Any experience with the standard, sporter weight Remington 700 in 243 caliber? In particular will their 9 1/8 twist rate properly stablilze the light weight varmint bullets? Have your guns been generally accurate? I'd like to be able to knock over prairie dogs and mule deer with the same rifle (obviously not the same load) if possible and 243 is the smallest caliber permissible for mule deer in my area. Thanks.

jayloar-

I think you'll be quite happy with that set-up. I shot a standard M700 ADL (wood stock) for a long time. Killed some deer, some groundhogs, etc with it. It was as accurate as I ever needed it to be. Shot everything from 70 to 100 grain bullets thru it. Finally rebarrelled it with.... another 243 barrel, and am still shooting it.

I would suggest though that you choose your bullets carefully for mulies. You can grow some good sized ones there in CO, and you want to make sure the bullet is up to the job.

jayloar: I haven't used a 243 for varmit hinting in a long time but think the 85gr bullet would work well. I've seen post were guys are using 70 gr or less in factory rifles and claiming great velocity and groups. I would think the barrel would heat up pretty fast using those hot loads and limit your shooting time. As to deer hunting I think the 243 even with 100 gr bullets would be alittle light for deer out here. If you had a long shot you just won't have the energy to put one down. I guess the draws will be out next month and the bad news is that they cut back the deer tags 10,000. I've only drawn once in the last 3 yrs and if I don't draw this year I'll go out of state next year. Co is getting back to get a buck tag. Well good luck!
Tom

the 243 is an great choice for both big game as well as varmits . i have killed 34 elk and 6 moose with mine as well as many deer and antalope. i use to use 90 gr speers for deer and elk now i use 95 gr nosler bT for varmits i use 70 gr speer tnts. they all preform well just remember that shot placement and range are factors in taking big game

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Originally posted by dobieman0690:
the 243 is an great choice for both big game as well as varmits . i have killed 34 elk and 6 moose with mine as well as many deer and antalope. i use to use 90 gr speers for deer and elk now i use 95 gr nosler bT for varmits i use 70 gr speer tnts. they all preform well just remember that shot placement and range are factors in taking big game

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I think it great you have taken so much game with your 243. What range are you shooting these elk,moose and deer at? Are they all one shot kills? When I first move to Co I when antelope hunting and had to trail one buck for some time on a 300 yd shot with my 243. Bullet was just above the heart. I switched over to a 6mmAI and now use a 95 gr nosler BT. Tom

I have a 700 Adl. But I put one of those Boyds varmint stocks on it for $79(?)

Anyway I used Sierra 75gr HP Varminter with Imr 4064 and started with Sierra's book loads, Worked up 1/2 grain increments. All were 5 shot groups and all shot great except 1. think that was me. Tightest 3 groups all touching. But I had some that were around 1 1/4". So I have some light loads and stiffer loads too that shoot good enough for me.
I just wanted something for coyotes. The 85 grain bullets shot good too, but didn't like the way they performed for me on coyotes.

[This message has been edited by DLS (edited 05-23-2002).]

For varmints there are a lot of good choices: 55 and 70 grain Nosler Ballistic tips are excellent, as well as 58 and 65 grain Hornady V-Max, 70 Sierra Blitz, 70 Speer TNT, 80 Sierra boat tail, and a host of others. I like to keep my varmint bullets at 80 grains or less.

For deer, although you might do fine with a conventional 100 grain bullet, I'd hedge my bets and use a 95 or 100 grain Nosler Partition for big Muleys.

Tom all of the moose have been taken at less than 100 yds the majority of the elk were shot under 200 yds the 16 1/2 in antelope at 550 yds most of the deer at under 100 yds like i said shot placement and range play a big part in using a smaller cal. rifle. a bad shot with a big maguam is just like a bad shot from a small cal. i also shoot at least once a week year round and not all shots are from a bench

I started deer hunting with a 243 in 1964. Over the years I 've killed around 20 deer and 1/2 dozen antelope with it or the 6mm Rem. When you point it straight it kills well. I have shot 1 elk and seen a couple more killed with it, I think it is somewhat over matched on elk. There are lots of better elk rounds out there.
Have used it since 1964 for coyote calling also and lets just say it plently of gun for predators.
The 243/6mm is one of my favorites, and also very useful.