What would your opinion be as to the optimum bullet weight for 243 rifle with a 22" inch long barrel and 1 in 9.25 twist rate ? I will be shooting factory ammo and will not be reloading. What is the range of bullet weights recommended ? Thanks in advance for your help.
Optimum bullet weight for 243 with 1 in 9.25 twist rate ?
- Thread starter kemper
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Sin City Shootist
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My Remmy 700 likes 70's, 85's and if I'm not shooting over 600 yards 95's. Yours may vary, each gun is different.
Kachok
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It is more of a length thing then a weight thing. Standard 100gr bullets should be fine with your relativly tight 9.25 twist. 100gr core-locks and 95gr Ballistic tips both seem to enjoy a solid reputation with the 243 crowd. The All copper TSX bullets seem to be popular with the small bore guys too if you don't mind paying for premium ammo.
NCsmitty
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Flat based bullets are shorter than boat tail bullets and are usually easier to stabilize in a slower twist barrel. Boat tail and lead free are usually longer for their weight, and benefit from a faster twist.
I recommend the Federal Fusion ammo for larger game due to the bonded bullet that doesn't fragment.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=410655
NCsmitty
I recommend the Federal Fusion ammo for larger game due to the bonded bullet that doesn't fragment.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=410655
NCsmitty
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Kachok
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Exactly, a flat base round nose 100gr bullet will be much shorter then a pointed boat tail 100gr. You should be able to stabalize just about any 100gr .243 bullet in your rifling so I would not worry too much about it.
The Fusion Ammo appears to be pretty good stuff too. I personaly had bad luck with it (2 1/2" groups in my 270 WSM) but others swear by it.
The Fusion Ammo appears to be pretty good stuff too. I personaly had bad luck with it (2 1/2" groups in my 270 WSM) but others swear by it.
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I just contacted Remington with the same question and was told to go with 100 and 105 grain bullets for this gun. I tried a box of the Winchester 100 gr. Power Points and the best I could come up with was a group of 1" @ 100 yds (letting the barrel cool 3 minutes in between shots) with another shooter on the trigger. I shot 3 5-shot groups with the ammo and the best I could come up with was 2 1/4". I was ready to send the gun back to Remington until my buddy shot the 1" group. The best I could come up with reloads using 95gr. Nosler CT's was 2 1/2" and this was waiting several minutes between shots. This gun has one of the skinny fluted barrels and I can't shoot more than 3 rounds through it before it is too hot to touch. I am going to try reloading some 100 and 105 grain bullets next to see if I can come up with a decent reload in time for hunting season. If not, I've got a 788 that will shoot the 95 gr. CT's in 1" groups if I do my part. Good luck finding a decent load for your gun.
BrocLuno
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Length of the bullet
Sako Shooter
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I have a 1 in 10 twist, and I know that is not your question. But the most accurate factory ammo by far is the Federal Premium 85 grain BTHP. You may want to at least try it. Second to that is the Nosler Custom factory ammo.
Plan on 100 grain for deer. Varmints ?
I'm going to buy a box of 100 gr. Core-Lokt's and a box of Fusion first then go from there if they don't group well out of this rifle. It may see some double duty as a varmint rifle when my daughter isn't deer hunting with it, so what had been any of you guys experience witht the lighter varmint loads out of a 1 in 9.25 twist barrel ?
I'm going to buy a box of 100 gr. Core-Lokt's and a box of Fusion first then go from there if they don't group well out of this rifle. It may see some double duty as a varmint rifle when my daughter isn't deer hunting with it, so what had been any of you guys experience witht the lighter varmint loads out of a 1 in 9.25 twist barrel ?
Kachok
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No first hand experence varmiting with a 243, but the V max seems to be popular with handloaders and the 55gr Ballistic Tips have a strong reputation for factory fodder. A 1:10 twist would be better for varmint bullets, but the tradeoff would not be worth it IMHO. I much perfer the ability to stabalize heavy for caliber bullets, they are just plain better for killing larger game. My 6.5x55 has a 1:8 twist that stabalizes monster 160gr RNSP bullets that will blast through a moose. Not bad for a sissy kicker Even though that is not ideal for light weight high speed bullets my groups with 120s are still sub MOA.
Even though that is not ideal for light weight high speed bullets my groups with 120s are still sub MOA.
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Kachok
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Core-lokt is always a solid choice in darn near any caliber, but for 243 impact speeds I would opt for the 100gr Partition if you can find some. You can look the world over and never find a more consistant performer then the Partition. TSX is my second choice.
sixgunner455
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What about the 100gr Sierra Gameking? I am also trying to settle on a bullet for my new .243, and that one seems to be a good one, from what I hear.
Kachok
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Never tried SGKs when I was hunting with a .243. I strated loading them in my 270 WSM last year. Have not tried on game yet but they group nice at the range. They might be a little lightly constructed for 3400fps but I will let you know come next season.
sixgunner455
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I bought a box of the 87gr Hornadys, because I wanted to see how it does with a lighter bullet, and I'm going to get some 95-100gr bullets later this month. Just like everybody else, I just want to buy something that has a pretty good chance of having a successful outcome/load.
sixgunner455
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Do we want tiny holes?
Kachok
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Well it would make since, if you wanted a bigger hole you would not be using a 243 Small entrance and small exit don't matter as long as you are doing damage in between.
Small entrance and small exit don't matter as long as you are doing damage in between.Bill_Shelton
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Good luck Kemper in finding the perfect 243 Cartridge, for there are so many things you did not mention. For example, did you mention lead-in, ogive, chamber pressure...or anything else? Of couse you didn't...and that's why I think you can find no answers here....you must find them yourself on the shooting range
Good Luck.
Bill
Good Luck.
Bill
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I just returned from a Saturday morning shooting session, and Winchester 95 grain XP3 shot a sub-moa 4 shoot group. It is somewhat expensive, though. You may want to try this brand also.
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