Copper suitable for stags for 243

[KeithW]

Hi all,

My neighbour uses 100gr Winchester power point to deal with the occasional marauding stag. Normally sub 100m distance and he normally takes a neck shot.
He wants to move to copper (game dealers are requiring it more and more here in central Scotland).
I use Hornady and Sako copper in my 6.5 CM but can’t find any copper for 243 that is 100gr or more.
I see lots of 80 and 85gr copper for 243 but assume it won’t be enough for a stag albeit at close range.
What is the minimum gr and velocity he should look for in copper for stags and can you recommend any ammunition?
Or is 243 just not enough rifle for stags with copper?

Thanks guys!
Keith

 

[Ranger6555]

It might be that anything over 100g or more will be too long to stabilise with the twist rate of the .243

 

[Dave_45]

Give Edinburgh rifles a call , he has 243 suitable copper

 

[KeithW]

Give Edinburgh rifles a call , he has 243 suitable copper

Thanks!

 

[Heym SR20]

Give Edinburgh rifles a call , he has 243 suitable copper

@Edinburgh Rifles have factory loaded ammo with 100gn VRG3 Peregrine. These shoot well and hit hard. I used one of the early prototype loads on a Sika Stag at 100 and a bit. Boiler room shot. Went straight down and twitched a bit.

 

[KeithW]

@Edinburgh Rifles have factory loaded ammo with 100gn VRG3 Peregrine. These shoot well and hit hard. I used one of the early prototype loads on a Sika Stag at 100 and a bit. Boiler room shot. Went straight down and twitched a bit.

Thanks!

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Change Game Dealers!

Peterborough Game do not require you to use non-lead ammunition, pay on time a month in arrears and pay a fairer rate than most Scottish Game dealers I’ve previously supplied.

Alternatively pay a premium for copper and get paid less for the venison.

Wholesale Game Butchers | Peterborough Game Co. Ltd | Bourne

Buy all your favourite fresh game meat from Peterborough Game Company. Refrigerated delivery available across the UK. Wholesale Game Butchers, order online.

www.peterborough-game.co.uk

 

[luv2safari]

It might be that anything over 100g or more will be too long to stabilise with the twist rate of the .243

This is the problem with skinny bores and all copper bullets. To get something that will drive deep and carry energy in a copped bullet is going to require faster pitch barrels, IMO. Manufacturers take note.

 

[Heym SR20]

Change Game Dealers!

Peterborough Game do not require you to use non-lead ammunition, pay on time a month in arrears and pay a fairer rate than most Scottish Game dealers I’ve previously supplied.

Alternatively pay a premium for copper and get paid less for the venison.

Wholesale Game Butchers | Peterborough Game Co. Ltd | Bourne

Buy all your favourite fresh game meat from Peterborough Game Company. Refrigerated delivery available across the UK. Wholesale Game Butchers, order online.

www.peterborough-game.co.uk

Great, except that Peterborough is 300 miles plus from Edinburgh. Amd then its another 300 plus to the North Coast. And it’s not just game dealers requiring non toxic but many landowners up here are also requiring it.

 

[User00040]

Change Game Dealers!

Peterborough Game do not require you to use non-lead ammunition, pay on time a month in arrears and pay a fairer rate than most Scottish Game dealers I’ve previously supplied.

Alternatively pay a premium for copper and get paid less for the venison.

Wholesale Game Butchers | Peterborough Game Co. Ltd | Bourne

Buy all your favourite fresh game meat from Peterborough Game Company. Refrigerated delivery available across the UK. Wholesale Game Butchers, order online.

www.peterborough-game.co.uk

Another one to look at would be Simpson Game.

 

[Heym SR20]

This is the problem with skinny bores and all copper bullets. To get something that will drive deep and carry energy in a copped bullet is going to require faster pitch barrels, IMO. Manufacturers take note.

Nope. Those VRG3 punch right the way through red and sika deer leaving a decent wound channel. And they do so out to normal stalking ranges. They leave the barrel at 3,000 fps and carry plenty of energy and shoot flat enough for all stalking distances. I use to use 100gn RWS in my 243. The VRG3’s shoot just as accurately, but penetrate much better and little risk of bullet blow up.

 

[Heym SR20]

Another one to look at would be Simpson Game.

Half way up the A9. From Argyl, Aberdeenshire etc etc a good 200 mile round trip for many.

 

[bogtrotter]

They pick up.most areas or try Hubertus in
Pitlochry they are still taking lead shot beasts.

 

[sakoson]

Change Game Dealers!

Peterborough Game do not require you to use non-lead ammunition, pay on time a month in arrears and pay a fairer rate than most Scottish Game dealers I’ve previously supplied.

Alternatively pay a premium for copper and get paid less for the venison.

Wholesale Game Butchers | Peterborough Game Co. Ltd | Bourne

Buy all your favourite fresh game meat from Peterborough Game Company. Refrigerated delivery available across the UK. Wholesale Game Butchers, order online.

www.peterborough-game.co.uk

another vote for Peterborough game, they pick up from my house every Monday and better prices

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Great, except that Peterborough is 300 miles plus from Edinburgh. Amd then its another 300 plus to the North Coast. And it’s not just game dealers requiring non toxic but many landowners up here are also requiring it.

Peterborough pick up throughout Scotland on Mondays to just North of Pitlochry.

They usually pop into my larder in Fife early evening before heading back home.

By far the best game dealers I’ve supplied in terms of payment rates, carcass grading and timeous payment.

 

[HonestJohn]

Hi all,

My neighbour uses 100gr Winchester power point to deal with the occasional marauding stag. Normally sub 100m distance and he normally takes a neck shot.
He wants to move to copper (game dealers are requiring it more and more here in central Scotland).
I use Hornady and Sako copper in my 6.5 CM but can’t find any copper for 243 that is 100gr or more.
I see lots of 80 and 85gr copper for 243 but assume it won’t be enough for a stag albeit at close range.
What is the minimum gr and velocity he should look for in copper for stags and can you recommend any ammunition?
Or is 243 just not enough rifle for stags with copper?

Thanks guys!
Keith

I'd say stop ****ing against the wind and leave the .243 as the small game/vermin rifle it was designed for. Sure, they'll kill a stag, but there are alternatives which do so with more authority.

as for neck shooting with copper, unless a frangible bullet then it's a bloody bad idea IMHO.

 

[User00040]

Half way up the A9. From Argyl, Aberdeenshire etc etc a good 200 mile round trip for many.

200 miles is nothing for the big league gamedealer(s), they schedule runs to chillers with as much time between collections as possible so it's your money being spent on keeping carcasses cool.

Highland ShGame have this down to a fine art.

Very few allow private walk in's/drop offs and the days of cash in hand are nearly gone.

Unless someone is shooting in excess of 50 deer a year, it's best to 'dispose' of deer via friends and family (or a certain Facebook group) vs. a gamedealer and all the associated costs of running a chiller.

One of the deer working group report's reccomendations was a crackdown on deer sold outside the food chain. Easy to see where it's all going (coercion and control of individuals in preference of NGO/QUANGO/'charities' who have bottomless coffers funded by the public). No wonder they want you to use copper bullets...

 

[Rafter]

I'd say stop ****ing against the wind and leave the .243 as the small game/vermin rifle it was designed for. Sure, they'll kill a stag, but there are alternatives which do so with more authority.

as for neck shooting with copper, unless a frangible bullet then it's a bloody bad idea IMHO.

Your deer must be tougher than ours.
There are any amount go to deer heaven here via a 223 and Barnes 50 grain copper bullet. The copper seems to give deeper penetration, but I just use a 75 grain Amax and don't overthink it.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I reload 80g Barnes TTSX in mine, knocks over stags shot in the boiler room no issues

 

[luv2safari]

Nope. Those VRG3 punch right the way through red and sika deer leaving a decent wound channel. And they do so out to normal stalking ranges. They leave the barrel at 3,000 fps and carry plenty of energy and shoot flat enough for all stalking distances. I use to use 100gn RWS in my 243. The VRG3’s shoot just as accurately, but penetrate much better and little risk of bullet blow up.

They sound like a good bullet.

I see some of the heavier copper bullets as long as a pencil and wonder how they stabilize in the twist rate barrels we have now. I know I would have trouble with cup n core bullets the same length.

I've not killed anything with a mono yet, but friends swear by Barnes. Lead isn't a problem in my state yet, and I have a jillion copper/lead bullets, so I've had no reason to go to all copper.

Your forum is informative, and I'll garner what I can re: all copper effectiveness.