I bought a box of Federal's 243 Win ammo loaded with Barnes 85 gr. TSX for my youngster to use this deer season in his Browning micro Midas X-Bolt. I've used ammo with the Barnes TSX bullet in the past with other rifles and they shoot great. However, on Saturday the best group I obtained at 100 yards was just over 4". Other ammo, 100 gr S&B and Hornady Lite with a 87 gr SST, shot tiny groups. Hard to understand. The rifle has a 20" barrel and a 1:10 twist.
243 Micro X-Bolt and Barnes TSX Combo: Not Good
- Thread starter Temp430
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Not every rifle will work with every ammo.
Some combo will work well while others will not.
I have a Savage 10 in .308 Winchester that refuses to group 100 gr Federal Power Shok and yet shoots tiny groups with 100 gr Winchester Power Point. Remington 100 gr Core Lokt fall somewhere in the middle. You just got to try different ammo to see which one your rifle likes.
Some combo will work well while others will not.
I have a Savage 10 in .308 Winchester that refuses to group 100 gr Federal Power Shok and yet shoots tiny groups with 100 gr Winchester Power Point. Remington 100 gr Core Lokt fall somewhere in the middle. You just got to try different ammo to see which one your rifle likes.
sixgunner455
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Use the sst. good bullet.
Temp430;
Here's what's going on: When any rifle is fired, the barrel vibrates, primarily in the verticle plane. If the muzzle is in mid-cycle when the bullet leaves the barrel, the muzzle "kicks" the base of the bullet. In other words when the tip of the bullet leaves the barrel the muzzle is pointing in a slightly different direction than when the base of the bullet departs. For best accuracy it's nice to have the bullet leave the barrel when it's at a dead stop & changing direction in the vibration cycle. That's what us handloaders are chasing as a target nirvana. Very subtle things can influence the departure timing.
If you're using factory ammo, and it sounds as though you are, you just buy & try something else. With a very popular caliber like the .243 Winchester, there's hundreds of choices, not all of which may be available to you in local stores. But it sounds as though you already have found something that gives perfectly adequate accuracy. Therefore, if you insist on using a Barnes bullet, you're probably going to have to take up handloading. If you don't want to do that, use the SST, there's nothing wrong with it.
900F
Here's what's going on: When any rifle is fired, the barrel vibrates, primarily in the verticle plane. If the muzzle is in mid-cycle when the bullet leaves the barrel, the muzzle "kicks" the base of the bullet. In other words when the tip of the bullet leaves the barrel the muzzle is pointing in a slightly different direction than when the base of the bullet departs. For best accuracy it's nice to have the bullet leave the barrel when it's at a dead stop & changing direction in the vibration cycle. That's what us handloaders are chasing as a target nirvana. Very subtle things can influence the departure timing.
If you're using factory ammo, and it sounds as though you are, you just buy & try something else. With a very popular caliber like the .243 Winchester, there's hundreds of choices, not all of which may be available to you in local stores. But it sounds as though you already have found something that gives perfectly adequate accuracy. Therefore, if you insist on using a Barnes bullet, you're probably going to have to take up handloading. If you don't want to do that, use the SST, there's nothing wrong with it.
900F
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Interesting. For years and years I've loaded the Sierra 85-grain HPBT for my .243. Around 3/4 MOA, all the time. Then Federal showed up with that as a factory load. From curiosity, I bought a box of it.
Hey! The kids done good! 3/4 MOA, just like my handloads!
So now they're using Barnes?
I guess I'll stay with my handloads.
Hey! The kids done good! 3/4 MOA, just like my handloads!
So now they're using Barnes?
I guess I'll stay with my handloads.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I don't know anything about the factory loaded ammo, but from everything I've heard Barnes bullets are a nightmare for handloaders. If you don't seat them just off the lands, they won't shoot right. That's just what I've heard, no personal experience.
Abel
Member
I have read that they are a dream to shoot....as long as they are nearly on the lands.
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