porterhouse
Regular
- Location
- Lower Mainland
That twist probably won't do that great with 100gr bullets. Try and stick with 90gr
.243 for casual competition?
- Thread starter Seven65
- Start date
rnbra-shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
A .243 certainly fits the spirit of the "hunting class" tournament.
FWIW a .243 is a very high performance cartridge. It might be lightish on recoil, and for hunting purposes not be most people's choice for really big game (mostly because of available bullet weights and types), but don't let that fool you. For long range target shooting it outperforms a .308 Winchester by a *LOT*.
If you handload, Nosler makes a 90 grain Ballistic Tip bullet that you might find to work very well.
FWIW a .243 is a very high performance cartridge. It might be lightish on recoil, and for hunting purposes not be most people's choice for really big game (mostly because of available bullet weights and types), but don't let that fool you. For long range target shooting it outperforms a .308 Winchester by a *LOT*.
If you handload, Nosler makes a 90 grain Ballistic Tip bullet that you might find to work very well.
rnbra-shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
No, the Ballistic tip. Some of them are designated "varmint" (soft lead core), others are "hunting" designs (hard lead core). Have a look at http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip "6MM 90GR. BALLISTIC TIP HUNTING SPITZER" (stock #24090). I see they also have a newer bullet too "6MM 95GR. BALLISTIC TIP HUNTING SPITZER".
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I think the 243 is exactly what the OP is looking for.
I have been shooting the same Remington 700 in 243 since I was 12. I've taken white tailed deer, mule deer and a plethora of varmints with it......
My local club used to have centre fire "hunting rifle" shoots. The rifles had to be a hunting cal (.24 or larger) scopes had to be set to 6x. 5 shots off the bench, 5 shots standing and 5 shots kneeling or sitting. They used to do prone but it was dropped several years ago. Off the bench my rifle will put 5 into an inch, unfortunately I'm pretty awful in field possisions, so over all my scores were never that good....... I usually finish in the top 5 regardless.
243 marginal as a hunting cal? I honestly think that's hogwash!
I have been shooting the same Remington 700 in 243 since I was 12. I've taken white tailed deer, mule deer and a plethora of varmints with it......
My local club used to have centre fire "hunting rifle" shoots. The rifles had to be a hunting cal (.24 or larger) scopes had to be set to 6x. 5 shots off the bench, 5 shots standing and 5 shots kneeling or sitting. They used to do prone but it was dropped several years ago. Off the bench my rifle will put 5 into an inch, unfortunately I'm pretty awful in field possisions, so over all my scores were never that good....... I usually finish in the top 5 regardless.
243 marginal as a hunting cal? I honestly think that's hogwash!
I hear concerns about burning out .243 barrels early (earlier than .223 or other calibers). Hunting, this isn't an issue.
For moderate target use (say 200-400 rds/year), would you get 10 years or more on the barrel?
Is there a specific reason .243 is rough on barrel life?
I ask because I might be picking up a budget .243 today for coyote/deer/target up to 500yds or so.
For moderate target use (say 200-400 rds/year), would you get 10 years or more on the barrel?
Is there a specific reason .243 is rough on barrel life?
I ask because I might be picking up a budget .243 today for coyote/deer/target up to 500yds or so.
By no means am I am expert on this subject. But enjoy shooting 243 so I have read up and asked a lot of questions to guys who really know their stuff.
It seems that you can expect 2000-2500 rounds in before you start losing significant accuracy, but doing what you want to is essentially what Im doing, and Im sure I will get a bit more than that. If you are shooting bench rest you could cut those numbers in half because of the degree of accuracy you would trying to achieve.
Powders used when reloading for 243 seem to burn a bit hotter and this seems to be a factor as well. I have switched to H1000 with 105 amax as I have read it may help extend barrel life. Depends how often you shoot you should get several years out of your barrel without any issues.
Sorry but my two cents, 243 is a deer rifle all day long. 223 is not. 223 is a varmint round and IMO is not enough for deer. Yes I know 22lr has killed deer and even moose. But IMO those are idiots and you should not refer someone to do similar. I've seen coyotes get up after well placed 223 shots. Let alone deer.
As for comp shooting, both are good calibers. But if you plan to use the gun in both go with 243 IMO. I only like 223 in my black rifles which I will take after coyotes. Ammo costs shouldn't be such a concern. If ammo costs you 10% more and you can't afford it. Well your in the wrong sport no offence. 243 to 223 your talking such a minimal difference unless your one of the guys who shoots 3000 bullets a year and you should be reloading anyways.
As for comp shooting, both are good calibers. But if you plan to use the gun in both go with 243 IMO. I only like 223 in my black rifles which I will take after coyotes. Ammo costs shouldn't be such a concern. If ammo costs you 10% more and you can't afford it. Well your in the wrong sport no offence. 243 to 223 your talking such a minimal difference unless your one of the guys who shoots 3000 bullets a year and you should be reloading anyways.
Bigfoot 870
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
The .243 is only marginal on deer if you shoot too far and / or hit the wrong spot, same as larger calibers on larger game, and so on........
Fixed it for you. What you said is not the caliber's fault. These errors originate at the shooter.
