IS THE 243 & 243AI THIS GOOD AT FIGHTING THE WIND?

[Bill Norris]

Was reading the article here on the site about the 243 & 243AI and wondering if anyone might have first hand real world experience with the comparison drop/drift chart below? George Gardner in the article spoke about how well his 243 fought the wind and was superior to the Rem 260 & the Tubb 6XC as well. The writer went on to say with 115 gr. DTAC bullets, the .243 rivals the 6.5-284 ballistically out to 1000 yards.

Comparative Ballistics (Drop from 100yd Zero, Drift in 10 mph Crosswind)

Cartridge	Bullet	Vel FPS	300yd Drop/Drift	600yd Drop/Drift	1000yd Drop/Drift
.243 AI	115 DTAC	3200	8.32″ | 4.08″	57.15″ | 17.57″	218.6″ | 54.8″
.243 Win	115 DTAC	3120	8.97″ | 4.24″	60.82″ | 18.25″	232.3″ | 57.0″
6XC	115 DTAC	3040	9.67″ | 4.41″	64.82″ | 19.01″	247.2″ | 59.5″
6mm Dasher	105 Berger VLD	3030	9.92″ | 4.85″	67.33″ | 21.24″	262.7″ | 67.4″
6mm BR	105 Berger VLD	2920	10.91″ | 5.08″	73.33″ | 22.35″	286.0″ | 71.4″

 

[jackieschmidt]

Wouldn’t it depend on the bullet being used in the 6.5-284?

 

[Bill Norris]

Wouldn’t it depend on the bullet being used in the 6.5-284?

Probably so.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I shoot all the top 3 on that chart. My initial thought would be a thinner sleek bullet has less surface area for the wind to act on. This thinner bullet would also have less drag than a larger caliber. Speed or flight time would determine how long the wind and gravity work on it

 

[Bill Norris]

I shoot all the top 3 on that chart. My initial thought would be a thinner sleek bullet has less surface area for the wind to act on. This thinner bullet would also have less drag than a larger caliber. Speed or flight time would determine how long the wind and gravity work on it

Great point no doubt.

 

[perazziguy]

Have ODCR build ya a 243 AI...

 

[Ranger188]

Anyone here got a 243 with a 115g up to 3120 fps?
@Rob01 has shot one for years, he might know.

 

[Bill Norris]

Have ODCR build ya a 243 AI...

Oh yea he already built me one I just have not had a chance to stretch it out yet.

 

[Phys86]

I have toyed with the idea of getting a 243 or 243 AI, or 6cm. I try to steer my cartridge and bullet choices towards ones where I can spread the same powder and primer type across everything I shoot if possible.

That said, I mainly use h4350. Do any of these shine the most with that powder and LRPs?

 

[JimSC]

think 6 creedemoor with a crewcut instead of a man bun

 

[Bill Norris]

I have toyed with the idea of getting a 243 or 243 AI, or 6cm. I try to steer my cartridge and bullet choices towards ones where I can spread the same powder and primer type across everything I shoot if possible.

That said, I mainly use h4350. Do any of these shine the most with that powder and LRPs?

H4350 works good but VV-N165 seems better in my 243AI with the 115 DTACs

 

[jackieschmidt]

Going by the theory put forth by a few posters in this thread, a 22-250 Ackley shooting 90 grain Bergers right at 3200 fps should be sitting on top of the heap.

 

[JB10]

I have toyed with the idea of getting a 243 or 243 AI, or 6cm. I try to steer my cartridge and bullet choices towards ones where I can spread the same powder and primer type across everything I shoot if possible.

That said, I mainly use h4350. Do any of these shine the most with that powder and LRPs?

I use H4350 in my 6cm with 108 eldm

 

[Bc'z]

Going by the theory put forth by a few posters in this thread, a 22-250 Ackley shooting 90 grain Bergers right at 3200 fps should be sitting on top of the heap.

Isn't your 6br running 80gr dominator up there in the velocity department?

 

[jackieschmidt]

Isn't your 6br running 80gr dominator up there in the velocity department?

I’m shooting it, (6BRA) at 3350 With 33.7 grns of 4895. That is a pretty hot load.
But that 80 grain Barts does not have that great of a BC. Pure accuracy wise, It is as good as it gets.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Its about the bullet, not cartridges. In the examples given with similar bullets, no one, no one can judge the difference required in hold off at 600 or 1000 yards between them . So it's a mute point. That's without even figuring in change in condition. This was about wind drift not accuracy.

 

[Bill Norris]

Its about the bullet, not cartridges. In the examples given with similar bullets, no one, no one can judge the difference required in hold off at 600 or 1000 yards between them . So it's a mute point. That's without even figuring in change in condition. This was about wind drift not accuracy.

Yea, I think the chart was developed as a drop/drift comparison at certain M Vs. with emphasis on which one was more capable.

 

[DocBII]

Anyone here got a 243 with a 115g up to 3120 fps?
@Rob01 has shot one for years, he might know.

Ranger,

I could get up to 3150f/s with a couple of different .243 barrel lengths. The early DTACS required sorting to obtain the most consistent results, but would work in a 1/8 twist barrel. Moly helped as well. Had to download the rounds, the range set a speed limit of 3000f/s. N-160 to N-170, depends upon the barrel length. Berger 115s required a 1/7 twist and those barrels were hard to obtain.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[Ranger188]

I had the same problem with the early 115's I would get 2 into the same hole
and then 1 flier. Did this more often than not.
Read they might have worked on this problem.

 

[Bill Norris]

I had the same problem with the early 115's I would get 2 into the same hole
and then 1 flier. Did this more often than not.
Read they might have worked on this problem.

Don't know exactly how far back that was happening but did read about it before. The ones I have were purchased by a friend of mine probably several months ago and so far I have not seen it with my 243AI. Still testing and hope to chrono soon.