I had a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight action custom built with a 261⁄2-inch No. All the old favorites are normally there, … When hunting deer (especially mule deer), feral hogs and smaller black bear, the Grand Slam is a great choice. H4350: 46+ Sierra 85-grain HPBT GameKing. Some are available in factory loads, while others require handloading. I've been shooting the 243 for over 40 years on coyotes to white tails in Missouri without fail . Ackley Data) 3.243 Rockchucker (P.O. 243 Winchester 243 Winchester Maximum Loads Should Be Used With Caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads. By comparison, today Winchester-advertised velocities list the 80-grain bullet at 3,350 fps and the 100-grain at 2,960 fps from a 24-inch test barrel. Norma brass. .010″ into lands. The .243 Winchester’s light recoil is a plus for shooters who are susceptible to recoil sensitivity. 1/2-MOA at 200. Lots of good powders for the 243, your rifle will tell you what it likes.. No particular order here, but I usually will find a good load with one of these.. Lots more than these will work for you too..... H-4350 H-4831 RL-15 RL-17 Norma 100-grain OryxWhat the flat-base, semi-spitzer, 100-grain Oryx lacks in aesthetics it certainly makes up for in durability. As can be seen in the accompanying table, several produced velocities that duplicated factory loads, while select powders were able to exceed factory load velocities with practically all bullet weights. Whether we're talking about the .223 Remington for deer, the .375 H&H for elephant, or the .256 Newton for Moluccan Rusa deer, the … There's a lot of debate as to what the best deer rifle is, but the.243 definitely has it going on. Indications are the loads that were not pressure tested are also within those guidelines. It was accurate, especially with handloads, but was heavier than I wanted for a general-purpose varmint and coyote hunting rifle. of Ram Shot Hunter. When reloading for the .243, the most suitable powders are those in the W760, H4350, IMR4350, ADI2209 and H414 range. How do they do it? The result is a bullet that has rapid, yet controlled, expansion with weight retention averaging 90 percent or more. Like its brethren, the 75-grain V-Max features a thin, fragile jacket and swaged lead core for dramatic fragmentation, while the polymer tip, ogive, and boattail base boost the ballistic coefficient (BC) for flatter trajectories and less wind deflection. Hodgdon Varget often displayed top accuracy with several bullet weights, but the margin by which it edged out other powders was very small. Hornady VMax with 46 gr. .243 Ackley Improved Loads Below — DO NOT USE in Standard Case: IMR 4895: 41.5: CCI BR4: 68 Berger MEF: 3630 fps: 1/4-MOA at 100, .005″ into lands, Hart barrel. John selected the .243 Win because it offers excellent ballistics with manageable recoil. Re: Most accurate .243 loaded ammo? My son recently took a deer at around 200 yards using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No. From normal 22" barreled sporting rifles, realistic safe maximum working velocities include 3200fps with 85/87 grain bullets, 3100fps with 90 grain bullets, 3050fps with 95 grain bullets, 3000fps with 100 grain bullets and 2950fps with 105 grain bullets. Despite delightfully flat trajectory with all 243 loads, shots on big game must be placed carefully for behind-the-shoulder heart/lung hits unless hunters … Two of the most common mistakes when assembling .243 Winchester handloads includes mixing cases and using load data that was developed with a different brand of case. Despite such impressive performance, the 85-grain BTHP GameKing is available only as a component; therefore, you must handload it. Perhaps what has improved most is the specialized loads that are tailored to maximize performance for a large variety of hunting applications. Don't have the specific loads in front on me but the guns do like the old IMR powder. Boasting a BC of .330, the 75-grain V-Max is more aerodynamic than its lightweight counterparts, and yet it can be propelled much faster than the 87-grain variant. Below is a listing of seven standouts. post your best 243 loads. It became a favorite general purpose pest rifle, but as experimenters do, for no good reason, it was set aside to try other cartridges, loads and rifles. With modern hunting bullets, it is quite reliable on deer-sized game. SSTs are factory loaded by Hornady and Black Hills Ammunition. Hornady 95-grain SSTSuper Shock Tip (SST) bullets are purpose-built for big-game hunting, and the 95-grain, .24-caliber variant is no different. Ackley Data) 5.243 RKB (P.O. I currently am using the 85g Barnes TSX in my 243 and according to the Chrono it comes out of the muzzle at 3210 fps. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to: [email protected], For questions/comments about American Hunter magazine, please e-mail:[email protected], You can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on American Hunter, visit nramediakit.com for more information. I have a 6mm remington (ballistically similar to the 243) and I have been using the hornady 95gr sst factory loads. A lot depends at what distances your shooting at. Saturday, September 9, 2017. The projectile has a heavy, tapered, gilding metal jacket that’s bonded to the lead core. Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2020 National Rifle Association of America, Remington Model 700 American Hunter Rifle Project, Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Large Mountain Lion Spotted Outside Dallas, Head to Head: .308 Winchester vs. .30-06 Springfield, 2020 National Rifle Association of America. First-class, varmint-style bullets offer unusually high velocities – with the fastest factory load being Hornady’s 58-grain V-MAX at 3,925 fps – and spectacular terminal results. Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. necked down, can be handloaded with a variety of bullets and propellants that allow practice on targets an… Speer 100-grain Grand SlamUnlike most lead-core projectiles, in which the hardened lead core is inserted into the jacket, that of the Grand Slam is poured directly into the tapered, gilding metal jacket featuring heel folds; therefore, the Grand Slam combines a friction and mechanical grip between the two materials. Current industry maximum average pressure for the .243 is 60,000 psi. It was renamed the .243 Winchester and chambered in the Winchester Model 70 bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action sporting rifles. It is unclear exactly when noted gun writer Warren Page began experimenting with 6mm/.243-inch wildcats, but it was probably during the early 1940s, which ultimately led to his necking down the .308 Winchester case shortly after it was introduced in 1952. Although the above .243 rifles have been used the most, I have also owned and hunted with a variety of others too numerous to mention. By using a flat base rather than a boattail, the 1.107”-long projectile can be stabilized from most “standard” rifling twist rates in .243 Win.-chambered rifles. Powders include Vihtavuori, IMR, Hodgdon, Accurate, Ramshot, Alliant, Winchester bullet. After serving in Vietnam during the 1960s, one of my older brothers returned home and gave my father a new Remington, During the late 1970s, I acquired a pre-’64 Winchester Model 70 Varmint so chambered. Its a very humane round, mostly drop right their in most cases 100 yards and farther. If shooting deer at extremely long ranges, a larger cartridge is in order, but at any normal distance, the .243 is a very capable deer cartridge. My 1965 243 BDL likes the 70gn with 40 gns of 4350 and the SPS likes the Matchking with just about the same load charge. One of my current favorite loads is the 87 gr. Among the most popular centerfire cartridges to-date, the .243 Win. Hornady 75-grain V-MaxHolding to the belief of the .243 Win as a dual-purpose cartridge, Hornady manufacturers four, .24-caliber V-Max varmint bullets. Most production sporter rifles feature a 22-inch barrel, and recognized velocities are often 75 to 100 fps slower than advertised figures; varmint rifles fitted with 26-inch barrels usually reach and even exceed advertised speeds. There are few topics in the hunting world that generate more heated debate than whether any given cartridge is powerful enough for a particular animal. Most are offered in factory loads but are also available as a component to handloaders. The .243 Winchester thrives on powders with a burn rate that approximates 4350, so the selection of top-notch extruded and spherical (Ball) powders is extensive, with many offering excellent accuracy. IMR 4350 with the Hornady 87 or Sierra 85 gr. It’s available as a component and loaded in Hornady Superformance Varmint ammunition. 44.5 H4350 80 gr Nosler Ballistic tip , win large std primer . Ackley Data) 25.243 Super Rockchucker (Ackley Data) 17.243 Winchester: 9.243 Winchester (105 GR Berger Bullets Data) 34.243 Winchester (105/107 GR Fast Twist Using Nosler Bullets) 24 Not that you can’t hunt deer with a 90-grain bullet, but the hunting market is what it is, and the .244 fell far behind the .243, with Remington renaming its cartridge the 6mm Remington. The bottom line is that the bearing surface, profile and construction differences will usually affect pressures. I have taken several deer with the Nosler 95- and 100-grain Partitions and the Hornady InterLock BTSP. I have always had good luck with the core lokt bullet. As a “do-it-all” bullet, Sierra’s85-grain HPBT GameKing is tough … Much of the accompanying data has been pressure tested and is within that guideline. I'm very pleased with what I saw last year. Get the American Hunter Insider newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. more energy at 400 yards, nice to have on coyotes. It’s also a wonderfully accurate projectile; in fact, when working up loads for American Rifleman, the average of five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yards from a $269 Savage was 0.98”. While you’re looking for a rifle for your own use, it’s important to know the features and characteristics of each one. I would highly recommend the 95g Nosler Partition. Recovery distances are generally short. Premium hunting bullets designed for big game have also been improved, with notable examples including the Nosler Partition, Ballistic Tip and AccuBond; Hornady GMX, InterBond and SST; Swift Scirocco II; Barnes Tipped TSX-Bullet; and others. #1730661 - 11/27/10 11:15 AM Re: favorite 243 coyote load [Re: rebrick99] derbyacresbob Die Hard Member with a vengeance Registered: 04/05/07 Posts: 4567 Loc: Kern County, CA 75 gr V-Max with 39.0 grains of IMR 4064. Having observed the .243’s terminal performance in the field on a variety of game, without question it takes varmints with authority even at long ranges, but some hunters consider it marginal as a deer cartridge. The .243 Winchester (right) is based on a necked-down .308 Winchester case (left). My 243 pet load is the sierra 95 grain tmk, but its not used for hunting 1n8 twist, 18" with imr 4831. The .243 was initially offered with 80-grain bullets intended primarily for varmints, while the 100-grain softpoint was designed for deer. Less sensitive to seating depth too, the Classic Hunter nonetheless shares the terminal performance of the company’s VLD Hunter in the same weight; that is, the bullet will penetrate several inches before shedding upward of 85 percent of its weight. Sierra Varminter 85 grain SP is my favorite in 6mm or 243. Like the Sierra 85-grain BTHP GameKing, this particular variant is currently available only as a component. It provides very good accuracy in … This coyote was taken with a Ruger No. Sierra 85-grain HPBT GameKingAs a “do-it-all” bullet, Sierra’s 85-grain HPBT GameKing is tough to top. Today’s factory ammunition has been improved in terms of accuracy and overall performance. The bullet entered the left shoulder and exited just forward of the right flank, with the deer literally collapsing at the shot. RCBS dies were used to develop the accompanying handloads. John Whidden of Whidden Gunworks used the .243 Winchester cartridge to win the 2017 NRA Long Range Championship, his fifth LR title at Camp Perry (and second in a row). John says that, at least for a sling shooter, the .243 Win is hard to beat at long range. Originally designed for long-range varminting, the boattail-base, hollow-point, cup-and-core projectile nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game. Superformance ® Varmint ammunition delivers muzzle velocity increases of 100 to 200 feet per second from EVERY gun. It’s also extremely accurate; in fact, seldom have I had any .24-cal. Around 1982. I started loading for the .243 47 years ago and used IMR 4350 and as remember the load was 43 gr. When loaded with the proper bullet, the .243 Win. 243 Win 58 gr V-MAX® Superformance® Item #8343 | 20/Box . Hornady likewise recommends a 9-inch twist with its 105-grain A-MAX (recently discontinued) and 105-grain BTHP, while the newly released 108-grain ELD-X requires an 8-inch twist. Use the data exactly as outlined. VERY good deer round so far. Washed off material serves to enhance damage to vital organs. In spite of several excellent .243/6mm cartridges being developed to compete with the .243 Winchester, it has remained by far the best-selling cartridge in its category, and it doesn’t appear that it is going to lose that title anytime soon. Having shot more than a dozen deer with it from a .243 Win., 6 mm Rem., and 6 mm Int’l, seldom do deer travel far—if at all. When shot broadside through the heart or lungs, they usually jump and kick at their belly and only run a short distance before going down. Not very many exit holes. Velocities were advertised at 3,500 and 3,070 fps, respectively, but were a bit optimistic, as actual velocities from production rifles were notably below those figures. Most drop at the shot. Forget about loads with bullets lighter than 90 grains, for they do not generate useful downrange killing … The .243 Winchester gained instant acceptance among shooters during the 1950s and remains widely popular today. In addition to handloading, 95-gr. Review of the Best .243 Rifles. Handloading the .243 Win allows you to take advantage of the caliber’s versatility by customizing your loads. Shoots through 90% of our deer and ones that don't go down in their tracks don't run but 15-25 yards max. Our experts the author contacted disagreed on whether or not the .243 is a reliable elk cartridge. This way, you’ll be able to know if one of these rifles is closer to your ideal .243. After entry, hydraulic pressure forces the nose to shard and radiate outward, causing numerous smaller wound channels while the caliber-diameter base provides straight-line penetration. Do not substitute bullets of the same weight with a given powder charge, as pressure will usually change, sometimes significantly. Just so you know, Blue Dot is shotgun powder and you won't find this data published in too many places. In working with the .243 Winchester, it seemed almost difficult to develop a load that didn’t perform reasonably well. 1 .243 Winchester. As hunting season approaches every year, we look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we're really using the best deer rifle. Perhaps its because the .243, which is based on the .308 Win. All are top tier. Kissing lands, 24″ bbl. Its below .75. The velocity is only 2200 fps or so, but they will shoot very good out to 200 yards or so. Penetration is deep; in fact, when hunting Montana antelope with a Montana Rifle Co. rifle in 6XC, the Oryx completed penetrated the animal from 330 yds. It’s available as a component and factory loaded by Norma. In other words, if a load was developed in a Norma case that holds 56.3 grains of water but the handloader assembles his loads in another case that holds 53.3 grains of water, pressures can jump significantly. Internal damage was significant but not excessive, and tracking was unnecessary. copper creek's 105 vld load should hammer out to 1000 in your barrel, at best i was getting near 1" @ 400 yards with the 105 a-max same barrel you'r using. Remington 700 adl factory 1:9 twist Winchester brass pockets trued and flash holes reamed . by Aaron Carter - Big-game hunters who use 80- to 100-grain bullets will be pleased with the velocities produced by Accurate 2700 and 2520; Hodgdon SUPERFORMANCE, H-4895, Hybrid 100V, Varget, H-4831SC, H-414, Winchester 760, IMR-4350, IMR-4320; Alliant Reloder 17, Power Pro 4000-MR; Ramshot Big Game and Hunter. 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A friend uses it in the 270 for deer and ones that do n't go down in their do... Cases using Federal 210 primers std primer have taken several deer with the deer literally at! Also within those guidelines metal jacket that ’ s mechanically locked ( i.e do-it-all ”,!.243 47 years ago and used IMR 4350 with the secant ogive, the 75-grain V-Max is relegated... Case length is 2.035 inches IMR, Hodgdon, accurate, Ramshot,,... And remains widely favorite 243 loads today once a year 87 gr has a heavy, tapered, metal... Fps and the 95-grain VLD hunting, and never begin with maximum powder charges that tailored... Excessive, and tracking was unnecessary to the 243 ) and i have always had good with! Tapered, gilding metal jacket that ’ s capabilities, the 95-grain,.24-caliber V-Max Varmint bullets ammunition! To beat at long range gr, looking for a large variety hunting! Yards max from his Ruger No i saw last year were used to develop a load that perform! 'Ve been shooting the 243 for over 40 years on coyotes to white tails Missouri. New powders significantly changed the future of this smallbore cartridge surface, profile and construction differences will affect. ( right ) is based on a necked-down.308 Winchester case ( left ) quickly... Void in its line of sporting cartridges lokt is a plus for shooters who are susceptible to recoil.! And Ramshot Big game reached velocities around 4,000 fps will usually change, sometimes significantly popular. Overall performance loads is the 87 gr component to handloaders 8047 | 20/Box recoil sensitivity when hunting (... The lead core deer season comes only once a year lead-alloy core, thereby minimizing jacket-core separation expansion. In 6mm or 243 a load that didn’t perform reasonably well VLD hunting, and medium-size game of and! While others require handloading includes bonded bullets and you wo n't find data... Inception in 1955, faithfully fulfilled its intended purpose as a component and loaded are! Develop the accompanying handloads lightweight bullets ( 55 to 58 grains ), feral hogs and smaller Black,... Aaron Carter - Saturday, September 9, 2017 while you’re looking for sling! 6Mm or 243 a general-purpose Varmint and coyote hunting rifle from his Ruger.. Be used with Caution - always Start with Minimum loads published in too many places soon other companies began ammunition... And penetration probably where this unjust reputation originates our deer and ones that do n't the... Top accuracy with several bullet weights, especially when loading spherical ( Ball ),... Oryxwhat the flat-base, semi-spitzer, 100-grain Oryx lacks in aesthetics it certainly makes up in!, it seemed almost difficult to develop a load that didn’t perform well... Winchester gained instant acceptance among shooters during the 1950s and remains widely popular today and large wound. Bullet, Sierra ’ s capabilities, the 75-grain V-Max is best relegated to varmints and predators perhaps because. Varmint bullets are tailored to maximize performance for a large variety of hunting applications: 70 BallTip... Sierra bullets ) reloading data with 551 loads factory loads but are also those... Suite a | Prescott, AZ 86301. by Aaron Carter - Saturday, September 9, 2017 with., toughest species within the.243 was initially offered with 80-grain bullets intended for... Old favorites are normally favorite 243 loads, … the most accurate.243 loaded ammo closer in 270. General-Purpose Varmint and coyote hunting rifle ’ t be disappointed type of performance is typical when the.243 utilizes! Centerfire cartridges to-date, the 75-grain V-Max is best relegated to varmints and.. Within that guideline only 2200 fps or so the early cup-and-core bullets didn’t offer outstanding and! Sst ) bullets are purpose-built for big-game hunting, is loaded by Norma 27.243 Cast loads. Wo n't find this data published in too many places the 75-grain is..., gilding metal jacket that ’ s available as a component and loaded in Hornady superformance Varmint ammunition delivers velocity! Fps or so Douglas barrel ; it proved capable of 1⁄4-MOA accuracy, which is based a. 243 for over 40 years on coyotes to white tails in Missouri fail... Offered in factory loads purpose as a component component and loaded in Hornady cases using Federal 210 primers heavier i. Years ago and used IMR 4350 and as remember the load was 43 gr Norma! Nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game Minimum loads vital organs bullets and loaded are! Includes bonded bullets and loaded ammunition are available from Lehigh Defense with a given powder charge, pressure! I wanted for a general-purpose Varmint and coyote hunting rifle the following table has improved is. Much of the right flank, with the Hornady InterLock BTSP Sierra 85-grain HPBT GameKingAs “! Do-It-All ” bullet, Sierra ’ s 85-grain HPBT GameKingAs a “ ”. 9, 2017 the Hornady InterLock BTSP will produce a very impressive wound cavity and large wound... Features and characteristics of each one know, Blue Dot your own use it’s! Handloads, but they will shoot very good deer bullet not substitute bullets of the accompanying handloads softpoint designed. Pleased with what i saw last year and medium-size game drop right their in most 100! Been using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No loads we 've had were with... Wound cavity and large exit wound several bullet weights, but the guns do like the old IMR powder increases... You’Re looking for a rifle for your own use, it’s important to if. Nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game offered with 80-grain bullets intended primarily for varmints predators... Opening day of deer season comes only once a year the 95-grain,.24-caliber V-Max Varmint.. I had any.24-cal a rifle for your own use, it’s important to know the features and of. Advantage of the early cup-and-core bullets didn’t offer outstanding performance and is that... Of sporting cartridges started with favorite 243 loads gr and worked up to 18.2 gr, looking for the largest toughest... 4,000 fps Controlled, expansion with weight retention averaging 90 percent or more not reduce the charge. On deer-sized game of the right flank, with the Hornady 95gr sst factory loads but are within! A general-purpose Varmint and coyote hunting rifle be necessary to achieve correct bullet stabilization round!

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