long range .243 round

[Heywood]

Hi guys.
New guy here!I must have been reading this forum for about two years before i signed up a week ago.
I have learned so much about the fundamentals of shooting from this site and snipershide I would be lost without it.
I thank you regular posters for that!

Ok,so here is the query.I use a Remington 700 heavy barrel in .243 for long range shooting.Great round I love it.I believe it has a 1'10 twist.So far I have used all the factory rounds and I found the Hornady 95 grainers the most accurate.

Into handloading I have used the 115 Dtac's but they were too heavy and didn't stabilize.Best handloads were with 95 grain sst's which is a hunting bullet.
I have a feeling the 105 bergers could be sweet or at a stretch the 107's.

Ok kinda a long winded post but what was the most accurate round you have used or loaded up in a .243?I'm looking for ultimate accuaracy as the 95 grainers suffice as a good hunting bullet so these will be for non living targets.

Thanks in advance
Heywood.

 

[Geno]

Best accuracy I had of all loads for my .243 Win and my 6mm Rem were the 95 grain Nosler partitions. With the M700V I was able to maintain 3/8" groups at 300 yards off the bench, using a Redfield 6-18 AO Accu-Trac. Given the partition, penetration is no concern.

PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a picture of the deer's severed heart from a straight-on shot at a whitetail, using that load at 300 yards. When I cut open the body cavity to pull the guts out, the severed heart rolled out onto the ground (bone projectile effect).

The 95 grain Nosler partition was under the skin at the about 3 inches left of the tail. If the deer had been much closer, the penetration would have been complete even though it was full-body length. Truly impressive projectile and load.

The pics should be there. Welcome to THR!!

Geno

 

[nhm16]

If paper is a target, with a 1:10 twist, I'd try the 95gr SMK at most (Sierra recommends 1:9 or faster). 105gr+ BTHPs may be a bit much for that twist rate. Berger also makes a 90gr BTHP match bullet worth checking out. I've got both on my radar once I have a good scope on my 6mm Rem.

 

[skiking]

My .243 with a 1:9 1/8" twist likes Hornady 100 gr BTSP in my M700 BDL w/ Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40. It doesn't really like anything over 100 gr but I haven't tried anything between 80 gr and 100 gr pills. I am usually able to group 3-4" at 500 yds and groups at or under 1/3 MOA under 200 yds.

 

[lopezni]

try the 105gr Hornady A-max.

 

[stork]

243 Load

My personal favorite is the Sierra 85 HPBT, Lapua brass, H-4831 and Fed 210's. I use this extensively for everything from Prairie dogs to Whitetails. Rifle is a Dowling built 243 w/27" Schneider 1-12 twist and Leupold 4.5-14.

Mainly built for long range pasture rats 20+ yrs ago but have used it for a lot of Antelope and Whitetails also. Ranges exceeding 500 yards for all species.

FWIW

Stork

 

[David Sours]

I too recently purchased a 243 for factory loads I really liked the Winchester Supreme Elite 95gr XP3 bullet, excellent shooting load and it performed well on a white-tail as well. I reload as well and I have been very impressed with the Berger 95 gr VLD. My load is 40 grs of IMR 4350, using Nosler Brass, CCI BR2 primers and the 95 gr VLD. This load shoots very well in my gun sub .5" at MOA and I have shoot some very good groups @ 200, 300 and 400 yds. The thing that I was most pleased with was its performance on white-tails. I harvested 3 does at the end of our season one @ 325, 364 and the longest was at 416. The 364 and 416 were both pass throughs and the deer went no more than 30 yds. The 325 I hit her on the facing shoulder and the bullet was lieing under her skin on the opposite side. I aboulsultly devesated her facing shoulder. I also weighed the bullet to check out the retention and it retained 70% of it's weight. I am very impressed with the VLD and will stick with this load from now on. I just finished loading some rounds last week and I have 200 that are ready to go!

I have been interested in trying the 105 but I am not sure my barrel will stabilze the bullet, same twist rate as yours. But I may give them a shot.

Good Luck,
David

 

[Birdhunter1]

I would try the 95 Berger Hunting VLD with VV N560 powder and Federal match primers. Start around 47 grains and work up.

 

[Heywood]

guys thanks!I think 95's are the sweet spot for this twist and its just a case of working on load devolpment.I'm gonna try out some 95 bergers and 95 smks.Thanks again gents.

 

[dakotasin]

my 9 twist does well w/ 105 a-max. your remington is probably a 9.25 twist and will probably stabilize the 105 a-max's as well. the 105 berger is an excellent bullet, and if you can stabilize it you'll likely stick w/ it.