Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr – Superb Deer Hunting Ammo

Description

The Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr is what happens when a bonded big game bullet gets loaded into a cartridge most people still think of as a varmint round. Swift builds the Scirocco II with a pure lead core chemically bonded to a tapered jacket, then caps it with the signature black polymer tip. In 243 Winchester at 3137 feet per second, that combination turns a light recoiling deer rifle into something you can trust past 300 yards.

• Why 90 grains is the sweet spot in 243
• Full specifications
• In the field on deer and antelope
• Honest notes before you buy
• The bottom line

Why 90 grains is the sweet spot in 243

The 243 Winchester lives in an awkward spot. Drop below about 80 grains and you are firmly in varmint territory, where thin jacketed bullets come apart on a shoulder. Climb past 100 grains and you start fighting the 1 in 10 twist that most factory 243 barrels carry. The Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr sits right in the middle at 90 grains, heavy enough to hold together on bone and light enough to stabilize in any standard barrel.

Bonding is what makes the difference. A conventional cup and core bullet at 3137 fps can shed half its weight on impact, which is fine on a broadside lung shot and disappointing on anything else. The bonded core in the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr typically holds well over 70 percent of its original weight, so penetration stays honest even when the angle is not.

Full specifications

• Caliber: 243 Winchester
• Bullet weight: 90 grain
• Bullet: Scirocco II bonded polymer tip boat tail
• Muzzle velocity: 3137 fps
• Muzzle energy: 1967 ft-lbs
• Ballistic coefficient (G1): 0.419
• Case: reloadable boxer primed brass
• Quantity: 20 rounds per box
• Part number: SB10035

That 0.419 ballistic coefficient is the number worth noticing. It is not magnum territory, but it is high for a 90 grain 6mm, and it means the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr sheds velocity slowly enough to stay above reliable expansion thresholds well beyond where most hunters take a shot.

In the field on deer and antelope

Zeroed two inches high at 100 yards, the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr runs roughly point of aim out to 250 and drops a manageable amount at 300. Whitetails, mule deer, pronghorn and hogs are all squarely within what this load handles. Wind is the real enemy at distance with any 6mm, and the boat tail profile helps more than the modest bullet weight would suggest.

Recoil is the quiet advantage. A 243 pushing 90 grains kicks about a third as hard as a 30-06, which means new hunters and smaller framed shooters can actually practice. Shooters who can practice shoot better in the field, and a well placed 90 grain bonded bullet beats a poorly placed magnum every day of the week. That is the honest case for the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr.

Honest notes before you buy

This is premium ammunition and it is priced that way. If you shoot a hundred rounds a year at paper, buy something cheaper for practice and save the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr for the hunt. Most hunters do exactly that, and there is no shame in it.

It is also not a long range target load. The Scirocco II is designed to expand on game, not to punch the tightest possible group at 800 yards, and elk sized animals are past what any 243 should be asked to do. Match the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr to deer sized game at sensible distances and it will not let you down. Push it further and you are asking a 6mm to be something it is not.

The bottom line

If you hunt with a 243 and you want a bullet that holds together, the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr is one of the better answers on the shelf. You can read more about the bullet design at swiftbullets.com, or browse the rest of our stock on the MAG5 Firearms ammunition page.

MAG5 Firearms keeps the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr in stock and moving, and we are glad to talk through bullet choice before you order. If you are working up a load for a new rifle, a single box of the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr is a sensible place to start.

Rifles and twist rates

Nearly every factory 243 Winchester barrel made in the last forty years uses a 1 in 10 inch twist, and that is plenty for a 90 grain bullet. If you own an older rifle marked 1 in 12, the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr will still stabilize fine. Only the heavy 105 to 115 grain match bullets need a faster 1 in 8 barrel, so twist is one thing you do not have to worry about with this load.

Barrel life is worth a thought though. The 243 Winchester is a small bore running a lot of powder, and throats erode faster than a 308 will. Shooting the Swift Scirocco II 243 Win 90gr at a hunting pace, a few boxes a season, you will never notice. Running it hard through a prairie dog town is a different story, which is another reason to keep a cheaper practice load on hand.