[Jakeway]

I've posted a few threads this summer and fall about the 243 youth loads I worked up this summer. Now that the deer season has all but finished (my son shot a 100+ lb doe in the last 5 minutes of light on the last day of the season) I can report on the terminal performance of the loads.

The load we used hunting is a 95 gr Hornady SST over H4895, to a velocity of 2700 fps. The accuracy on paper was quite good (average 1.25" at 100 yrds) and the recoil was negligible.

As for killing power, right on. Two deer were heart shot and ran approximately 40 yards with lots of internal damage to ribs on both sides and messed up organs in between. The coyote I shot with it dropped in its tracks.

The negative is that neither of the deer had exit wounds. The first one was in thick brush, and was found by trailing very small blood drops that apparently were from mouth and nose. The second one we found no blood at all, but it was in a harvested bean field so Joe could watch it run and he saw where it dropped.

I attributed the first deer's lack of exit wound to the quartering angle, but the second wasn't so bad an angle; the bullet entered just behind leg, went through heart, and stopped against far side leg or shoulder.

I know this is only two examples, but I'm going to up the charge. I just haven't decided if I just need to raise the charge (I'm only at the starting charge in the manual) or if I should also go with a sturdier bullet like a Partition or bonded bullet.

If any of you can comment on the performance (in terms of penetration and exit holes) of the 95 gr SST at velocities in the 2900 fps range, feel free.

 

[Cheezywan]

I wonder about the range the animals were harvested and the condition of the recovered bullets?

Is difficult to comment for me without that.

Good news is your son has some experience now and will be a year older (and bigger and smarter) next season. Might be able to increase the speed some with little effect on his shooting ability?

Cheezywan

 

[Darin115]

bullet weight

I have never worked up a youth load in a 243 but I do reload for a 6mm Remington. I had pretty much the same experience with 100 grain core locks. A broadside shot not hitting the shoulders would penetrate completely. If I hit a shoulder it would not. In pretty much all instances the deer hit the ground dead. I moved to a Pro Hunter 100 grain bullet. It hardly ever went all the way thru. But very few deer took a step.

I then switched to a partition. It goes thru on pretty much any shot angle except a sharp quartering shots. The deer tend to run but leave a good blood trail.

I would move up to a 100 grain bullet and stick to premium bullets. I am partial to the partition. I would load up a hotter load and let him shoot it until he because comfortable with it. My oldest son started shooting factory loaded Federal Premiums in 25-06 at age 6. Recoil was never an issue. I think he had more issues with the noise when I screwed up and forgot to make him put his ear plugs in.

How old is your son?

Darin

 

[Jakeway]

...How old is your son?

Darin

My son is 30, but he's light for his age.

Actually, I worked up the load for my grandaughter Valerie, who is 11.

She is an amazing shot, if I say dare say so. Here is her first ever 5 shots with the rifle, using 80 gr bullets at 2400 fps. That was before we tried the 95 SSTs.

Joe was using her rifle on the last day of regular rifle season, just to see if we could get another deer to test the terminal performance.

The deer Valerie shot was only 20 yards away, and she was in a 20 foot ladder stand. Also, the deer was coming from her right, so she shot left handed (which she hadn't practiced). The deer was quartering toward her; the bullet entered high shoulder, tore the heart top to bottom, and hit liver. We never found the bullet, not realizing that it must have stopped in the stomach or guts.

This doesn't look like a heart shot, does it? It was, though.

 

[Jim H]

i have had complete pass throughs with every deer we have shot now with the (243) federal fussions. i thought i read somewhere that they would be available as a stand alone component this year, however i just use the factory ammo. all that being said, and not knowing what model rifle your kid is shooting, i just have a hard time thinking that a normal full factory load .243 would be too much for any kid to handle. let him shoot the loaded down rounds at the range but come hunting season i would resight the rifle in with a std load and have him use them when hunting. i doubt he'll ever know you pulled one over on him.

 

[zoar]

Jakeway... The first thing I would do after looking at the pictures is put a recoil pad on that 243. The hard plastic butt plate is what is brother your son.

Second a 2700 fps round is plenty; more than plenty. But as you said the SST's are not giving you an exit wound and you've had 2 radically different experiences and that justifies making an enhancement.

With the recoil pad you can go up in charge and not have any increase in felt recoil. I would stay with the SST. ... just more powda'.... it's not rocket surgery.....

 

[Jakeway]

It's actually the stock Ruger recoil pad, but they aren't nearly as soft as some of the aftermarket pads out there. I think I'll take that advice. Thanks!

 

[Jakeway]

I finally got a post-mortem on the bullet, though no pics yet.

The bullet hit the thick part of the off-side front leg right int he thickest part of the bone. Bullet has nice mushroom, but just didn't have enough oomph left to get out of the skin.

Midway has a sale on 85 gr Barnes TSX, so I think I'll try some.

 

[Sandman1]

For the recoil pad, I hihgly recommend Sims Limbsaver. MAJOR reduction in recoil!

 

[zoar]

Yea, and if you put a Limbsaver or Kickeeez on the rifle you can load that bullet up with a bit more powder you should get an exit wound your recoil sensitive shooters will think you went down in loading!

 

[broom_jm]

I think it's great you're going the extra mile to create a load that is comfortable for your granddaughter to shoot, and you can tell by that big ol' grin that she loves ya for it!

With a good recoil pad and another year or two, she'll be shooting full-throttle 243 loads, but she'll always remember how grandpa put something special in those early bullets, so they wouldn't kick too much.

I wouldn't worry too much about the bullet not exiting, if it hit the scapula dead center, on the off side of the deer. When she puts the next one behind the shoulder, it'll go right on through.

 

[zoar]

Darn, that's Brilliant.
Thumbs up!

 

[kc outdoorsman]

any thoughts on the choice between Barnes TSX and TSX tipped bullets? WHat about min velocity (i.e. loading for reduced recoil)? Going to get a 243 for my girl