Guy I used to hunt with about 20 yrs ago used a 243 BLR and shot multiple bucks over 200# dressed with it. I have had best luck out of Sierra 85 gr HPBTs. However, this rifle caliber doesn't just stop there. I know others who have had good luck with the lighter weight bullets, but that's not been my fortune. As a side bebefit, there's never a need to explain why the deer tracking took longer than expected, and that's why you're getting home so late when she's been with you the whole way thru! Since I have a box of Sierra 70 MK's that is what I will start with. It was a … How do they do it? They worked well for me and never missed the deer so don't worry about getting a super accurate load for hunting. bullet. I would like to see some of the pat posts. As a “do-it-all” bullet, Sierra’s85-grain HPBT GameKing is tough … I tried the lighter weight VMax bullets in my Savage .243, but could not get decent accuracy out of them until I got up the the 87" grain bullet. Plug in you powder & bullet weight & it gives you the data. This bullet is best suited to game weighing between 90lb (40kg) and 130lb (60kg) up to a maximum of around 180lb (80kg) and is perhaps the fastest killing and most consistent performer of all low priced conventional bullets available to .243 users. For example, a 45 (.457) caliber rifle with a twist rate of 1 in 18″, should be able to stabilize a bullet up to 672 grains or 1.74″ in length. FAQs say 1 in 10. Sierra 85-grain HPBT GameKing. The 58 gr Hornady bullets were the most accurate and most fun to shoot at the range. The 1 in 12 inch twist is ideal for best accuracy with varmint weight bullets (70-85 grains) in a high velocity .24 (6mm) caliber rifle. However I am wondering what is some of the best factory loaded a cartridge choices for the .243 Winchester want bullet options (ONLY) in the 95 gr. I took it out today and oh my gosh is it nice. Any experience with the Win. I tried the lighter weight VMax bullets in my Savage .243, but could not get decent accuracy out of them until I got up the the 87" grain bullet. I believe the gun can shoot more accurately, but the 8 powder scope with cross hairs which subtend about 1" at 100 yards makes shooting tighter groups problematic. Hornaday Spire Points with IMR 4350 powder so well that this is the only bullet I load for that rifle. Hornady claims 4000 fps for its SuperFormance ammo, loaded with 50gr V-Max Bullets. When Winchester introduced the .243 Winchester in 1955, it quickly became a best-selling sporting cartridge. That can vary widely from rifle to rifle. I remember discussions about bullet weights an accuracy with these barrels .Factory and hand load data will be appreciated. Because the 100 grain is near the top end of what (most) .243 Win will handle, I suspect that twist rate might be part of the issue. Used to ring the steel gongs out to 500 yards with no trouble. The .243 Winchester cartridge most often uses bullet weights in the 55-115 grain range, with 55, 87, 90, and 100 grain bullets being the most common. This has been true with the other 6mm rifles I have had. I remember from some time back that these barrels like the lighter bullets. Shooting 80-100 grain hunting bullets, a.243 will anchor a buck with authority. Mine likes the 75 grain v-max with a healthy dose of Varget and CCI BR primers. Big-game hunters in the western states use this rifle round on mule deer and even bear. I found I could go faster than 3425 fps., but the accuracy started to fall off at 3450 fps.. This powder and bullet weight range also worked just as good in another .243 Win that I used to have. I'm loading the Remingtons .010 off the lands and I'm thinking they like to jump into the lands. It started life as a 25-06 but I wasn't happy with it. 85 gr. My old Ruger No. I'll pick up some 85 gr SGKs. I did a trigger job and put it away. I have had real good luck with the 60 grain Sierra HP and the 65 Grain Hornady V Max for varmints/predators and the 85 grain Sierra HPBT or the 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer . Put a regular bullet into the ribs and it should go thru and the deer not so far. I was using 55gn Nos BTs for foxes, but once i got my .223 i just went back to one load of 100gn BTSP for the .243, if i do see a fox and i have the .243, then the 100gn is absolutely fine.. Top #665561 - 03/20/07 01:19 PM Re: What is the most accurate bullet for 243. Driving the light 55-75 grain pills, the.243 provides the flat trajectory and high impact energy varminters love. Since the .243 Winchester ammunition is a rifle ammunition, it is mostly used for varmint hunting or deer hunting. As far as deer hunting calibers go, the .243 is light, small and perfect for beginning deer hunters. Most any bullet is accurate enough at 1-200 yards. I've sold of all but 5. Generally Savage runs 1/9.25 in their 243's. The Sierra 85 BTHP is another good one. The 87 gr VMAX work well enough as well. xp3 95 gr. However, most calibres work very well with bullet weights that are in the top third of the available weight range. I don't see anything on the barrel to indicate model, age or twist. Varget is another powder that will work under about any .243 bullet. and 5/8" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Then go to the range and at 100 yards sight in using factory loads first. A forum community dedicated to the great outdoors and hunting enthusiasts. "Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" - Mark Twain. Sierra Gameking, 41.0 gr RL15 Chronied at 3158 fps. With 115gr DTAC bullets, a.243 rivals a 6.5-284 ballistically out to 1000 yards. I got great accuracy with the 70 Nosler BT, getting 3425 fps. Good luck. This combo is for my wife who want to learn to hunt. Thanks guys That's what I needed. I just bought a H&R Handi-Rifle in 243. and not less than 87 gr. It was decided to test them in .243 calibre because, according to factory ammunition sales, this is the most popular calibre in Australia. I started with 105 gr bullets when I bought my first .243 about 25 years ago. to take untold numbers of deer, antelope and more than a few elk each fall, despite assertions from big-bore advocates that the .243 is marginal, at best, for smaller big-game animals. Once you pass the 500 yard mark...that's what seperates the excellent bullets from the standard ones. I'll second the 87 Gr Vmax for the 243. My wife (62 yo) decided she wants to hunt with me so I dug it out and and fit it to her. I am planning to try some 105 A-max's with retumbo powder very soon for the LONG RANGE accuracy. I started with 105 gr bullets when I bought my first .243 about 25 years ago. Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good. Your W760 will work under about any bullet & IMR4320 is rated for bullets from 55-85 grains. One of the many tricks to get your rifle barrel broken in is to shoot it a lot and don't clean it so much. Freezer, here ya go: My .243 is a Superlight with a 1:9 twist. The heaviest spitzer bullet that a .244 with a 1 in 12 inch twist barrel could stabilize was 90 grains. Sierras are usually accurate in about anything you stuff them in, provided the twist is right for the length bullet you are trying. I agree with Capt RB. I worked up a load with the 90gn Ballistic Tip and they're hovering around .2-.3". I haven't tried any of the extreme powders form Hodgdon, being satisfied with the SR3031. A friend uses it in the 270 for deer and swears by it. My favorite general purpose .243 load uses a Hornady 87 grain BTHP bullet in front of a maximum load of 37.1 grains of IMR 4064 powder for a MV of 3100 fps. Everyone wants to shoot 100 gr bullets and you should be able to but they could also be more challenging to find the most accurate load. I've owned a few Handis and barrels and understand what they are and can be. I know others who have had good luck with the lighter weight bullets, but that's not been my fortune. I have got a friend that just bought a Savage Model 200 and he is curious about the most accurate load. Its a very humane round, mostly drop right their in most cases 100 yards and farther. Everyone wants to shoot 100 gr bullets and you should be able to but they could also be more challenging to find the most accurate load. 55 grain nosler bt will drive tacks out of my savage 12fv. Works well for both varmits and deer. and 5/8" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. are you looking for accuracy to shoot targets or accuracy for hunting ? They shot 18 rounds at six targets at 300 yards all within 2.5 inches. One bullet I just CANNOT get working out of my CZ 550 are the Remington 100 gr Core-Lokts. I bought some 100 gr Remington Coreloks for sighting in. Highly accurate and below 1moa. The potential problem with 243 barrels is some were confirmed to have 1:11" twist which would be marginal on longer 95-100gr bullets, IE boattail, flat base would be the better choice if you have one of these suspect barrels and choose 100gr bullets. The Official Predator Masters Search Engine. For the .243, that means somewhere around 80 to 95 grains. Welcome: You have discovered the site where you can buy the finest, most accurate, world-class precision 6mm (.243"), and 6.5mm (.264") custom bench rest, long range & varmint bullets on the market!I build bullets only. I bought this rifle about 20 years ago and at one time had 13 barrels. All of my favorite creatures have white bottoms. There is also a significant difference in the most common bullet weights for each cartridge. It's a true blessing to have your life partner in the field with you. I load the same round for my 270. 85 gr Sierra Game Kings are a proven accurate and effective deer bullet. I never fired a 243 before sticking larger calibers or .223. JavaScript is disabled. I'll be working on load work up next week. John says that, at least for a sling shooter, the .243 Win is hard to beat at long range. Let me know how you do with it. The faster the twist rate the heavier (longer) the bullet needs to … Get it red hot a few times. First things first, the bullet weight is measured in grains. Sierra Game Kings are my favorite choice for 308, 30-06 and 280 Rem. I'm using 44.5gn of IMR4831 with the 87gn and 44.0 with the 90gn. Twist rate, in certain cases, has an especially pronounced effect on loads that are at the top and bottom end of the weight range for the particular chambering. In this bullet weight range, the new Hornady Superformance .22-250 Varmint ammo is the king of speed. I have a Savage 110 in 243 and have had good luck with the 100 grain Hornady SST's. Then using your stepped loads (try to shoot when there is NO wind). Sometimes looked at as merely an “entry” level rifle for deer hunters, the Savage Axis … It also shoots 100 grain Rem Cor-Lokt's good, but the Hornady's are more accurate in my rifle. Basicly this is done by reloading the components you wish to use with changing the powder weight by 3 tenths grain from minimum to maximum charge taken from a reloading guide for the .243. The Sierra 60 HP is very accurate & a great fur bullet. .243 Winchester barrels, on the other hand, were rifled 1:10" to stabilize bullets as heavy as 105 grains. Reducing or increasing the powder charge and bullet weight allows you to meet your hunting and shooting needs with minimal recoil as the result. I had a good deal on some 100 gr Hornaday interlocks. Start with lighter (shorter) bullets and work up. To be honest, any size bullet in .243 is going to kill charlie cleanly. I was wondering if I could get some input on different bullets for a 243. Countless young hunters shoot rifles chambered in .243 Win. Blackpowder Mortar & Cannon by Seacoast Artillery, Hand Loading Rifles & Handguns by Diamond K Brass, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Perhaps if one was only shooting small game at short ranges, such as less than 250 yards, there might be a case for light bullets. My last set of handloads with that bullet netted me 2 sub 1/2" MOA 5 shot groups. This has a standard barrel, any thoughts bout the twist rate? Therefore, the bullet weight matters a great deal. I got great accuracy with the 70 Nosler BT, getting 3425 fps. Perhaps its because the .243, which is based on the .308 Win. I have reloaded for 25+years, never did for the NEF. area, not over 100 gr. I tried several different powders, but the only one which delivered good accuracy in hot temps and in cold temps was SR3031. Thanks, Kirk 1 at .458" and one at .450". 85 gr Sierra Game Kings are a proven accurate and effective deer bullet. Price is not a factor as I'll never use two boxes in the rest of my life. Good luck & please post your data & results. Most factory ammo features 50gr to 60gr projectiles. That’s about 200 fps faster than other brands’ offerings with the same bullet weight range. The .243 can handle bullet weights from 60 grains up to 105 grains, from hollow points to ballistic tips and can be used on most types of small to medium Australian game. Have not hunted with my 243 win however the round for hunting around here most handloaders use is the nosler accubond. necked down, can be handloaded with a variety of bullets and propellants that allow practice on targets an… John Whidden of Whidden Gunworks used the .243 Winchester cartridge to win the 2017 NRA Long Range Championship, his fifth LR title at Camp Perry (and second in a row). Can you send some of you load data? Hornady technicians developed this load in Hornady cases using Federal 210 primers. He finally lost one and stepped up to 270. John selected the .243 Win because it offers excellent ballistics with manageable recoil. Come join the discussion about hunting, fishing, survival, archery gunsmithing, optics, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! With available bullet weights from 55-grain “varminters,” to 100-grain medium game killers, plus ultra-long (heavy for the caliber) target bullets in … Everything you have read about breaking in high dollar match barrels by cleaning and shooting only one time between cleaning doesn't work for handi rifles. I'm adapting a Handi with a youth stock, Redfield scope and standard 243 Barrel for my wife. It provides very good accuracy in … It also shoots the 87 grain v-max's very well. It also might be one of the most accurate of all rifle rounds at ranges under 200 yards. 1 243 likes 100 gr. Using them will allow you to estimate the heaviest/longest bullet a gun will stabilize based on the caliber (left-most column) and twist rate in inches (top-most row). I know, mine is with me often, in fact she'll be riding with me on my ATV tomorrow to check out the deer stands. In the past 62 years, it has been chambered in a huge variety of rifles and actions from dozens of manufacturers and is consistently one of the most reloaded rifle cartridges. Of course, you have to define “versatile” to some degree – but if that definition is something like “the ability to take care of shooting chores all the way from varmints to medium-size game” – the .243 Winchester would be a frequently chosen candidate. Start with lighter (shorter) bullets and work up. This batch was primed with magnum rifle primers because that was all I had and could get at the time. The NEF was a dream gun as a child so later in life I bought it. Savage Axis. It's strange, but I happen to be working on a load for my .243 for deer hunting right now. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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Under about any.243 bullet and at one time had 13 barrels, reviews, accessories, classifieds, more! Trigger job and put it away significant difference in the western states use rifle...