BEST SIZE BULLET FOR 243 with 1-9 twist

Wendyj · June 24, 2015, 06:42 PM

Just picked up Ruger 243 with 1-9 twist. Got to get some dies. What's best bullet weight for 1-9 twist?

243winxb · June 24, 2015, 07:20 PM

Its the length of the bullet, not the weight. All these will work, but i would not expect to much from the 100 gr bullet. All around pet load is IMR 4350- 42.0gr with Sierra 85 gr hpbt, # 1530, in Rem or Win brass, with CCI BR 2 primers. [IMG]

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Wendyj · June 24, 2015, 07:57 PM

I just picked up a Ruger American in 243. I had 2 boxes of factory 90 grain swift scirocco and a box of 100 grain power shok soft points. Been searching Midway and no luck but my older 243 really liked the Scirocco. Just ordered dies and trimmer. At least I'll have 40 pieces of brass. Maybe I'll find the Scirocco somewhere. Don't know what other bullet to compare it to. Guess I'll see this weekend which factory ammo it likes best. The Remington's were good for deer here in ga and varmints. Don't think it will stabilize anything smaller. Or that's what I read anyway.

mxsailor803 · June 24, 2015, 09:15 PM

I've had a lot of success with a Sierra ProHunter 100gr using 4064. Now I don't push my loads wide open either. In my Remington 788 and my uncles RAR .243, we could get both rifles to almost cloverleaf. It was close enough for us since we use both on deer, coyotes, and foxes. I know its over kill for the smaller game but we didn't want the pelts and just get rid of the predator population some.

BumbleBug · June 24, 2015, 09:35 PM

It all depends. If you are after accuracy try all weights from 75 to 100gr. For hunting deer I'd stick with 100gr bullets. The 1 in 9 should shoot them just fine. Speer & Sierra make fine, accurate game bullets in .243 diameter.

IMHO...

...bug

surveyor · June 24, 2015, 09:43 PM

While not a 243, I have a 1:10 twist 6 mm, and it shoots the 87 v max just fine, 3430 fps from a 28" barrel, load is 0.2 below max per hogdon data (imr 4064) the 75 v max also shot well in it.but I shoot paper.

Clark · June 24, 2015, 11:25 PM

I put a 12" twist barrel on a 6mmRem today and expect to shoot 85 gr SST, or 90 or 95 gr Ballistic tip. I ordered them all, and will let the targets sort them out. The stability calculator at the Berger site:

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

I experimented with 65 gr Vmax and 75 gr Vmax in 6mmBR with an old benchrest take off barrel in 14" twist.

I have never got a keyhole with a stability of 1.0, but I have with 0.75

Wendyj · June 26, 2015, 08:07 PM

I don't plan on using the Berger bullets. Probably Nosler, Barnes or Sierra. The twist rate calculator was helpful as it picked out a lot of bullets for the 9 twist.

Snyper · June 26, 2015, 11:43 PM

For deer, a 95 gr Ballistic Tip is all you'll ever need

Hunter Customs · June 27, 2015, 07:55 AM

In most of my rifles I've been more of a mid to heavy bullet fan, because in most cases that gives me the longer length bullets that I prefer.

That being said, I have two rifles in 243 caliber, both are Remington 700s.

One is a 20 inch barrel 700ADL and it shoots Sierra 85 gr Gameking bullets loaded with IMR 4350.

The other (my favorite) is an early model 700 BDL 24 inch heavy barrel varmint model and it shoots Nosler 95 gr Ballistic Tip bullets loaded with a compressed charge of IMR 4831.

I have tried lighter bullets in both rifles but never was pleased with the results.

Wendyj · June 27, 2015, 12:49 PM

I got some decent groups out of factory 100 and 90 grain today. All I could find in store was 87 vmax but they were cheap enough for me to try them. Maybe shoot some coyotes. Dies and trimmer came in today. Got some IMR 4831 I use in 7 mag. Some IMR 4064 I use in 308. Varget and some Reloader 15. Will get some Sierra game King 100 grain Tuesday. Tried to find some 95 Berger Hollow points to order but Midway is back ordered with none in sight.

pctechdude · June 28, 2015, 08:15 AM

I use the 95 sierra hp match kings. My load is 39.5gr H4350, winchester brass, winchester large rifle primers and seated to 2.790" this is just enough to feed from the internal box magazine of my Rem. 700. Shoots a 0.273 group at 100.

Chronographed velocity was 2930 fps

I also use the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. 42gr H4350 Max charge per Hodgdon's manual. Normally I find the accuracy node well before max, however these in my gun found a 0.288" 5 shot group at the 42gr. Same winchester brass and primers. seated to 2.650"

chronographed velocity was 3215 fps

The sierra load has been insanely accurate even at longer distances. Groundhog met its fate at 410+ yards.

Wendyj · June 28, 2015, 12:09 PM

Is your Rem a 9 twist? I see lots of loads in other twists. There is a lot of bullets in same weights not going to work with this twist as I am informed by Berger twist calculater. I'm a Nosler and Sierra fan but I'm wanting to shoot hunting bullets. Varmit or deer. Bought 100 87 grain v max and loaded up about 15 or so. Berger shows I need 7 twist for these. Paper will tell but I'm not going to load anymore of them until I find out if it will stabilize in this twist. Not what I wanted to buy. Just all they had. Looking and hoping for 95 to 100 grain to work. As you can see from picture factory power shok in 100 did great but that's factory load.

RKG · June 28, 2015, 03:34 PM

Some time ago I picked up a Savage Model 14 i n.243. Definitely a "sporter" contour barrel, with a 9.25" twist. However, I've found the thing amazingly accurate, keeping slugs from as light as 60 grains to as heavy as 107 grain Sierras within 1 MOA, at least so long as you give the barrel a little time to cool.

My load experimentation isn't over yet (there is some doubt it will ever be!), but so far the biggest variable affecting accuracy has been seating depth. I've had great luck with IMR3031, Varget, IMR4064 and Reloder 15.

Wendyj · June 28, 2015, 04:00 PM

Well I'm using same powders you use because it's what I use in my 308. Only powder I've loaded a few so far with is IMR 4831. Same as my 7 mag. IMR 3031 is my go to 308 powder for 168 and under. 4064 for 178 Amax. Good results after lots of loads.

June 24, 2015, 06:42 PM	#1
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	BEST SIZE BULLET FOR 243 with 1-9 twist Just picked up Ruger 243 with 1-9 twist. Got to get some dies. What's best bullet weight for 1-9 twist? __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

June 24, 2015, 07:20 PM	#2
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	243 Winchester Its the length of the bullet, not the weight. All these will work, but i would not expect to much from the 100 gr bullet. All around pet load is IMR 4350- 42.0gr with Sierra 85 gr hpbt, # 1530, in Rem or Win brass, with CCI BR 2 primers. [IMG][/IMG]

June 24, 2015, 07:57 PM	#3
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I just picked up a Ruger American in 243. I had 2 boxes of factory 90 grain swift scirocco and a box of 100 grain power shok soft points. Been searching Midway and no luck but my older 243 really liked the Scirocco. Just ordered dies and trimmer. At least I'll have 40 pieces of brass. Maybe I'll find the Scirocco somewhere. Don't know what other bullet to compare it to. Guess I'll see this weekend which factory ammo it likes best. The Remington's were good for deer here in ga and varmints. Don't think it will stabilize anything smaller. Or that's what I read anyway. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

June 24, 2015, 11:25 PM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I put a 12" twist barrel on a 6mmRem today and expect to shoot 85 gr SST, or 90 or 95 gr Ballistic tip. I ordered them all, and will let the targets sort them out. The stability calculator at the Berger site: http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/ I experimented with 65 gr Vmax and 75 gr Vmax in 6mmBR with an old benchrest take off barrel in 14" twist. I have never got a keyhole with a stability of 1.0, but I have with 0.75 __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

June 26, 2015, 08:07 PM	#8
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I don't plan on using the Berger bullets. Probably Nosler, Barnes or Sierra. The twist rate calculator was helpful as it picked out a lot of bullets for the 9 twist. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

June 24, 2015, 09:15 PM	#4
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	I've had a lot of success with a Sierra ProHunter 100gr using 4064. Now I don't push my loads wide open either. In my Remington 788 and my uncles RAR .243, we could get both rifles to almost cloverleaf. It was close enough for us since we use both on deer, coyotes, and foxes. I know its over kill for the smaller game but we didn't want the pelts and just get rid of the predator population some.

June 24, 2015, 09:35 PM	#5
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	It all depends. If you are after accuracy try all weights from 75 to 100gr. For hunting deer I'd stick with 100gr bullets. The 1 in 9 should shoot them just fine. Speer & Sierra make fine, accurate game bullets in .243 diameter. IMHO... ...bug

June 24, 2015, 09:43 PM	#6
surveyor Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2007 Posts: 770	While not a 243, I have a 1:10 twist 6 mm, and it shoots the 87 v max just fine, 3430 fps from a 28" barrel, load is 0.2 below max per hogdon data (imr 4064) the 75 v max also shot well in it.but I shoot paper.

June 26, 2015, 11:43 PM	#9
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	For deer, a 95 gr Ballistic Tip is all you'll ever need __________________ One shot, one kill

June 27, 2015, 07:55 AM	#10
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	In most of my rifles I've been more of a mid to heavy bullet fan, because in most cases that gives me the longer length bullets that I prefer. That being said, I have two rifles in 243 caliber, both are Remington 700s. One is a 20 inch barrel 700ADL and it shoots Sierra 85 gr Gameking bullets loaded with IMR 4350. The other (my favorite) is an early model 700 BDL 24 inch heavy barrel varmint model and it shoots Nosler 95 gr Ballistic Tip bullets loaded with a compressed charge of IMR 4831. I have tried lighter bullets in both rifles but never was pleased with the results.

June 27, 2015, 12:49 PM	#11
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I got some decent groups out of factory 100 and 90 grain today. All I could find in store was 87 vmax but they were cheap enough for me to try them. Maybe shoot some coyotes. Dies and trimmer came in today. Got some IMR 4831 I use in 7 mag. Some IMR 4064 I use in 308. Varget and some Reloader 15. Will get some Sierra game King 100 grain Tuesday. Tried to find some 95 Berger Hollow points to order but Midway is back ordered with none in sight. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!! Last edited by Wendyj; June 4, 2016 at 01:18 PM.

June 28, 2015, 08:15 AM	#12
pctechdude Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2013 Posts: 159	I use the 95 sierra hp match kings. My load is 39.5gr H4350, winchester brass, winchester large rifle primers and seated to 2.790" this is just enough to feed from the internal box magazine of my Rem. 700. Shoots a 0.273 group at 100. Chronographed velocity was 2930 fps I also use the 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. 42gr H4350 Max charge per Hodgdon's manual. Normally I find the accuracy node well before max, however these in my gun found a 0.288" 5 shot group at the 42gr. Same winchester brass and primers. seated to 2.650" chronographed velocity was 3215 fps The sierra load has been insanely accurate even at longer distances. Groundhog met its fate at 410+ yards.

June 28, 2015, 12:09 PM	#13
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	Is your Rem a 9 twist? I see lots of loads in other twists. There is a lot of bullets in same weights not going to work with this twist as I am informed by Berger twist calculater. I'm a Nosler and Sierra fan but I'm wanting to shoot hunting bullets. Varmit or deer. Bought 100 87 grain v max and loaded up about 15 or so. Berger shows I need 7 twist for these. Paper will tell but I'm not going to load anymore of them until I find out if it will stabilize in this twist. Not what I wanted to buy. Just all they had. Looking and hoping for 95 to 100 grain to work. As you can see from picture factory power shok in 100 did great but that's factory load. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

June 28, 2015, 03:34 PM	#14
RKG Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 562	Some time ago I picked up a Savage Model 14 i n.243. Definitely a "sporter" contour barrel, with a 9.25" twist. However, I've found the thing amazingly accurate, keeping slugs from as light as 60 grains to as heavy as 107 grain Sierras within 1 MOA, at least so long as you give the barrel a little time to cool. My load experimentation isn't over yet (there is some doubt it will ever be!), but so far the biggest variable affecting accuracy has been seating depth. I've had great luck with IMR3031, Varget, IMR4064 and Reloder 15.

June 28, 2015, 04:00 PM	#15
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	Well I'm using same powders you use because it's what I use in my 308. Only powder I've loaded a few so far with is IMR 4831. Same as my 7 mag. IMR 3031 is my go to 308 powder for 168 and under. 4064 for 178 Amax. Good results after lots of loads. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!