.243 using the Sierra 85 gr. HPBT for deer

[pcgod]

I got 300 of these bullets for nothing. The guy I got them from sold off his .243 and knew I had a remmington model 7. His theory regarding this bullet was "A single load that is deadly on yotes and deer". These look like varmit bullets, so I called Sierra and was told the exact same thing. Sierra actually recommended these for shots out to 200 yards on deer.

Can someone with actual field experience with these bullets comment? Please let me know the animal taken and how the bullet performed. I guess I really wonder if the bullet will blow on a rib obviously a shoulder shot would be a bad idea. Thanks.

[L. Cooper]

I have not used them. I have seen them used with what I consider mixed results. I load for two .243's at the moment and long ago decided I will load only the 100 grain bullets (usually Partitions) for deer.

In my view, for our deer, the .243 is on the light side. Light calibers need heavy for caliber bullets. For coyotes, no problem with the 85's at all.

[Classicvette63]

I load for and have shot deer with a 6mm. I have not used the 85gr pill on deer, nor would I. I'm sure it would kill a deer, but your margin of error is going to be small. For coyotes the 85gr would be fine. For deer, look for a well built 100gr bullet. I have used Sierra and Remington Core-Lokts on deer with no complaints.

[gumpokc]

I fully agree with L. Cooper, and Classicvette.

In my view, for our deer, the .243 is on the light side. Light calibers need heavy for caliber bullets. For coyotes, no problem with the 85's at all

L.Cooper has it deadon there. Short, sweet, to the point.


For deer i prefer the 95-105 grain bullets, nosler partitions or sierra gamekings for my .243win.

The 85 would be fine for yotes or other varmits, and would _probably_ work for smaller deer or at closer ranges, but why risk it.

In theory _if_ i was to try and make a "one load does both" i'd look at the hornady (my pref) 87 grain softpoints. You can get it up around 3000fps, the SP will probably overpenetrate the yotes, but will give abit better penetration in the deer than the HP will.

The thing is, with the wide selection of bullets available, there's no "real" reason to do so, use the best tool for each job, you'll get better results.

just my .02

[denton]

Standard grade soft point bullets expand and work properly when the impact speed is between 2100 fps and 2800 fps. Below 2100, they do not open, and create a long, skinny wound channel. Above 2800, they open too much, too soon, and make a much shorter wound channel.

Any 85 grain bullet in a 243 is going to be going faster than 2800 fps for a fair distance past the muzzle.

Running a hollow point is going to make the too much too soon opening problem worse.

It's not that you can't kill deer with that bullet, in that caliber. You can. But if you want something reliable, heed the advice given earlier, and use 95-100 grain bullets, perferably Partitions, for deer.

[moneychanger]

i can't really add to what the other posters have already stated regarding the use of 100 gr bullets.

[L. Cooper]

If speed kills, then why NOT use a .220 Swift to hunt elephants?

Killing is a lot more complicated than speed alone. Speed without penetration is what we call a slap.

For reliable, humane killing of game animals you need a bullet that will always penetrate through the vital organs of the animal from any angle you shoot. The lighter the bullet, the more important it is that the bullet remain in one piece to preserve mass and momentum until it has penetrated that vital area.

Bullet expansion is simply controlled bullet destruction, and although it greatly improves energy transfer, if it happens too quickly, it can reduce the bullet's effect to a slap on the surface. It must be a very controlled process.

In the .243, with animals the size of deer, any presentation other than the ideal broadside shot will require as much penetration as those light bullets can provide. Therefore, it is best to start out with as much bullet weight as possible, and with a bullet construction that controls expansion reliably.

I have seen quite a few deer shot with various .243 bullets. I won't use anything but the 95 grain Partition, or one of the 100 grain bullets that is known to hold together well.

A .22 rimfire will kill deer. The question is one of consistency and humane treatment of game animals. People spend hours arguing caliber choices. I believe I have seen more game animals lost to poor bullet selection than to poor choice of caliber.

[Rocky Raab]

Originally posted by L. Cooper
I believe I have seen more game animals lost to poor bullet selection than to poor choice of caliber.

Amen, dittoes, Hear Hear, and I'll second that.

A bullet that does not penetrate the vitals will not kill. That's it, period. Because the bullet is the only thing that touches the game animal, we must (emphasis on MUST) select a bullet that will do so, under any circumstance in which we foresee taking the shot.

[HPBTMTCH]

Rocky and cooper are correct of course. Deer under ideal circumstances are not hard to kill. Almost any varmint or target bullet .22 cal. and up will work, i know becaues i have taken deer with most of them. BUT if you are hunting them and have to shoot without a rest or if you have been running, or have to hurry the shot, well then we are talking less than an ideal situation here. If you limit yourself to only 100-200 yard broadside shots from a rest and hit the kill zone 100% of the time, they will work. Now if you can`t do that i would suggest you shoot 300 times at coyotes and targets, because what most deer hunters lack is practice, and when deer season arrives you will have had plenty of that!

[Westerner2]

After my By-Pass surgery I could not shoot my big guns.And I went back to my 243's(I have three).I have taken five Deer in Utah with my 243.All one shot kills.The range was 150 to 220 yards.The one at 220 yd. was 158 inch.All shots were pass throughs
ALL I use is 95gr Nosler BT.And the accuracy load from the Book. This load shoots under 1in. in all my Guns.

Westerner