What 70 gr. bullets have ya'll found to be the best for accuracy w/ 243?

Thanks for the help ahead of time.

It's a close tie between Speer's TNT and Nosler's Ballistic tip.....The nosler ahead by a nose maybe but not enough to overcome the price difference.
Speer has a good bullet in the TNT in every caliber it's made.

My experience has been identical to Vapodog. The Ballistic Tip has a slight edge, but some loads with the TNT are excellent.

My biggest problem is in finding a powder that is optimum for this weight bullet in .243. The best speed powder falls in the "gap" between 4320 and 4350 in the IMR lineup. I used 4320 successfully until I ran out. I'm now trying VV N160 (since I have a good supply of it), but it is a bit too slow for best velocities. Probably something on the order of H-414 would be best, but I don't have a supply and don't want make the investment to stock a new powder right now. Anybody else have a powder recommendation for the .243/70 grain combo?

brewtcl,

I have to give a slight edge to the TNT compared to the NBT. It is a slight edge indeed as I had to test them several times to figure out which one was best. This is using WW brass, CCIBR primers and 4350.

Jim

YOu want to try and accurate load with the 243 and varmint bullets, the most accurate ACROSS the board, that I have found is in my downloading quests, was Blue Dot shotgun powder.

22.5 grains is what I load for all bullet weights in 243. However, with the lighter varmint bullets like the 70 grainers, velocity is within the specs of the TNT. Speer recommends don't push them over 3400 fps, and the blue dot load of 22.5 pushes them right at 3350 out of my 24 and 26 inch barreled 243 Winchester Model 70s.

22.5 grains of powder burns clean, it is not case position or temperature sensitive, keeps the barrel a lot cooler over extended shooting periods at prairie dogs, and also cools down quicker. A pound of powder also has a lot longer life span, or gives you a heck of lot more shots per pound. The latter applies to me moreso than the first, lol.

Cheers
thunderbolt

Brewtcl: I have used the Nosler 70 gr. Ballistic Tip bullets in a couple of my 243's. They are very accurate and very lethal on Varmints. For a time I also used the 70 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in my custom heavy barreled 240 Weatherby. I used this bullet for long range Coyotes and Rock Chucks and when it came to Antelope season in the fall I also harvested several Buck Antelope with this bullet. It flew so fast and so flat that "hold on hair" was the order of the day even out to 450 yards. I have since switched to Sierra 85's in that rig for Antelope.
I would certainly suggest you try the Nosler 70's in your Rifle if Varmint quality accuracy is your main concern. That sharp point on the Nosler 70 gr. Ballistic Tips will also help downrange trajectories remain flat.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thunderbolt, have you tried Bluedot with the 55-58 grain 243 bullets?

Have used .243 exclusively for the last 10 years and have found nothing as accurate and succesfull downrange as 68gr Berger FB hollowpoints - moly coated. I have used N160 but prefer N150 now, Federal primers. Consistantly GREAT results!!

Bluedot for .243 ?? urrm never heard or tried that, allthought i use bluedot for shotgun, so could try some maybe ?
as for 70grn ballistic tip i use sierras blitz kings with 47grn Vhit N160 lapua case fed 210m
non moly,
but ny best load is Hornady 87 grn Vmax lapua case 44grn Vhit N160 5 tho off lands, brilliant load

I have used a .243 for many years and have tried just about everything out there..The Nosler 70 Gr. BT is going to be very hard to beat....THE powder (I believe) for this bullet/case combination is Varget...41 to 42 grains is just about perfect....and Varget is a stable powder so you don't have to be too concerned wiht Temp. flucations...Try it and I think you'll like it....George

Sierra makes a very accurate 70gr BTHP Match bullet that is consistent and pretty cheap to shoot. I use them in a 6mm Rem and they perform well.

I have a 6mm Rem. as well as a .243Win. and find my best accuracy come with the Sierra 70gr. HPBT, closely followed by the Nosler 70gr. Bal. Tip. Not much to chose from between these two in terms of accuracy. They're both excellent. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Give the 65gr V-MAX a try.

I'll second the 65 gr. V max preferably in front RL 15.

Take a look at the Sierra 70g Blitz kings with 38g of RL-15. It sure opened my eyes!

quote:

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Originally posted by Cal Sibley:
I have a 6mm Rem. as well as a .243Win. and find my best accuracy come with the Sierra 70gr. HPBT, closely followed by the Nosler 70gr. Bal. Tip. Not much to chose from between these two in terms of accuracy. They're both excellent. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

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That was exactly what I was going to say, Cal just beat me to it.

Between the SMK and the Ballistic Tip, if you can't get one (or both) to shoot up to your expectations, you need to start looking for problems in your rifle....

well, to add my 2 cents, i would recommend the 65gr. v-maxes pushed by 41 grns of varget, or the same charge of 414. either powder shoots great of my m77 and my buddy's 700, both varminters.

good luck

Hello coldbore,

In fact, the Nosler 70gr. Bal.Tip is the only non hollow point I load in my .243Win. I also like the Sierra 85gr. HPBT in this caliber. Funny thing about the ballistic tips. They seem to be super in .224s and .243s, but my enthusiasm doesn't extend to the larger calibers that much. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I use WC852 which is real close to H414 and much less inexpensive. My benchrest shooting buddie shot a less than .25 five shot group at 200 meters with my rifle using that powder.

quote:

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Originally posted by Cal Sibley:
Hello coldbore,

In fact, the Nosler 70gr. Bal.Tip is the only non hollow point I load in my .243Win. I also like the Sierra 85gr. HPBT in this caliber. Funny thing about the ballistic tips. They seem to be super in .224s and .243s, but my enthusiasm doesn't extend to the larger calibers that much. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

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I found this to be true for the larger calibers in NBT also.

Sierra 70gr blitz on top of N-160 in lapua cases and federal 210 primers have worked best in my .243!

Regards

quote:

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Originally posted by Stonecreek:
My experience has been identical to Vapodog. The Ballistic Tip has a slight edge, but some loads with the TNT are excellent.

My biggest problem is in finding a powder that is optimum for this weight bullet in .243. The best speed powder falls in the "gap" between 4320 and 4350 in the IMR lineup. I used 4320 successfully until I ran out. I'm now trying VV N160 (since I have a good supply of it), but it is a bit too slow for best velocities. Probably something on the order of H-414 would be best, but I don't have a supply and don't want make the investment to stock a new powder right now. Anybody else have a powder recommendation for the .243/70 grain combo?

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Stone Creek:

I don't know what velocities you are looking for , but try faster powders like IMR 4895, 4064, RL 15, Rl 7 or IMR 3031, W 748, H 380. I think you will find fine accuracy with all of them and a 70 grain bullet in a 243.

Cheers
seafire

quote:

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Originally posted by chapster1:
Bluedot for .243 ?? urrm never heard or tried that, allthought i use bluedot for shotgun, so could try some maybe ?
as for 70grn ballistic tip i use sierras blitz kings with 47grn Vhit N160 lapua case fed 210m
non moly,
but ny best load is Hornady 87 grn Vmax lapua case 44grn Vhit N160 5 tho off lands, brilliant load

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TRY a search and that NUT seafire, posted a lot of load data on Blue Dot and the 243. That fool uses 22.5 grains with a 55, or 50 or 65 or 70 and 75 grain bullet in a 243 and ends up with one hole groups! ( at 100 yds). Reduced recoil, the velocity is stil real useful and the accuracy is phenominal.

Cheers and good shooting
seafire's MOM

My AR-10(T) eats the Nosler 70 gr. BTs for lunch. It's extremely accurate with them - espcially for a click-clack.

42.7grs Varget behind a 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint gives me a group of 0.354 for 5 shots at 125 yards. Velocity is 3454fps (average for 5 shots).

This is out of a 24 inch heavy barrelled Sako AII Varmint.

Regards,

Michael.

Just a follow-on to this 2-year old post: I have since had occasion to use 70 grain Sierra Blitzkings substituted for 70 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. It is unusual for two bullets to act the same, but an identical load, seating depth, etc. with either produces identical POI and trajectory. Either seems to eliminate a prarie dog at whatever range you can hit it. The Nosler is polished to a prettier sheen than the Sierra, but the Sierra is a couple of cents cheaper per bullet, so take your choice.

I do have a friend who hunts deer with the Nosler. Its solid base provide surprising penetration for a varmint bullet. I would think that the Sierra might not prove as satisfactory on game as the Nosler, but then neither is designed for that use.