.243 Bullet from Coyotes to Deer

[The Rat 71505]

Having a hard time finding 243 bullets, but would like to narrow my search by asking what bullet would work for coyotes that would not blow em up and the same bullet would work for deer. I have a DPMS lite hunter 20" with a 1-10 twist. I heard the 105 Hornady Amax is the way to go but I can't find any. What are you guys shooting for bullets in the .243? What would you recommend?

 

[Grumulkin]

My 243 gets load with the Hornady 87 grain V-Max. If that hole is too big for you then don't use it. I haven't used it on deer but would should the opportunity present itself. I think it would be a very good deer killer with a lung shot.

 

[Asperly Aimless]

I was very fond of the SST for deer, yotes, and medium range target shooting.

 

[maxscm]

.243, 85 Sierra GameKings will work very well on Whitetail (200yds & under) & Coyotes (out to 500yds), But we don't keep hides here in Ga. But, also, i don't recall hides being destroyed either.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

I think there are a number of suitable bullets available What works for me in my 243, might not be the best for you, but. I would start my search at 85/87 grain bullets. That is the range that might be better for dual purpose. In other words, the 100 gr. Sierra Spitzer might be great for deer, and I KNOW it is suitable for much larger game, as well, in fact, that's what I used in Africa on everything from jackals to Impala and warthog.... but is it the best choice for coyotes? Probably not? 70/75 grain bullets are awesome coyote killers, but I never tried one on deer? I have killed coyotes with bullets from 56 to 105 grains but the most reliable is the 85 Sierra spitzer and the 87 Hornady spire pt. and those two will handle most deer at moderate ranges. Fur bullets is another subject altogether, and if you shoot a 243, you might have to be realistic about damage, because it's going to happen. BB

edit: I just reread the post. I would disagree with "105AMax is the way to go".

 

[mercracing]

I shoot Winchester Super X 100gr out of my DPMS LR243. Works great for deer, suspect it would be great for coyotes too.

 

[6.5BR]

95 Ballistic Tip deadly on Deer, not so pelt destructive on yotes. 85/87 great place to be for yote loads, but if I run that for deer, I want a Barnes myself for what they offer.

 

[The Rat 71505]

How do you like your gun? Pretty accurate for ya?

 

[mtscott]

You could have trouble stabilizing a 105 Amax in a 1/10 twist. The 75 grain and up hornady bullets work well on deer. If it is a vmax bullet avoid shoulder shots. Head and neck shots with vmax bullets work very well. A 243 tends to tear up fur on a coyote but I never had one run off. The pic posted by Grumulkin is typical even for the 105 Amax.

 

[selfbowhunter]

Sierra 85hpbt is a great bullet for yotes and deer at .243 velocities. Your 10 twist barrel will not stabilize the 105amax but its a great bullet as well.

 

[Hunt]

The long and short of it it the Sierra 85 gr HPBT GameKing. If you can't get these to shoot, nothing else will.

 

[6.5BR]

I've put grapefruit size exit holes on deer with 85 GKHP..........deadly...but OP did say did not want to blow up yotes...

 

[DirtyDave]

95gr SST would be the ticket

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If you want the hides a 243 isn't the best choice for yotes. All of the varmint bullets fuck them up good. Your best bet is going to be a nice hard medium game bullet that won't blow up or dump a ton of energy. Pretty much any of the 100gr class bullets will work as well as a 243 is going to work on pelts.

 

[user]

85 TSX's work wonders for me.

 

[valkyries]

I also have 1 in 10 twist .243. The 105 gr A Max probably will not stabilize as it is a very long bullet. Speer makes a 105 gr soft point that is shorter and should work with the barrel and kill deer just fine, I dont think any coyotes will argue with that bullet much either. If I were looking for one bullet to do both well, I would choose something on the heavy side 85 gr+, that will penetrate enough for a deer yet open faster for the small coyote.

 

[Clark]

I have experimented with a handful of bullets, and concluded that Nosler Ballistic Tips through the deer's lungs are the way I am going to go.
The few coyotes I have shot, anything seemed to work.

 

[advance]

95gr Nosler Ballistic tip

 

[Blackbrush]

TTSX will kill deer well from even poor angles and won't blow up your coyotes. It's not a target bullet. It's not a varmint bullet. It's perfect for your application.

 

[WB300]

I agree with the 85 gr. TSX. Federal loads this factory and it is a hammer on deer. I shot a yote broadside and got a pencil hole in and out. I guess there wasn't enough in the yote to make the bullet open up. As long as you don't hit shoulder, it should work for ya.

 

[xdeano]

I liked the Hornady 87grn match, they did very well on minimal pelt damage, and excellent on deer also.
The Sierra 85grn soft point and HP work well also.
The 87grn vmax were a little hard on hides. I didn't shoot any deer as they are more of a varmint round and highly fragmentable.
I also used the Berger 90grn match, they did well on both also.

xdeano