.243 for varmints

[Oldnamvet]

My .243 is a real tackdriver when I use 100 gr bullets. I am thinking of loading some 55 gr bullets for varmints since you can supposedly drive them to over 4000 fps for really flat shooting. Anyone have experience using the lightest bullets in the .243? What is accuracy like? Noise level any different than when using 100 gr? Performance on something the size of a woodchuck? Or maybe an annoying crow .

 

[P95Carry]

I have not I confess tried any lightweight bullets. Quite the opposite in fact loading as I do 105 grain Speer spitzers. They seem to perform well.

I guess if thinking varmint material I just go to my Ruger 77 MkII in .223 or even Contender in same cal. 22-250 is better but I don't have one.

The range you anticipate makes some difference probably tho I tend to feel that getting a 55 grainer loaded (do they actually go that light?) - would be somewhat wasteful of the caliber's ultimate potential.

Maybe PD shooting longer range with your formula could be - shall we say - interesting!!!

 

[Jeeper]

I like it with a little heavier bullet for long shots on prarie dogs. Go above 90 grains or you are basically shooting a 223. Its advantage is with heavier bullets.

 

[scott5]

This Load May Be Too Hot For Your Rifle

Oldnamvet;
I don't know about the .243. But in my Rem 700 VLS 6mm with 26" barrel
I've driven the 55 grainers to over 4300 fps using H380 and CCI-200 primers.

My most accurate group was 0.331 going 4025 fps
The next most accurate group was 0.55 going 4071, both with five shot groups. On these groups three or four bullets are touching then one or two will stray outside the group , It may be my breathing or something I'm doing thats making the one or two shots go outside the group, It seems these Nosler 55 grainrs can shoot.

As for the noise, they are as loud as your 100 grainers.

I shot a PD in the belly with a 58gr. bullet a couple of Saturdays ago and it just looked like it had been sliced open with knife.

I hope this helps.

 

[Brock]

Best bullet I have used for Varmints in the .243is Hornadys 87gr. V-max .. I push them around 3400fps with a full dose of H4350 and when they hit they destroy chucks! Have shot chucks out to 1000yds with the 243 and those 87grainers!


Brock

 

[HSMITH]

If your 100 grainers shoot well keep using them. Accuracy is a lot more important than velocity.

 

[TEXAS LAWMAN]

60gr Sierra HP #1500

I deer and varmint hunt with an old Remington 788 / .243 Win I purchased new for $120.00 in 1976.

For varmints (mostly prairie dogs) I like the Sierra 60 grain hollow point (stock #1500) over 39.0 grains of DuPont IMR-4895. I use CCI #200 large rifle primers. OAL is 2.590". This bullet is devasastating on "dogs". When I run out of the DuPont powder, I'll have to develop one with the newer IMR or H4895.

Can't address the sound issue as I wear ear plugs under electronic muffs. Now I'm hearing (no pun intended) that the audiologists are saying that electronic muffs don't dampen sound spikes quickly enough to protect the ears????

TEXAS LAWMAN

 

[Oldnamvet]

Hearing issue

Lawman - I try to retain some of what hearing I have left by using regular muffs. The plugs drive me nuts. I lost most of mine in RVN - too many LOUD noises without any hearing protection.

From what I read I will not have to go to the lightest bullets. In somewhat populated areas I just wanted to make sure that when a bullet hits something (tree, chuck, ground) it doesn't glance off and go screaming across the countryside. Neighbors get nervous. That is why I thought the lighter bullets would be better rather than my 100 grainers. Destruction of bullet on contact with anything was my goal.

 

[Rockstar]

I've shot a bunch of 55-gr. Ballistic Tips through my .243 VLS. They're devastating. There are also a lot of choices between 55gr. and 75gr. that work well.

Shooting crows with a 100gr. bullet out of a .243 just has no appeal at all to me!

 

[Art Eatman]

Way long ago I loaded 70-grain Hornadys ahead of 40.0 grains of 3031. Extremely accurate, and devastating on varmints. Five-shot groups of 3/4 MOA were pretty much standard.

I've used the 87-grain Sierra HPBT with 37.5 grains of 3031 on everything from jackrabbits to deer. The load is also very accurate, also running mostly 3/4 MOA for five shots.

These loads worked okay in my tight-chambered Sako, but I think I'd work up to them from two grains less for starters.

I'd expect the 55-grain loads to slow down a good bit for shots beyond 250 to 300 yards; the 70s or 85/87s would probably do better. Crosswinds and all that, as well.

I bought some 55s, but haven't dug out my Round Tuit, yet.

Art

 

[sscoyote]

I'm with Brock on this 1-- the big advantage of the 24's is the higher BC bullets ESPECIALLY the 87 V-Max which just happens to be the highest BC pure varmint bullet made @ .4. If u're trying to go to long-range on varmints the caliber/bullet is tailor made for it. I just had a Savage Striker built up in .243 WSSM for long-range coyotes just to shoot this bullet. I put a 4.5-14X Leupold on top with Varmint Hunter reticle, and it's gonna be really nice for it's application.

In the past i used the 55 Nosler out of a 6AI rifle @ around 4200 mv, and it did perform well.

 

[Sunray]

"...a real tackdriver when I use 100 gr bullets..." I'd stick with the same bullet and load. Falls under Rule No. 1. The ground hog won't care what bullet sends him to chuck heaven and you'll get lots of great practice for deer season. You may find your rifle doesn't like the lighter bullets anyway. Depends on the rifling twist.
The noise level won't change with the bullet weight. If noise is an issue, you'll have to go to a lighter calibre. A .22 Hornet or the like. Good reason(Note: It's a reason, not an excuse.) to buy another rifle.
The 105 SP's I've used opened up dramatically on any ground hog they hit. One time I hit a thistle plant I couldn't see in the scope while shooting at a ground hog. The bullet blew up. Friggin' ground hog was laughing as he went down his hole too.

 

[Oldnamvet]

105 gr SP blew up??

What brand bullet was that? I'd sure hate to use it on a deer, it would just cause a nasty wound.

BTW, I already have a .22 Hornet so I'll have to come up with another excuse to buy another rifle. But I don't get hunting enough to use all the ones I have now. That is frustrating.

 

[jrumsey]

I have used the 55 and 70 grain ballistic tips on chucks with good results, all of my shots have been under 200 yards though. With the shorter range I shoot and neighbors building closer to me all the time started to look at other options than the .243 Win.

This spring built a AR15 in 6X45mm chambering and it works well on chucks at this range. While it is not a huge jump up from the .223, it allows me to shoot 6mm bullets from 55 to 90 grain. Wanted a cartridge that could perform well on chucks ad coyotes and I believe this is it.

Brass is formed by just necking up .223 Rem. in the sizing die. Can get 2700 fps with 85 - 87 grain bullets, the 70 grain can do over 3000 with ease out of my 20 inch barrel. So if you still want to shoot 6mm bullets this can be a good option.

Joe

 

[Hawken50]

i've been shooting those 60grn sierra jhp's over 43grns of imr4064 with great results on paper. 3/4" groups.

 

[saands]

I've used the 65gr vmax and even at 300+ yds they basically turn a PD inside out. Somehow I didn't know that an 87gr vmax existed ... I may have to give them a try, although the 65s do way under MOA accuracy.

Don't worry about the weight ... just pick one and have a good hunt!

Saands