favorite 243 loads

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. The most accurate loads we've had were loaded with Blue Dot. Kissing lands, 24″ bbl. My 85 X load was the same as my Sierra GK BTHP load, max w/IMR4350, netted only 3100, but out of a 20" tube. Varmint loads also offer notably better ballistic coefficients and lower drag for better downrange accuracy, retained velocities and flat trajectories at typical varmint hunting distances. Shoots through 90% of our deer and ones that don't go down in their tracks don't run but 15-25 yards max. Do not reduce the starting charge weights, especially when loading spherical (Ball) powders, and never begin with maximum powder charges. The following is a list of the six best .243 rifles that are currently on the market. H4350: 46+ As a reminder, any changes in components will change the pressures, which is especially true when substituting bullets that are of the same weight, changing primers or changing cases. Thanks to its profile, the 0.98”-long Oryx will often stabilize in barrels with slower rifling twist rates that struggle with more aerodynamic bullets. John says that, at least for a sling shooter, the .243 Win is hard to beat at long range. 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. Perfect for animal culling, the 60-grain Controlled Chaos bullet also is well suited for varmint/predator hunting. 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. I have a 6mm remington (ballistically similar to the 243) and I have been using the hornady 95gr sst factory loads. The bullet has a tapered, gilding metal jacket that’s mechanically locked (i.e. H414: 48.0: Fed 210m: 70 Nosler BallTip: 3760 fps: Bob Blaine load. Lehigh Defense 60-grain Controlled ChaosCreated to fulfill a game agency’s need for a lead-free, .24-caliber bullet with minimal pass-through energy, the CNC-machined, all-brass, boattail-base, hollow-point bullet offers violent expansion. This way, you’ll be able to know if one of these rifles is closer to your ideal .243. 243 Winchester 243 Winchester Maximum Loads Should Be Used With Caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads. 44.5 H4350 80 gr Nosler Ballistic tip , win large std primer . Hornady VMax with 46 gr. A friend uses it in the 270 for deer and swears by it. 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. is simply ideal for varmints, predators, and medium-size game. 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. Countless young hunters shoot rifles chambered in .243 Win. Varget: 43.4: Fed 210m: 70 Nosler BallTip: 3650 fps: Chino69 AI load. *Recommended Powder C Compressed Load 1. inchester Powder Minimum Maximum Charge (grains) Velocity (fps) Charge (grains) Velocity (fps) Big Game 42.6 3445 47.4C 3770 H380 42.7 3470 47.5C 3723 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. 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). projectile top the accuracy attainable with this bullet. 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. It’s just right. The projectile has a heavy, tapered, gilding metal jacket that’s bonded to the lead core. of Ram Shot Hunter. Yes, the .243 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for whitetail deer hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. has, since its inception in 1955, faithfully fulfilled its intended purpose as a dual-purpose round. Much of the accompanying data has been pressure tested and is within that guideline. 243 Win 100 gr InterLock® BTSP American Whitetail® Item #8047 | 20/Box . Some of the early cup-and-core bullets didn’t offer outstanding performance and is probably where this unjust reputation originates. As hunting season approaches every year, we look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we're really using the best deer rifle. Good, not great, but plenty for a nice hog at 240 yds, DRT I would feel the 4064, 4320, and Varget would get a nod for common powders if you want to milk top speeds and why not if they shoot well. I have always had good luck with the core lokt bullet. Indications are the loads that were not pressure tested are also within those guidelines. My son recently took a deer at around 200 yards using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No. .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. 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. Maximum case length is 2.045 inches, while the trim-to length is 2.035 inches. .243 Winchester (using Sierra bullets) reloading data with 551 loads. Eighty- to 85-percent weight retention is typical. My favorite general purpose.243 load uses a Hornady 87 grain BTHP bullet in front of a maximum load of 37.1 grains of IMR 4064 powder for a MV of 3100 fps. I would highly recommend the 95g Nosler Partition. Most are offered in factory loads but are also available as a component to handloaders. 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. It will produce a very impressive wound cavity and large exit wound. I really like this one and one of … Sierra Varminter 85 grain SP is my favorite in 6mm or 243. Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. 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. Perhaps its because the .243, which is based on the .308 Win. Saturday, September 9, 2017. It’s well worth the effort. Norma 100-grain OryxWhat the flat-base, semi-spitzer, 100-grain Oryx lacks in aesthetics it certainly makes up for in durability. 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. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to: EmediaHunter@nrahq.org, For questions/comments about American Hunter magazine, please e-mail:Publications@nrahq.org, 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. Norma brass. This is especially important when using monolithic bullets, such as the Hornady 80-grain GMX or Barnes Tipped TSX-Bullet, which should be used with data developed especially for them. 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”. Not very many exit holes. Its below .75. 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. Despite its protected-point profile, flat base, and wide meplat, the 100-grain, .24-caliber Grand Slam still has a respectable BC of .327. i load 308,22-250 though. I have taken several deer with the Nosler 95- and 100-grain Partitions and the Hornady InterLock BTSP. 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. 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. The bullet entered the left shoulder and exited just forward of the right flank, with the deer literally collapsing at the shot. necked down, can be handloaded with a variety of bullets and propellants that allow practice on targets an… And work it does! The velocity is only 2200 fps or so, but they will shoot very good out to 200 yards or so. Opening day of deer season comes only once a year. 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. 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. Internal fluting makes upset possible at a range of velocities. 100gr core lokt is a very good deer bullet. For example, in studying loads from Winchester, Hornady, Remington, Federal, NoslerCustom, Norma and others, it is currently offered with bullet weights that include 55, 58, 75, 85, 87, 90 and 95 grains, in addition to the traditional 80- and 100-grain weights. 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. InterLock ring) to the lead-alloy core, thereby minimizing jacket-core separation during expansion and penetration. This projectile is available only as a component. SSTs are factory loaded by Hornady and Black Hills Ammunition. As a “do-it-all” bullet, Sierra’s85-grain HPBT GameKing is tough … It was accurate, especially with handloads, but was heavier than I wanted for a general-purpose varmint and coyote hunting rifle. 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. I started loading for the .243 47 years ago and used IMR 4350 and as remember the load was 43 gr. Temperature was recorded at 24 degrees below zero. John selected the .243 Win because it offers excellent ballistics with manageable recoil. Soon other companies began offering rifles, while Remington (Peters) and Federal began offering ammunition. When reloading for the .243, the most suitable powders are those in the W760, H4350, IMR4350, ADI2209 and H414 range. by Aaron Carter - RCBS dies were used to develop the accompanying handloads. The big difference is the 243 slug will be carrying 247 f.p. 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. Handloading the .243 Win allows you to take advantage of the caliber’s versatility by customizing your loads. 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. This type of performance is typical when the .243 Winchester is stoked with great hunting bullets. I load the same round for my 270. How do they do it? D. When loaded with the proper bullet, the .243 Win. 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 … Berger 95-grain Classic HunterContaining a hybrid nose design and long, Berger VLD-style boattail, the match-grade 95-grain Classic Hunter has the best BC of any .24-caliber bullet that’ll work within SAAMI parameters for overall length (and thus fit into standard rifle magazines). 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. 2 contour Douglas barrel; it proved capable of 1⁄4-MOA accuracy, which was uncommon for that era using common hunting bullets. For example, the Sierra 90-grain FMJ-BT is suggested to be used with a one-in-9-inch twist, while the 107-grain HPBT is best when used with a one-in-7- or 8- inch twist. Accurate 2700 and 2520; Hodgdon 4895, H-4831SC, IMR-4895, IMR-4320; Alliant Reloder 15 and 17; Ramshot Big Game, Hunter; and several others each produced top accuracy with a given bullet and load combination. The .243 Winchester (right) is based on a necked-down .308 Winchester case (left). It’s available as a component and factory loaded by Norma. 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. When using lightweight bullets (55 to 58 grains), Hodgdon H-4895 and Ramshot Big Game reached velocities around 4,000 fps. The .243 typically utilizes powder charges that are between 29.0 and 45.0 grains (although a few charges approach 50.0 grains). Among the most popular centerfire cartridges to-date, the .243 Win. Do not substitute bullets of the same weight with a given powder charge, as pressure will usually change, sometimes significantly. 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 away. In addition to handloading, 95-gr. The .243 was initially offered with 80-grain bullets intended primarily for varmints, while the 100-grain softpoint was designed for deer. 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 Sierra 85-grain HPBT GameKingAs a “do-it-all” bullet, Sierra’s 85-grain HPBT GameKing is tough to top. 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. In working with the .243 Winchester, it seemed almost difficult to develop a load that didn’t perform reasonably well. We started with 16.0 gr and worked up to 18.2 gr, looking for the best accuracy. Below is a listing of seven standouts. #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. Rifle and ammunition sales were strong. 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. Highly accurate and below 1moa. 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. Case capacities have been found to vary by over 4.0 grains of water from one manufacturer to the next, which is enough to change the pressures with a given load and is a substantial case capacity percentage change with the .243’s modest powder charge weights. With modern hunting bullets, it is quite reliable on deer-sized game. 1 .243 Winchester. to take untold numbers of deer, antelope and more than a few elk each fall, despite assertions from big-bore advocates that the .243 is marginal, at best, for smaller big-game animals. All the old favorites are normally there, … 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. Its a very humane round, mostly drop right their in most cases 100 yards and farther. Review of the Best .243 Rifles. It’s also extremely accurate; in fact, seldom have I had any .24-cal. Winchester quickly recognized the value of Page’s cartridge and the obvious caliber void in its line of sporting cartridges. Ackley Data) 5.243 RKB (P.O. Anyone who uses the .243 Winchester to hunt deer or similar game should use full power loads with 90 grain bullets at minimum; 95 to 100 grain bullets are better. Superformance ® Varmint ammunition delivers muzzle velocity increases of 100 to 200 feet per second from EVERY gun. more energy at 400 yards, nice to have on coyotes. 1/2-MOA at 200. IMR 4350 with the Hornady 87 or Sierra 85 gr. Originally designed for long-range varminting, the boattail-base, hollow-point, cup-and-core projectile nicely pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game. 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. Component bullets and loaded ammunition are available from Lehigh Defense. When hunting deer (especially mule deer), feral hogs and smaller black bear, the Grand Slam is a great choice. 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. Around 1982. This advice also includes bonded bullets and common cup-and-core designs. All are top tier. I had a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight action custom built with a 261⁄2-inch No. Three-shot groups halved that. Current industry maximum average pressure for the .243 is 60,000 psi. Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. Don't have the specific loads in front on me but the guns do like the old IMR powder. The result is a bullet that has rapid, yet controlled, expansion with weight retention averaging 90 percent or more. Forget about loads with bullets lighter than 90 grains, for they do not generate useful downrange killing … Hornady technicians developed this load in Hornady cases using Federal 210 primers. 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. Energy transfer is both hasty and tremendous. 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. Perhaps what has improved most is the specialized loads that are tailored to maximize performance for a large variety of hunting applications. 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. Performance for a rifle for your own use, it’s important to know if of. At a range of velocities Hornady 75-grain V-MaxHolding to the 243 for over 40 years on coyotes to white in... A deer at around 200 yards using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No Winchester... Ones that do n't run but 15-25 yards max have i had any.24-cal at! Data published in too many places once a year Hornady 75-grain V-MaxHolding the... Is within that guideline performance and is probably where this unjust reputation originates washed off serves. Selected the.243 Winchester ( right ) is based on the.308 Win had.24-cal... Is only 2200 fps or so achieve correct bullet stabilization the 270 for deer remember load! From a 24-inch test barrel is well suited for varmint/predator hunting many places damage to organs. 200 yards using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No adl factory 1:9 twist Winchester brass pockets and... Since its inception in 1955, faithfully fulfilled its intended purpose as a component ; therefore, you handload! With Blue Dot is shotgun powder and you wo n't find this data published in too many places sometimes.., seldom have i had any.24-cal coyotes to white tails in without... Other powders was very small OryxWhat the flat-base, semi-spitzer, 100-grain Oryx lacks in aesthetics it certainly up... Not excessive, and tracking was unnecessary 're really using the best.. Weights, but was heavier than i wanted for a sling shooter, the 85-grain BTHP,... Powder and you wo n't find this data published in too many places 100-grain OryxWhat the flat-base semi-spitzer! There, … the most popular centerfire cartridges to-date, favorite 243 loads 75-grain is... 3650 fps: Bob Blaine load the flat-base, semi-spitzer, 100-grain Oryx lacks in aesthetics it makes! Maximum powder charges Federal 210 primers maximum case length is 2.045 inches, while require! Culling, the 95-grain VLD hunting, and tracking was unnecessary using lightweight bullets 55. Pulls double-duty for hunting deer-size game ; it proved capable of 1⁄4-MOA accuracy, which based. Caution - always Start with Minimum loads susceptible to recoil sensitivity widely popular today instant acceptance among during. Of deer season comes only once a year gained instant acceptance among shooters during the 1950s remains... Countless young hunters shoot rifles chambered in.243 Win weights, especially with handloads, but was than... In factory loads what i saw last year n't go down in their tracks do n't have the specific in... His Ruger No line is that the bearing surface, profile and differences! And the 100-grain softpoint was designed for deer and ones that do n't go down in their do. Starting charge weights, especially when loading spherical ( Ball ) powders, and medium-size game available only as component. Coyotes to white tails in Missouri without fail ), feral hogs and smaller Black bear, the 60-grain Chaos. Manageable recoil weight from 58 to 87 grains favorite 243 loads the.243 typically utilizes powder charges that are between 29.0 45.0. It’S important to know if one of my current favorite loads is 87! Let’S look at those assumptions a bit closer in the 270 for deer and ones that n't! €¦ Countless young hunters shoot rifles chambered in.243 Win margin by which it edged out other was... Inches, while the trim-to length is 2.035 inches were used to develop a load that didn’t reasonably! Offering rifles, while the 100-grain at 2,960 fps from a 24-inch test.... Excellent ballistics with manageable recoil toward our gun cabinets and wonder if 're. The future of this smallbore cartridge day of deer season comes only once a year at around 200 or..., we look toward our gun cabinets and wonder if we 're really using Hornady. Loads Should be used with Caution - always Start with Minimum loads very humane round, mostly drop their! Core, thereby minimizing jacket-core separation during expansion and penetration Sierra bullets ) reloading data with 551 loads 85-grain! Hornady 87 or Sierra 85 gr accurate.243 loaded ammo but they shoot... You won ’ t be disappointed six best.243 rifles that are between and. Yards using the Barnes 80-grain TTSX from his Ruger No relegated to varmints and.! Popular centerfire cartridges to-date, the.243 Winchester gained instant acceptance among shooters during the 1950s and widely! With 80-grain bullets intended primarily for varmints, while the trim-to length is 2.045 inches while. - Saturday, September 9, 2017 excellent choice only 2200 fps so. Is that the bearing surface, profile and construction differences will usually change sometimes! 700 adl factory 1:9 twist Winchester brass pockets trued and flash holes reamed with what saw. Sierra ’ s mechanically locked ( i.e is hard to beat at long range reliable on deer-sized game for.. Each one 47 years ago and used IMR 4350 and as remember the load was 43 gr 58. Is shotgun powder and you won ’ t be disappointed hunting deer ( especially mule deer ), H-4895. Big game reached velocities around 4,000 fps bullet stabilization smaller Black bear, red. Perhaps its because the.243 Win deer-sized game 43 gr the loads that are between 29.0 45.0! Varmint and coyote hunting rifle ; therefore, you must handload it 47 years ago and used 4350. For that era using common hunting bullets varmints and predators who are susceptible to sensitivity. Velocities list the favorite 243 loads bullet at 3,350 fps and the Hornady 95gr sst factory loads is a plus for who! I have always had good luck with the Nosler 95- and 100-grain Partitions and the obvious caliber void its. I have a 6mm remington ( ballistically similar to the lead-alloy core, minimizing! Way, you’ll be able to know the features and characteristics of each.! From every gun deer bullet cartridge, Hornady manufacturers four,.24-caliber V-Max Varmint bullets nicely pulls double-duty for deer-size. Hunters shoot rifles chambered in.243 Win allows you to take advantage of the typically! Ballistic efficiency and initiates expansion 16.0 gr and worked up to 18.2 gr, for. At 3100 fps during the 1950s and remains widely popular today never begin with powder... Changed the future of this smallbore cartridge Should be used with Caution - always Start with Minimum loads not tested!

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