PigButtons
Member
I don't know if there is a general of thumb on whether shorter barrels like lighter bullets or heavier ones but I know if there is an answer out there you guys will know.
.243 with 22" barrel: heavy or light bullet best?
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Vern Humphrey
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There is no such rule of thumb.
The controlling factors in bullet selection are:
1. Rifling twist -- and most standard calibers have a twist fast enough to stabilize the heaviest bullet offered in the cartridge in question. An exception is the .223 Remington and similar .22 varmint cartridges, which were originally designed for bullets in the 55-grain range, but which now also have much heavier bullets. So if you have a .223 or .22-250, you need to check the rate of twist before investing in heavy bullets.
2. Intended use. For example, your .243 is considered a dual-purpose rifle, good for both larger game (deer, antelope, etc.) and varmints (rock chucks, coyotes, etc.) If you are hunting big game, use the heavier bullets.
The controlling factors in bullet selection are:
1. Rifling twist -- and most standard calibers have a twist fast enough to stabilize the heaviest bullet offered in the cartridge in question. An exception is the .223 Remington and similar .22 varmint cartridges, which were originally designed for bullets in the 55-grain range, but which now also have much heavier bullets. So if you have a .223 or .22-250, you need to check the rate of twist before investing in heavy bullets.
2. Intended use. For example, your .243 is considered a dual-purpose rifle, good for both larger game (deer, antelope, etc.) and varmints (rock chucks, coyotes, etc.) If you are hunting big game, use the heavier bullets.
PigButtons
Member
Thank you Vern, good info.
Since this will be used mostly in deer hunting it looks like we'll be going with heavier bullets.
Cheers
Since this will be used mostly in deer hunting it looks like we'll be going with heavier bullets.
Cheers
Depends on the twist rate. I have a custom 243 with a 26 in semi heavy barrel. It is twisted for 70-75 gr bullets. Anything heavier will not stay on a paper plate at 100 yds. I have no idea what the twist rate is. I built the rifle 45 years ago....chris3
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
For 100-grain bullets, odds are that at least a 1:10 would work, but a 1:9 would likely be a bit better for tight groups at the bench. My 1:10 is superb with bullets from 55 through 85 grains.
cdb1
Member
My .243 has a 22" barrel and I shoot 58 grain Vmax. My daughter's .243 has 20" barrel and she shoots 95 grainers. Both rifles are sub-moa. I have no idea what the twist is in either one.
PigButtons
Member
Thanks for all of the great responses.
interlock
Member
i think the best way to look at this and make a decision is to look at how the rifle will be used and what the target is. in this case deer. I have shot lots of deer with all lots of different rifles including 243. with .243 i have found the best bullets to be 95-100-105 grains. so therefore to make that accurate you will need, as other contributors have mentioned, a 1 in 9 barrel. Other contributors have mentioned this. With these heavier bullets the best speeds are out of 24 inch barrells... every inch off can be 200 fps. off
Gtscotty
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Interlock,
Did you mean to say that every inch less than 24 could cost you 20 fps? 20 or maybe 40 fps/in loss is a lot more realistic than 200. I get around 3180 fps with 85gr bullets out of my 22 inch .243.
To the Op, as everyone has already said, the twist of your barrel will have much more of an impact on which bullet weights your rifle will shoot well than barrel length. My .243 has a one in ten twist, and really doesn't like anything heavier than about 90gr, which is exactly why I've worked up a deer load with the reportedly excellent Sierra 85gr hpbt.
Did you mean to say that every inch less than 24 could cost you 20 fps? 20 or maybe 40 fps/in loss is a lot more realistic than 200. I get around 3180 fps with 85gr bullets out of my 22 inch .243.
To the Op, as everyone has already said, the twist of your barrel will have much more of an impact on which bullet weights your rifle will shoot well than barrel length. My .243 has a one in ten twist, and really doesn't like anything heavier than about 90gr, which is exactly why I've worked up a deer load with the reportedly excellent Sierra 85gr hpbt.
tryshoot
Member
Never had a .243 that would stabilize the 55 gr. Don't remember any of the three I tried twist rate. If you could that would be an awsome round.
interlock
Member
inches matter
Did you mean to say that every inch less than 24 could cost you 20 fps? 20 or maybe 40 fps/in loss is a lot more realistic than 200. I get around 3180 fps with 85gr bullets out of my 22 inch .243.
Yes, in some cases.. especially with heavier bullets and slower powders. try running it through some quickload equations.... i did say "up to" a lot depends on barrells.
Never had a .243 that would stabilize the 55 gr. Don't remember any of the three I tried twist rate. If you could that would be an awsome round.
not suitable for deer though.
Did you mean to say that every inch less than 24 could cost you 20 fps? 20 or maybe 40 fps/in loss is a lot more realistic than 200. I get around 3180 fps with 85gr bullets out of my 22 inch .243.
Yes, in some cases.. especially with heavier bullets and slower powders. try running it through some quickload equations.... i did say "up to" a lot depends on barrells.
Never had a .243 that would stabilize the 55 gr. Don't remember any of the three I tried twist rate. If you could that would be an awsome round.
not suitable for deer though.
this is one of those situations where it's important to understand that it's the LENGTH of the bullet that matters more than the WEIGHT in determining optimal twist. My longer skinnier berger 105g hybrids say "for 1 in 8 twist" on the box. a flat base varmint exploder can run a lot slower
I'm not very knowledgeable about twist rates and barrel lengths.I have a Win.model 70 with a 24 inch barrel and a Ruger with a 16 1/2 inch barrel.They are .243's.I use 100 grain spitzers and core-locks in both.I hunt deer and ground hogs with the model 70 and deer only with the Ruger.I have been surprised by the tight groups from the Ruger at 100 yds.Maybe I should take it for groundhogs.
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