Thread: The gentlemen’s caliber

Eeewww! Poo For Free! You won't find one in our safes.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Couple of final things I’d add about the .243 Win. Firstly, I’ve never loaded it hot for deer. My 100gr ProHunters have always been in the 2800-2850fps range, whereas a lot of the factory 100gr ammo is running around 3000fps, and some reloaders will try and push it faster. It’s not necessary for it to be screaming fast, for a traditional cup and core soft point to work effectively, you want a good balance of penetration and fragmentation.

What is says on the packet does not normally match up with speed results any rifle I've tested. Generally in the same region you mention with your load.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Eeewww! Poo For Free! You won't find one in our safes. What is says on the packet does not normally match up with speed results any rifle I've tested. Generally in the same region you mention with your load.

Maybe, maybe not, what I forgot to mention was that my current 243 is only a 20 inch barrel, all the previous ones were 22 inch (I think) and a lot of the factory ammo is tested in 24 inch. So what I should have said is just because it's "only" 2800fps doesn't mean you need to try and load it hot to catch up to the magic 3000 number that gets touted around as some kind of minimum requirement.

Interesting what you say though. The last time I drop tested factory ammo in mine was with Hornady Whitetail / Interlocks and even with the 20 inch barrel the ballistics had it running at about 2920fps according to my notebook here. And I'm pretty surely that was supposed to be running at about 3000? Put it this way whilst the drop test is one way of testing your velocity versus what you put in Strelock, not perfect by any means, it was a bit faster than I expected. Personally I have quite a deep distrust of chronographs, especially cheap ones.

I'm gonna assume that you belong to that club that some are suggesting needs to be locked away in a dark recess of the forum...

Originally Posted by Flyblown

I'm gonna assume that you belong to that club that some are suggesting needs to be locked away in a dark recess of the forum...

Obviously, by my remarks on speeds, I have this magnificent chambering in the safe. Being of slight build, having no hunters or shooters in the family, having never used a centrefire and a relatively old and busted up newbie I bought the mighty 243 as my first centrefire/second rifle. Love it. It's one of those 'which part of the eye do you want me to hit?' type of rounds. Biggest I've nailed with it is only wallaby at this stage. I'm still learning.