Need ammo advice for .243

[Benaj]

Hello everyone, I am looking for some guidance on a good round for killing small predators at short range.
The application is for predators (fox, etc.) that are going after the chickens. The coops are about 10 yards from the house, so the shots are likely to be from 10-75 yards, any further and the trees get in the way.
Since nighttime is the most common time for them to be out, I am sure perfect shot placement will be an issue, so expansion could be important.

Thanks!

 

[stello1001]

Look up barnes lrx or ttsx in your caliber. These have good expansion. Now, if you want explosiveness, that's a different story. Look up hornady V-max or speer TNT in your caliber.

 

[Benaj]

Look up barnes lrx or ttsx in your caliber. These have good expansion. Now, if you want explosiveness, that's a different story. Look up hornady V-max or speer TNT in your caliber.

Alright thank you man, I’ll look up one of them

 

[Rookie]

Sierra varmint kings work too.

 

[mgoodrich]

I presently shoot Coyotes with Nosler 70gr Balistics Tip in mine. Loaded ammo is hard to find though at the moment. I reload with 41.5 gr Varget and get ~ 3375 fps out of a 22inch Ruger American barrel.

If you hit them in the ribs at the range you are shooting, then it won't go through, a gut shot tends to blow them up.

For loaded ammo the Sierra Blitz King (70gr) is available and has pretty much the same performance.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Any of the Vmax line is what you seek. The 87g is my favorite out of the 243 platform but they do make a lighter one as well.

 

[stello1001]

Sierra Prairie Enemy 243 Winchester Ammo 70 Grain Sierra BlitzKing

Prairie Enemy Varmint & Predator Ammunition from Sierra was developed specifically to deliver legendary BlitzKing accuracy and devastating terminal...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Benaj]

Sierra Prairie Enemy 243 Winchester Ammo 70 Grain Sierra BlitzKing

Prairie Enemy Varmint & Predator Ammunition from Sierra was developed specifically to deliver legendary BlitzKing accuracy and devastating terminal...

www.midwayusa.com

Thank you man
I’ll check this out

 

[Benaj]

Any of the Vmax line is what you seek. The 87g is my favorite out of the 243 platform but they do make a lighter one as well.

What range does the 87g shoot?

 

[Long Range 338]

I would be looking at an air rifle or suppressed 22lr

 

[sierracharlie338]

What range does the 87g shoot?

Straight from hornadys website.

 

[NJRaised]

A 243 inside of 100yds, honestly I don’t think it matters what you shoot. Thats a really fast bullet coming out.

I used to use a 243 for coyotes at extended range, and the 75 vmax loaded on the warm side…. Was punishing. There wasn’t much left. I’m an east coast guy where the dogs get big (up to 75 pounds) and the 243 laid them down with authority even out to 450 yards.

 

[Daddyusmaximus]

^^^ I'm with him. I was gonna say use something explosive like V-max, but really, for a small predator at such close range, a .243 is such overkill it's not gonna matter. Speed kills. Just use the round the gun likes best so you can get the most accurate shot. For me at that range, I'd go for a .223.

 

[db2000]

Sierra Prairie Enemy 243 Winchester Ammo 70 Grain Sierra BlitzKing

Prairie Enemy Varmint & Predator Ammunition from Sierra was developed specifically to deliver legendary BlitzKing accuracy and devastating terminal...

www.midwayusa.com

I also rec this. The price is good too.