.243 for deer bullet choice

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

I just traded into a .243 Win rifle. I'll use it for deer in the woods where a "long" shot will probably be 150 yards. There is only one spot where a 200 yard shot is possible, but that's it. I got it for its accuracy and the fact that it comes already scoped.

So the question is, when I go buying some ammo for it, at the local gun store or sporting goods "big box" store, how do I know what rounds are made for adequate penetration and weight retention on big game, and which rounds are made to expand and even fragment ASAP?

Can I just go by bullet weight? If the bullet is 55-70 grains, it's a varmint round.
If it's 85 to 100 grains, it's a deer round.
Would that be true, and a useful guide for me to have memorized when I go ammo shopping?

I don't want to limit myself to searching for one particular load. The first store I go to, I want to leave with a .243 deer round in hand. I'm not fussy about brand, or even whether the bullet is soft point or polymer-tipped or hollow-point, as long as it will penetrate well, give me a big bloody exit wound for a broadside shot where no shoulder bones are hit, and stabilize in this rifle's 1:9 twist barrel (22" long).

Thanks!

 

[tlw1179]

I get heavier ballistic tip rounds

 

[tlw1179]

Hornady SST 95 gr

 

[Traderjohn]

Shoot them in the head and a 47 grain will do the trick.

 

[batoncolle]

For 243 go 95 gr+. Personally I prefer Federal Fusion, but if you are open to any brand, then take a look here on Midway to get an idea.

 

[Wolf six]

150gr to the vitals

 

[BIKER13]

100 grain soft points,I repeat soft points.

 

[BIKER13]

150gr to the vitals

150 grain 243 is a 308.Dont make 150 grain 6mm bullets

 

[cseay61]

I had the Savage axis in .243 and shot nothing but Hornady American whitetails out of it. Only follow up was on a buck I shot walking at 137yrd - my fault for not seeing him when he walked out in the lane. But they leave a nice exit, shoot great and I would always have nice groupings. They are normally 21.99-23.99 a box. I upgraded to the .270 axis only because I had a wild hair. Still wish I had my .243

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Shot it for the first time today. Bought a box of cheap Federal 100-grain soft points for $19/ box of 20.

Accuracy was excellent. No recoil. (plenty of noise, but no kick).

Sighted it to be a little bit high at 100 yards, which gave me 2" low at 200 yards. That should give me a "dead on hold" effective range of 250 yards.
If I get to shoot at 300 yards, I'll just have to remember to aim about 10" higher than where I want the bullet to impact.