243 coyote load

[bluejazz]

I am buying a .243 Savage with a 1:9.25 twist,22" barrel for hunting coyotes this winter. I want to know what is the best factory load and bullet weight for the task and if I should look at buying Lapua ammo or brass for reloading later?. Also, after the season I would like to get into reloading, but there just seems to be so many different variables on types of bullets, powders,primers, ect. I don't want to buy 4or 5 different powders, primers, bullets to figure out what works. What is the best approach to develope an acurate hunting load for coyotes, so I can spent more time shooting and practicing, and less time reloading ? Also, if you have a load that works, please let me know.

 

[sewwhat89]

My favortie load for prey would be 88 gr Berger HBCFB with a healthy dose of H4350. I am getting 33xx according to my chrono and great accuracy with this bullet. If I drop down to 85 grs, I have another good load with H414, but I prefer the Berger for non-deer shooting and 85 gr NPs for the deer.

A great shooting factory load that works great from deer down to little critters is the blue/grey Federal 80 gr factory stuff. It shoots great in every .243 I have shot it in. I get about 3300 fps from it in cool weather, and my wife shot a 0.7xx" four shot group last winter with them at 200m shooting at a golf ball. They shoot very well for factory stuff.

 

[CPorter]

Bluejazz

I have a Rem 700 VLS in .243 Win. Do you want to save the fur? If so, use the lighter bullets.

Factory loads:
The factories are producing excellent loads with varmint bullets. I went to "Cheaper Than Dirt" and bought several different boxes to see which my gun liked best. The Federal ammo using the 70gr TNTs worked great and dropped coyotes like rocks. The Hornady 58gr Vmax and Winchester 55 gr Ballistic Silver tips loads shot well too.

Reloads:
After you find a factory load you like you can fine tune it while reloading, especially if you have a chronograph. You may need to buy a few different powders, primer and bullets to find what works best in YOUR gun. I did.


My favorites loads are:
70gr Ballistic tips
45.7 grains IMR-4831, Rem brass, Fed 210M primer seated to 2.710 OAL
43.6 grains IMR-4350, Lapua brass, Fed 215 primer seated 2.710 OAL

80gr Ballistic tips:
36.7 gr IMR-3031, Lapua brass, Fed210 primer, seated 2.815 OAL

I loaded the 55 gr ballistic tips with H414. That powder is too slow and left unburnt kernels in the barrel. I haven't tuned anymore of those but they did shoot well. IMR-3031, W760 or W748 might be a better deal


I gathered a lot of load information for the .243 and have presented it here:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/9062/shooting/index.html

 

[AndyW]

One of the better all around coyote bullets for the .243 is the 75 grain Vmax. I load them exclusively in a 6br that is my go-to coyote gun and the performance is excellent. Decent BC for the longer pokes, yet not too heavy so pelt damage is not a problem for the close calling shots.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

My favorite for coyotes is the 70TNT. I have not experienced the fur damage you would expect from them on 40+ coyotes shot with them. Second choice is the 70 BT's. This bullet in a 244 has my 2 longest kills at 480 and 560yds. Powder for 243 is IMR4350 and my new 6mm likes RL19 better. Have no experiences with the Vmax's in 243 but have used them in 222mags with good results on coyotes.