barnes tsx 243 85 gr or 95 gr bt

[bobcat30]

wanna shoot a black bear with my 243. SO A 85 GR TSX OR 95 GR BT? and powder choices for both i have rl22 and imr 4350 imr 4064

[possum1]

Lee show's for the 85 X bullet starting load 43.0gr. IMR4350 2950 fps.

[tammons]

I guess I would go for the heaviest bullet, but I think if your shot was perfect any TSX or TTSX would do.

I just loaded up some 80 gr tipped TSX bullets over RL17 and got
almost 3300 fps out of a browning blr. Gonna use them for hogs.

That load has 1000 fpe out to 300 yards, Inside of 100 yards, more typical of a baited bear shot
would be over 1500fpe.

The SD is way down, and its a tiny bullet, but it is a barnes bullet and they hold together.

A guy over at arfcom killed a black bear with a 6.8 spc and 110 gr tsx bullets running at about 2600

[flatshooter]

you better use a round nose bullet....

[Uncle Jack]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

uj

[bobcat30]

yeah i know the 243 is a bit small,but i am capable of makiing precise shots. Maybe have to bring the muzzle loader instead its gonna be my first black bear and i dont wanna mess up by using a incapable round. Just thought if any bullet it would be the barnes tsx. What are the thoughts on like a 95gr ct ballistic tip?

[tammons]

As far as 95 gr 243 nosler ballistic tips, my dad shot a 150 pound hog in the shoulder with one and it took off and he never found it,
so I think I would skip that bullet for bear.

I prefer a barnes bullet first then a partition bullet.
A round nose as above is good too.

Of the barnes bullets I use a tipped barnes bullet over the non tipped because they open up faster.
Actually I dont even use the regular barnes bullets anymore.
When a 243 barnes bullet opens up its basically going to be about 1/2" and they retain 100% of
their weight.

Unfortunately they only make tipped bullets in 80 grain and the SD is below .2
so maybe a round nose as above.

They expand fast and Hornady makes an interlock 100 gr round nose with a SD of .24 which is better.

I found one load over at reloaders nest that put it at 2870 fps. I ran it through QL over RL 17 and got
2950 ++ out of it.

At 2950 that will carry 1000 fpe out to about 200 yards.
Since it is probably not going to drop, DRT first shot, if it were me I think I would just keep on shooting.
Thats a tiny small bullet.
The guy over at arfcom that killed the black bear with the 6.8 did it with 2 quick shots.

A 338 federal would be a lot better.
Midway has barrels for $140.

[flatshooter]

Spoke with a fella that went on a bear hunt with some buddies..... A bear was taken with a .243 and a speer hot core 105 grain round nose.... he said he couldn't believe the damage that bullet did.

[1Shot]

...Sie. Gamekings is what I'ld use they are harder than the hubs of hell...

[bobcat30]

Yeah not sure what to do. I know the ballistic tips are good smoked plenty of whitetails with them! As long as you get em in the engine room think most any heavier bullet should be good.

[flatshooter]

Yeah not sure what to do. I know the ballistic tips are good smoked plenty of whitetails with them! As long as you get em in the engine room think most any heavier bullet should be good.

in the engine room... with a low velocity load.