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.243 Winchester

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Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: .243 Winchester
    Posted: September/19/2010 at 18:32
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/ Model: 16 FCSS   .243 Win  1 in 9.25 twist stainless accustock accutrigger with Vortex Viper 2-7 x32 BDC in talley lightweight ringmounts.
 
Well I have been watching this rifle for about 3 months sitting on the shelf with the price discounted to $499.95 struggling with do I buy it or not.   I like the build of the gun stainless synthetic light easy to carry 22 in barrel accustock accutrigger and a detachable magazine,  but I have never had a .243 or any of those teeny calibers (below 30 cal) with the exception of .223 mostly AR type guns. So now I have it and today I picked up a set of dies but I am still not sure what load to start building or what ammo to try out, since I have never had a .243.  Obviously the question would arrise what do you want to do with it and the truth is I have no idea other than shoot paper and an occasional coyote or whatever - think truck gun would be my best answer - just an all around rifle that I could polk a hole in something without so much risk of over penetration or ricochet. Note we dont get to hunt deer with rifles except late antlerless season, and I have plenty of real rifles for that, this is a play toy that I dont need but couldnt pass up and if they had one in 300 WM I would have been right at home but this was the last of the ones they had. 
 
  So are any of you shooting .243 if so what load or ammo do you like and how do you find that you use this caliber ?


Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - September/19/2010 at 18:36

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2010 at 21:12
my dad has a m70 with a heavy barrel, we used imr-4895 and a sierra 85gr bullet i think and it shot a tiny group, works great on yotes and deer both.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ckk1106 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2010 at 21:41
I've had the best results with the 100 grain nosler partitions using either RL 22 or IMR 4831.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2010 at 21:46
Originally posted by ckk1106 ckk1106 wrote:

I've had the best results with the 100 grain nosler partitions using either RL 22 or IMR 4831.

really? thats awfully slow powder for a .308 based case.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/19/2010 at 23:35
4831 should give you about 3000 fps. with 100s. use 6mm not a lot of difference, for 30 years, since the original .244 came out (first hunting rifle as a teen). can't believe everyone doesn't have a least one. 46 grs. of varget and 58 grs. give about 3800 fps, with ok accuracy. 47 grs. hybrid and 87 grs. give 3350 fps. Hybrid is the best powder for the 6mm I've tried to date, probably work in 243 as would heavier bullets with that twist. HPBT used on everything, goat,sheep, antelope, elk,mulies,a moose, occasional high country marmot. Heres a Brno,6.5 lb (with scope, nikon monarch, first year they came out) custom built by P.O. Ackley.
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Kickboxer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 03:15
I have a .243 BAR that I used exclusively for a few years for deer hunting.  75gr to 100gr.  13 of 13 deer taken with it.    Very flat shooting, good for deer to about 300 yards.  I 've never had a shot at a deer over 200 with .243.  Most less than 100 yards.  I've taken a couple of coyotes with it and a skunk who sprayed me... he fired first... 
It was my daughters' rifle, but I liked it a lot and used it when they quit hunting.  I still take it to the range occasionally and considered hunting with it this hunting season.  That was before the .375 H&H, though. 
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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 03:51
I too have been eye ballin a LH Savage in .243.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NRV Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 05:10
My favorite general purpose 243 bullet is the Sierra 85 gr. HPBT GameKing.  Very accurate and deadly.  Not the best for saving pelts, though.
 
I've also found the 243 to be very forgiving of powder selection and seating depths.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rjtfroggy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 05:54
 I have the Savage model 11 and use it just for deer hunting. I use 100gr. speer being pushed by IMR 4895 and @100 yards it is right around a .65 group so more than sufficient for deer hunting.
 With this bullet I have taken 5 deer and all have been one shot almost drop in their tracks kills,none have gone further than 25 yards. My furthest shot so far is 85 yards in the Ct. woods and here in Ct. that is about as far as it gets in the woods for a clear shot at anything.
For what you want I don't think you will be disappointed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ckk1106 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 13:57
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by ckk1106 ckk1106 wrote:

I've had the best results with the 100 grain nosler partitions using either RL 22 or IMR 4831.

really? thats awfully slow powder for a .308 based case.

Always worked well in my gun using the heavy 243 bullets.
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Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 17:26
Has anyone tried the 105 gr AMAX bullet it has a .5 balistic coefficient - no wonder I cant find any in the stores here.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote powderburn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 18:25
I predict you'll love it. I've had several over the years and all have shot very well to unbelievable (old vanguard). The 243 is well behaved and easy to get shooting . Currently I have a 77 RSI that is a nice little field rifle. I blooded it last year on a nice doe at about 200 yds and she drt to a 100 gr. core lock reload. I have mostly shot ground hogs with the ones I had using 80-85 gr bullets. I will say they seemed to be pretty explosive on the ground hogs so I am partial to 100's on deer. Currently I'm loading H414 and 4350 but have also used WW760 and H450 with good results.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 308 Sav Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 19:18
It is a great dear rifle and coyote riffle. Flatter than a 308 there are nice bullets for them too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 20:37
Originally posted by 308 Sav 308 Sav wrote:

It is a great dear rifle and coyote riffle. Flatter than a 308 there are nice bullets for them too.

its not a great deer rifle, i would argue that. its a marginal caliber for deer in my book. to me deer calibers start at .257 diameter, not 6mm. if you shoot a 100gr bullet they work very well, but most of the lighter bullets made for the .243 are designed for taking varmints.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2010 at 21:10
Originally posted by ckk1106 ckk1106 wrote:

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by ckk1106 ckk1106 wrote:

I've had the best results with the 100 grain nosler partitions using either RL 22 or IMR 4831.

really? thats awfully slow powder for a .308 based case.

Always worked well in my gun using the heavy 243 bullets.

i suspect that if you tried that with lighter stuff it wouldnt work. but i can see how yours works with those powders eventhough they really arent considered "standard" for that caliber. more like stuff you would burn in the .270.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote powderburn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2010 at 10:36
I find that I like a little slower powders for the 243 than I regularly use in my 308. You have to remember that the case/bore ratio is larger than with the larger 308 bore and the 243 in that regard is closer to a 270 than a 308. This is especially true with the heavier bullet weights. The slower powders keep the pressures in check while giving those last few fps. The 243/6mm along with the 25-06 could almost be argued to be beltless magnums giving > 3000 fps.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 308 Sav Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2010 at 11:33

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by 308 Sav 308 Sav wrote:

It is a great dear rifle and coyote riffle. Flatter than a 308 there are nice bullets for them too.

its not a great deer rifle, i would argue that. its a marginal caliber for deer in my book. to me deer calibers start at .257 diameter, not 6mm. if you shoot a 100gr bullet they work very well, but most of the lighter bullets made for the .243 are designed for taking varmints.

Well, yes it would depend on the bullets chosen just like any other caliber. I respect your opinion but it is plenty to cleanly take white tail deer with the proper bullet. For some, the lighter recoil makes shot placement easier. 

In my opinion, I am from KY, at typical distances of 75 to 150 yds it is a great deer rifle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2010 at 12:02
I think it is a great deer rifle.  Never failed to put one down (although ONE did run about 15 yards before falling).  That's about all that counts...

Edited by Kickboxer - September/21/2010 at 12:02
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2010 at 12:12
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by 308 Sav 308 Sav wrote:

It is a great dear rifle and coyote riffle. Flatter than a 308 there are nice bullets for them too.

its not a great deer rifle, i would argue that. its a marginal caliber for deer in my book. to me deer calibers start at .257 diameter, not 6mm. if you shoot a 100gr bullet they work very well, but most of the lighter bullets made for the .243 are designed for taking varmints.
Afraid I'll have to argue with you there. I'll take my .243 deer hunting all day long, and never feel under-gunned. Good 100 gr. bullet in the boiler room will put them down every time. I've never had a deer fail to go down with it out to 325 yds. I don't find deer to be hard to kill. Taken a few with a .22-250.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2010 at 12:36
Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by 308 Sav 308 Sav wrote:

It is a great dear rifle and coyote riffle. Flatter than a 308 there are nice bullets for them too.

its not a great deer rifle, i would argue that. its a marginal caliber for deer in my book. to me deer calibers start at .257 diameter, not 6mm. if you shoot a 100gr bullet they work very well, but most of the lighter bullets made for the .243 are designed for taking varmints.
Afraid I'll have to argue with you there. I'll take my .243 deer hunting all day long, and never feel under-gunned. Good 100 gr. bullet in the boiler room will put them down every time. I've never had a deer fail to go down with it out to 325 yds. I don't find deer to be hard to kill. Taken a few with a .22-250.
I agree I use a 95gr berger and the drop right there.
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