Couple 243 bullet related Questions

Johnny_Canuck

Johnny_Canuck

CGN Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
100   0   0
Location
Edmonton mostly
I'm working on some loads for my 243. Savage 12FV, 26" 1/9.25 twist factory tube, bedding job setting up as I write and accu-trigger twisted as low as it will go, (1.5 lbs or so). Put some winchester 100 gr powerpoints through it, and it makes honest 0.725" groups with 5 shots at 100 with them.

But factory ammo only interests me to a certain extent. It's time to hit the bench and find out what she'll really do.

I'll be using winchester brass. I will trim, de-burr flash holes, clean primer pockets and then sort em. I've got a few powder choices on the bench right now; RL-22, IMR-4831, H-4350, IMR-4064. I've been thinking of trying out Varget, but don't have any at the moment.

Bullet wise I've got a few to choose from at the moment as well; Sierra 70gr HPBT, Hornady 87gr V-max, and a couple boxes of Berger 108gr bt a buddy gave me after he couldn't get them to work.

I'm inclined to try the V-maxes first with the BC/Velocity combo but also would like to try the Bergers if I can spin em...

I can reach the lands with the V-max and the Bergers. My questions are:

Do I have a shot at stabilising the 108's? I took the bullets (175 of em) because they cost me a beer and I thought if I ran em hard they would work.

Has anyone found the 87 Vmax to prefer jump or jam? I read conflicting info on 6mmbr about them, but those that jammed em usually went 10-20 thou into it.

And anybody got a pet load with the bullet/powders I've mentioned?
 
You may be hard pressed to get the 108's to stabilize in that barrel.

Also take a look at the 75gr V-Max bullets, they shoot very well in my 1:8 6BR for a gopher load.
 
I have a 243 Win 22" barrel 1-9.125 twist and live almost at sea-level (very important for stability).
I've tried Varget, H4350, H4831 and Retumbo in with various bullets ranging from 70gr Ballistic tips up to the 108gr SMK.

My favorite powder is Varget for 80gr and lighter bullets and H4350 for 85 and heavier bullets. I've tried both H4831 and Retumbo extensively but never got great groups with them even if H4831 is known as one of the best 100gr and over powder.

I don't want to give any specific loads but I got my best results with load 100fps under the maximum load.

1 - My rifle prefers 80gr bullets over the 87gr V-Max
I've had very good results with 87gr V-Max at 0.040" from the lands but 80gr Ballistic Tip and Berger Varmint bullets gave me much better results.

2 - My rifle won't shoot 105gr-107gr bullets well
I've spent 2 summers trying to get 105gr A-Max to shoot accurately out of my rifle but I never achieve any decent results even with maximum velocity loads and I have quit on those bullets.
I tried a box of 107gr SMK and got a very funny result: they either shot extremely accurately or never even showed up on the target!

What I can tell you from my experience
I've quit on 105gr-107gr target bullets and I shoot Berger 95gr VLD and 95gr SMK with Varget powder instead.
Not as much performance but at least the bullet reaches the target.
I found that my rifle prefers 80gr varmint bullets whether Sierra 80gr Blitz, Nosler 80gr Ballistic Tip or Berger 80gr Varmint bullets with H4350.
I've quit using H4831 and Retumbo because of excessive muzzle blast from a short barrel.

Alex
 
I tried 105s in my 243 A bolt 1-10 factory tube and they looked promising at 100m. Then they corkscrewed like crazy at distance. Id suggest the 100s again. You may be surprised when you do some good match prep on your brass what you can squeeze out.

Also suggest you try neck turning 80% of the neck with the winny brass. I end up tossing about 10/100 to the sighter pile when finishing the turning phase. It really shows you the variability in a batch of brass.

With your powder selection I would use the 4064 on the lighter bullets. If you can get your hands on some I4320 you may be surprised:)

All said, you'll never know unless you try the 108s just because they look ###y. But save the powder and barrel life if they dont perform. My two bits....Good luck.
 
I've never had much luck with the lighter bullets in factory 243 chambers; there's too much jump to the lands. The 55 and 58 VMAX, especially. The 70 grain nosler BT's are a bit better, but there's not much of them in the casing, which could cause run-out problems. I suspect the 65 grain VMAX would be similarly finicky.

In general, actually, I found the 243 to be picky to load for - not so much so inside 300 yards (where pressure and MV variations aren't as important), but out past 600 yards when shot-to-shot velocity consistency starts to become more of a factor.

In the end, I gave up on it; I just didn't love the 243 enough to put in the time needed to find the 'golden' load for it. Personally, I think the factory chamber and throat configuration are just too much of a compromise for either varmint or long range shooting, and that you'd be best served with an aftermarket barrel with an appropriate twist rate and throat for your preferred shooting. I did find, though, that using .308 brass necked down gave a thicker neck, and therefore a better fit in the factory chamber.
 
I'm going to work a batch for a ladder test up using the 87's, 10 thou short of the lands with IMR-4831 and see where to go from there. Once I find a good node I'll play with seat depth a bit more. If this 80 km/h wind ever dies off...also if I tag out my WT buck... Also if the GF doesn't visit..

I will do it eventually..
 
I have some loads with Varget I'll share and some with IMR-3031 but I have not used the others you listed.

My Rifle is a Remington 700 VLS in a HS precision stock.


As always while these loads are safe in my rifle they may not be in yours yadda yadda...start low work up.

70 Gr Nosler Ballistic tips- 40.4-41.9gr of Varget in Norma cases with CCI BR2 primers is my best load.

70 Grain Sierra HPBT Match 41.5 gr Varget in Norma cases with a CCI BR2 primer works very well.

87 Grain V-max works best for me with 36.5gr Varget and a CCI BR2 primer

I have also had very good luck with Sierra 85 gr HPBT's. While not a true "match" bullet I have only ever read good reviews about them.


I have never jammed bullets into the lands I always try to seat them just off the lands a few thou.
 
Try 95 gr SST, while it is a hunting bullet it give me sub half moa with my 243 Icon P.H. 34.8 gr of Varget, BR-2... JP.
 
243

I just did a great load with my Sako 243HB with the 70gr Sierra bullets and Win 760 powder. Started at 45.5 and up .5gr to 47.3. In 3 of the 5 groups I had the first 2 shots in the same hole, got all giggly on the 3rd shots except one. Even the other groups were quite acceptable. The rounds were loaded to SAMMI spec for COAL.
Plus the trigger on my rifle could use some lightening. FS
 
caramel said:
Try 95 gr SST, while it is a hunting bullet it give me sub half moa with my 243 Icon P.H. 34.8 gr of Varget, BR-2... JP.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on the 95 gr SST Hornady,had great groups and have taken it out to 525 yds so far on my Gong using (could be HOT in your gun) 43 grs of H4350 at an average of 3250 fps, win Brass, Federal 210 primers. I use IMR 4831 for 75 gr V-max with good results as well and have tried the 87 gr V-max with some success but still like the SST's for the best accuracy. I have shot the 105 A-max and found they work some what in my rifle ( Remy VLS 243 1in 9.25 twist) but I like to push my loads to the max.....find a bullet for the intent you wish to use it and work on a load, 75 grs to 105 grs all work it just depends on how much time you want to spend.
Cheers:sniper:
Camo243oct-22-2011001.jpg
 
Uniformed/Deburred all the flash holes and uniformed the primer pockets on 100 new winchester cases in the last couple nights. Just got to begin sorting bullets and brass by tonight.

All this manual chamfering/turning/trimming has me thinking about building a jig to use power setups in a drill press for my prep work from now on...

And what is everyone out there using for neck turning setups?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom