243 predator loads

[foxtrot]

I've been playing with some coyote loads for the 243 and had decided on using the 87 grain Hornady SP because it has a thin jacket and gives good intial impact which is a problem with that caliber on smaller game.The problem is I can't seem to get a pattern tighter than 1.25 inches at 100,I would like it a little better than that.I was told that it is hard to get good accuracy out of a soft point because they are nose heavy.Is there any other good 243 loads that I need to consider that would give good performance at lower velocities on coyotes??

[scottm2012]

I'm new to reloading but just throwing out some questions.  What have you done as far as testing with that bullet?  Have you changed powder, primers, brass?

[foxtrot]

I used Remington brass the whole time.Tried Federal and cci primers,4 different kinds of powder,bullet .003 off the lands,full length resize.

[Seeking_Coyotes]

I played around with my .243 alot this summer.  Tried all different powder combinations with a vmax.  Figured I might use it as a groundhog gun.  Then I realized my sons use it as a deer gun.  I came to the decision that I want to find a bullet I can use for both ground hogs, deer, coyote, etc.  I used Berger VLD for deer and they shot very well but performed terrible on deer.  I have had great success with the Nosler Ballistic Tip on deer in the .243 (but surprisingly not in the .06), but am afraid they will tear up a yote bad.  Now I am thinking that a combo bullet might be a 95 grain Nosler Partition.  Never used one but they seem like they would not splash in a coyote.  I just don't like the price...very expensive IMHO.  Still running the right bullet through my head.  Going to load some partitions I got at Cabelas on Saturday.  Open to suggestions.  Wish more folks were on this board...

[Leglifter]

I liked the 100 gr psp for deer because they went through light brush and still continued through both sides of the ribcage. I tried 70 gr hp this year and didn't like the splash. I took 2 deer with those and the bullet made it just inside the opposite ribs and never came out. Both deer only traveled less than 15 yds but the splash on the entry side of both animals was around 14 inches square, traumatizing the shoulder meat and some brisket. Only about 20% of the bullet continued through the vitals.


Why do you wish there were more people on the site?

[bigben]

What twist is the gun?  And what is exceptable accuracy for you?  I get pretty good groups with 95gr nosler bt and h4895 shooting ccbr2 primers. Only change one thing at a time.

[foxtrot]

Its a 1 in 10 twist.I always have trouble remembering but for smaller bullets do you want a slower twist?Acceptable accuracy is under 1 inch at 100 yards.

[bigben]

Will it shoot factory ammo?  A 1-10 twist should stabilize a 87 gr bullet. The heavier/longer bullet needs a faster twist to stabilize it. Are you sure there is nothing wrong with the gun such as scope being loose or broke?  Actions not tight in stock. When was the last time you cleaned the gun down to bare steel?  I had a .243 that would shoot bugholes after the barrel got warm but would turn to. 4" group at 100 yds. It was copper fouled bad.

[foxtrot]

It shoots factory 80 gr. about the best,anything bigger than that seems to go downhill.The barrel is clean and floated but the scope mounts could use some improvement.

[bigben]

I would stick with 80gr and lighter bullets then. There isnt no sense in trying to reinvent the wheel i would address your scope mount issue and make sure the barrel is clean down to bare steel. Jmo.

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Guns are strange creatures to me.  When I wanted a .243 I bought a HOWA and it shot 3" groups at best.  Called HOWA and told them about the five different bullets I tried.  To thier credit they took the gun back.  Sent me another .243 and still shot terrible.  Sold it.  Bought a Savage .243 Weather Warrior and it shoots .75 inch groups or that is as good as it can shoot with me behind the trigger.  Shoots 58 grain VMAX and 95 Grain Bergers both with that accuracy.  Sometimes things happen that are beyond my understanding.  Why the Howa's would not shoot when so many guys like them I don't know.

[bigben]

I have a weather warrior chambered in 6.5x284 and the end of the forend was hitting the barrel. I was getting unexplained flyers. Also for some reason mine likes alot of jump. Like .100 from the lands and thats the same with my bosses. And its a different chambering

[The Wolf]

Nothing beats using winchester 55gr ballistic silver tips. Consistently shooting 1" groups at 200yds and even better at 100yds. The only downside is extreme carnage. Body parts go flying at close range.

[Deerhunter#1]

got to thinking about the 243 also but what bullet. use 100 grain hor sp for deer with max load of h4350 pushing 3000 ft sec. to fast and destructive for yotes i think. looked at data for h4895 with same bullet and max load gets about 2700. i started 1 grain before start load and it shot great and should be about 2500 ft second. no actuall experience but i would think there would be limited pelt damage with this load.

[sw-nightstalker]

As we speak right now I am working on a load for my friend's 243. I am working on varmint load for him. I am loading a 58gr v-max with 4 different powders. Varget, H380, IMR 4064 and H4895. His gun is a Remington 700 SPS with a 26" barrel with a 1:9 twist barrel. I can get the load moving between 3700fps - 3800fps. I am going to load up three different loads with each powder and hopefully come up with the pet load for this gun. I will keep you posted. I have loaded with great success for the .243 is 41.5 grains IMR4350 pushing a 100gr pill around 3000fps. Very accurate.