243 Bullets for FL deer

[denton]

There are a lot of ways to do it right.

My opinion is that the 243's reputation for not being totally reliable on deer comes from some people using light bullets that are going too fast at impact, and that break up if they hit bone.

Standard bullets hang together well if they impact between 2100 and 2800 fps. Below that, they don't open, and above that, they have a tendency to come apart. Partitions work well over a wider range, about 1700 fps to 3100 fps.

Just my opinion: Stick with 100 grain bullets, and reduce the load a grain or two from maximum. That should provide mild recoil and effective results. Muzzle velocity will be in the 2700-2750 range, and will stay above 2100 out to 350 yards or so, so the bullet should function reliably.