a .243 that doesn't like 100g bullets

351 power

351 power

CGN Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
NB
I have a Z98 that seems to not like 100 g bullets. Neither factory cartridges nor handloads have had consistent results. It mostly has a good group then a poor 2 or 3 groups. At first I thought it needed more cleaning as it is near new, at 175 rounds, but that doesn't seem to matter. I adjusted the trigger and did add a pressure pad at the end of the stock just to check. Then yesterday at the range I tried some 80g Federal factory ammo that I got in a trade. Shot great which was a relief in some ways.
My question is how much of a deficit is this preference as far as deer hunting? Are there powders that may help? So far I have tried H4831 and IMR 4831. The H was a medium load and the IMR was near maximum. First .243 for me and have only been at it a couple months. Any bullet recommendations in the 80g range? In the 100g I have Hornady BTSP and Sierra BTSP. Maybe a flat base bullet(shorter OAL)? Thanks
 
What is the twist rate on your 243? I've found 100gr are pushing your luck in many common 1in10 twist barrels. My Winchester Extreme Weather and my Sako 85 don't shoot them very well. However I've had decent luck in both Remingtons and Rugers, both have a 1in9 twist.
 
I haven't found the twist rate online yet. I had a Remington 6mm years ago and it handled the 100g and even the old 117g Hornady projectiles fine. My guess is probably 1 in 10?
 
I had a Parker Hale that wouldn't shoot 90 or 100 gr bullets worth a damn, twist was standard for the 243 at the time. Got rid of it as I didn't need it as a varmint rifle at the time.
 
243
the 105g Hornady Amax is1.237 in length
the 100g Spire Point is 1.062

if you are having trouble with these you need a shorter bullet = less weight

the Barnes 75.0 Banded Spitzer Boattail is 1.050 so if your rifle does not shoot the H Spire Point it might not shoot the Barnes and will not shoot the 80 or 100g barnes

Combination of cal / velocity / Length / twist
 
Yes I was looking at that. The Hornady I have now is 1.066" and is not great so far. The bullet I think might be a good bet is a speer 90g hot cor, 0.938". I may try to push the speed a bit with the 100g just to see. The bigger load of imr 4831 seems marginally better than the medium load of h4831. Those are the powders available right now in my area. Is there another powder that might buy more speed? thanks
 
Yes I wanted to try that 4350. Couldn't find it locally yet. Only problem with the accubond is that it's actually longer than the 100g H BTSP. I will probably order some 4350. Do yo prefer H or IMR ?
 
My Howa 1500 in .243 has a 1:10 twist and didn't/doesn't shoot 100 grain bullets well either. I kept at it, experimenting with several bullets and 4 types of powder, and finally found a combo that was acceptable - IMR4350 and a Speer 100 grain BTSP. I was in pursuit of exceptional because the gun has a great trigger and is really, really accurate with lighter bullets (fun to shoot, too!). Good enough for deer hunting out to a hundred yards.
 
If you hand load give the 85 grain Sierra hpbt game king a try. It is a proven performer in 10 twist 243's. Mine work very well with imr4831 or imr3031.
 
Always use IMR 4350 because I had lots, have since switched to H4350 for temperature stability but it’s a little harder to find. Creedmoor fans buy it all :) The Accubonds shoot great in my 20” barrel BLR
 
Remington's are tricky. Pends on the model and year with some but mine have zero issues with 100g with the 1 in 9 1/8

243 Winchester - 1 in 9" . . . . . . .Remington 660, 700, 788 (1969);

243 Winchester - 1 in 9 1/8" . . .Remington 700, 7400, 7600, 7;

243 Winchester - 1 in 9 1/4" . . .Savage (present)

243 Winchester - 1 in 10" Browning; Colt; FN; Harrington and Richardson models 300, 308, 360; Husqvarna; Mannlicher Schoenauer; Musketeer; Mossberg 800; Remington 700, 40-XB; Savage 99, 110, 111, 112-V, 116 (old); Sako Bolt and Lever Actions; Schultz and Larsen; Stevens 110;Winchester 70, 88,100,670,770; J.C. Higgins 51-L; Ruger 1, 77;Wichita;Weatherby Vanguard; Thompson/Center Rifle

243 Winchester - 1 in 12" . . . . .Steyr SSG-PII
 
Hi 3macs1. This rifle would have been marketed as a 798 remington at one time. Would you have a spec on those by any chance? I've looked quite a bit but no luck so far. The 6mm I had must have been a 1 in 9" judging by the way it handled heavy bullets. Had some cil brass for it.
 
Peecos that 4350 and accubond combo sounds good then because i see the Blr is a 1 in 10". I'm guessing the z98 is as well. I think i've read a method to check this barrel.
 
351 power said:
Hi 3macs1. This rifle would have been marketed as a 798 remington at one time. Would you have a spec on those by any chance? I've looked quite a bit but no luck so far. The 6mm I had must have been a 1 in 9" judging by the way it handled heavy bullets. Had some cil brass for it.
Click to expand...

Don't think so. That info is out of a small book I have here and that is everything I posted in the 243 section but will look again
Cheers
 
I have a Remington 783 which has a 1 in 9 1/8 twist I believe. It will shoot some 100grs well, but shooting nosler partitions it turns into a 4moa gun. I tried the 95gr nosler ballistic tips and have had no problems. As others have mentioned theres also a 90gr ballistic tip and partition bullet from nosler which should work in your gun.
 
351 power said:
Yes I wanted to try that 4350. Couldn't find it locally yet. Only problem with the accubond is that it's actually longer than the 100g H BTSP. I will probably order some 4350. Do yo prefer H or IMR ?
Click to expand...

Check out the stability calculator at JBM Ballistics website. It lets you enter the length of the plastic tip (and they have an extensive list of bullet lengths). A plastic or aluminum bullet tip moves the weight backwards in the bullet and increases stability. I've noticed the same thing with open tip match bullets vs softpoints. The OTM's actually have less weight further forward than the softpoints and, for the same length of bullet, have better real-world stability. Luckily, my wife's 243 is 9.25 twist :). Anything less than a 100+ grain match/VLD bullet shoots fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom