.270 or .243?
- Thread starter PeteL
- Start date
Both use a lot of powder and so have reputations as barrel burners - same casing as a .30-06 iirc.
They both shoot very flat though. I'd tend *if forced to choose between those 2 cartridges only* to go .270 as it will buck the wind a bit more than .243. On the other hand again, .243 will have a bit less recoil.
They both shoot very flat though. I'd tend *if forced to choose between those 2 cartridges only* to go .270 as it will buck the wind a bit more than .243. On the other hand again, .243 will have a bit less recoil.
270 has a lack of really good bullets for precision shooting (only a couple or so available) The 243 has better choices, but needs a quicker twist (1-8") to stabilize the very best long range bullets. There are still some decent bullets in .243 for the 1-10" twist. Regards, Eagleye.
On Max's note I must add that some types of competitions have caliber restriction.ie target rifle is .308 and .223 with a max bullets weight of 156 and 81 gr respectively.
If it is for F Class open/precision shooting, have a look around and see what calibers are winning.
Have you considered the 260 Rem? It is the same as the 243, except a 6.5mm instead of a 6mm. I use one with Sierra 142s and it is very good to 1000 yards.
If your gunsmith has a reamer for a 6.5-08 Ackley or a 260 Rem Ackley, that would be even better.
If your gunsmith has a reamer for a 6.5-08 Ackley or a 260 Rem Ackley, that would be even better.
One of the best 1000 yards shoots I ever watched was a Accuracy international shooting a 243 Ackley Improved. I think it was shooting Berger VLDs.
Make sure you get a 1:8 barrel. A stock barrel won't shoot the long match bullets.
Make sure you get a 1:8 barrel. A stock barrel won't shoot the long match bullets.
The two choices you have choosen 270 & 243 might be the last two of many many cartridges available today,I use to shoot benchrest and never saw either win a shoot.
Neither of these cartridges could touch the old 222 Rem at hundred and maybe farther,
like other member said the 260,would be a good choice and many more
Neither of these cartridges could touch the old 222 Rem at hundred and maybe farther,
like other member said the 260,would be a good choice and many more
You might indicate exactly what sort of competition precision shooting you are contemplating.
The .243 has seen a bit of use for US National Match Course shooting, with some success, but there are other 6mm cartridges which would be much better choices. I do not recall any notable use of .270.
I don't think that you are going to find many people recommending either of these rounds.
It would probably be best for you to identify the exact sort of competition in which you are interested, and then look at the cartridges that are used successfully.
If, for some reason, the .243 and .270 were the only choices available to you, the .243 might be the one to choose.
The .243 has seen a bit of use for US National Match Course shooting, with some success, but there are other 6mm cartridges which would be much better choices. I do not recall any notable use of .270.
I don't think that you are going to find many people recommending either of these rounds.
It would probably be best for you to identify the exact sort of competition in which you are interested, and then look at the cartridges that are used successfully.
If, for some reason, the .243 and .270 were the only choices available to you, the .243 might be the one to choose.
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"...same casing as a .30-06 iirc..." The .270 is a necked down .30-06. The .243 is a necked down .308. Same case head, but that's about it. Nether are known as target rounds though.
There's one match grade .277" bullet. A Sierra 135 grain Matchking. Non match grade bullet don't cut it for long range shooting.
Thanks to the benchrest shooters, there are several 6mm match bullets made. 105 A-max's from Hornady, 107's from Sierra and 115's from Berger(these won't feed out of most mags though.).
Commercial hunting and varmint rifles chambered in .243 have rifling twists of 1 in 9.25 or 1 in 9.125. Savage M12BVSS and Remington M700 Varmint respectively. There are some with 1 in 10 too. They're best for hunting. Varmint rifles are as close as you can get to a factory target rifle.
After all that, like Max says, the kind of competitive shooting you want to do matters.
There's one match grade .277" bullet. A Sierra 135 grain Matchking. Non match grade bullet don't cut it for long range shooting.
Thanks to the benchrest shooters, there are several 6mm match bullets made. 105 A-max's from Hornady, 107's from Sierra and 115's from Berger(these won't feed out of most mags though.).
Commercial hunting and varmint rifles chambered in .243 have rifling twists of 1 in 9.25 or 1 in 9.125. Savage M12BVSS and Remington M700 Varmint respectively. There are some with 1 in 10 too. They're best for hunting. Varmint rifles are as close as you can get to a factory target rifle.
After all that, like Max says, the kind of competitive shooting you want to do matters.
I have a 6mm Remington with a heavy Ted Gaillard barrel in 1-8" twist. It shoots the 105 Lapuas or the 107 Sierras into some pretty impressive groups!
I have seen the 243 show up at some of the 1000 yard shoots we have up here, and it usually turns in a respectable performance. If you have a 1-9½ or a 1-9¼ twist, then the 95 Berger or the 95 Lapua would be the bullet of choice. Even some 1-10" twist will shoot these bullets. They still have respectable BC's and would work out to 1000 OK. Regards, Eagleye.
I have seen the 243 show up at some of the 1000 yard shoots we have up here, and it usually turns in a respectable performance. If you have a 1-9½ or a 1-9¼ twist, then the 95 Berger or the 95 Lapua would be the bullet of choice. Even some 1-10" twist will shoot these bullets. They still have respectable BC's and would work out to 1000 OK. Regards, Eagleye.
Just to add more confusion. I have a 243 WSSM. 
The accuracy is decent but not competition class. Then again it's not a full bore taret gun either. Plus my scope died on me, so further testing will have to wait until the new scope goes on.
I wish 6BR was available as an off the shelf option with commercially availble target ammo for those starting out.
The accuracy is decent but not competition class. Then again it's not a full bore taret gun either. Plus my scope died on me, so further testing will have to wait until the new scope goes on. I wish 6BR was available as an off the shelf option with commercially availble target ammo for those starting out.
- Location
- santas workshop
what about a 6mm ppc ? at 80 yards you can cover the group with a dime!
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The 270 is a non starteer, as was already mentioned for several reasons, bullets beingg one.
The 243 on the other hand was a very competitive cartrridgee in short range BR in thhe heavy classes when it first came out ( hunter class, 6mm and over).
It still is , but I don't think you seee it too often.
Rifel rodeo comeptions however see a lot of 2433, as it recoils light compared to some of the hunting riflees.
Wheen thee smoke has cleard thhough, there aree a multitude of better cartriges in 6mm to go with.
BUT, if what you are looking at is hunter clas style matches like rifle rodeo, where you are shooting unsupported, the 243 would be the goto gun if you doon't handload ( the choice between the two).
This is unbiased advice comming from a dyed-in the -wool 243 hater!
Personally I wwould bbe looking elswhhere.
JoeP hhas a great sako 6PPC on the exchange BTW.
Cat
The 243 on the other hand was a very competitive cartrridgee in short range BR in thhe heavy classes when it first came out ( hunter class, 6mm and over).
It still is , but I don't think you seee it too often.
Rifel rodeo comeptions however see a lot of 2433, as it recoils light compared to some of the hunting riflees.
Wheen thee smoke has cleard thhough, there aree a multitude of better cartriges in 6mm to go with.
BUT, if what you are looking at is hunter clas style matches like rifle rodeo, where you are shooting unsupported, the 243 would be the goto gun if you doon't handload ( the choice between the two).
This is unbiased advice comming from a dyed-in the -wool 243 hater!
Personally I wwould bbe looking elswhhere.
JoeP hhas a great sako 6PPC on the exchange BTW.
Cat
