.243 bullet choices?

RoscoeT

RoscoeT

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Hello All,

I've taken some steps to start loading my .243 for both deer and varmints.

I have a savage with a 9.25 twist rate.

I plan on loading 100 gr BTSP for deer. Am I correct in thinking that 80gr HP is too light?

A friend and reloader told me that he was using 55 gr in his .243 for yotes but decided to change. He said that the 55gr was too hot and would burn out a barrel really fast... is there any truth to this?

I really like the data I've read and wanted to try the 55 but will go 80gr on yotes if that is better.

Advice?

Should I make one load for both? or what?
 
RoscoeT said:
Hello All,

I've taken some steps to start loading my .243 for both deer and varmints.

I have a savage with a 9.25 twist rate.

I plan on loading 100 gr BTSP for deer. Am I correct in thinking that 80gr HP is too light?
Yes, 80 grain bullets are not usually designed to be tough enough for deer sized game. The closest "deer" bullet would be the 85 Nosler Partition

A friend and reloader told me that he was using 55 gr in his .243 for yotes but decided to change. He said that the 55gr was too hot and would burn out a barrel really fast... is there any truth to this?
No truth, bullets do not burn out barrels, powder does.

I really like the data I've read and wanted to try the 55 but will go 80gr on yotes if that is better.

If the 55 shoots well, go ahead and use it, if not, try the 70 Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Advice?

Develop two loads, one light bullet load for yotes, and a 95 or 100 grain load for deer. In the 243, I prefer a premium bullet like the Nosler Partition.

Should I make one load for both? or what?
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Enjoy your 243! Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
Enjoy your 243! Eagleye.
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That's good advice.

In regards to powder and not bullets burning out barrels can you explain or point out an article or something that explains that statement?

I have bought some hornady 100gr BTSP especially for deer. I am really splurging by buying all this stuff so the cost per bullet is decent. The BC looks ok too. The main challenge is finding a good selection of the things to try.

Thanks.
 
I am using Hornady V-MAX 65 gr in front of 38gr of Varget In my savage .243 These loads are NOT hot and last winter they shot 53 Yotes at ranges of 50yds to 300yds. I have not chronoed them but would suspect 3400 fps according to the manual give or take a few. These bullets with this load works awesome in my rifle and I have never had to track a yote with them.
 
They guy told me that ".243 are notorious barrel burners and pushing close to 4000fps will be hard on it".

I just wonder what that logic would be based on... I mean what does one really need to worry about when it comes to barrel life and such?
 
RoscoeT said:
They guy told me that ".243 are notorious barrel burners and pushing close to 4000fps will be hard on it".

I just wonder what that logic would be based on... I mean what does one really need to worry about when it comes to barrel life and such?
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All I can tell you is that my 243 gets hotter, quicker than my 223 or my 308. Go figure, eh. :rolleyes:
It don't matter if I shoot 55 grn BTs or 105 grain Amax, it gets hotter quicker. Theres relatively a lot of powder to burn in the 243 case.

I would stop worrying about burning out your barrel and just shoot it. IMHO, the 243 with a 9 1/8 th twist gives you a great range of bullets to play with and it is a lot of fun to shoot.

If you want a reasonably light load for plinking get the 55 grners some H4895 and load to about 60 to 70% of max load. You can use H4895 for your full varmint loads, with the lighter bullets, too.
 
"...80gr HP is too light..." What make? Some 80 grain bullets are made for deer sized game. Work up the 100 grain load and use it for everything. Varmints don't care what bullet killed 'em and it's great practice for deer season.
"....243's are notorious barrel burners..." Nonsense. A 4,000fps 55 grain load is a max load, anyway.
 
Nosler doesn't make an accubond in 6mm. It's really unfortunate because those bullets are unreal. I will be e-mailing nosler and requesting that they consider producing a 6mm accubond as I am not the only one who would buy them.
 
I've got 2 loads worked up:

85gr Sierra GK's for game and target.
55gr Nosler BT's at 4000fps for blowing up varmints.
 
I shoot 95gr Nosler BT for deer (up untill I stopped hunting Deer with my .243) I still have 200 loaded rounds around here somewhere... I was using 45 gr of 7828 and achieving 3150fps. They work great on White tails, but not so good on real big Mule Deer.

I have been doing some testing for some 55gr Berger bullets (for 'yotes), but I have yet to find a powder that will get me the accuracy I want with this combo.... I am thinking of trying a different bullet manf, I'vbe always had good luck with Nosler.


I used to only ever use one load out of this rifle, for everything from yotes to deer. I recently (the last 3 years) have picked a few more 'larger' caliber firearms, so I don't use the .243 for deer anymore. I am trying to still find a use for it..... But I have a 30-06 and a 270 for the deer and larger game and a .223 for yotes and other varmits...... I never seem to use the .243 anymore..... I guess it could come to be an antelope rifle, but I only get drawn for that every 3 years.

Cheers!
 
Mount Sweetness said:
80gr is will work for yotes but is on the heavy side and will have more drop.

65gr or 70gr is a popular coyote bullet.

For deer a 100gr Nosler Partition would be my choice.
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I also have a .243 savage with 9.25 twist and although i havent tried the smaller 65 and 70 gr bullets it shoots the 80 gr sierra much more accurately than the 100's and 105 a max's

If you are shooting closer ranges the wee bullets do shoot flatter but once you get out to greater distances, the higher ballistic coefficient of the 80 gr will kick in and it will carry where the little wee bullets will fall right off. If you google JBM ballistics they have an excellent calculator there that may assist you in bullet choice.
 
I find that th 55s arnt really accurate past 350ish when i try out to 500 they are all over the place. here is a quote from 6mmbr.com these guys know there stuff."Barrel life is the downside of both the .243 AI and standard .243. These chamberings pump a lot of powder through a small bore. The result, typically, is rather short barrel life, sometimes less than 1500 rounds. A few folks have been experimenting with the use of very slow, cooler-burning powders. There is some evidence that the use of super-slow powders, combined with modified cleaning regimens, can result in significantly enhanced barrel life." I have a friend that has shot out a 243 in just over 800 rounds, now these guys may call bs on this but hey most people will never shoot 800 rounds out of there 243.
 
Robmcleod82 said:
both the .243 AI and standard .243. These chamberings pump a lot of powder through a small bore. The result, typically, is rather short barrel life, ...
now these guys may call bs on this but hey most people will never shoot 800 rounds out of there 243.
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That is very true, there is a tonne of powder going out that 6mm bore. I hope that I get to shoot out mine. Over years of course.

I just took it to the range today for the first time with Winchester 100gr cxp2 and it preformed really well despite the gusty and frustrating wind conditions out there this afternoon. GAWD!

I am taking it for mulies on Sat. Hope that it's sighted good enough. Hard to do a good job with lots of wind and I will not have a chance to get back there before my hunt.

The guys here that shoot 2 differnt loads out of their rifles, how do you keep the scope zero? Just record which elevation for which round? or what?
 
If I am using just two loads, I have marked the adjustment on my scope with a felt marker. However, I still take time to zero it at the range. As Jeromeo does, I tend to use one for one season, and sight in for deer. I wouldn't try to jump back and forth.
 
If you wanted to do one load for both coyote and deer, look at the 85 gr. barnes TSX. Great penetration, but on a coyote will still open up, and not damage the hide. Then you might be able to recover a few $ for your reloading. A few powders should work well. IMR7828SSC, RL19, H4350, H4831SC, Hybrid 100V to name a few. Pick a powder that is less temp sensitive, for the varied temps you will be hunting in when going for coyote and deer.
 
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