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> .243/.308 Bullets
.243/.308 Bullets
@ 06:38 am (GMT) |
DDooleyStumbled upon your great website looking for terminal ballstics info. I primarilty hunt white-tailed deer in the southern US which weigh 100-200lbs. Have primarily used Sierra GK 150 SP @ approx 2900fps (20+ yrs) and had results similar to your findings - usually go down like struck by lightning. Seldom however to I get an exit wound, but rather a wad of internals lodged in the offside skin. Recently I shot a larger deer and had the running dead situation. Was shocked that he did not drop in his tracks with good bullet placement. Found the deer and an ok blood trail, but no exit wound. In south texas this is an issue as the brush is VERY thick. My two sons have began to hunt and will be using 243 and 308. Any suggestions (other than shooting them in the neck) on bullet combinations where I might get the drop dead situation using 243 and 308, but with a better possibility of an exit would in the event I need to track again into heavy brush on 100-200 lb WT deer. Thanks for information. |
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@ 09:33 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: .243/.308 BulletsHi there, glad you are enjoying the site. The body weight ranges you are describing are somewhat difficult in that the projectile is expected to produce excellent results under both minimal target resistance and heavy resistance. It is a 100% difference in body weights. Yet, this is a somewhat normal expectation for many hunters around the world.Essentially, you are in need of an immensely fast expanding projectile for the lighter deer, but with enough integrity to produce deep penetration if need be. Some of our newer core bonded projectiles including the 150gr Swift, Interbond and Accubond will produce these results but produce best performance at impact velocities above 2600fps. Below 2600fps and especially below 2400fps, some tracking of dead run game may be required. A compromise is to use something a little more explosive like the 165gr Hornady SST. As suggested in the KB, this is a good compromise bullet and I think this is the best place for you to start. Try the 165 grain SST for a season, monitor performance and as I often suggest, take photos of internal wounding for your own records. If you are still unhappy with the performance of the 165gr SST, options include increasing bullet weight, yet remaining with a soft, fast expanding bullet design so that you don't lose the performance you have already enjoyed. Light and stout, heavy and soft, if you can keep to this line of thinking, you will achieve the results you are looking for on the widely varying game body weights you are encountering. At the opposite extremes are the 130 grain Barnes and 178 grain A-Max. Try always to think about ranges, referring back to the knowledge base to understand how each projectile is likely to perform at the intended ranges. |
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@ 10:36 am (GMT) |
DDooleyRe: .243/.308 BulletsNathan,I have had a chance to review the KB in more detail and that was basically the direction I was heading with 308. Great news is I typically get better accuracy in the 165 range with 308 match style loads so that is an easy adjustment. Season is over but I will report back if I get any significant information and pictures to contribute. Will give the 85gr BTHP and 95/100gr NP load a go with the 243. Thanks for the reply. |
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@ 04:40 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: .243/.308 BulletsHi D, sorry I neglected to answer your second question.With the .243, as long as game weights are not too heavy, do try and utilize body shots with an emphasis on shot placement into the forwards lungs. With young fella's, use pictures of deer at home, show them pictures of deer at different angles and have them point to where they should aim, correcting them where they go wrong. We tend to think that a soft target is best for the .243 but in the field, you will find that the shoulder bones are best. Ofcourse, if a neck shot is available, it should be utilized at close ranges but if it is not available, the forwards shoulder shot is the way to go. To really nail the shoulder of a deer broadside with the .243, the vertical cross hair should be placed 1" forwards of the line of fore leg , not directly in line with the fore leg. (will allow leeway both back and forwards). Quartering away shots should be tucked right into the 'armpit', not a couple of inches back as most young guys tend to do and from the front, the shot goes into a crease. The goal is to destroy not just the lungs but also the autonomous plexus, the major nerve ganglia (CNS) of the chest. This is found between the connective tissue of the lungs, heart, throat junction. Get those boys looking at pictures and observe how they are thinking, thats the key initially. If you can get them proficient with the .243 out to 300 yards or so, they will be set for life with other cartridges and regardless of power, they will always remember these first shot placement lessons. If they stuff up a shot and the kill is slow, go over it all during the autopsy. If possible, start with the 95gr SST. If it is not sufficient for the body weights the boys will encounter, the 100 grain Partition is the way to go. The Sierra 85gr BTHP is a very good bullet but it will need to be carefully matched to body weights, more so than the slightly stouter SST. |
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@ 10:07 am (GMT) |
Doug DooleyRe: .243/.308 BulletsGood news as I have some 95gr SST. The Rifle (Tikka T3 stainless) has shown great accuracy promise with the 95's so far - factory and reloads. If I understood the KB it looks like something in the 3050 fps might be a keeper. Also have some 100 gr NPs. Thanks again. |
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