|
Post by dpoor65 on Nov 6, 2014 16:47:07 GMT -5
Hey guys here in Indiana the day has come (or at least 2015 Deer season) that DNR will legalize the use of .243 Rifle during the "Gun Season" it's a proposed change that will be introduced, passed and take affect next year. My question is this, I need a Reload round for Stock Remington 700 action and barrel.... something that I can use 100 - 400 yards, I have my own personal range to develop a great round I just need some 243 users to give me some advise about bullet and powder combo. I currently use a Nosler BT 80 grn (coyotes) that holds well sub MOA @ 300 yrds, (not sure if the 80 is a little light), I thinking 85 - 95 ..... Thanks guys
|
|
|
Post by wilmsmeyer on Nov 6, 2014 17:39:18 GMT -5
My load this year is a 100 gr Sierra Game king with 42 gr Re22 and a win std primer. (When I am not carrying the 7mm Mag or 30-30) Moa at 100 yds easily and 2,900 fps. My friend has used a 6mm Rem the last 2 years and piled up 8-10 deer over that time with this bullet. All one shot kills. Longest shot was just over 200 yds. This bullet should be carrying 1000 lbs energy at almost 400 yds.
Last year and the year before, I used a factory load from Hornady using the 80 gr GMX monolithic copper bullets. Awesome results. All pass thrus with lots of mush in between the holes. Short death runs with pocket shots.
Probably couldn't go wrong with 85, 95 or 100 gr partitions, 80 gr Barnes TTSX or any 100 gr Soft point.
You can get 80 gr copper bullets going over 3400 fps. That's a lot of hydraulic shock under 200 yds and unlimited penetration out to as far as you can ethically shoot at a deer. PM Tar12....he also used a 243 and piled up a truck load of deer with the Hornady 80 gr GMX at all sorts of ranges
Other powders for the 100 gr bullets that are good are IMR7828 and H4350.
Good luck, the 243 is a fine deer round
|
|
|
Post by 7mmfreak on Nov 6, 2014 18:15:30 GMT -5
I am for the 95gn or above bullet over H4831, H4831SC, or RL22. If I shot 80-95gn bullets I would shoot H4350, RL19, or RL17.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2014 18:31:57 GMT -5
I like 42gns H4831sc behind a 100gn Nosler Partition in my Model 10 Savage...RL22 works equally as well.
|
|
|
Post by tc280 on Nov 6, 2014 19:43:15 GMT -5
I use 100 grn Sierra Gameking with h4350. I can't remember what charge I use, but it is a max book load.
|
|
|
Post by dannoboone on Nov 7, 2014 9:44:10 GMT -5
RL17 gave some surprising results in some testing I did about 3 years ago. In four different calibers it was most efficient and accurate with heavier for caliber bullets. In the .243, 40.8gr pushed a 105 A-max over 3000fps giving several 1/4" groups out of a 26" barrel. If it would give that much accuracy (or close) with a SGK, that would be the load I would use (if Iowa would let me ).
|
|
|
Post by Tennessee Lead on Nov 7, 2014 14:57:43 GMT -5
I've killed several with a 100 grain soft point or the Ballistic Silver Tips.
|
|
|
Post by hankinsrfls on Nov 7, 2014 20:29:13 GMT -5
The. 243 is a dual purpose round. As long as you chose bullet designed for killing deer and not popping groundhogs you will be fine. I would stay above 80 grains bullet weight and make sure you barrel twist is tight enough to stabilize them..
One of my best bucks ever was a 17 pointer I shot at 170 yards with a 85 grain Sierra game king. Deer ran 20 yards and crumbled.. I was using a 6mm Remington, one of my favorite cartridges.. Jeff.
|
|
|
Post by dpoor65 on Nov 7, 2014 22:22:29 GMT -5
RL17 gave some surprising results in some testing I did about 3 years ago. In four different calibers it was most efficient and accurate with heavier for caliber bullets. In the .243, 40.8gr pushed a 105 A-max over 3000fps giving several 1/4" groups out of a 26" barrel. If it would give that much accuracy (or close) with a SGK, that would be the load I would use (if Iowa would let me ). I pushed an 80 grn Nosler BT sub MOA at 200 yrd last year with a gun store clearance powder (RL17)..... so I have the powder, now I just need to step it up in grains, so I will get some Barnes TSX 85grn and the Sierra Game King 100 grn, which ever works best will go to the field...... any more comments from all welcome, Thanks, Dave (formally Elkboy65)
|
|
|
Post by biddler2 on Nov 9, 2014 8:43:18 GMT -5
I like the 85 grain Barnes TSX withe H4350 but it also worked well with RL19 but I ran out of it. I would think RL17 should work well with it also. My stock Howa with the 1:10 twist doesn't stabilize the 100 grain bullets as well and I can push the lighter bullets faster so under 400 yards the 80-85 copper bullets work better.
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Nov 9, 2014 10:26:56 GMT -5
Bla Bla Bla. Don't bother with a 100 gr bullet in a 6mm gun !!!!! Check out the ballistics . For deer hunting at 400 yards or less an 80 to 90 grain bullet is the only way to go. A 243 can barely stabilize a 100 gr bullet many CAN'T !I've used a 243 out here in the west on HUGE mule deer ( up to 300 pounds + ) And have never had one run away. I use a 85 gr spear going towards the upper end of speed out of a cheepie savage and a Bushnell scope. With a little work on loads there is NO problem to get MOA group all the way out to 200 yards.... A 243 may be the ultimate deer gun just DON'T throw away it's potential using a 100 grain bullet. PLEASE . PS with all that said As we speak I'm driving 300 miles to pick up a 6mm rem. ( a 243 on steroids ) I'm building for deer from a gunsmith. There polishing up the action and doing some ejector work for me. It is built on a Herders Mauser J9 action ... I'm hopping I get "BETTER" performance then the savage, we will see it'll be a hard thing to do...
|
|
|
Post by 7mmfreak on Nov 10, 2014 7:38:39 GMT -5
Bla Bla Bla. Don't bother with a 100 gr bullet in a 6mm gun !!!!! Check out the ballistics . I have and disagree. With a lighter bullet you might have a tiny bit less drop (inside 400m) depending on which 80-85gn bullet you pick to your advantage and which 100gn bullet you choose to increase your odds of looking good with the 80gn bullet. You will have more wind drift, less energy, and less momentum. If the "ballistics" you mean are drop, who cares? Drop is a deterministic variable and one shooters don't really have to worry about if they know the range and drops for their gun; that's why it is deterministic. Wind is the one you worry about (non-deterministic) and the 100gn (or heavier) bullet in the 6mm wins in that category. Unless you dial (or have a reticle that allows for holds) then 400yds is not really something you should be doing anyhow. If someone wanted to shoot for money (like Deadeye does with friends) I would shoot at $50 a shot with a 107gn bullet from a .243 against their 80-85gn bullet at 1 MOA targets at 400yds until they understood which bullet had the advantage (especially in a breezy spot like MT). For most hunting situations where shots will be inside of 200m there will not be an discernible difference between the two but that is not true as range increases.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2014 12:21:55 GMT -5
Statistics are one thing real world results are another... Killed my first mule deer buck many years ago with a .243 pushing a 100 gn Nosler Partition and another 25 or so since then with the same combo...I've got a 300yd max range set for my .243. I'm sure some of the lighter faster bullets will work as well but none will get the job done any better than a well constructed 100gn bullet.All the theories and drop charts are interesting to read but they'll never take the place of knowing how your gun shoots, its limitations, and knowing how to shoot it. Zen
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Nov 10, 2014 15:17:50 GMT -5
OK what ever ,Just remember Speed is our friend... I have never shot a deer over 300 yards but I have never had a deer run off either, Just saying. A 100 gr bullet is a tuff pill for your 243 to swallow.
|
|
|
Post by dpoor65 on Nov 11, 2014 4:46:16 GMT -5
so im thinking about giving the Berger 87 gr Match Grade VLD Hunting bullet a try with H4831, any objections or constructive critisim welcome, any positive more than welcome,
|
|
|
Post by slugger on Nov 11, 2014 8:18:50 GMT -5
That should work just fine, in my mind. See how fast you can push them and still get a good group. FPE goes up fast with speed. Good luck let us know the range report then go kill some deer...
|
|
|
Post by 7mmfreak on Nov 11, 2014 8:46:48 GMT -5
The Berger 87gn Hunting VLD would be my choice from Berger; much better than the 95gn Classic Hunter. It and the Precision Ballistics 88gn and 90gn VLD are the only really good sub-100gn bullets out there when it comes to exterior ballistics that are still designed as hunting bullets.
|
|
|
Post by hankinsrfls on Nov 11, 2014 14:47:46 GMT -5
I shot several doe a few years ago using the 140 grain Berger hunting VLD with a 6.5-284. All shots were broadside through the chest. 100 % penetration but every doe ran much farther than I thought she should have. I was disappointed in the bullets performance. All shot were under 100 yards... Jeff.
|
|
|
Post by 7mmfreak on Nov 12, 2014 8:16:47 GMT -5
I don't think the Berger is necessarily the most dramatic killer out there but it will get the job done and will get there with more ass left over than other, less aerodynamically designed, bullets. The A-MAX will kill more dramatically as will the Nosler BT but there are not always one of those two I want to use. Often the A-MAX doesn't exist for the intended purpose (say 80gn/6mm since there is no point in making a match bullet that won't sell) and the Nosler is not a great LR bullet, just a great killer. Berger usually offers a bullet to fill the bill as does Sierra.
I will say though, the fastest kill I have ever seen was with an 80gn HP from a .243 Winchester to the thoracic cavity. It was inside of 100m and was as fast or faster than a CNS shot and with much greater room for error (read as more ethical). I just wouldn't be launching an 80gn Sierra to 400m when there are better choices.
|
|
|
Post by yule on Nov 23, 2014 7:07:48 GMT -5
Every load combo, listed above, will do the job, when you hit them in the boiler room. The best combo is the one that you have confidence in, after spending time at the bench. My 243 load is - Nosler 95 BT over 35.5g of H4895. It works well in the short barrel ( youth guns) and has taken 30 plus whitetails, at our camp. One thing I have learned, for sure, is the difference between 400 yard bench shooting and 400 yard hunting shots. Unless you have the proper rest, quality optics and range finder, etc., 400 yard hunting kills are not the norm. JMO The folks that regularly make these kind of shots are skilled, from lots of practice, or darn lucky.JMO
|
|
nalgi
Button Buck
Posts: 5
|
Post by nalgi on Nov 26, 2014 8:26:05 GMT -5
The 243 works for me! It was my first center fire rifle back in '67. I still own and hunt with that dependable old Savage Model 110. How does a .243 with a quality bullet do on deer? Check out the damage a Barnes 85 Gr. TSX did on my Grandson's first deer a couple of weeks ago. The load was 44.5 gr IMR 4831.
|
|
|
Post by hawghunter on Dec 23, 2014 13:31:47 GMT -5
I know this thread is a little old but I did not see rate of twist mentioned. A 6mm jacket lead bullet will stabile just fine but you need to pair it with the right twist. A 1:12 twist barrel has a hard time stabilizing a bullet above 80 grains. It won't stabilize an 85 grain copper due to the increased length. The same barrel will have no problem stabilizing a 55grain bullet at 4,000fps Berger has a rate of twist calculator.
|
|
|
Post by mike243 on Dec 24, 2014 18:21:57 GMT -5
my savage 110 243 shoots the federal 100g serria's great and they keep over 1000 lbs to 400 yards. id look at that bullet and see if your gun likes it and if you can get enuf speed out of it for long range
|
|
|
Post by Savage Shooter on Dec 31, 2014 10:41:48 GMT -5
I know this thread is a little old but I did not see rate of twist mentioned. A 6mm jacket lead bullet will stabile just fine but you need to pair it with the right twist. A 1:12 twist barrel has a hard time stabilizing a bullet above 80 grains. It won't stabilize an 85 grain copper due to the increased length. The same barrel will have no problem stabilizing a 55grain bullet at 4,000fps Berger has a rate of twist calculator. Yeah I know post is bit old but this may help others for deer load in .243. Yep, I noticed that too! Depends a whole lot on twist rate. If the gun is a 9 twist then you can use about any good 100 grain bullet, BUT alot of .243's are 10 twist or even 12 twist if very old (most 10 and bout all 12 twist will not shoot 100 grain bullets sub moa)!! Have tested and shot thousands of .243 stuff over many years and have nothing that competes for overall on "any" game use like the Nosler 90 grain Accubond. It is bout as perfect a combo of speed and energy you can get for 243, and like the Barnes TTSX it makes the gun behave "bigger" than its caliber on larger animals, but is easier to find good load for than the TTSX. I have found that the FIRST load I test for accuracy in ANY 243 I am loading for is (of course not every one liked it, but most do). 1st. IMR 4831 at 44 grains and look for speed of about 3,200fps. Start at 43 and work up to as much as 44.5. 2nd if gun not like first is, RL 17 at 43 grains and look for same speed. Start at 42 grains and work up to as much as 43.5 From there if needed go to H4350 at 43.5 grains and look for same speed. Start at 42 grains and work up to as muxh as 44.5 The one thing I noticed with the 90 AB is that regardless of twist I could hit on a sub moa load that was very temp stable if the load reached 3,175 to 3,200fps with 42 to 45 grains of powder. Accubonds in general like some jump to lands, I usually start at .050 off lands then test at .030 and usually don't have to move but have had to be as much .100 off for best groups. Very seldom have to get down close to lands for best accuracy. When hurrying a lot of times I will just start at Nosler's recommended OAL of 2.680". Bullets are ran seasonal so may have to watch and wait to get. Midway is overdue waiting right now so should be some very soon.
|
|
|
Post by tcmech on Jan 4, 2015 19:42:36 GMT -5
I like the sierra flat based 100gr bullets over 36.5 grains of IMR 4064. It shoots well out of my savage 110 and has accounted for a truckload of deer.
|
|
|
Post by dpoor65 on Jan 5, 2015 18:20:19 GMT -5
just an update, of where i'm at, I have my Berger 87 grn vld hunting bullet and my powder of choice to start is Accurate 4350 and its on its way, the berger vld has a COAL "barrel sweet spot" that has to be determined first, then I work out the powder charge .... ,also Berger as a barrel twist rate / bullet match up program on their web site, it matched my 10 with the 87grn VLD. thanks for the input
|
|
|
Post by 7mmfreak on Jan 6, 2015 3:47:37 GMT -5
the berger vld has a COAL "barrel sweet spot" that has to be determined first, then I work out the powder charge I work out charges then seating depth. I do this with all bullets to include VLD
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jan 6, 2015 15:20:40 GMT -5
A little late to the party, but I use a Browning A-bolt .243 for northern wisconsin deer. Shots could range from <20 yds to maybe 300 yds, so I settled on a 85g Berger TSX pushed by a little bit higher than max load of IMR-4831. I'm using Lapua brass. That's what the rifle liked, and I wasn't arguing. For my particular hunting area, since the deer could be really, really close or further out, I prefer the Barnes. None of the deer have stayed on their feet long enough to contest the bullet choice. In all honesty, I haven't shot one past 200 yds with it so far, but I have shot one at about 30 feet.
|
|
|
Post by smokepolehall on Jan 11, 2015 7:26:23 GMT -5
I really can't add anymore info than whats been posted. I bought my Mohawk 600 in 1967, .243 has the carbine bbl. I have killed many a tick toter out to 300 yds with it using 90gr Speer bullets also the old Nosler 95gr boatails. It collects sleep time now i haven't shot or reloaded for it in 20 yrs
|
|
|
Post by wildman on May 18, 2015 13:38:05 GMT -5
Forger it dnr has canned the use of 243 cfr or bigger for deer hunting in IND. SUCKS !!
|
|