.243 help

[jds holler]

Any rear bag is better than no rear bag.

I'd say a rear bag will prolly knock your groups in half. Without one, you're testing your physical shooting abilities more than your rifles accuracy potential. -- And I'd say that you're doing pretty good. jd

 

[I_shoot_for_fun]

Those groups are pretty good for being shoulder supported. Bench technique is personal and needs to be developed to suit you and your goals. It will take a while; took me a while to learn it as well. The rifle needs to recoil as closely as possible to the same way every time, thus the rear bag to remove the more of the human element. I think you're doing pretty well if you don't have a lot of prior experience from the bench.

 

[208 parvo]

Those groups are pretty good for being shoulder supported. Bench technique is personal and needs to be developed to suit you and your goals. It will take a while; took me a while to learn it as well. The rifle needs to recoil as closely as possible to the same way every time, thus the rear bag to remove the more of the human element. I think you're doing pretty well if you don't have a lot of prior experience from the bench.

What kind of bag do I need to get

 

[DShortt]

What kind of bag do I need to get

Well, if you're a hunter and you're looking at accuracy in the field, you won't have a bag anyway.
If you're trying to evaluate just how accurate your hunting rifle can shoot under the best conditions, then a bag and front rest make sense.
So. What is it you're trying to determine?

There's no right or wrong answer. But it's relevant.

 

[208 parvo]

Well, if you're a hunter and you're looking at accuracy in the field, you won't have a bag anyway.
If you're trying to evaluate just how accurate your hunting rifle can shoot under the best conditions, then a bag and front rest make sense.
So. What is it you're trying to determine?

I would like to find the most accurate load for thermal hunting here in Idaho we have a night season on wolves which I hunt a lot so need to be very accurate to make shots to 400 to 500 yards at night

 

[DShortt]

I would like to find the most accurate load for thermal hunting here in Idaho we have a night season on wolves which I hunt a lot so need to be very accurate to make shots to 400 to 500 yards at night

OK. So you should be testing your loads off of the same set-up you're using in the field.

Some will disagree. But it's relevant. If you can't make those shots off your field set-up in practice, it's only going to get harder when it's dark in the field.

 

[3Ackleys]

Well, if you're a hunter and you're looking at accuracy in the field, you won't have a bag anyway.
If you're trying to evaluate just how accurate your hunting rifle can shoot under the best conditions, then a bag and front rest make sense.
So. What is it you're trying to determine?

There's no right or wrong answer. But it's relevant.

I always have a bag for rear support while hunting. There are light weight bags that you can clip on your pack. You don't have to have a dedicated bag, you can use your bino pack, or a coat etc. But you need rear support.
This is the bag I carry it's 4.5 oz. and very versatile:

THE MOLINATOR SHOOTING BAG

Our newest soft product, the Molinator shooting bag, is inspired by the tooth fairy. This shooting bag checks all the hunting boxes at 4.5 ounces. Reflective paneling is sewn into the handles so you can see it after you drop an animal. Sets up on the ground sloped or flat, on a fence, on a...

www.rokslide.com

 

[DShortt]

Perhaps our OP will benefit from your post. I was unaware of such gear, but I'm an old fart and more interested in comfort these days.

 

[208 parvo]

Thanks everyone I’m gonna try some of this stuff out hopefully tomorrow I’m in the shop reloading now will post groups hopefully we got it figured out
Happy new years!!!!

 

[jccinohio]

I love the 75gr v-max with Varget.. I'm using a little more powder than you mentioned (needed a drop tube) as I got a batch of varget that requires quite a bit more powder for same velocity than my last batch of varget (calm down reload police, I'm still not showing any pressure signs).. I'm getting ~3240fps (measured with Labradar) and around .75 MOA or less. My rifle though is a Rem 700 with a 20" NSS barrel.

 

[Mark W]

I have hunted with a 243 for near fifty years with at least six different rifles. One of my favorites was a 700. The first decent load work up with it was with 4064 IMR and Sierra 85 gr BT Hunting bullet. Powder charge was little warm, But this same combo has worked very well in all of the other rifles. When testing I make sure to shoot 3-shot groups with a good cool down between each. The warmer the barrel the worse.

I also have a CZ 550 in 243 Win that also shoots exceptional with IMR 4064 and Sierra 85 Gr HPBT.

Edit to Add: I also do 3 shot groups with at least 5 minutes between shots with this rifle.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

400-500 yards with thermal on wolf size target is exceptional shooting. I see why you are concerned with best possible accuracy. I would also be concerned with the terminal performance of the bullet at that range. Especially the vmax line of varmint bullets, wolves are closer to antelope in body weight.

 

[Webster]

Great quote: "If you don't have anything intelligent to say, you just might want to consider a career in politics."

Whats worse, they go into politics and we have to pick one of them when we vote.

 

[searcher]

I have an old Ruger .243 that never shot better than about 3/4" with any bullet or powder tried. After having the rifle for many years - and to a point where many would think the barrel as being "toast", I loaded up some 58 V-Maxes with Reloader 15 powder. It gave me significantly smaller groups. Experimentation is key.

 

[208 parvo]

This is the best group today I think I’m getting to where I want to be it is 3 shots at 100 yards 3/4 of an inch I don’t know why they string up and down

 

[J_idaho]

Parallax at 100 yrds is very critical. Also I don’t know if your barrel is free float or a contact style barrel. But either way too much pressure on forearm will cause contact with barrel either from bipod or bag which can cause vertical. Or could just be small amounts bad form creeping in. Let someone else shoot the gun it could get worse or better groups.

 

[208 parvo]

Parallax at 100 yrds is very critical. Also I don’t know if your barrel is free float or a contact style barrel. But either way too much pressure on forearm will cause contact with barrel either from bipod or bag which can cause vertical. Or could just be small amounts bad form creeping in. Let someone else shoot the gun it could get worse or better groups.

Hey I’m from Idaho as well I was shooting from sand bags

 

[J_idaho]

Hey I’m from Idaho as well I was shooting from sand bags

Those last groups look good. You can shoot a 243 a long way but you can’t kill far enough to even worry about needing better than .75 groups. I’d just stop where you are and go enjoy killing some coyotes. Plenty of dogs in mt home.

 

[searcher]

What kind of bag do I need to get

The problem with rear bags in actual hunting situations is weight and/or bulk in carrying it around. I use a small leather bag (about 4" x 4" x 5") that is about 85% filled with small plastic beads. They are commonly known as "squeeze bags". Once you are aiming at target, you squeeze the bag to bring the crosshairs down, relax it to elevate them. Sinclaire (now Brownell's) used to sell a great leather bag. I'm sure there are other companies that make them. If you (or wife?) are handy with a sewing machine, you can buy the small acrylic or polyester beads on Amazon or Etsy and use some old denim from some worn out jeans (or leather). Nothing high-tech about it, but is light and very portable, fitting in jacket pocket.