Thread: 243 load advice 1:10 twist winchester mod 70

Originally Posted by stug

Years ago Graeme Omlo wrote an article about the .243 for Rod and Rifle. He tried a number of projectiles, but he reckoned none worked better than the Hornady 87gr spire point.

I think some reloads done my a dude here in CHCH 20 years ago may've been loaded with these.
Was trying out other rifles and didn't really see any deer with them either so never found out how they went. Have a handful left but mate looking after my rifle when I was in OZ didn't realise that's what it was sighted in for and used a full packet of feds I had with it too. Got a deer about 200yrds with that ammo.
Now I have a handful of reloads that I would use all up sighting it back in so.......
Are they still the benchmark or have they been overtaken so to speak? They used to work so why wouldn't they now?
As a thought I know 100grs is getting up there considering the twist so 105s literally a bit hit and miss?
Example:

https://geco-munition.de/en/ammuniti...t/243-win.html

Originally Posted by Cigar

I tried the 103gr eld-x in my 24 inch 1:10 Brno, it was no good. I’m keen to try the 90gr version but they aren’t in NZ yet.
My rifle likes the 100gr pro hunter and the 85hpbt

I use 2208 in three other calibres but went with 2209 for the 243 because everyone reckoned it was better, and it gives better case fill.
I'm still working up my loads, but so far no pressure signs in my rifle at 39 grains of AR2209 with 85-87gr projectiles and 38 grains with 100gr Prohunters.

My best groups so far have been with the Sierra 100gr so definitely no stabilisation issues. Different story with the 103 eld-x, most shots missed the paper, but it is about 25% longer than the Sierra even though it's only 3% heavier.

Originally Posted by dannyb

@Flyblown
what about these would they be worth a "shot"
https://www.gunworks.co.nz/shop/item...dy-eld-x-24550

Sorry @Danny as per the comments by other fellas, I meant the 90gr ELD-X which hasn’t arrived here yet

So to answer your question, No.

The two 6mm ELD-X are good bullets to use the JBM stability calculator for. Test the theory.

103gr ELD-X: BULLET OAL 1.258”, tip length 0.14”

90gr ELD-X: Bullet OAL 1.104”, tip length 0.14”

The 103gr bullet was designed for the 6mm Creedmoor 1:8” twist.

There are a couple of fast twist .243 rifles that will stabilise them, the Remington .243s with its 9.125” twist is right on the limit at 2850fps.

The 90gr ELD-X is specially designed for 1:10” twist barrels.

After lots of American shooters complained about there not being a ELD-X for the 1:10” twist .243s, and the fact that Sierra put one on them with the 90gr GameChanger, Hornady designed the 90gr. They are a few months behind the 90gr GameChanger and we aren’t seeing them here yet.

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

Nb, Hornady have just released a 90gr ELD-X. I would be concerned that this may be a bit heavy in the jacket once you get past bush shooting ranges.

I asked a friendly Hornady tech about this. He said that the jacket thickness is proportional to the calibre, i.e. the bigger the calibre, the heavier the jacket. So the 178gr .308 is quite tough, the 6.5mm slightly less so. That has certainly been my experience of those two. So I am expecting the 90gr ELD-X to be fit for purpose, which was described as “whitetail” by the tech. If it performs like the others, it will shed one third to half its weight in little bits in a cloud of damage, and the remainder below the little lock ring will exit.

Whitetail bucks are highly variable in weight, but I normally equate them with a good fallow buck or red spiker or yearling meat hind.

Only one way to find out though.

I use Hornady 87gr HPBT’s and 2208
I could squeeze a little more speed out if I used 2206H, but everything I’ve shot, dropped.
20 inch barrel.

I grew up shooting a 243 with 100gr federal power shok soft points. Performed flawlessly and always dropped deer consistently upto big stags. Also shot a few with 80gr soft points no worries. A mate has just loaded some rounds with the 100gr Hornady soft points and his son shot a nice sized stag a few days ago at about 150. Great penetration and expansion for one dead deer. Simple old soft points work a treat if you’re not fussy.

Have had and used 243 for many years ,a great all rounder. We have always liked the 80 -85 gr bullet especially the 85 gr Partition it kills well. Lately I have been using the 95 gr SST and it shoots ok in my Rem, My grandson used this combo to shoot his first deer here in NZ, he was with my son and the young stag strolled out at 236 yards, one shot behind the shoulder and my son said that stag just tipped over with feet in the air and never moved again.
We always found the lighter bullets performed better than the 100gr bullets but then the 100's never let you down they just didn't put animals down as quick. I can't wait to get some 90 gr ELD X bullets I think they will be great, especially if they perform like the other ELD X bullets we are using at the moment.
My son in Canada has a Tikka 243 and loads the 90 gr Accubond and finds they are working well, my oldest grandson shot a nice Whitetail Buck last season at over 200 yards with a not so well placed shot but the buck only went 80 odd yards and wasn't going any further but required a finisher.
The 243 sure is a great caliber with just about any bullet weight so long as you match the bullet to the game.

I have used 80 through to 105 g but have found the Serra 85 gameking to be about perfect this has been established since the early 70s absolutly my go to cal.

Been using .243 a lot the last while, knocked over a number of deer and Tahr with the 95gn SST at 3000fps, out to 300yds, result each time no dramas. Have a good load with the 95TMK to test just coz, at 2950fps the ballistics look really good, hoping the terminal result is good too.

Have killed game in the last year with the Sierra 100GK, Sierra 85GK and the SST, like the SST the most, destructive and punches through. Not my first choice on a winter bull, but for every thing else it is just great!

flyblown, did your contact at the big H give you any indication of range or recommended impact velocities for the 6mm ELD-X?
Zq
ps, re powder for the mid range 6mm bullets H414/760 has worked well for me.
for heavy's 103-108gr I used to use W780 and this year have changed over to RL26 as W780 has been discontinued.
have not put enough rounds down range to comment yet.

No discussion of range or impact velocities, sorry.

80 or 85 gr Barnes with 2206H or 2209.

The Targex 95gr are "next level" ballistically in 10 twist 243s

Right so finally got to spend some range time.
Running Sierra prohunter 100g over 2209 ADI powder.
Unfortunately I didn't have access to a COAL gauge so I worked out COAL by feel.
As luck would have it I was close but had seated them to be just touching the lands according to my mate who measured after I had already loaded the ladder.
Results were as expected and I will now do another ladder at 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 grains and seat them 20 thou off the lands now that I know.
On a side note I need to buy a set of comparetors too.
Also in my haste I forgot the bloody chrono so I'll need that next ladder.
No pressure signs at all.

@Flyblown