I reviewed Sierra, Hornady, Speer & Nosler sites for .243 bullets. The bullets for long range (500 yard) target work were all designed for twists faster than 1-10. the really sleek ones were for 1-7' twists. I checked Berger and they had one 90 grain bullet with a G1 of .411. At this point that seems to be my only option for a 243 Win, 1-10" twist barrel. Are there any other options?

I think slower twist = lighter(shorter) bullets.

Right, the shorter bullets handle slower twists, but they also have lower BCs resulting in more deceleration and wind drift, which is what I'm seeking to decrease as the bullet travels 500 yards to the target.

I started using Berger 87gr VLD Hunting bullets (pn 24524). G1 BC = .412 and are designed for a 1 in 10 twist barrel. Give them a try.

Don

I have not found any negative side effects shooting lighter bullets in a faster twist.

But shooting heavier bullets in a slower twist has all kinds of negative effects.

I prefer faster for caliber twists.

Ray,
With a 1-10 twist you really are limited in what you can use in a 6mm. To run the 105/115 bullets, as you have already found, will require the 1-8 or 1-7 twist. Without changing the barrel you may have to stick to the 80-90 grain bullets. You should be OK if your only shooting out to 500 anything past that the wind is going to be a real factor.

I once shot six consecutive prairie dogs at over 500 yards using a .243 superrockchucker and Nosler 70 grain ballistic tips and on a very windy day at that. Velocity was slightly over 3,800 fps as I recall.

Don't sell the lighter bullets short.....they can be surprising.

I haven't tried anything larger than 65 gr VMax in my 6x45. They are very accurate in my particular gun. I would try some of the larger VMax's.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I once shot six consecutive prairie dogs at over 500 yards using a .243 superrockchucker and Nosler 70 grain ballistic tips and on a very windy day at that. Velocity was slightly over 3,800 fps as I recall.

Don't sell the lighter bullets short.....they can be surprising.

Vapo:

I suspect you might have done even better with a 105 gr VLD at slower velocities. Past 500, BC rules. There is a reason LR competitive shooters don't shoot light bullets.

Frankly, I used to be in the velocity crowd, but switching from a 55 gr .224 bullet to an 80 gr AMAX was stunning (in terms of wind drift and less drop in the winter).

Vapo:

I suspect you might have done even better with a 105 gr VLD at slower velocities. Past 500, BC rules. There is a reason LR competitive shooters don't shoot light bullets.

sinse the title of this thread is " .243 target bullets for 1-10 twist?"..I'm not sure if bullets of length exceeding normal 100 grains will stabilize here.....If one goes to a different twist rate, the VLDs might be a far better choice.....but confined to 1-10 twist, I'm not sure about the longer pills.

Sierra 95 SMK
Berger 95 Classic Hunter
....Then Berger 87 VLD
Berger 88 High BC FB
Hornady 87 VMAX etc.

The Sierra 95 SMK and the Berger 95 all types require a 1 - 9" twist. Hornady doesn't say the needed twist for the 87 gr; so at this point I'm still looking at the only heavier weight bullet for the 243 with 1 - 10" twist being the Berger 90 gr. Having a choice of one isn't too bad when that's the one.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Vapo:

I suspect you might have done even better with a 105 gr VLD at slower velocities. Past 500, BC rules. There is a reason LR competitive shooters don't shoot light bullets.

sinse the title of this thread is " .243 target bullets for 1-10 twist?"..I'm not sure if bullets of length exceeding normal 100 grains will stabilize here.....If one goes to a different twist rate, the VLDs might be a far better choice.....but confined to 1-10 twist, I'm not sure about the longer pills.

Gotcha: you are certainly right about that. I have some 117s and I don't know if my 1:7.5 will be enough.

quote:

Originally posted by Ray B:
The Sierra 95 SMK and the Berger 95 all types require a 1 - 9" twist. Hornady doesn't say the needed twist for the 87 gr; so at this point I'm still looking at the only heavier weight bullet for the 243 with 1 - 10" twist being the Berger 90 gr. Having a choice of one isn't too bad when that's the one.

Well yes and no.... whilst I don't suggest always second guessing the manufacturer the reality is that they have become more cautious with time.

Berger has changed recommended twists a few times and it gets quicker (tighter) all the time. I guess they don't want issues and run tests in the most unfriendly environments in "thick" air to be sure.

These 95s were both designed to run in 1 in 10 and the changes came thereafter. Yes I can read their websites.

E.g. http://bulletin.accurateshoote...-bullet-from-sierra/

I still have Berger brochures showing 1 in 10 for the Classic Hunter (including one that can't be three years old). The Classic range was designed to run in standard and most frequently encountered twists.

Shoot them. I'm darn sure they will work. Alternatively go to the effort of inputting your relevant conditions and check a stability calculator. Physics hasn't changed. Good reads on Bryan Litz's site too.

I found another target bullet rated for 1 - 10" twist, the Lapua Scenar-L 90 gr HPBT. the bullet appears very similar to the Berger 90 gr HPBT and considering that Lapua recently purchased Berger, I'm wondering if it is the same bullet. anyone have any info/experience with the Scenar-L bullet?

This is why I'm not inclined to rebarrel the rifle to obtain a 1 - 7" twist barrel. Above is a 1960 production 243 target M70 that is not yet broken-in. At fifty+ years of age it almost seems evil to move it from collector status to shooter- but it should be used for its designed purpose.

The lowly speer 85gr btsp has a published bc of 0.404.

I have been working on the same problem for the last two years. My yardage is 200-300 yards rather than 500 though. I have had my best accuracy with 70 grain Sierra match and just recently a Berger 70 grain flat base bullet. One group of 0.8 with the Sierra and another of 0.570 with the Berger. These groups were shot at 200 yards not the usual 100. I don't know how the longer distance will effect either of these bullets.

90 gr Lapua Scenars might be worth a look.

The .243 is a pretty easy cartridge to load for IMO. Back in the day I hunted ground hogs in Upper East Tennessee with a Ruger 77V and shot 75 grain Hornady HP with a flat base out to 400 yds easily.

Try the 87 Berger Vld or the 87 V-Max.

The 87 V-max is what I shoot in a 6mm HOT (6mm-47 Lapua with a no turn neck). I get 3270 with N550 and it is very accurate and surprisingly good at longer ranges...400+ yards