.243 potential???

[jon lynn]

What is the MAX for a .243? I know it is okay for whitetail, but I am starting to inquire about wild boar hunting here in Oklahoma. And the .243 with 100 grain bullets is my maximum power right now. I do not want to go out under gunned, it’s not fair to the animal, I truly have moral issues hunting with the wrong tool for the wrong job.

I am usually an accurate shot, but I’ve never been under gunned. In Germany I used .243 for Roe Deer, and .308 and .30-06 for everything bigger, and down calibered for fox.

[Mike Moss]

It seems that your already worried about it and now you want someone to say that the 243 is ok for wild boar!

This may help you. If I went wild boar hunting I would use one of my .358 Winchesters as it would not only work better but it would make for a much better story.

[jon lynn]

Well, I guess I should rephrase, and ask people WITH ACTUAL EXPERANCE if .243 is okay. Although I am from Oklahoma, I am a city boy, and I have ZERO EXPERANCE with North American hogs.

In Germany the hogs were massive, and thick. To be honest, I don’t know what Sooner hogs are like.

So, I hereby rephrase the question:

Can I hunt Oklahoma hogs with a .243?

[skeet]

If ya gotta hunt a hog and have the 243..use a 100 gr Nosler or some such bullet. They shoot 'em with 357 and 44 mags so the 243 will kill em. I'd use somethig bigger....cause I don't have a 243 (right now anyway):D Shoot him twice!!;)

[Rustywreck]

I use a 243 for hogs. Last year shot several with it, including one very large hog. One shot and it was dead in it's tracks.

[Adam Helmer]

jon,

I love the .243 and have several I use for PA deer with 100 grain handloaded bullets. Yes, it will kill hogs if you hit them right. I say, good bullets, good bullet placement and reasonable range will give you hams and bacon. If you go longer yardages, then get more gun because even the .243 has its limits. I would keep my .243 shots within 100 yards, but that is my personal limit.

Adam

[jon lynn]

100 yards is my max for everything these days, because my eyes aint what they used to be.

And for porkers, I was thinking more like 50 to 75 yards max range. Using a Federal Hi-Shock or Remington Core-Lokt, both 10 grains.

More feedback please.

[Adam Helmer]

jon,

I would go for it. Under 100 yards, the .243 will not let you down. Shoot straight into the "boiler room" and you will be havin' loins and chops. CHOW DOWN!

Adam

[Evan03]

if i was to use a 243 on anything real tough id drive the 85gr tripple shock as hard as possible and keep ranges inside 200yds.

i have more faith in lighter triple shocks than i do in heavier partions or core locks. the nos bt bullets wouldnt be considerd even near tough enough

[gumpokc]

Jon,
the .243win is fine for hogs in okla, but..keep ranges down to 100 or less.
Most times that wont be a problem, since your not liable to get long range shots on them, they do like to stick to the brush.

I've used the nosler partitions, rrmington corelocs, and barnes x-bullets. stick to bullets above 100 grns and you should be fine as long as you get good shot placement.

[denton]

I think you're going to be happiest with something like the Nosler Partition, 100 grain. Here's why:

Most people think that if you graph penetration on the vertical axis vs. impact speed on the horizontal axis, the line slopes upward to the right, i.e., more speed = more penetration.

This is completely wrong.

I've attached a graph of what five standard cup and core type 30-06 180 grain bullets do. The slope is downward to the right, i.e., in reality more speed = LESS penetration. If a standard bullet is going too fast, it opens too much, too fast and penetration suffers seriously. Note how poor penetration is above 2800 FPS.

A 243 can get a 100 grainer going about 2950, so you could be well above the point where penetration dramatically drops with standard bullets.

Ballistic tip bullets are built to open more violently than standard cup and cores. That's OK for whitetail, but I don't think you'll like the results with gnarly old hogs.

It's hard to beat a Nosler Partition in this application. It's penetration curve is just plain flat at 17" from about 1700 FPS to as fast as you can get the bullet going. Another one to look at is one of the Barnes all copper offerings, or perhaps even the AccuBond or old fashioned Nosler Flat Base (1700-3100 FPS)

I'll admit to not being a hog hunter, so someone here with more experience in that area may offer a different opinion. But based on what I know about bullets, that's my opinion.

In any event, good luck and good hunting.

[Evan03]

the partition is designed to shed the nose in front of the partition. have last half of the bullet still penetrate. partions were designed to retain 65% of the bullet weight, bet youd never belive that. i have done lots of research and reading and that is true. i have also killed deer and elk with the partition actualy a few deer. very good bullet, exspecialy when drivn fast.

but the barnses triple shock is better in my opion it exspands and retains 90-100% of its weight at all impact velocities while pentrating deep. the 85gr driven fast in 243s and 6mm's will be magic on big game. i plan to shoot many more deer and elk with light weight triple shocks.

[Catfish]

Evan is definately correct about the preformance of the solid copper bullets. My only problem with them is that they cost so much and I can usually find a cheaper bullet that will do the job.

[Evan03]

catfish.
triple shocks are spendy but the 257 and smaller triple shocks dont cost near as much as the bigger ones. ive loaded some and have them tucked away for big game. theyre kinda my special bullets for special acasions, like takn large game with small calibers. it turns my small stuff into rip snortin bone busting penetration big game hammers.

ive used 100gr corelockts in my 2506 with varmit like bullet characteristics. kinda scared me. they are good bullets atr 2800 not 3200.

Evan

[Evan03]

catfish.

barnes makes 62 and 70gr 224 tripleshocks, these bullets would drive lenghtwise through most any deer sized game if you wanted them to. fling them from your 22/6mm barrel and your realy smokn, that would be one of heck of a deer rig.

Evan

[Minihuntur]

Try the 95gr Winchester Supreme Elite XP3. Long name but amazing results! I got whitetail last year 60yds running, but I hit him too far back. He was runnin towards me but he stumbled as I pulled the trigger, at the shot he turned straight away and ran. I put another one up his you-know-where and he dropped right there. The bullet went all the way from his rear to his lungs and exited the shoulder. Now thats performance! Also 5 shots at 100yds .85in. However these bullets are not easy on the wallet, sight in with Winchester 100gr Power Points and fine tune with XP3s. You'll be eating pork soon.
Minihuntur:)

[skeet]

I have bought some Barnes X bullets in various calibers at estate auctions and yard sales. The darn things shoot pretty good. I had a friend use one of my 300 Savage loads with 130 gr X bullets shoot a cow elk at a little over 150 yds in the chest. In the front and on out the rear..and not very much meat damage.. It was DRT. I have some I'm going to load for the 257 Weatherby I bought. Hope they shoot as well as the Noslers I've got. My plumber friend shot his 'lope the other day with my Weatherby at about 225 yds. He stated it didn't even quiver after the shot. Now he wants to buy it..Nah...Think I'll keep it.. Have worked up a load for the 300 H&H with some heavier X bullets. Let ya know how they do..;)