So, from a couple previous threads, my boss has bought a Tikka T3 in .243, and just ordered a Nikon for it.

Next up is choosing a load for it.

Any recommendations for a .243 round for whitetail?

My choice would be an 80gr Barnes TTSX or 90gr Accubond.

In reality, Deer arent that hard to kill. Any factory hunting round 80gr+ should work jsut fine.

I use 95 grain Federal Fusion, it has been super accurate for me out of my FIL's 1967 Remington 700.

Ive used the 80gr TTSX to great effect.

Any of the quality bullets will do the job. I would suggest he buy several boxes of range fodder and make sure his marksmanship is up to par, then try 3-4 hunting loads to see what his gun likes best.

The Federal Premium 95 grain ballistic tip should be good. I've used the Federal Premium with ballistic tips in my 308 for years on whitetails.

Thanks guys. I'm shooting 130gr Winchester Silvertips in my 270 & have been pleased with the performance on paper so far.
Looks like the 243 load is a 95gr round.

Will pass along the other suggestions as well.

Don't hunt much but when I did in two different clubs each had a hunter that used that caliber.
They shot deer and then ask for help to track a blood trail.
That was probably them being jumpy when they shot.
They both were browning auto so its not the gun or caliber in my opinion.
One of the hunters wife also hunted with a new england break action.
Ms Karon always got her deer with that caliber.

As posted above, a stout larger game bullet should work fine in the 223. Then we have shot placement to keep in mind.

The 223 may not be what I’d pick for a Nov Alberta deer hunt, should do fine in TX though.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
As posted above, a stout larger game bullet should work fine in the 223. Then we have shot placement to keep in mind.

The 223 may not be what I’d pick for a Nov Alberta deer hunt, should do fine in TX though.

*cough* .243 *cough*

Sorry, for some unknown reason I had 223 in my head. Carry on.

Lots of suggestions for premium bullets, and that’s fine. However, whitetail deer aren’t hard to kill. A 100 grain cup and core will do just fine. Hornady even makes a load for the .243 called “Whitetail” using the 100 grain interlock.

The 130 grain .270 interlock is superb. I’d think the .243 bullet would be similar.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Thanks guys. I'm shooting 130gr Winchester Silvertips in my 270 & have been pleased with the performance on paper so far.
Looks like the 243 load is a 95gr round.

Will pass along the other suggestions as well.

All but one of the many many Mule Deer and Blacktail Deer I ever brought home was with a 270 Spitzer Boattail 130gr bullet. And every one was with a Remington 721

I'm a big fan of the Federal Premium Vital Shok with Sierra GameKing bullets. I've never lost a single animal using these bullets in 270 or 308.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/ca...100gr+243+Winchester

100 gr Nosler Partitions for me. I have shot Sierra GameKings as well, but the partitions shoot better in my gun.