I'm considering a .243 Winchester to punch paper and a few varmints. I want a bullet with a fairly good BC and decent velocity. Has anyone used the Hornady A Max 87 grain bullet in a 243 (BC of .400)? What velocity did you get out of a 22" barrel? Is there a different bullet with a BC greater to or equal to .400 that I can shoot at 3100-3200 fps in this caliber?

Anybody use any 80-90 grain bullet with good results? What bullet and powder did you use?

I tried the 87 gr v-max from my Kimber, but they didn't shoot well. Maybe they would have had I experimented with more powders. What does work to perfection for my use is 58 gr v-max at 3780 fps. I get 3/4" 5-shot groups using 46 gr IMR 4064. They are hell on varmints.

duplicate

http://www.bergerbullets.com/catalog.htm Bullets in the 80gr to 90gr range should shoot well with IMR 4350 or IMR 4831 The 88gr LD bullets may be to long and may not fit your bullet seating stem. I have had great results with the 90gr BT and IMR 4831.

95gr. Berger hpbt at 3100fps.10 shot 1" group in 5 min. 50 yards.Ruger Varmint. roger

Just because a manufacturer publishes a ballistic coefficent does not make it correct. I am not saying that the 87 gr Hornady is not .4 as I have not proven it this way or that. It's just that so many actual tests of many bullets don't jive with the published numbers.

I suggest that you get the rifle you want and then see what shoots. This is where dreams meet reality.

I don't hunt in windy Bozeman where there may be less concern for a backstop richocet wise and therefore I use faster bullets for most of my varminting. I do carry big game rifles loaded for varmints and I have to pass up shots with their heavy bullets.

Sierra told me that for very long range coyotes it would be good to have at least 2300 fps striking velocity to expand in that small animal.

That said there is a 105 gr Amax with a Ci of .500 that would surely require a QT twist barrel. If it's mainly paper for the target that bullet or similar ones would drift less and with a rangefinder you could lob them in.

Tell us what you made up your mind to get. Of late I just grab a 243 like Cobrad's and go hunting.

I find the 70 grain polymer pointed bullets (NBT and Sierra Blitzking) are excellent long range bullets out of my .243. I get around 3575 out of a 24 inch barrel. BTW, you should use at least a 24 incher if your intended uses are "punching paper and an ocassional varmint".

I find no need of a heavier bullet unless going for deer/antelope.

I mainly plan to shoot paper with this rifle, so the richocet problem is not a large issue.

Stonecreek: I would prefer a 24" barrel, but I can get a new 22" take off barrel for my Savage rifle for around $50. I'm trying to weigh the benefit of the longer barrel against the additional cost. I'd really prefer a 24" barrel with a 1:9 twist to shoot the heavy bullets, but I can't seem to find one (and can't afford a custom barrel).

elk, Over the years I've used a lot of 70 and 75 grainers in 22" bbl'd 243's... H4350 kicks them out over 3,500 fps. 95 grainer's go 3,100. Never messed with 80-87 grain bullets, but this year I'll be loading the 85 TSX for my son to shoot deer and antelope with (and elk out in the sage).

elkhunter, I've had consistently good results with Hornady 87gr. BTSP's and Sierra 85gr. SP's over 41-43gr. IMR 4350: 1 moa or less @ at least 3,000fps from a 26" bbl'ed Ruger #1. You can also try milsurp IMR 7383 with these bullets, but use no more than 42gr., particularly in warmer weather, as it shows pressure spikes with the addition of very little extra powder (42gr. is close to MAX.). It too will produce 3,000fps and better than 1 moa accuracy with the aforementioned bullets.

My .243 groups outstanding with a 100 grain Sierra SPBT's and IMR4350 near max. It has also been doing real well with 85 grain Barnes X and 42 grains of IMR 4350, this is the load that my 12 year old son will use this year for his cow elk hunt too.

my "go to" bullet in 6mm has always been the 85 gr sierra HTBT - if the gun doesn't shoot that bullet I trade it off

Elkhunter ,
I have a custom .243 Ackley that I have used the 87 gn V Max in . Not the most accurate projectile I have tried but can get 5 into just over half an inch . Have tried WXR (Re22) , H4831 SC and H 4350 powders with the 4350 giving best accuracy and maximum velocity just over 3300 FPS in a 26 inch barrel .
You might get to 3100 - 3150 with a standard 22 inch .243 .
Will say that the 87 V Max is absolutely devastating on varmints by comparison with anything else I have tried .Terminal ballistics probably make up for a little poorer accuracy .
Berger make a 90 gn boattail with a BC of .410 that will be worth a look .

Thanks for the replies posted so far. How much difference am I going to see between a 22" and 24" barrel in this caliber? Does it use enough powder to require more barrel length?

elk, I've had em both ways and had one 22" bbl'd model that was faster than other 24" bbl's. As a rule however, I think 60 fps will be the average difference between 22 and 24". One thing I will say is the 243 is a LOUD round and a 24" tube certainly helps in that regard.

quote:

Originally posted by elkhunter:
Thanks for the replies posted so far. How much difference am I going to see between a 22" and 24" barrel in this caliber? Does it use enough powder to require more barrel length?

I have a 22.5" 243 that I load half a grain of H4350 under the speer max book with 85gr BTSPs. This chucks bullets out at 3175fps in the winter and 3225fps in the summer though that might be partly due to changes in powder lot#s. Regardless of the velocity it shoots flat and is a great allround bullet reputedly being BC 0.4.

Re the 22" vs 24" the main difference will be muzzle blast and noise.
Very good choice of cartridge

45 grns imr 4350 85 grn Boattail hp 3331 over my cronograph with a new Stevens 200 and 22" bbl.