From 223 To the 243

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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Location
Steinbach, Manitoba
I've been shooting 223 for about 3 or 4 years. I really like target shooting and coyote hunting and have used my 223 for target shooting out to 540 yards. I really like this caliber but i found myself wanting better performance for long shots. I realized that by searching for aerodynamic, heavy bullets, i was trying to turn my 223 into a 243 so i made the step up and bought a winchester model 70 xtr in 243 with a 24" barrel. On the weekend i found the time to mount my 4x -16x nikon monarch and sighted in. I was pleasantly surprised. My very first load, a 36.5 grain charge of RE-15 topped with and 87gr v-max produced two groups of identical size at .870" for 3 shots. My second load, 37.5 grains of RE-15 (max charge) produced a .515" group for 3 shots. I am excited to see this. i never expected results like this for the first range visit and i am looking forward to using and getting to know this caliber in the future. I still have my T3 223. I couldn't part with it. But, for now, it will keep the other guns company in my safe. It will come in handy when my kids are older and learning to shoot or on those days when i don't want to carry a heavy barreled rig.
Does anyone have any idea what kind of velocity this may produce?
I didn't want to fiddle with the chrono in minus 20 degrees.
Does anyone have any other powder choices that produce great results with this bullet or similar bullets?
Powder availability seems pretty poor lately.
 
PM'd my .243 recipe's... Keep the .223, you will always go back to it. .243 is an outstanding caliber as are all the .308 case family... My personal favorites. Good shooting...
 
thank you for those recipes hoycanon. i prefer cartriges based on the 308 case. i think they are all a guy needs (for the most part)
they do and outstanding job with less powder. the magnums are cool and they have their place, they're just not for me.
my 223 is my all time favorite. i tend to buy and sell guns a lot but that is the one i just won't part with. it is also my wifes favorite with no recoil and lots fun. i've shot critters all the way out to 350 yards. it does every thing i want except buck the wind at 500 yards and who knows if i'll ever see a critter that far away. i can barely see my 12" steel gong at that range. i do love making long shots and that's why i bought the 243. i'm looking forward to trying it out. my winchester has an insanely long throat. i've loaded my rounds as long as the magazine at 2.700" long and they are still .025" from the lands. are your guns custom?
 
thatmikeguy said:
thank you for those recipes hoytcanon...
Click to expand...

You're welcome...



thatmikeguy said:
... I've loaded my rounds as long as the magazine at 2.700" long and they are still .025" from the lands. Are your guns custom?
Click to expand...

Mike, I'm a Handi rifle fan... I also have two bolt action .223's (77 & S2)... I bought a "long throat" reamer and cleaned up all my chambers, without moving the shoulder... headspace is good and the 8 twist bolts and 9 twist Handi's can handle longer bullets.
 
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