Reloading .243 (6mm) with lead free for hogs.

[asaxon]

A friend who is a very competitive target shooter and thus a reloader has just offered to load some ammo for my wife's .243 for pig hunting here in CA. She's used the Federal 85 gr TSX with good success on mule deer but the concern is whether that is sufficient for meat pigs up to 180 lbs? I can find 90 gr Nosler Etips bullets he could use but is there anything heavier and if so, would that be something to use or just stick with the 85gr. Federal TSX? Of course, all this is in addition to shot placement…. Any recommendations from you ol’ time hog chaser sout there for him re loading .243 with lead free for larger meat hogs – not trophy boars would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>

 

[qaz]

Call the manufacturer of the bullet and ask them, they know the bullet best and are happy to make recomendations.

 

[sancho]

i know a guy putting alot of pigs down with a .223.

 

[myfriendis410]

The Federal loading is probably about as good as you'll get. The Barnes bullet will improve penetration over gilding metal and lead, and will probably be enough for your average hog, but if you shoot it in the boiler room I'd expect to have to chase it with no blood trail to speak of. Personally I would think the .243 is not really adequate. IMO

 

[rodneyshishido]

The only thing that I have observed with high velocity cartridges is bullet failure. I personally prefer the heaviest bullet that will shoot well in my rifle. I like to keep my load velocity between 2600 and 2900 fps. You do need to take into account your shot distances. I am not a long range shooter. I think my longest shot taken was about 250 yards. The vast majority of my shots on pigs are 50 yards or less.

I took a hunter out for goats and he had a 25-06 loaded with ballistic tips at about 3300 fps. Took four shots to drop the goat. Shot placement was good. Maybe I am wrong, but, I blame bullet failure. I have also seen "strange" things happen with max loadings for the 300 Win mag on Axis deer.

 

[asaxon]

Thanks for the input, I have a plan

Thanks for the input. I will call the manufacturers (Barnes & Nosler) – good idea to learn what I can from them no matter what. The biggest lead free .243 I found was 90gr and that ain't much different than the Federal TSX 85gr. my wife likes so while it was nice of my friend to offer, we'll stick with the Federal 85. I certainly don't want my wife having a bad first hog experience, e.g. wounding it in the gut and then not finding the animal etc. The plan will be that since this will be a guided hunt and I’ll be along with my ’06, we'll try to have her shoot at "smaller animals" say 100 lb which we'd prefer to eat anyway. If she and the guide decide she is going to shoot at a larger animal, I'll hand her my 30-06. To prep for this, I'll take her to the range and have her shoot the Remington managed recoil 30-06 (125gr) as it is really nice – about the same recoil as a .243 and shoots in the same spot as the regular ammo. Unfortunately, it is not lead free. That way she’ll have experience handling and shooting the 30-06 and not have recoil anticipation. I suspect she’ll also be too excited to notice the recoil when she is really shooting at a real hog anyway. Sound like a plan?
PS - Yes, I know you can do it with a 223 or even 17 hmr according to some remarkable U-tube video but I have no intention of pushing the envelope - want to make it clean, effective and a positive hunt for all.

 

[myfriendis410]

Here's a suggestion: try to find the Federal loading in the -06 that uses their 130 gr. Tipped Triple Shock. It will hit a hog really hard, and is way soft on the shoulder. If you can't find factory loads get your friend to make some of those up for you. It will be enough for most hogs and I like the bigger entry hole.