|
Post by biddler2 on Jul 27, 2014 22:59:41 GMT -5
I have the opportunity to go on a Wyoming Antelope hunt. This will be my first speed goat hunt. I have a Howa 1500 chambered in 243 Winchester. I have Winchester brass and most makes of primers. I currently have IMR 4064, H4350, RL19, TAC powder. I've had my eye on Varget but haven't bought any yet. I've reloaded the Barnes 85 grain TSX, 80 grain Sierra Game King, and Hornady 100 grain interlock BT. So what are some good loads and bullets for Antelope?
|
|
|
Post by wilmsmeyer on Jul 28, 2014 21:27:41 GMT -5
Can't go wrong with any 100 gr offering that shoots great IMO. If you can get a light 80-85 gr mono to shoot that would be just as good and maybe a little flatter.
Great round for this sized game.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Jul 29, 2014 21:02:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply, I'm stuck between a 100 grain BTSP which has the better BC but is slower overall but not much more drop compared to the 80-85 grain Barnes. I'm confident the Barnes will perform well once it hits the mark but the last time I loaded with them accuracy was ok but not as good as the Sierra Game King. The 85 grain SGK has the lowest BC of the bunch but will open quickly but I'm out of them. I have plenty of the Hornady 100 grain BTSP on hand but not as much powder for the heavier bullet. So maybe a better question is what powder do you prefer for the two bullet weights? I have 8 pounds of the IMR 4064 but it seems that the bullets are a little bit on the heavy side. Would probably work better with a 60-70 grain bullet.
|
|
|
Post by jims on Jul 29, 2014 21:26:30 GMT -5
I would not recommend any bullets in the 60-70 grain weights, the 100s would be my choice or thereabouts.
|
|
|
Post by wilmsmeyer on Jul 30, 2014 5:00:41 GMT -5
IMR4350 is good and right now I am playing with IMR7828SSC and RE22 which both should give the upper levels of the velocities possible with 100 gr.
Midway had Sierra 100 gr Game Kings last time I looked. I picked up a few hundred 2-3 months ago.
No combo has a distinct trajectory advantage. Fast and light start to lose their edge past 300 yds, but the 100 gr varieties at 2900-3000 fps with good BC's chug along real well past 300 and at some point way out there actually are well ahead of the light bullets...AND packing a bigger punch.
|
|
|
Post by sourdough44 on Aug 2, 2014 6:41:03 GMT -5
I would think your 4350 powder with a 100 grn Sierra bullet would be great. The Hornady Interlock type is fine too. My neighbor goes to WY antelope hunting about every year. I should try to go, but haven't got around to trying to get time off.
They seem a fair bit smaller than the average Midwest whitetail.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Aug 2, 2014 7:47:58 GMT -5
I've done a little more research and terrain wise I believe we will be in area with a little character. So I don't think it will be complete flat were longer shots will be the norm. I'm going with the Hornady 100 grain interlock BTSP since I have close to 200 of them from the free bullet program when you buy Hornady gear. H4350 and IMR4064 will be the two powders tried first as they are the ones I have the largest quantity of and I have already tested to max book loads for pressure. Just need to work on accuracy and highest velocity load and then shoot real world conditions to get the dope on the rifle.
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Aug 2, 2014 8:11:27 GMT -5
Here is the thing !!! You have the best suited caliber for antelope , NOW you need a load. Toss the 100's in to the trash, there a very marginal bullet in a 243 unless you have a very rare 1 in 8 or 9 twist barrel. The 85's will make you an exhalent shot out to 500 yards if needed. What you loose with a 100 is unbelievable. They shoot fine up to maybe 200 yards but go on a walk about past that. An 85 on the other hand will hold speed SO much better past that. What you need to do Is put ON PAPER several different loads with your powders and the 85's out at 200 yards and SEE what you need to be shooting. Every gun bullet and powder combo shoots different. We have 5 243's and a 6mm rem. and they ALL shoot different loads but I can say at 200 yards there all sub MOA.
Sorry for the rant, Just I have NEVER seen a 100 out of a 243 go sub moa at 200 yards, I don't know how the got so popular. Just 50 years of shooting talking...
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Aug 2, 2014 9:36:43 GMT -5
Thanks Slugger, I should have just PM'd you because I was hoping you would chime in. I've read your posts in the hunting sections so I knew you would have good first hand info. Not that the others don't because I believe them to be knowledgable as well. The barrel is 20" 1-10 twist so 80-90 isn't a problem and at 200 yards I haven't seen a problem with the 100. I haven't shot further than that yet. The most accurate bullet has been the 87gr VMax but I don't think it would be the bested suited for Antelope/Deer.
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Aug 2, 2014 16:07:33 GMT -5
Probably not. Any Bonded bullet in the 80/90 gr class would work for speed goats deer are a little bigger and need a good hunting bullet . I'm very impressed with a speer.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Aug 7, 2014 22:28:47 GMT -5
Well I got to the range today to try out the 100's and I found a few 85 grain Sierra Game Kings and 80 grain Barnes TTSX. I started with the 100 grain BTSP with 40.9 grains and 41.4 grains of H4350 and some with Winchester LR and some with Federal GM210. The Winchester had the best velocity and lowest ES and accuracy was not very good for either one. Velocity was in the 2800-2900 fps range. Next I tried the SGK and accuracy was good with 38 grains of IMR4064 but velocity was only in the 3030-3070 range. Then I tried the Barnes loaded with H4350 and velocity was good 3220-3240 and so was the accuracy. So it looks like I will probably buy some Barnes and some more H4350 or RL17 or 19.
|
|
|
Post by hunter on Aug 8, 2014 5:30:34 GMT -5
My 700bdl 243 really likes the 85 gr sierra hp boat tail with 36 gr of 4064. I think it is 1/9.5 twist.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Aug 8, 2014 8:41:36 GMT -5
Hunter- do you know the velocity for that load? They shot well but were 200 fps slower than the Barnes and the difference in accuracy was minimal compared to the extra speed. I checked the Sierra manual and it lists 3100 fps for the load I shot. So by losing 4" of barrel my speeds were pretty close considering.
|
|
|
Post by hunter on Aug 9, 2014 5:49:44 GMT -5
biddler, The book lists it at 3000 fps but I have not chrony'ed it
|
|
|
Post by alleycat on Sept 18, 2014 19:26:43 GMT -5
I joined up on this site to learn more about Savage 10ml and loads since I just bought one. Great bunch here. Hopefully I can try and give some back..
The .243 is my favorite caliber to load and shoot. For your antelope may I suggest Speer 85gr BTSP or Barnes 80gr TTSX driven close to 3400fps by a healthy dose of H414 or H4350...working up carefully of course. My Savage with a 9.25 twist and X-bolt Varmint 1 in 10 twist love these. I know it seems like a light bullet but they work well on white tail here in Ontario/Quebec. Those Speer 85's have something like a .404 BC if you believe in that kinda stuff. Good luck on the hunt.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Sept 21, 2014 20:55:27 GMT -5
Thank you Alleycat for posting, I haven't tried any Speer bullets yet but have heard good things. I have ended up settling on 43.3 grains of H4350 with the 85 grain Barnes TSX. I wanted to get the 80TTSX but couldn't find them locally because I had some data on them. I wish I could have sent some more rounds down range but I have what I need for the hunt. The Barnes are expensive but if the TSX work like the muzzleloader version I will be very happy.
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Oct 5, 2014 22:11:54 GMT -5
Ended up getting a 200 yard shot with the 85 grain Barnes TSX load and it dropped it on the spot with a nice exit hole. I now realize I was over thinking this and a good bullet placed in the right spot will drop a lope no problem from the .243. Others in the group used a 270 WSSM and a 300 Win Mag without any difference except recoil!
|
|
|
Post by dans on Oct 8, 2014 14:58:07 GMT -5
You can't go wrong with Barnes bullets.
|
|
|
Post by dannoboone on Oct 8, 2014 15:57:41 GMT -5
Others in the group used a 270 WSSM and a 300 Win Mag without any difference except recoil! So, do they use .243's for squirrel hunting?
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Oct 8, 2014 20:36:28 GMT -5
Close Danno, they both lived in Alaska for awhile and haven't bought new guns for the lower 48. The guy with the 300WM wishes he had a .338 Lapua and brought a 454 Casull pistol for fun. On the other the side the .243 is the largest CF I own but I lived most of my life in a slug/muzzleloader state.
|
|
|
Post by alleycat on Oct 9, 2014 7:40:38 GMT -5
Ended up getting a 200 yard shot with the 85 grain Barnes TSX load and it dropped it on the spot with a nice exit hole. I now realize I was over thinking this and a good bullet placed in the right spot will drop a lope no problem from the .243. Others in the group used a 270 WSSM and a 300 Win Mag without any difference except recoil! That's awesome. Congrats
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Oct 11, 2014 22:20:10 GMT -5
Used the same load on a Kansas Doe during the weekend Firearm antlerless season. 125 yard standing shot went through both lungs and the bottom of the spine with a pass through. Very quick harvest and good exit wound.
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Oct 19, 2014 18:36:48 GMT -5
Told you so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Oct 20, 2014 21:21:10 GMT -5
Slugger it was hard for me to convince myself the 85 was right. I use 300 grain bullets in my Muzzleloaders on Deer which is overkill but what I'm accustomed too. The extra speed of the 85 is what does it over the 100 grainers. I thought he better BC of the 100 grain bullet would be better but after comparing the two the 250 fps makes up for it under normal hunting ranges.
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Oct 21, 2014 7:22:11 GMT -5
That's what I feel too. anything under 200/300 yards I think it's just the right choice.
|
|