What .243 round

The last two seasons my son has shot the 243 Win 100 gr InterLock BTSP. While it has done a good job putting down the deer his rifle doesn’t shoot it consistantly. I’m looking for a new round to try. What bullet type are people shooting out of their .243’s for deer? I shoot Winchester ballistic tips out of my .270wsm with awesome accuracy but not sure if a ballistic tip is good for a .243. I’m looking for thoughts on bullets types then I’ll figure out manufacturer.
DT

I’ve shot a few of the higher priced ammo through my .243 when sighting it in, and believe it or not the cheaper ammo grouped the best. I was shooting remington core lokt 100 grain bullets. I took that out to Wyoming for antelope and mule deer and it performed really well. I hit both animals in the shoulder and they both went about 20 yds and piled up.

It’s really hard to know what your gun will like. My Mossberg ATR100 groups the Federal PowerShok 100gr.’s just fine @100yds. When I’ve switched it to “predator mode”, at 55gr., it liked Hornady ammo best. I haven’t tried heavier Hornady’s but I’d be tempted to give them a look!

You really need to experiment with different manufactures, different bullet types, and ultimately different charges (covered by using different manufactures).Every firearm is different in the boring of the chamber, barrel, ect.

All ammunition in factory loads are produced for an over all length specification to that caliber. That way they can fit into the magazine, clip,.. They do vary by bullet weight, bullet syle, and charge. Your rifle’s lands (where the bullet exits the chamber and meets the rifling of the barrel) could easily be 5,10, 20 thousands deeper or shallower than the next rifle you pick up. The difference in the charge, which partially relates to bullet speed and pressure makes up for some of this.

By a bullet traveling slower or faster it “jumps” that gap and shooting a variety of ammo will show you what it likes the best.

Another factor that is under talked about is the barrels twist rate. when looking at the different gr bullets, understand each bullet can/will fly differently based on the rotation (twist) and speed.

As a generic recommendation, I would start in the middle of the range of bullet weights that are available for a 243. Then I would try different manufactures of the same weight. Keep track of how each one patterns. A little trial and error and you’ll hit the magical load that works best in your rifle

I have tried lots of different ammo but out of my rem 700 and my Browning A-bolt the best has been Federal 100gr by far. sighting in at 100yds I can effortlessly connect holes in the bullseye over and over they shoot great.

I agree with Randy, the barrel length and twist rate is a key piece of info here.

Twist rate, in certain cases, has an especially pronounced effect on loads that are at the top and bottom end of the weight range for the particular chambering.

Because the 100 grain is near the top end of what (most) .243 Win will handle, I suspect that twist rate might be part of the issue.

If you’re limited to factory ammo, this could be a little tricky. For deer, I’d prefer to stay in the 90+ gr range, but with factor loads for the .243 you tend to get lots of options in the 100 grain range, then it’s down to 60-70 granin options with no middle ground.

I would be tempted to try a couple of different brands of 100 grain first and see if you find one that the rifle really likes. Next, I’d move to the next heviest factory loads and see if going to a lighter bullet weight produces better results.

Grouse

I’ve tried multple .243 brands/loads and handsdown for me was the Winchester Supreme 95gr ballistic tip.Good luck.

Grouse and Randy covered it all… I reload and the best bullet will vary from rifle to rifle. In addition to barrel length and twist…the type of stock, free floated, pillar bedded, glass bedded etc…also has an effect. There are several variables.
The best performing bullets will be expensive… Nosler 95gr Accubonds and Partitions… Barnes 85gr Triple Shocks… Hornady 100 Interbonds…etc. 95gr Partitons@3500fps is a devastating load on whitetails!

MY 6MM Remington is a close cousin…

Nice looking gun. Sexy even.

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Nice looking gun. Sexy even.

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Agreed!

I love that rifle!

Just saw this post…

My 700 Rem also likes the cheaper ammo just fine – Federal PowerShok 100gr.’s … It likes most ammo OK, but the Federal’s won in my most recent test. I didn’t shoot any WIN XP3’s lately, but it has liked those in the past as well (can’t remember if they were 95 or 100gr)

Attached is my lastest “test” with factory ammo at 200 yds. Federal’s grouped the best (and what’s nice is that they are cheap). Next up is handloading.

My issue ended up being scope related so the ammo may have been good out of the gun. With that said, once the new Burris was on Remington core lok’t shot very well out of it. I had a 3 inch group touching each other at 100yards..
DT

DT, which Burris did you go with?

I bought the E1 with the 1″ tube. 3x9x40. I didn’t have money for new rings this year. This is a sweet scope for the price I got it for. I will be putting a 30mm 4.5×14 on my .270 short this summer. Thanks for reminding me of my purchase, I have to mail in my rebate.
DT