.243 80gr GMX for deer?

[Orion62]

Loading for a .243 and playing around with some bullets. I found some 80gr gmx in my stash and the question isn't if they will shoot but rather are they suitable for whitetail, mule deer, antelope? Or am I better off just to stick with my 95gr and 100gr bullets for them and save the 80gr for coyote?
Thanks in advance

 

[courtgreene]

I would think at the speeds they’d move they’d be quite reactive on contact. Some like that, others don’t. I think they’d probably work fine, so it depends on if you’re in the category that likes that or the category that doesn’t.

 

[JeffG]

I used a .243 90 gr Accubond on a hog recently. At about 2800 fps it was a DRT shoulder shot. I don't know how that compares in bullet construction. There was no explosive reaction or "red mist. Hope this helps.

 

[JimKirk]

I have not used the 80 grain GMX ....but have many kills for the Barnes TTSX 80 grain... I was not able to get the GMX to group well in my .243... the TTSX was really accurate... used the Barnes data for Reloder 17 ... getting 3300 fps with it ... started the 6mm Remington with the TTSX and get right at 3500fps using RL 17 ... nice 8 point kill with it this past season.

I also use the TTSX 80 grain in my .25/06 at 3680 fps RL17 load ... nice 7
Point last year ....

All kills were either DRT or less than 20 yards ...

My understanding is that the GMX is a "harder" bullet than the TTSX... to say I have been happy with the TTSX ...would be correct...

8 shots in the 1/2" dot ...

 

[LoonWulf]

As noted the GMX is a mono, it will work fine. You do need to keep an eye on MINIMUM expansion velocity, id guess your probably looking at about 350yds tops.

 

[Orion62]

Thanks a ton for the info guys!! Sounds like keeping velocity and range in mind it'll do the trick!

 

[horsey300]

Thanks a ton for the info guys!! Sounds like keeping velocity and range in mind it'll do the trick!

Yeah, they'll work, just keep the impact speeds high (say above 2300) and you should be just fine, definitely tougher than anything 95-100 gr I've used.

 

[red rick]

I am not using the same bullet , but what I am seeing with what a 80gr bullet is doing to the bobcats and fox that I have shot , I would have no problem using it out to 300 yards .

 

[buck460XVR]

Hornady advertises them as "hard-hitting and deep-penetrating". But it seems they are discontinued now?

 

[LoonWulf]

Hornady advertises them as "hard-hitting and deep-penetrating". But it seems they are discontinued now?

Replaced them with the CX line, not sure what changes were made.

 

[JimKirk]

Replaced them with the CX line, not sure what changes were made.

According to Hornady they "softened" them up some ...but the results according to many accounts is the bullets are still "harder" than the TTSX in .243 caliber.... the TTSX are pure copper ...the GMX/CX is gilding alloy...

 

[LoonWulf]

According to Hornady they "softened" them up some ...but the results according to many accounts is the bullets are still "harder" than the TTSX in .243 caliber.... the TTSX are pure copper ...the GMX/CX is gilding alloy...

Thats cool! Ive actually only ever used GMX for plinking with my .375, dug some pretty nice looking bullets out of the soft dirt where we shoot long range, but never hit an animal with one.

 

[JimKirk]

Thats cool! Ive actually only ever used GMX for plinking with my .375, dug some pretty nice looking bullets out of the soft dirt where we shoot long range, but never hit an animal with one.

The GMX are a nice looking bullet ... I can't remember the B.C. of the 80 grain .243.... I was unable to get a decent group with multiple work ups ...being limited in supply I did not shoot a lot of my RL17.... but tried several similar powders/COAL without success... I ended up finding 3 boxes of TTSX in stock and ordered them ...so I have a "hunting" supply....

Did the same with my .25/06 ...found a couple boxes and a decent load(no where as good as the .243 W load ....

Searching for some .270 TTSX for the .270 WSM ... 110 grain ... gonna try those out ...

 

[LoonWulf]

Im shooting factory superformance ammo with rhe GMX, its surprisingly accurate.
I have tried to get decent loads for monos before, but i think i was too close to the lands. Never got them to shoot well. That is untill this last batch of 125 .284s, they shoot great in my 7-08.....keep threatening to try them in my 28Nosler

 

[buck460XVR]

Replaced them with the CX line, not sure what changes were made.

.....yeah, one wonders why. My point is, unless one is just trying to use up some leftover bullets on hand, I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time developing a serious hunting load, since the odds of ever getting them again is small. Now for range fodder, they would be fine.

 

[horsey300]

.....yeah, one wonders why. My point is, unless one is just trying to use up some leftover bullets on hand, I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time developing a serious hunting load, since the odds of ever getting them again is small. Now for range fodder, they would be fine.

Depending on what's on hand, shouldn't take much of a workup, Hodgdon has data for 4451 and 4166 with that bullet, this is a hunting load for a bullet that I would not relish using past 300 yds, a near middle load of 4166, or upper range load of 4451 would work, wouldn't take much to find a good enough load and then grabbing cx bullets, reducing slightly and refining would be acceptable. If I had a use for the 80gr gmx (i.e. didn't have loads with other bullets and enough stocked up to not worry), I would not snub this.