Shot my "new" 243 Winchester

todbartell

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just picked up a Model 700 VLS in 243 Winchester. I topped it with a FXIII 6x42 scope for the short term, not sure of my plans for this rifle long term, it'll probably turn into a donor action for a custom. :p

26" tube, heavy and thick. hefty laminate handle too, should go 10.5 lbs scoped :D

243VLS.jpg


well I got some handloads downrange this afternoon, over the chronograph too :D

first tried some Federal factory 80 gr loads, featuring a Speer soft point. I fired a 3 shot group at 100 yards that did 1.53" and chrony'd @ 3410 fps avg.

Second I tried some loads I made from dissassembling that Federal 80 gr load. I resized the case, primed it with a Federal 210M match primer, weighed a charge with Varget (37.8 grs) and seated the 80 gr bullet closer to the lands. I fired five shots at 100 yards which did .59" and chrony'd @ 3195 fps avg.

Moved on to the 100 gr Federal factory load, it puked into 2.2" 3 shot at 100 yards, chrony @ 3000 fps.

I next shot some loads I made consisting of the 100 gr factory load (resized, match primer, 42.3 grs H4831sc, seated closer to the lands) which did 1.45" 5 shot @ 2880 fps avg.

Now onto my more serious handloads...

I shot two 5 shot groups with the 58 gr Hornady Vmax, over 44 grains Varget (F210M primer). They averaged 1.37" and the speed averaged 3805 fps! :beerchug:

Final load of the day was the 70 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip over 40.4 grs Varget (F210M again). Did two 5 shot groups that averaged .92", chrony'd @ 3500 fps.

Wrapped up by blasting a dozen shots at a zombie head sized rock at 340 yards, hitting it about 10/12 with the 80 gr factory load.

Now it'll be de-scoped (thanks to my 30-06) and sit in the cabinet until later in the fall... :) :ar15:
 
Not going to use it for some long range coyote shooting this winter? A little too heavy to pack around? Sounds like she has potential.
 
oh I'll probably haul it out after big game hunting is over and I can steal the scope off my 30-06 again :D

I believe it DOES have potential, I think I'll have a good buddy glass bed the action and I'll try to take a hint of creep out of the trigger too, before tuning some of these loads.

Me thinks the 70 gr Ballistic Tip @ 3500+ fps would impress a coyote or wolf out to insane distances...
 
I have owned 3 .243's over the years, fun for yotes for sure. Nice lookin rig Tod!

Now, turn it into a custom ASAP! Make this post interesting :D

edit: You dont know the rate of twist :confused:
 
The 243 Win is my "go too" for accuracy and pleasure to shoot. I've got my T3 S/S wearing a Bushnell 4200 elite 4-16x50 A/O with 1/8 MOA semi target turrets in Burris Signature rings. This is my ground hawg riffle which has proved also to spit the 70 grain Nosler BT's the best over longer ranges 300+. I neck size my once fired brass and found that this made a considerable difference in accuracy out there. Off a bipod the 243 Win is a real joy to shoot with a good trigger and packs a hell of a punch on dirt pigs and such. I would have to say that this is my absolute favorite caliber. I'd love to find a Sako 75 S/S Varmint in 243 Win but very difficult to locate for a good deal. I've been considering the T3 S/S Varminter but ....well not yet.
 
crazy_davey said:
edit: You dont know the rate of twist :confused:
1 in 9 1/8

58 Vmax and 70 gr Nosler BT are what I got right now. Id rather of had 80 gr NBT & 87 gr Vmax, but its what I had easy access to. :ar15:
 
should do the trick with good bullets and good placement, within normal ranges.

I got other toys for that purpose :)
 
TB; Nice rifle!! I just picked up a 700VLS with the wide forend stock in 6mm Remington. [like new only 30 rounds fired previously] The 26" tube wrings more of the potential out of those 6mm's. threw a 6.5-20 Leupold on it. I shot some 75 Sierras that I had loaded for my other 6mm's. They went into .57" for 5 at 3490fps. I also shot a few Remington Factory 100 grain C-L that someone had given me in a partial box. They shot around 1" for 3 at 3095 avg. Probably would be fine to knock off a muley doe this fall, but I'll go to the 95 or 100 Partition for that job. I'm busy loading some 55 Ballistic Tips to try. They may do serious harm to some coyotes this winter. Regards, Eagleye.
 
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