Loads to suit 18.5" 243

[northdude]

If the 243 doesnt work out ive got a pretty much new 30 barrel I can put on it

[GQshayne]

Yea it is but its factory.

True, so you would think that it SHOULD shoot well.

[northdude]

Yea I hope so but being an oldie with who knows how many rounds through it time will tell.

[6mm Remington]

Remington Model Seven built in 1983 likes AR2209.
This rifle came with some AR2206 handloads that shot a huge flame out the pencil barrel.

[northdude]

Ar 2209 is a bit hard to come by over here. I have some but save it for my 6.5x55

[GQshayne]

Model 7 has a 20" barrel, like the BLR. So no suprises that 2209 works well. I would be trying it at some point, but with an even shorter 18.5" barrel you would think 2208, or an equivalent will be a good option too.

[deye243]

If you are like me and like blowing s*** up and making paddock pizza try 65 grain v max and 44 grains of 08 it's quite impressive even with kangaroos I would started 42.5 and go up half a grain at a time just to make sure you're not getting any pressure signs .

[northdude]

Got the mohawk out today to see how it would go. I started out with some factory win super x 100gn factory loads so i had a base to start from, it shot a 4" group with that which didnt really surprise me as in my experiance only and im sure others will have different experiances but of the 243s ive owned im yet to have one that liked the heavier end of the scale in projectiles. I put together 2 handloads using imr 4064. The first of those was with a 85gn sierra hpbt which has shot well in the other 243s i have owned I shot a 3" group with these. Then came the speer hot core 80gn load and that went 2". These were at 100m off bags. So being an old rifle with who knows how many rounds through it it will be ok for a bush gun for over here. Its no target rifle and was never built to be one maybe tweaking the 80gn load might squeeze a little bit more out of it..

[GQshayne]

So far you are heading in the right direction then.

[in2anity]

2" is fine for a speer bullet, under a bit of wind. Go hunt!

[geoff]

Got the mohawk out today to see how it would go. I started out with some factory win super x 100gn factory loads so i had a base to start from, it shot a 4" group with that which didnt really surprise me as in my experiance only and im sure others will have different experiances but of the 243s ive owned im yet to have one that liked the heavier end of the scale in projectiles. I put together 2 handloads using imr 4064. The first of those was with a 85gn sierra hpbt which has shot well in the other 243s i have owned I shot a 3" group with these. Then came the speer hot core 80gn load and that went 2". These were at 100m off bags. So being an old rifle with who knows how many rounds through it it will be ok for a bush gun for over here. Its no target rifle and was never built to be one maybe tweaking the 80gn load might squeeze a little bit more out of it..

There aren't many factory 243 barrels that are really setup for the heavier stuff. Mine is running a 1 in 8 twist Bartlein barrel and bugholes 100gn projies

Have a go with some 75 Vmax if you can get hold of them. When my 243 was sporting a 10 twist pipe they were excellent

[northdude]

Ok that explains it cheers

[GQshayne]

I have always used 85-90gn projectiles for pig hunting in my .243. In the 1980's I used 85g Sierras, and then 87gn Hornady Interlock for a long time. I never had any issues with the Hornady but found them hard to get. I have now started uisng the same projectile that my father has used for years, the 90gn Spper Hot Cor.

The 87-90gn stuff has always worked well, and due to the 1:10 twist I have never tried 100gn stuff.

[geoff]

Yeah even with the 8 twist barrel on my rifle now, I mostly shoot the 87 Vmax. Incredibly versatile cartridge and load