Part 5: 243 90g Sierra Gamechanger Expansion & Penetration; Final Thoughts

[@pedrofuego6495]

Was i the only one noticing how perfect the shot placement was on all the ppl (and animals) in the covers of these magazines?

[@guns4funfreedomkeeper999]

Excellent series. Thank you for all the effort you put into sharing this information. People don't know how much time it takes to work up a load and go back and forth to the range to test. I can't imagine taking the time to film on top of all of that.

[@243Outdoors]

Thanks. Yeah it takes a lot of work for a series like this. I've got another bullet for a mini series I'm working on, but 12+ hour work days and weather, have been fighting me on it, but I'm getting close on the first video for it.

[@Cole.Outside]

Great series! I've killed a lot of deer with my 243 shooting 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. After watching this series, I'll be looking for a box of Gamechangers to try out!

[@carlwilliams6300]

I’m gonna be looking for some 90 gr game changers great video

[@Goodwin2110]

I normally use pack of newspaper soaked in water, hand press them to let excessive water out and than wrap it with stretch film. It brings the results very close to ballistic gel. Dry magazines pack is like a brick wall for a soft bullet. It splatters more than expands.

[@michaelthompson7570]

all you need for east of the mississippi, north of the gulf,south of mason dixon,west of the atlantic. my favorite too boot. am getting sold on these gamechangers . if could just find some to purchase!

[@baitammo4652]

Great test Josh! The whole series has been fantastic. A hunting bullet .243 dia., in that weight range, to my knowledge, has not been made with a BC that high. Many have grumbled at the name but to me, at least in .243, I see no reason not to call it a Gamechanger!

[@243Outdoors]

I completely agree. The fact it had a BC over .500 got my attention. Great all around round.

[@FullLeadTaco]

impressive expansion with those bullets!

[@243Outdoors]

Not bad for a 6mm round.

[@WestDesertShooter]

Great job Josh, excellent work across every video. Don’t forget that thing had to punch through the plastic and insulation of the cooler as well that will eat up a lot of energy. I’m sure these would smoke a deer in its tracks especially at 3100fps. Great video man

[@243Outdoors]

Thanks, You'll like what that other bullet did.

[@baitammo4652]

@@243Outdoors yes! The third bullet is like a gift under the tree that you have to look at and wonder for two weeks LOL!?!?!?! Can't wait for Christmas!!

[@Thorsaxe777]

Good job Josh. I have found that most hollow point or ballistic tip projectiles explode on impact with little penetration. those retained over 50% of their weigh and that's not bad.

[@243Outdoors]

After watching JRB's video's on the Gamechanger, I was curious if the 243 would act the same and they did.

[@jakewayrewa5201]

Good job! Last week I shot an 8 pt with a 120 g Nosler BT from my 260 REM and it totally destroyed the heart and left a massive blood trail for the 30 yards he ran with no blood pressure. I'm still trying to get that next buck with my 140 gr Hot Core from the 6.5 Creed. The 260 is being pushed with IMR 4350 and the Creed with H4350.

[@243Outdoors]

My brother got a decent buck yesterday, with his H&R 20g Slug gun. 165yd shot, then also shot the doe that was with it.

[@jakewayrewa5201]

@@243Outdoors That's a healthy shot with a 20 ga.

[@nycreloader]

I hunt with these types of bullets and they sure help fill up The freezer. Great video brother.

[@243Outdoors]

Thanks Kevin

[@markthilenius5533]

Great information i am shooting that same bullet in my Ruger American Predator 6 mm creedmor

[@jaybailleaux630]

Good test but don't know how that translate to performance on game critters. My guess is Sierra manipulate the hardness of the lead core of their bullets for terminal performance. I may be wrong on that. They are accurate and consistent for a standard cup and core hunting bullet. I reload more Sierra rifle bullets than any other brand because of their accuracy. I like the heavy for caliber bullets like the 63 and 65 grain 22 caliber bullets , 150 gr for 270 Win. , 160 gr for 7mm Mag, , 180 for 30-06 , 200 for 300 mag , ect.

[@jasonbeary5771]

The Myth Busters made a car bullet-proof using phone books. I think the wet magazines is a way-over estimation for the toughness of a live game animal.

[@slimjimmy229]

I've personally found that loosely packed wetpack is actually a better representation of real world results. Now, in this particular test the wetpack was compressed, which will 100% skew the results. But like I stated, with phone books soaked for 48 hours without being compressed, the results I see are almost exactly the same as the results I see in actual hunting situations.

[@ShastaBean]

Now that it's been a few years since your series on the Gamechanger, have you run into any concerns or problems with them? I just ordered some to load up in .30 cal. Will p

[@243Outdoors]

Nope. It’s my main round I use in the 243. I had some trouble finding some the past couple years but got 2 more boxes 6 months or so ago. The only critter I got with it was a ground hog at 100yrds and it didn’t know what hit him.

[@ShastaBean]

@@243Outdoors Good to know. I did not even know the GameKings came in a poly-tipped until just yesterday...and was able to find the 165 gr variety. Hoping to find some of the 125 gr, but those seem to be extinct. And finding any ballistic gel testing seems to not be a thing for those 308 varmint loads. Thanks for the vid - The wet-magazines you did are the closest thing I've found...apart from one guy turning a pumpkin into puree.

[@jeffyoung2089]

👍👍 Thanks!!

[@ryangoby9095]

What was the third bullet shot in the magazines?

[@fallenpatriot7917]

The only problem is wet magazines are far more dense than an animal so what happens in them doesn't mean much.

[@edwaggonersr.7446]

Denser than shoulder bones?

[@rocar716]

Yeh and they don't fry up well and chewy as hell 🤣

[@martinsacksteder6245]

What was the yardage for this expansion test? Ps I have placed these vids on the .243 Win FB page. Hope that's okay.

[@243Outdoors]

Yeah, That's fine, Share Away. They were shot at about 30 yards.

[@martinsacksteder6245]

Thanks mucho! I'll be looking forward to that yote test when it happens! Great series...

[@mackenziejones4890]

Do you think this would make a good deer hunting round

[@243Outdoors]

Yeah. That’s what it’s designed for.

[@averyabood6155]

Hi there- enjoyed the series- I bought a box of these for my 6mm A.I. I’m currently shooting the 87 berger VLD hunting and I thought I would try these as well. Mainly want to try them for coyotes- as you mentioned you’re going to try to get a coyotebwith these. Could you either let us know by posting here how you make out - or perhaps a quick video? Thanks Avery

[@243Outdoors]

Yeah, I try to film coyote hunts, but It's a pain. I'll try to get one on camera sometime.

[@matthill1759]

Avery Abood Try Hornady interlocks (100 grain) for coyotes. They are accurate and don’t blow them up. I don’t even bother to hand load them because the whitetail classics are so cheap. 1/2 minute out of savage axis. My son shot an antelope large mule deer and badger on a trip. All one shot kills dead on there feet. Mule deer was at three hundred yards. I’m still bought a box of the game changers after seeing the foot lbs out of this bullet. Good deer antelope bullet.

[@davejan744]

Which load did u use? Through an igloo & still 5 inches in wet magazines. Thats impressive!! Not so sure Id want that in a fur rifle . Be GREAT for black bears thou w a good heart shot. I use the 85 gr Sierra blitz & at 200 + yds makes a nice entry, no exit. (Coywolf hybreds & wolves) Hell of a mess inside but saves the pelt.

[@243Outdoors]

Everything after the 100 yard video has been the 43g load. I would say these rounds would be best suited for deer sized game.

[@davejan744]

243 Outdoors , Im making loadbooks from watching your vids. The info is GREATLY appreciated. THANKS!! I just got Jan a new Savage Axis & broke the bore in & so far its printing very impressively w just Wal.Mart junk ammo. Were in the process of moving back to the Alaskan bush & Im not set up to reload YET. Will be again when we get settled in up there. Want to hit the ground running & find her "perfect" load for that rifle.We lost all our guns when the cabin burned down & starting over. She had an old Remington that printed like a tournament rifle & shes really good at blowing ducks heads off @ 100 yds. (Loves her duck dinners) THAT rifle loved the 85 grain Sierra blitz. 1 hole @ 100 yds consistant. But thoes blitz bullets were different. Had a semi pointed ogive w a soft exposed lead roundnose unlike the newer ones. Devastatingly explosive on impact. Great canine rounds. Minimal fur damage.

[@russellapplegate5661]

Good argument for a bonded bullet.

[@brianrobinson1975]

Are high power rifles allowed in Illinois or is it still shotguns? I moved from central Illinois to Colorado in 1998 and have greatly enjoyed high power hunting

[@243Outdoors]

For deer it's Shotgun and pistols. However some people are modifying AR Pistols to be single shot pistols so they can use 300 blackout and 450 Bushmaster.

[@mikeanthony07]

Is the magazine test really equivalent to real-world, deer hide, example?

[@taylorbokshowan5713]

No

[@josievelarde5467]

Will these game-changer stabilize okay in a 1 in 10 twist 22 inch barrel?

[@243Outdoors]

50/50 Go read some of the reviews on MidwayUSA.

[@tripplebeards3427]

If they only made it 5” imo too hard of a test medium vs thin skinned deer. Cape buffalo testing?

[@jeffreybloom5017]

For long range, which caliber do you think is best. 6.5 or the .243?

[@243Outdoors]

It just depends on several things. 243 is flatter shooting, with a faster velocity. The heaver 6.5 bullet resist wind a little better. 6.5 has a better barrel life. The 243 has a practical range of 11-1200 yards, and the 6.5 13-1400 yards, but both have been shot to over a mile.

[@jeffreybloom5017]

Thanks for your input.@@243Outdoors

[@josievelarde5467]

What size barrel and twist weight are you running?

[@243Outdoors]

26" Barrel and 1-9.25 Twist

[@mackenziejones4890]

What is the length of the barrel you are using

[@243Outdoors]

26

[@mackenziejones4890]

I'm have a hard time getting my ab3 and Winchester xbr to make good groups they both have 22 in barrels any suggestions

[@243Outdoors]

Might try a different powder and play around with jump.

[@mackenziejones4890]

I do not do any reloading it is all factory stuff

[@243Outdoors]

Might try one of those rubber limbsaver rings. It slides on your barrel and you move it around to tune the harmonics of the barrel.

[@morgansilva7681]

3rd bullet speer ?

[@243Outdoors]

No. Fort Scott 80g Solid Copper

[@mikecole6088]

What is the load data H4350 what was the charge weight? Also would like to know the OAL you used too?

[@taylorbokshowan5713]

Pretty much 0 chance it’ll translate well for your rifle. Just work up a load it’ll take you like 1/2 a day

[@English_Speaking_Fox]

They’re too hard, these bullets. On lightweight deer they over penetrate and waste way too much energy in the surrounding countryside behind the animal. No offence to the man here but the cooler & book test isn’t representative of the performance on smaller deer at all. I have already sold the remaining bullets out of my box and will be sticking with the .243 100gr ProHunter. I have absolutely no idea why Sierra chose to mess with the GameKing / ProHunter recipe which has stood them in good stead for so long. I’ve asked the Sierra techs this question and I kinda get the idea that a couple of them don’t know either! This new bullet is only going to be an improvement on the GameKing and ProHunter in the 30 cal weights, for some of the proper heavy game animals.

[@edwaggonersr.7446]

Some think that the bullet should pass clear through a game animal for a longer wound channel.

[@ronmacdougall9612]

Wow

[@russellapplegate5661]

I don't want all that lead pieces in my game

[@littlewoody5539]

I’ll stick with a bullet that stay together I don’t like lead in my meat . Happy hunting everyone!