I normally use (Marmite) 95gr SST homeloads in my 243Win, though I've previously had satisfactory results with 100gr Prohunter, Gameking and Speer BTSP.
These latter bullets often didn't exit on larger fallow bucks, with separation of cup and core being common, though they did kill well enough. A switch to 95gr SST was not so much due to poor performance of the 100gr options but more because I came across a good bulk deal and I frequently encounter fox when stalking. I found the SST could be pushed fast and with marginally better accuracy.
Given the increasing trend toward non-toxic bullets, I wanted such an option in 243Win. Accordingly I developed a load using Vit N160 and the 80.5gr Yew Tree bullet. MV is 3375fps NB. this 24"barrel rifle's throat is quite long and at 20thou jump I generally get high velocities without pressure problems so this isn't an MV to chase in other rifles. I had expected to use a long jump with copper But it was very jump-tolerant giving sub 0.5MOA 5 shot groups with jumps from 20 and 100thou:





So, an easy bullet to load dev for in a factory Tikka T3, Varmint barrel. Time to see it "in the flesh."

A cull buck, shot off sticks, broadside at 46m, clipping scapula on entry. A pretty stern test of a fast, relatively light bullet. The buck didn't take a step and dropped where he stood, after about a second.


Bullet exited, leaving a good plume of lung and blood.

Wounding:
I've heard the nose of these bullets typically break into three large pieces, leaving the shank to penetrate. That seems to have been the case here.
Entry on left (three finger breadths, having begun expanding on scapula- shot was a bit high)

Large hole was fully exiting shank. Smaller holes from copper chunks (not really fragmentation, more segmentation):

One of two large copper fragments on exit side, under skin:

Pluck- good lung/great vessels damage:

Meat damage was acceptable, given high velocity, close range and clipping shoulder on entry. Better than SST, about the same as 100gr soft point designs.
So, a good performance at close range. I will continue to use this in 243Win and will try and log my experience, good or bad.
Another fallow buck, hanging in a Yew Tree!

These latter bullets often didn't exit on larger fallow bucks, with separation of cup and core being common, though they did kill well enough. A switch to 95gr SST was not so much due to poor performance of the 100gr options but more because I came across a good bulk deal and I frequently encounter fox when stalking. I found the SST could be pushed fast and with marginally better accuracy.
Given the increasing trend toward non-toxic bullets, I wanted such an option in 243Win. Accordingly I developed a load using Vit N160 and the 80.5gr Yew Tree bullet. MV is 3375fps NB. this 24"barrel rifle's throat is quite long and at 20thou jump I generally get high velocities without pressure problems so this isn't an MV to chase in other rifles. I had expected to use a long jump with copper But it was very jump-tolerant giving sub 0.5MOA 5 shot groups with jumps from 20 and 100thou:





So, an easy bullet to load dev for in a factory Tikka T3, Varmint barrel. Time to see it "in the flesh."

A cull buck, shot off sticks, broadside at 46m, clipping scapula on entry. A pretty stern test of a fast, relatively light bullet. The buck didn't take a step and dropped where he stood, after about a second.


Bullet exited, leaving a good plume of lung and blood.

Wounding:
I've heard the nose of these bullets typically break into three large pieces, leaving the shank to penetrate. That seems to have been the case here.
Entry on left (three finger breadths, having begun expanding on scapula- shot was a bit high)

Large hole was fully exiting shank. Smaller holes from copper chunks (not really fragmentation, more segmentation):

One of two large copper fragments on exit side, under skin:

Pluck- good lung/great vessels damage:

Meat damage was acceptable, given high velocity, close range and clipping shoulder on entry. Better than SST, about the same as 100gr soft point designs.
So, a good performance at close range. I will continue to use this in 243Win and will try and log my experience, good or bad.
Another fallow buck, hanging in a Yew Tree!
