.243 Win questions

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03-04-2019, 01:44 PM
Bill114

.243 Win questions

I have a Mossberg SSi One in .243 Win. My dad used it for years for groundhog hunting, and had some federal 100gr factory loads. I put a box through it last weekend, and after choking on the buck-a-shot ammo with mixed success, I decided to reload for it. I'm certain it has a lot of accuracy potential with lower cost. I'd pay a buck a shot if it puts them all in the same hole. I also have lots of once fired brass from the same gun.

Does anyone have powder/bullet and weight suggestions? I'll be mainly doing 100 yd range shooting, and up to 300 yd varmint hunting. The 100gr bullets are probably too heavy, but I don't know how low to go. I have a lot of Win 760, but am open to Varget and H335.

He quit using this gun when I started loading 55gr V-max for his .223. The hog population collapsed from his efforts... I'd like to start with V-max bullets unless convinced otherwise. Eld-x is also an option.

Thanks!

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03-04-2019, 02:21 PM
Flyeralan

Bill, do you know what twist the gun is? I am a long time shooter of the 243 and have used it both for varmint and still use it for PA whitetail. IMR 4350 has always been a go-to with this caliber for me. I have had a lot of accuracy success with my Win 70 with Sierra and Nosler bullets from 70 to 100 grains.
03-04-2019, 03:16 PM
JeffreyDeGraff

For varmints I’ve had very good luck with 87gr vmax with w760. That load has accounted for many many prairie dog deaths out to 700 yards.

JTD
03-04-2019, 04:08 PM
Bill114

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyeralan

Bill, do you know what twist the gun is? I am a long time shooter of the 243 and have used it both for varmint and still use it for PA whitetail. IMR 4350 has always been a go-to with this caliber for me. I have had a lot of accuracy success with my Win 70 with Sierra and Nosler bullets from 70 to 100 grains.

I'm trying to measure mine now. They say 1:10 to 1:8 is normal for .243.

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03-04-2019, 04:15 PM
Bill114

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill114

I'm trying to measure mine now. They say 1:10 to 1:8 is normal for .243.

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From the best I can measure, it's a 1:10 barrel, which would favor lighter bullet weights...

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03-04-2019, 04:17 PM
JeffreyDeGraff

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill114

From the best I can measure, it's a 1:10 barrel, which would favor lighter bullet weights...

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10 twist will handle up to 100gr hunting bullets.

JTD
03-04-2019, 04:20 PM
Bill114

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

10 twist will handle up to 100gr hunting bullets.

JTD

How low can I go for varmints? 65 gr? 75 gr?

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03-04-2019, 06:13 PM
72Camaro

I personally run 58 grain Vmax for my .243 varmint rounds and they click along with one load almost 3700fps and the other almost 3800fps using 4320 or H414, I do not remember which is which for velocity but they are very accurate.
03-04-2019, 06:17 PM
JeffreyDeGraff

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill114

How low can I go for varmints? 65 gr? 75 gr?

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All the way down to 55gr.

JTD
03-05-2019, 03:08 AM
Bill114

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffreyDeGraff

All the way down to 55gr.

JTD

Thank you!

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03-08-2019, 05:09 PM
Kbeaton

.243 Win questions

I use the 58gr Vmax for coyotes with very good results. The speed and fragmentation of the bullet makes me chuckle a little on prairie dog size targets. This is a 4 shot group.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5ddb82b55a.jpg

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03-08-2019, 05:40 PM
JeffreyDeGraff

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kbeaton

I use the 58gr Vmax for coyotes with very good results. The speed and fragmentation of the bullet makes me chuckle a little on prairie dog size targets. This is a 4 shot group.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5ddb82b55a.jpg

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I had (well still have, but waiting on a rebarrel) a custom 240 weatherby for shooting prairie dogs. It had a 1-10” twist, and shot bug hole groups with Nosler 55gr ballistic tips at 4350fps.

JTD
03-08-2019, 05:56 PM
72Camaro

And I use my 58 grain Vmax for rock chucks. Great round for them.

http://i.imgur.com/qtYiU5Al.jpg

And at 200yds before I messed the barrel up so now it shoots only about .7MOA

This is 3 shots at 200yds. Long story how I messed the barrel up.

http://i.imgur.com/bRFWEpCl.jpg
03-09-2019, 04:41 AM
SAWMAN

Some of the above is why I cannot understand why more people do not use the 243Win over some of the "varmint" chamberings. ESPECIALLY now that the >61gr bullets have come along,and the powders to load for them. Also some very well made heavy bullets designed for deep penetration. The NosPart's and the no lead types really have opened up this chambering to a wide range of game.
It is a great deer and hog round and super for coyotes and smaller critters. I killed tons of woodchucks up in Maine with a Rem 788 chambered in 243Win.
Just wish that more guns would come with a 1:9 or 1:8 twist and 24-26" bbls.--- SAWMAN
03-09-2019, 05:51 AM
72Camaro

Yep, besides varmints that Rem 700 varmint rifle in .243, I don't think they make anymore, is 26" if not mistaken and has also taken 4 deer with the 95 grain SST bullet.