8 paces. Sierra GKing 100 grain, all 3 shoot at close distances, 30 to 50 yrds, bullet went trough the chest cavity tooke both lungs exit hole almost the size of a quarter. ( deers gutted range from 90 to 145 lb )

[warbirdlover]

I used Nosler 100 gr partitions when I handloaded for my .243. Shot tight groups and put the deer DOWN.

[Legionnaire]

Will go for the corelocks if the rifle likes them.

What I would have recommended. My kids have taken numerous whitetail with these launched from a Remington Model Seven. And welcome to the forum.

[GeauxTide]

Corelokts and Interlocks. Which ever your rifle likes best.

[Nnobby45]

Overkill for roe deer. The ones I saw in Germany were probably less than 50 pounds.

Much better than going to a lighter 85 gr. bullet designed for varmints that would tear the deer up more than necessary---that would be over kill.

Be careful when using all copper bullets, since they're much longer by weight than conventionals. A twist that stabilizes the jacketed bullet may or may not stabilize the longer copper bullet of the same weight. Accuracy may fall off.

[elkman06]

I shoot 100gr Hornaday BTSPs' Work great on deer sized critters. I would not hesitate for a close quarters shot on an elk as well.
elkman06

[tahunua001]

with my 243 I use federal powershok 100gr. I'm not sure how hard federal ammo is to aquire in denmark but I've found that it's more consistent than the rem corelokts and in my own experience more accurate. I use the 100gr for whitetail(up to 200) so if roedeer are really that much smaller than whitetail I'd suggest dropping to the 80gr powershoks, just as accurate and less damage to meat.

[TChase]

I have used Nosler 90GR BT's for the last few years with devastating results.

[JerryM]

Any of those bullets would be fine. I would buy the least expensive if my rifle shot it well.
Personally I have killed several deer and some antelope with a .243 and used both Sierra and Hornady 100 gr bullets.

You sure do not need tough or expensive bonded bullets for a 50 lb animal.

Jerry