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

hey guys, I have acquired a Winchester mod 70 lightweight I believe it is 1:10 twist rate 22" or maybe 24" barrel
I was thinking about either:

90g Sierra TGK games changers
or
90g Nosler spitzer ballistic tips

just wondering if anyone can recommend what powder to try

ADI
AR2208
or
AR2209

I haven't got access to my mates load manual here at work just trying to do a bit of homework
looking to use on fallow, goats, pigs and possibly reds out to 200 yards
failing that has anyone got any other suggestions for projectiles

AR2209 will be ideal for that length barrel and bullet weight.

Serria 85gr Hpbt have a good reputation and cheap as.

Also the stabilizing thing is mostly bollox. Flat base 100gr 6mm bullets will stabilise in 1:10” 99.9% of the time no problem at all. If you use the Berger stability calculator it doesn’t have a function to take into account the length of the pastic tip, because Bergers don’t use them. And it will report “marginal” stability. Use the JBM calculator and the correct value for the plastic tip, and you will see values well above the all important 1.3. Load them right and shoot them and this will be proven to you.

I have all the measurements for the new 6mm Hornady bullets cos I asked Hornady for them.

thanks @Dama dama

I was thinking about ELDX or ELDM but neither have an offering under 100g
was thinking they may not stabilize in the 1:10 twist
anyone else got any thoughts on this ????

@dannyb

It is a 1:10” twist.

The .243 Winchester and me go back many years to the 80s and for most of that time I have shot the Sierra ProHunter 100gr. Powders have come and gone but always in the same ballpark burn rate rise, and that is AR2209 or H4350 as it is known overseas. A fullish case and 2800-2850fps is perfect, not too fast as the ProHunter likes to shed weight through fragmentation and allow the base to push through. Too fast and it will make a mess. It is still highly effective at much slower impact speeds. I have a heap of info and photos on that.

As for effective range it is a lot further than you’d think and in CZ, Tikka and now Howa form it has been an absolute killing machine.

I’ve shot more deer with this bullet than all the others put together. My missus uses the same config and she is farking deadly with it.

To me the .243 Win is a precision job, its a helluva accurate round when set up right and you can put them where you like. I mostly neck and front chest shoot red deer, and into the base of the skull if its bedded down. Bullet placement is critically important and shots behind the shoulder can be slow to kill. Those that diss the .243 either through what they’ve read or maybe seen have usually experienced poor shot placement.

I use 75gr V-Max for varmints but don’t do as much with the .243 as I used to. I’ve also loaded the 85gr HPBT GameKing, the 90gr Nosler BT, the Speer HotCor and others. But I always go back to the ProHunter. I was considering trying the GameChanger but decided against it as experienced shooters who’ve tried them are saying they are too hard.

When the 6mm ELD-X comes out soon I’ll defo try that.

So boasting and big mouthing aside, I love my .243s and will never ever be without one.

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

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

Short answer No . You will be able to shoot accurately up to 100 gn flat base not boat tail . If you are not going to shoot long distance then i would go for something with a flatter point like a speer grand slam , the trick is not to push them hard , at about 2800 .
For anything else go for a good BC , one of the problems I have had with a 243 is bruising of the meat , the faster and more explosive the projectile the more you throw because of bruising .

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 like the 85-87gr bullets. Sierra gameking 85gr HPBT is well regarded, hornady do/did a 87gr HPBT combination varmint light deer bullet that my dad used for years and I have put down a few with the Berger hunting 87gr HPBT. I have mostly used W760/H414 for my reloads. Dad used mostly 4350.
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.
Zq

87g V Max
40g 2209 gives 2800fps in my factory barrel Remington 700.

Does the job for varmints.
Thumbnail group size at 100m from a cheap bipod and rear bag

Sent from my SM-A510Y using Tapatalk

federal blue box 100grn is the factory load a couple of chaps on here use with great success..... I surely hope the one you bought is the one that was for sale on here???

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

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.

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.