Cost of lighter projectiles in factory ammo

[bladeracer]

Thanks for the offer, but it's all good. I'll try different weights of factory rounds first and see how I go.

It just occurred to me, Hornady do a low-recoil line of ammo called "Custom-Lite".
It includes an 87gn SST .243 load.
I have no idea if it's available in Oz.
But I could load some 87gn VMax's at the same velocity and see how they feel.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/243-win-87-gr-sst-custom-lite#!/

87gn SST at 2800fps.

[YoungBuck]

Hey yb were ya using the ppu 90's?

Bingo. Bought a couple of boxes of it to get the shots on paper and zero it.

What position are shooting from? Prone will give you the most recoil feedback, seated from a bench would be better, standing is better still.
I would try a muzzle brake. You don't know anybody with a braked .243 you could try?

Was shooting from fold-out table I took with me, but I think it might have been a little low which might have contributed to the issue.
The brother of an in-law might have a break but my barrel isn't threaded... Tikka t3x Lite SS.

[Daddybang]

Thought so the ppu are cheaper than the name brands regardless of weight cause they're made in Serbia or one of those eastern Europe countries. And the felt recoil is a lot more than winchester or federal maybe the thicker case?.

[YoungBuck]

Or maybe try Fusion brand(yellow and orange pkt) 95gr subs (stated mv of 905fps) if I remember right. Bought some for the missus when the ppu were giving her a bit of grief and she found them much easier.

I can't tell if you're taking the piss or not lol
Either way, won't really work for me as the purpose of the rifle will be for larger targets and foxes at extended ranges (130+m) and occasionally mincing some bunnies which I am looking forward to .

It just occurred to me, Hornady do a low-recoil line of ammo called "Custom-Lite".
It includes an 87gn SST .243 load.
I have no idea if it's available in Oz.
But I could load some 87gn VMax's at the same velocity and see how they feel.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/243-win-87-gr-sst-custom-lite#!/

87gn SST at 2800fps.

Thx for the tip - I'll keep an eye out for these mate, trouble with the Hornady rounds is the damn things are at a premium price compared to everything else!

[bladeracer]

The brother of an in-law might have a break but my barrel isn't threaded... Tikka t3x Lite SS.

If you can have a shot with a braked rifle and think it helps then threading the muzzle is pretty easy to do.

That Hornady Custom-Lite load with the 87gn SST at 2800fps would be more than one-grain lower than ADI's starting load so it should be pretty comfortable.
The Hornady Custom 87gn VMax load is 3240fps for comparison.

[Daddybang]

Nah not taking the piss
We don't shoot much over100 at home.
Winchester make a 58 gr that's also pretty easy on the shoulder

[bladeracer]

Thx for the tip - I'll keep an eye out for these mate, trouble with the Hornady rounds is the damn things are at a premium price compared to everything else!

That's why we reload
My bother is using Federal 75gn HP factory ammo for full-power loads, but only until he has a nice batch of brass to reload.

[Oldbloke]

"That Hornady Custom-Lite load with the 87gn SST at 2800fps would be more than one-grain lower than ADI's starting load so it should be pretty comfortable."

I agree. Ideal for his use too.
Sounds like YB needs to get into reloading.

[Daddybang]

I think I dropped a 2 off the mv stated above

[YoungBuck]

I think I dropped a 2 off the mv stated above

Ah that explains why I though you were taking the piss - 95gr at 980fps Just Googled it, yes its 2980fps.
Does it really produce a lighter recoil? The PPU 90gr is pretty much the same MV - 2969fps.

edit: scratch that last, it's 3100fps (945m/s).

[Oldbloke]

If the ammo you are shooting is about equal to the ADI starting load it will be fairly mild recoil.

[Bent Arrow]

If the tikka still has the factory recoil pad on it, buy a limbsaver precision first pad for it, should be model 10011. I put one on my tikka T3 Hunter in 25-06 and it made a BIG difference. Screws straight on and fits neatly. I'd be very surprised if you were disappointed

[Daddybang]

I think I dropped a 2 off the mv stated above

Ah that explains why I though you were taking the piss - 95gr at 980fps Just Googled it, yes its 2980fps.
Does it really produce a lighter recoil? The PPU 90gr is pretty much the same MV - 2969fps.

edit: scratch that last, it's 3100fps (945m/s).

That sounds better!!!

[YoungBuck]

This thread is getting well off topic, but for those following along I did put on an after market recoil pad which has made quite the difference ("Smartcells advanced recoil pad").
I fired 20 x rounds at LR range today and my shoulder is only very slightly sore from it. Far less sore than from the 6 shots last time with the stock pad. Feels more like a pulled muscle now rather than bruising. Could have fired another dozen rounds before getting discomfort I reckon.

[Oldbloke]

Good. Much better then.
Are the group OK?

Reminds me I need a new one on my 3006 must be 25 yr old. Lol. Gone hard.
Will give the old one a good test tomorrow.

[Member-Deleted]

I’ve been shooting the 95gr SST Hornady factory ammo for $53 dollars a box 20, then changed to 80gr GMX Hornday for $67 dollars a box. My gun hated them so now I’m shooting the 87gr OSA buffalo river at $39 dollars and they shoot great. They have 70gr aswell for around the same price. I wouldn’t go any lighter than that on my .243. As to using lighter rounds for less recoil I’ve never really felt a difference in it with all the rounds I’ve tried over the years with .243 it’s not a real kicker.... Shoot more with it and you’ll get use to it and relax a bit. I have a 45/70 1886 Winchester with a steel butt plate and I have seen people shoot that for the first time and hold it so tight it kills them.

[YoungBuck]

now I’m shooting the 87gr OSA buffalo river at $39 dollars and they shoot great.

Of the 3 different ammo brands I shot, the Buffalo River 70gr was the only one to shoot sub MOA. I would now like to get another couple boxes of the 70gr and a box each of the 87gr and 100gr to see how they perform.
Anyone know a Melb GS that sells Buff River ammo for a decent price?

[Oldbloke]

Sounds like YB needs to get into reloading...........Am I repeating myself here?

I can load my 3006 with 130gr proj for $17 a box of 20. I never buy ammo. The LGS is asking $33 a box of 20 150 gr plus my fuel to drive to the LGS.

He doesn't sell 130gr ammo only the bullets. So I get what I want this way.

A Lee kit is about $260 from memory. The kit should pay for its self in about 10 boxes.

3006 130gr.JPG (51 KiB) Viewed 399 times

Example:
LGS lists 75 gr Hornady vmax at $49 a 100. And ADI lists AR2208 36gr as a middle of the road load. So reloading cost is about $15.40 a box of 20 for you. (not counting your time and brass, but you have that now.)

243 example.JPG (52.5 KiB) Viewed 399 times