243 deer load with 80gr seirra

nick2010 · May 21, 2011, 10:57 AM

i been loading for my 243 mainly for coyotes. i got it to shoot around .50" at 100 yards with seirra 80gr gameking bullets, would these have enough knock down power for whitetail at 200-300 yards? or farther?

oneoldsap · May 21, 2011, 06:20 PM

You would be wise to use a heavier Bullet for Deer ! The semi pointed Sierra 100Gr. or the Speer 105 Gr. (my favorite) . The 80Gr. looses energy quite fast and would be marginal at 200+ yards . The rule of thumb is 1000 Ft.Lbs. of energy delivered to the Animal !

5RWill · May 21, 2011, 06:46 PM

Have a friend who shoots the 85gr gamekings and has flawless results on deer. I say go for it.

travywestside · May 21, 2011, 06:50 PM

+1 on the 105 gr

Thats what I've used for years with great success.

shiyfire · May 21, 2011, 09:01 PM

I would think it would work fine on small or medium sized deer.

chiefr · May 21, 2011, 09:32 PM

No problem at all with a well placed shot.

Brian Pfleuger · May 21, 2011, 10:34 PM

People hunt deer with 357mag handguns all the time. They generate roughly 750 ft/lbs at the muzzle on a good day. You sure don't need 1000 ft/lbs to kill a deer, if the bullet is constructed for the energy range at impact.

Even still, if you use 1000 ft/lbs as a benchmark, Hodgdon shows 3,300fps pretty easily with the 80-85gr Sierra. You'd be at 1000 ft/lbs at about 275 yards and still making 700 ft/lbs at 400 yards.

Plenty for a deer.

Mike / Tx · May 22, 2011, 06:07 PM

When I started loading for my Win 70 in .243 I was around 17 or 18yrs old. The old fellow who lived across from me was somewhat like my other pop. I grew up being best friends with his son until he passed early on. We fished and loaded and did lots of stuff together.

The old fellow was a HUGE fan of the .243 and had been to CO several times and used his to take a few nice mule deer, with the exact bullet your referring to. I won't get into loads but I can tell you that his was a smoker. I worked mine up close to his velocity but I used the 85gr Nosler Solid Base instead. Like his, mine was smoking from my short 22" barrel. It was pure lightning on deer under 200yds, with most being a simple bang flop.

What I DID find however was on several occasions when shooting to 200yd or more, was that the bullet didn't penetrate as well as I thought it should have. I experienced it more than once with perfect shots, the bullet would blow up on the onside shoulder or ribs and not get much further. I also shot a huge ol doe one evneing right in the spit curl on her chest. She ran straight to me and stopped about 110yds out and turned around and look directly back from where she came. At which point I put another one right through her lungs. I could not imagine how she could have stayed on her feet until we picked her up. The bullet went right where I aimed, straight through not messing up anything, and exited offside the rear of her ham, making a funnel shaped hole when it did. All I could figure is she ran from what smacked her on the rear and turned around to see what it was.

From two more instances like the above, I relegated all of my .243 hunting loads to 95grs at a minimum, and slowed the velocities down to less than 3000fps. Since then I have not had any issues what so ever like I saw with the above load. To be honest I could probably tweak the load a bit and it would be fine as rain, but I have moved on.

Good luck with your loads. I hope they work well for you.

a7mmnut · May 22, 2011, 06:22 PM

Coyotes fine, deer not-so-fine. Sierras are very soft and fragile above 2800 fps or so in most of the smaller calibers. Try the Hornady Interlock or something similar in the 95-100 gr. group.

-7-

bernardo · May 22, 2011, 08:58 PM

Hodgdon has some info on reduced recoil loads and for .243 it calls for an 80 gr bullet and h4895 powder and says it good out to 200 yards on deer. About 2700 fps.

crowbeaner · May 24, 2011, 08:21 PM

44.0 of WW 760 or H414, CCI 200 primer.

JerryM · May 25, 2011, 02:16 PM

A lot of guns and ammo will kill a deer, but that bullet would not be one I would consider.
If you are going to reload for deer do it right, and use a heavier bullet or at least a less fragile bullet.

Jerry

PawPaw · May 25, 2011, 02:27 PM

I shot a deer last year with the .243, a smallish buck. He was 125 yards away and quartering toward me when I fired the shot. The bullet was a 100 grain core-lokt pushed to 3100 fps with Reloder 22 powder. The shot knocked him down and he got up and limped into the woods. I knew I had hit him hard, and that I'd find him in short order.

I found him inside the woodline, about 40 yards from the shot. The bullet had blown up on a rib and destroyed the near shoulder. I could nearly put my fist in the entrance hole where the bullet exploded.

I'm going to a stouter bullet this year, and I'm going to slow it down some.

Brian Pfleuger · May 25, 2011, 03:54 PM

Don't slow it down... Get a stouter bullet and SPEED IT UP!

http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...ed-tsx-bullet/

GeauxTide · May 25, 2011, 10:08 PM

It's not the weight of the bullet, it's the design. Heavier constructed bullets designed for game in the 24 are the 100 grain weights, unless Nosler is still making 95 grain Partitions.

Red_Eagle · May 25, 2011, 11:07 PM

If you really want to go that light, I believe Barnes makes a triple shock in the 80-85 grain range.

Bamashooter · May 26, 2011, 12:54 AM

I have killed two doe's with 65gr. Gameking bullets in my .223. I think with a good shot the 85gr. bullet would be just fine. One doe died within 25ft. of where she was shot the other close to 100yrds. away. I dont have a problem with gameking bullets. In this case they did their job well.

Brian Pfleuger · May 26, 2011, 05:50 AM

The link I posted above is to the Barnes TTSX bullet line. I tell you what, seeing the effect of varmint like, ultra-high impact speeds on deer is something to behold... but you've got to have the bullet right.

I'm not necessarily stuck on "Dead Right There" like some people are but if you can get it without giving up anything, why not.

Going ultra-light for caliber may not be the best choice if you need to shoot past 250 or so but if you're like me and your long shots are 75 or 100 yards, the hydrostatic shock from those impact speeds is really something.

Limited experience with Core-Lokts tells me... They aren't "core" "locked".

hooligan1 · May 26, 2011, 07:51 PM

I'm working up some hunting loads for my daughters .243, 95 grn Ballistic Tips setting over a load of 4350. Have'nt shot them as of yet, but I'll keep you informed!

May 21, 2011, 10:57 AM	#1
nick2010 Junior Member Join Date: March 21, 2011 Posts: 9	243 deer load with 80gr seirra i been loading for my 243 mainly for coyotes. i got it to shoot around .50" at 100 yards with seirra 80gr gameking bullets, would these have enough knock down power for whitetail at 200-300 yards? or farther?

May 21, 2011, 06:46 PM	#3
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	Have a friend who shoots the 85gr gamekings and has flawless results on deer. I say go for it. __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."

May 21, 2011, 06:50 PM	#4
travywestside Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 44	+1 on the 105 gr Thats what I've used for years with great success. __________________ "I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." - Clint Eastwood

May 21, 2011, 10:34 PM	#7
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	People hunt deer with 357mag handguns all the time. They generate roughly 750 ft/lbs at the muzzle on a good day. You sure don't need 1000 ft/lbs to kill a deer, if the bullet is constructed for the energy range at impact. Even still, if you use 1000 ft/lbs as a benchmark, Hodgdon shows 3,300fps pretty easily with the 80-85gr Sierra. You'd be at 1000 ft/lbs at about 275 yards and still making 700 ft/lbs at 400 yards. Plenty for a deer. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

May 22, 2011, 08:58 PM	#10
bernardo Member Join Date: April 29, 2010 Posts: 21	.243 80 gr Hodgdon has some info on reduced recoil loads and for .243 it calls for an 80 gr bullet and h4895 powder and says it good out to 200 yards on deer. About 2700 fps.

May 21, 2011, 06:20 PM	#2
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	You would be wise to use a heavier Bullet for Deer ! The semi pointed Sierra 100Gr. or the Speer 105 Gr. (my favorite) . The 80Gr. looses energy quite fast and would be marginal at 200+ yards . The rule of thumb is 1000 Ft.Lbs. of energy delivered to the Animal !

May 21, 2011, 09:01 PM	#5
shiyfire Member Join Date: March 28, 2000 Location: KY. Posts: 29	I would think it would work fine on small or medium sized deer.

May 21, 2011, 09:32 PM	#6
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	No problem at all with a well placed shot.

May 22, 2011, 06:07 PM	#8
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	When I started loading for my Win 70 in .243 I was around 17 or 18yrs old. The old fellow who lived across from me was somewhat like my other pop. I grew up being best friends with his son until he passed early on. We fished and loaded and did lots of stuff together. The old fellow was a HUGE fan of the .243 and had been to CO several times and used his to take a few nice mule deer, with the exact bullet your referring to. I won't get into loads but I can tell you that his was a smoker. I worked mine up close to his velocity but I used the 85gr Nosler Solid Base instead. Like his, mine was smoking from my short 22" barrel. It was pure lightning on deer under 200yds, with most being a simple bang flop. What I DID find however was on several occasions when shooting to 200yd or more, was that the bullet didn't penetrate as well as I thought it should have. I experienced it more than once with perfect shots, the bullet would blow up on the onside shoulder or ribs and not get much further. I also shot a huge ol doe one evneing right in the spit curl on her chest. She ran straight to me and stopped about 110yds out and turned around and look directly back from where she came. At which point I put another one right through her lungs. I could not imagine how she could have stayed on her feet until we picked her up. The bullet went right where I aimed, straight through not messing up anything, and exited offside the rear of her ham, making a funnel shaped hole when it did. All I could figure is she ran from what smacked her on the rear and turned around to see what it was. From two more instances like the above, I relegated all of my .243 hunting loads to 95grs at a minimum, and slowed the velocities down to less than 3000fps. Since then I have not had any issues what so ever like I saw with the above load. To be honest I could probably tweak the load a bit and it would be fine as rain, but I have moved on. Good luck with your loads. I hope they work well for you.

May 22, 2011, 06:22 PM	#9
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	Coyotes fine, deer not-so-fine. Sierras are very soft and fragile above 2800 fps or so in most of the smaller calibers. Try the Hornady Interlock or something similar in the 95-100 gr. group. -7-

May 24, 2011, 08:21 PM	#11
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	44.0 of WW 760 or H414, CCI 200 primer. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

May 25, 2011, 02:16 PM	#12
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	A lot of guns and ammo will kill a deer, but that bullet would not be one I would consider. If you are going to reload for deer do it right, and use a heavier bullet or at least a less fragile bullet. Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

May 25, 2011, 02:27 PM	#13
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	I shot a deer last year with the .243, a smallish buck. He was 125 yards away and quartering toward me when I fired the shot. The bullet was a 100 grain core-lokt pushed to 3100 fps with Reloder 22 powder. The shot knocked him down and he got up and limped into the woods. I knew I had hit him hard, and that I'd find him in short order. I found him inside the woodline, about 40 yards from the shot. The bullet had blown up on a rib and destroyed the near shoulder. I could nearly put my fist in the entrance hole where the bullet exploded. I'm going to a stouter bullet this year, and I'm going to slow it down some. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

May 25, 2011, 03:54 PM	#14
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Don't slow it down... Get a stouter bullet and SPEED IT UP! http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...ed-tsx-bullet/

May 25, 2011, 10:08 PM	#15
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	It's not the weight of the bullet, it's the design. Heavier constructed bullets designed for game in the 24 are the 100 grain weights, unless Nosler is still making 95 grain Partitions.

May 25, 2011, 11:07 PM	#16
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	If you really want to go that light, I believe Barnes makes a triple shock in the 80-85 grain range. __________________ My Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223 Rem, 22-250, 243 Win, 270 Win, 280 Remington Ackley Improved, 30-30, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Winchester magnum, 7.62x39mm, 380 Auto, 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special, 357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 GAP, 45 Auto, 12 & 20 Guage

May 26, 2011, 12:54 AM	#17
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	I have killed two doe's with 65gr. Gameking bullets in my .223. I think with a good shot the 85gr. bullet would be just fine. One doe died within 25ft. of where she was shot the other close to 100yrds. away. I dont have a problem with gameking bullets. In this case they did their job well.

May 26, 2011, 05:50 AM	#18
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	The link I posted above is to the Barnes TTSX bullet line. I tell you what, seeing the effect of varmint like, ultra-high impact speeds on deer is something to behold... but you've got to have the bullet right. I'm not necessarily stuck on "Dead Right There" like some people are but if you can get it without giving up anything, why not. Going ultra-light for caliber may not be the best choice if you need to shoot past 250 or so but if you're like me and your long shots are 75 or 100 yards, the hydrostatic shock from those impact speeds is really something. Limited experience with Core-Lokts tells me... They aren't "core" "locked".

May 26, 2011, 07:51 PM	#19
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	I'm working up some hunting loads for my daughters .243, 95 grn Ballistic Tips setting over a load of 4350. Have'nt shot them as of yet, but I'll keep you informed! __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.