Narrowing it down (No, Really!!) Thinking .243 Final Answer!

[biblefreak]

Affordability comes with reloading! So far I have only loaded handgun rounds, so this will be my first go at rifle ammo. Fortunately I already own presses, calipers, scales, etc. I just need dies and the components. I found some Federal at Academy earlier today for $18.99 with Hornady in the $25ish range and others in between. I figure worst case I will end up with some brass to reload, best case I stumble across a good factory round!

 

[viking499]

Core-lokts usually do me for a cheap, accurate factory round.

 

[DKA]

Just got shed of my 243 with 1 in 9.25 twist, because I was going to shoot matches and it would shoot 95-105 Grain bullets great, but would scatter 55 granis all over the place. I have a 25 06 in Remington 700 SPS and love it. Will shoot anything well that I have put through it.

 

[biblefreak]

Went to the local Wal-Mart today and found an empty shelf where the <$15 Federals were and the $18 Winchester SuperX should have been. I will check the other Wally Worlds in the area and hopefully scrape up some boolits and check this thing out soon!

 

[rangerruck]

if you look around, you can usually get 243 ammo for 15 bucks a box, especially the Feddy blue box, which generally speaking, turn out to be the most accurate factory ammo anyway, and very good for hunting.

As for shooting 55 grainers out of a 243.... why?-comes to mind first, then secondly , it would need a 1/12 twist to do it right, maybe a 1/10, which kills off
any hopes for accuracy above 100 grainers.

 

[jpwilly]

Most .243 are 1/10" and will work very well for 70gr+ bullets. 1/10" gave the .243 the ability to be a deer / antelope rifle by stabalizing 100gr pills. A 1/12" eliminates 100gr bullets from being shot accurately (wont stabalize them) but makes for a mean varmint getter with 55gr bullets at 4000fps!!

 

[biblefreak]

Most .243 are 1/10" and will work very well for 70gr+ bullets. 1/10" gave the .243 the ability to be a deer / antelope rifle by stabalizing 100gr pills. A 1/12" eliminates 100gr bullets from being shot accurately (wont stabalize them) but makes for a mean varmint getter with 55gr bullets at 4000fps!!

Fortunately the Savage is a 1/9.25" so the heavier stuff should run good. I actually would like to at some point check out some of the heavier stuff, the 107gr should be fun but I am very curious to see if any of the 115gr stuff will chamber right even if it is a one round at a time scenario.

rangerruck, good info on the Fed blue box, that is actually what I am hoping to track down. If I can shoot some decent factory stuff while I am getting my reloading supplies ready then I get to shoot, plus I end up with brass! Sounds win win to me. And I agree on the 55 grainers, why!? That is kind of .223 territory, plus the BC is considerably less than the heavier stuff.

 

[bpl]

My A-bolt in .243 will shoot the Hornady 58gr Vmax sub-moa. I believe it has a 1/10 twist. It also shoots 100gr Corelokts in the moa range. Pretty accurate with no modifications. Never tried any 55gr bullets though. I would guess with a 1/9.25 twist, anything 75gr (maybe?) and above would shoot well. Hornady has a 75gr Vmax load, I believe.

Oh, the why of 55gr (or 58gr) bullets would be long range varmints and predators. A .243 will shoot these pills faster and flatter than any .223 is capable of.

 

[biblefreak]

Found some Federal 100gr Soft Points at Wally World earlier for $13.99 a box, so I picked one up to see how it shoots. Hopefully I will get to the range tomorrow and check it out and see how it does!