107 vs 108 vs 110 vs 115---Help Me Pick a Bullet, Please

[Bully]

I'll be building a regular old 243Win for my next shooter. I'm looking at the heavier weight bullets and wondering what direction I should go. The rifle will be a paper shooter at 300 with possibly a local comp or two and will go on steel to 1k once a year. I'll be running a 26" (+/- 1/2") 7 twist tube so I can handle the heavier bullets. Once I figure out a bullet I'll set the chamber up with my buddy and we'll get that all figured out.

I'm hoping to get them to run just about 3k.

I'm just going roundy-round on bullet choice so I figured let me defer to the experts (or at least more informed than myself) on the site. Any help is appreciated.

 

[johara1]

I think 7 twist is too fast, and 7.775 and 7.5 is max.

 

[jaygorski]

I think 7 twist is too fast, and 7.775 and 7.5 is max.

7.5 would be plenty, 8 twist stabilizes the DTAC.

 

[Mozella]

If you're looking for high velocity and high accuracy you would be hard pressed to beat the Berger 105gr Hybrid Target. Like most folks, I'm constantly fooling around with bullets other then Berger, commercially available ones anyhow. But when push comes to shove I find that ALL my match loads are made with Bergers. The 105 Hybrid is perfect for your 1:7 twist barrel and I would go with that bullet unless for some reason you just can't get it to shoot. Don't give up on any of the Berger low-drag, high-BC bullets until you test at seating depths producing significant jumps. If you haven't read the Berger seating article, do so.

Here's a link: http://www.bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

 

[urbanrifleman]

I switched to the Berger 108 and all I do is smile and shoot now. It is just so easy to get to shoot.

More shooting. Less screwing around.

 

[mikeinct]

With all the powder in a 243W you will be fine even at sea level with an 8 twist using 115 DTACs..I like the 105 Berger hybrid Too....Have some fun ...

 

[swd]

All are great bullets. Pick 2 and do some load development. For 300 yards it won't matter much at all and once a year at 1K, well go have fun..

 

[johara1]

If you're looking for high velocity and high accuracy you would be hard pressed to beat the Berger 105gr Hybrid Target. Like most folks, I'm constantly fooling around with bullets other then Berger, commercially available ones anyhow. But when push comes to shove I find that ALL my match loads are made with Bergers. The 105 Hybrid is perfect for your 1:7 twist barrel and I would go with that bullet unless for some reason you just can't get it to shoot. Don't give up on any of the Berger low-drag, high-BC bullets until you test at seating depths producing significant jumps. If you haven't read the Berger seating article, do so.

Here's a link: http://www.bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

I set a record with the old Hybrid but the new one and depending what lot you get, group size will vary. but 8 twist will work but 7.75 is an insurance policy. They shot good a .1 at 3030 out of a Dasher and in a 1/4 min at 3100...... Jim

 

[JBT47]

Try several bullets and go with what works best in your rifle. I still like 105 Hybrids and 105 Hunting VLD’s.

 

[smoooth]

I built a .243 a year ago, 7.5 twist Bartlein 20", shoots the old and new DTAC's great. Lots of fun and very accurate out past 800+ yards. Was going to go with a 7 twist but after much reading decided to go 7.5. If you already own it, use it, there are well known folks running very fast twist barrels out there with excellent results.

Just ordered some 105 Nosler RDF to try. Interested to see how much difference there will be in drop and drift from the DTAC's.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Try several bullets and go with what works best in your rifle. I still like 105 Hybrids and 105 Hunting VLD’s.

The 2 id start with

 

[Richard Coody]

Try several bullets and go with what works best in your rifle. I still like 105 Hybrids and 105 Hunting VLD’s.

+1

let your rifle tell you what it likes.

many wear out a barrel trying to get some bullet or powder combination to work.

 

[JaoeyP]

OP a lot of the guys in here are going to tell you to pick the bullet your barrel likes best. I gather from your post you're trying to pick a bullet and then customize the chamber to be optimized for that bullet. Since you're building a 7" twist rifle, no reason not to try for the highest BC bullets- 110 SMK, 115 DTAC, or 115 VLD. Not sure what this means chamber wise (I think the DTAC needs more freebore than the other two maybe?).

 

[Bully]

OP a lot of the guys in here are going to tell you to pick the bullet your barrel likes best. I gather from your post you're trying to pick a bullet and then customize the chamber to be optimized for that bullet. Since you're building a 7" twist rifle, no reason not to try for the highest BC bullets- 110 SMK, 115 DTAC, or 115 VLD. Not sure what this means chamber wise (I think the DTAC needs more freebore than the other two maybe?).

Thanks. I'm seriously looking at the 110SMK. Seems to be pretty slippery if a bit challenging to load.
And yes, I'm picking a bullet and building from that. I have a barrel on order but I know I can always call and change it before it goes into production if I change my mind.
Thanks to all that have contributed.

 

[JaoeyP]

Thanks. I'm seriously looking at the 110SMK. Seems to be pretty slippery if a bit challenging to load.
And yes, I'm picking a bullet and building from that. I have a barrel on order but I know I can always call and change it before it goes into production if I change my mind.
Thanks to all that have contributed.

I'm in a similar situation. I have a 7" twist Criterion on order from NSS in 243 Win. I also was originally thinking 110 SMK, but have been reading that maybe the DTAC is a little easier to tune. Guess I'll just have to shoot a bunch and play to find out, darn the luck!

 

[Bully]

I'm in a similar situation. I have a 7" twist Criterion on order from NSS in 243 Win. I also was originally thinking 110 SMK, but have been reading that maybe the DTAC is a little easier to tune. Guess I'll just have to shoot a bunch and play to find out, darn the luck!

Best of luck.
I'm probably about 4 months away from getting my barrel. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Racebannon3855]

I'll be building a regular old 243Win for my next shooter. I'm looking at the heavier weight bullets and wondering what direction I should go. The rifle will be a paper shooter at 300 with possibly a local comp or two and will go on steel to 1k once a year. I'll be running a 26" (+/- 1/2") 7 twist tube so I can handle the heavier bullets. Once I figure out a bullet I'll set the chamber up with my buddy and we'll get that all figured out.

I'm hoping to get them to run just about 3k.

I'm just going roundy-round on bullet choice so I figured let me defer to the experts (or at least more informed than myself) on the site. Any help is appreciated.

I have been shooting the 115 gr VLD Hunting in my 1:8 Twist 28" Pac-Nor 6 Ackley. My muzzle velocity is 3020 fps. I shot a 179# buck at 366 yards and a 115# doe at 322 yards. The buck was a lung shot and the doe was a top of the heart/lung shot. Both bullets exited and lungs were gone. Running 7828-SSC and RL-25 my best groups were consistently under 1" at 250 yards. After harvesting a couple deer I am happy with the 115 Bergers and 7828 so I will not be changing anything.

The rifle also shoots 85 gr Sierra Game King HPBTs very well. That kind of surprised me because of the 1:8 twist, but it works.