Thread: Best 243 load

Mate, looks like it will certainly kill things!!

Might be worth giving the Sierra 85 a go too... I know Doubleshot waxes lyrical about them.....

Sierra 85 hpbt is the one. 43 - 45 grains 2209 from memory.

Originally Posted by Ginga

Sierra 85 hpbt is the one. 43 - 45 grains 2209 from memory.

Read Graeme Sturgeon's book. This pill tried and proven in the battleground meat hunting in the NW Ruahines.

My second 243 is a 700 clone with 24" trueflit #3 barrel, 1:8 twist.
in this I have loaded the following;
Berger 87gr VLD hunting, Lapua brass CCI 200 primer & 42 gr W760 (H414). Have tested it with up to 43 gr. No velocity numbers sorry. This round has taken Fallow out to 260 mtr and Tahr at 230 mtr but I would not recomend it for Tahr. Was forced to use it due to an accuracy issue.
Berger 105 gr LDV Hunting, Lapua brass CCI 200 Primer & 46 gr of Win 780 Supreme for a crono'ed 3020 fps. Did work up to 47 gr.

Please note this is a very strong custom action and I used an over length COA with the 105.

Re bullet performance.
the 75 gr Hornady is really a varmint round and is very distructive on goats at the shorter ranges I used it at.

58 gr Vmax at reduced velocity is a great goat round for short range shooting. Leaves aprox 1" exit. Does not exploded as it would at high velocities.
I can get 5 aimed rounds away while my bolt action mates get 2 away.
87 gr Berger VLD Hunting. Great on goats and fallow deer. Lots of destruction on cross body or quartering shots. performs just as they say it does. The base 40% of the projectile will exit depending upon range and body size. Have taken Red hinds with this round but thats probably close to the max I would recomend. Have shot a Tahr with one at 230 mtr recoverd bulled. Entered through rib, tore up spine and came to rest under skin of opposite side
105 gr Berger VLD Hunting. To date I have not got them to group. Even on large goats out to 200 metres they are too much bullet. Quartering entry through chest and large 6" exit though gut taking a large portion with it. Definity more suited to a Red deer sized animal.
Zane

Originally Posted by TeRei

Read Graeme Sturgeon's book. This pill tried and proven in the battleground meat hunting in the NW Ruahines.

@TeRei Is that The Hunters and the Hunted?
Looks pretty hard to find

Originally Posted by winaa

@TeRei Is that The Hunters and the Hunted?
Looks pretty hard to find

Yes.

Originally Posted by SlimySquirrel

Mate, looks like it will certainly kill things!!

Might be worth giving the Sierra 85 a go too... I know Doubleshot waxes lyrical about them.....

They are all MOD at 100 yards !