My daughter has been shooting her new rifle nicely with using Federal 80 grain soft tips for practice. I've also shot several different brands through it from 80 to 100 and they all do well and as expected in terms of accuracy.

Now that we are getting close to a hunt next week, I'd like to start focusing more on the optimum 243 ammo. I'll probably shoot the designated ammo and verify zero before she does.

I assume go with 100 gr?

I've been looking at Remington 100 gr Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded PSP and various brands that use the 100 gr Nosler Partition. Already have a box for the those Remingtons purchased at an ammo sale at BPS. Anything wrong with those?

Don't mind picking up a box of Federals in the 100 gr Noslers if it will make a difference.

Also, I've been talking with her about shot placement. She has even drawn pictures of a hog and where to place the shot. We've discussed head/ear/neck shots and the standard game shoulder shot. Shoulder area will probably be the easiest but greater risk of not immediately dropping the animal, hence bullet selection.

Thanks for any help!

TH

I don't have any experience with .243's, but I love Nosler Partitions and they should do the job very well. There is a reason it has been one of the best selling bullets for 60 or so years.

I'd say any reputable hunting brand of ammo would work. 100gr gives you a slight advantage over 80gr and she's not going for a 300 yard shot. I've always just shot the regular green box Remington. Always did the job.

95 grain winchester silvertips. these are the most all around bullet i have found for my .243. i have killed many hogs, deer, and varmints with this round, i love it.

I shoot nothing but 70 grain Noslers in my 243 ( not recommended for shoulder shoots on big hogs). They've never let me down.

I've always shot winchester 100 grains in my .243 thats for deer hogs and anything else ive ever shot with it. but thats just my opinion.

i would also lean toward the lighter 75-80 grain bullets and hang with a head shot. a vital head shot on a hog is just about as big as the vitals behind the shoulder, although i've shot thru the shoulder a few times with my .22-250 on pigs around 80 pounds or so

I second the 95 grain winchester ballistic silvetips...Although i never had a problem bropping anything with the old green and yellow box remingtons..The silvertips cause some prety good damage..I use neck shots or ear shots..I like those shoulders too much on the smoker..Post some pics when yall get home..!!!!

great to know my son shoots a .243 and I like those silvertips, too.

Dang O Dang man, didnt know 243 came in silver tip. I will be getting some.

Hornaday"s supposed to have a pretty hot light magnum load in 243 out there.

The closest one that I can grab and through in the chamber.





But I do reload 100gr BTSP (Speer) for everything, deer, hogs, varmints.

I don't have 243, but its grerat round. Shot placement is the key, shoot behind ear. WOrks every time. Do not go for behid shoulder shot.

I thought the vitals were behind the shoulder and a little low.

3600 fps with their 70 grain.

If you put the bullet were it is suposed to go literaly any 243 bullet will kill a moderately sized hog. I would lean towards the 100 grain for sure. There is nothing wrong with the core lockts or power points, but I sure do like the Nosler partitions too, they have never done anything except what they were suposed to, but they are a little pricier than the old core lockts. I say go 100 grain NP and stick it directly in the shoulder, neck or head, the hog will not go anywere.

matt

I'm reading as fast as I can, guys.

I have a savage 243 and have always used the 95 grain ballistic silvertips by winchester. They have always done the job. Ive dropped 5 bucks and countless hogs with it. Very good round. Farthest shot though that Ive taken with it was about 240 yards on a hog in the neck. It was about 140lbs. Dropped it right in its tracks.

+1 on the Winchster BSTs

They look good but I saw them for like $30.00 a box. Kinda steep but I guess worth it if puts em down better than the green box.

I've never paid that much for them. I picked up several boxes of .223 a few weeks back for around $16. I think I usually pay about $23 for the .243. I watch for them to go on sale at the big box stores and pick up a box when they do.

85 grain speer Soft Points work great.

I usually start with the one in the chamber, if that one misses I go with the next one.

if your not going to keep the skull have her go for the head, to risky with the shoulder- and if it runs off its guna hurt her feelings. just from a girls view :-).. i dont care to much about keeping anything off a hog accept meat- blow its head off :-)!!!!!

Ive always like to go as heavy as you can go for added security [penetration]rem. corelock also always worked for me. easy to find of the shelf unless you hand load and you like to play with loads