243 for F open

[1shot]

This thread should be a "must to read" for someone in the OP shoes. For those that have been there you have to know your set-up and be able to drive it. I made that decision to move from the 6SLR to a 6.5 improved. It took me an entire season to learn the cartridge. By that it's not only means how to shoot it, but what components give you the best every day performance without smoking the barrel and getting the pants kicking off of you every match. Dusty, I'm with you 100%. you hit the nail on the head when he said barrels are disposable parts of the total package. But if you can do something to give you 2,500-3,000 shots of match winning accuracy as opposed to 800-1,200, you would be foolish not to wring out every last shot that you can. When you are shooting on a no wind day, it becomes a trigger pulling contest and the good shooter that has a tack driver rifle will win his share. It's the matches the have switching winds that come 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock the best wind reader and conditions reader has an advantage. As my first coach told me one night after several top shelf beverages, "the match is won on the reloading bench and lost on the firing line." BTW, I don't shoot off a bench or a rest. Not because it's easier, but because it's harder! It's a sling and a coat for me, so those of you that talk about a 22 lb. rifle, imagine holding that rascal and shooting it for 20+ minutes to the same % level.
I hope this helps someone,
Lloyd

 

[dannyjbiggs]

FWIW, at the 2015 NRA National Mid-Range Championship held at Ben Avery Range, Phoenix, in October; the top three finishers were using the .284, or its wildcats. Plus, a good many within the top 10, also? For all-around-shooting MR and LR, it's hard to beat the Winchester .284's accuracy or its barrel life.

Dan

 

[Steve Blair]

BTW, I don't shoot off a bench or a rest. Not because it's easier, but because it's harder! It's a sling and a coat for me, so those of you that talk about a 22 lb. rifle, imagine holding that rascal and shooting it for 20+ minutes to the same % level.

[br]
You don't shoot a 22 lb. rifle and your target is four times the area. If you have never shot F-TR or Open, just accept that they are different and move on. I've shot Match and Service rifle, F-TR and F-Open. None are harder or easier than another, they are just different. Don't start this bullsh*t, it's pointless.

 

[suberjc]

We get 1800 on the average out of a 6X47 Lapua. Shoots pretty good too.

 

[whysman]

BTW, I don't shoot off a bench or a rest. Not because it's easier, but because it's harder! It's a sling and a coat for me, so those of you that talk about a 22 lb. rifle, imagine holding that rascal and shooting it for 20+ minutes to the same % level.

[br]
You don't shoot a 22 lb. rifle and your target is four times the area. If you have never shot F-TR or Open, just accept that they are different and move on. I've shot Match and Service rifle, F-TR and F-Open. None are harder or easier than another, they are just different. Don't start this bullsh*t, it's pointless.

+1

I have great respect for the various shooting disciplines. Having said that, I find that respect quickly falls when someone starts preaching on why theirs is so much more difficult when failing to acknowledge the challenges of other disciplines.

 

[liseo]

We get 1800 on the average out of a 6X47 Lapua. Shoots pretty good too.

I am building my first 600 yds rifle and my choice was the 6 SLR. Not many custom rifles in my country, F Class competition are in the first stages.

Now I am worried, because I read that the 6 SLR have better barrel life than 243 Winchester due the angle and longer neck.

Already have one 6 BR , just wanted a flatter cartdrige for these windy days.

I made a bad choice?

 

[Steve Blair]

We get 1800 on the average out of a 6X47 Lapua. Shoots pretty good too.

I am building my first 600 yds rifle and my choice was the 6 SLR. Not many custom rifles in my country, F Class competition are in the first stages.

Now I am worried, because I read that the 6 SLR have better barrel life than 243 Winchester due the angle and longer neck.

Already have one 6 BR , just wanted a flatter cartdrige for these windy days.

I made a bad choice?

[br]
Not at all, the 6 SLR is a fine cartridge. You can extend barrel life by not shooting max loads and using cooler burning powders like VV N150. Don't overheat the barrel and you'll get good barrel life. I wish my .300 WSM would go 1800 rounds but barrels are toast at 1500.

 

[comagutsa]

Thanks for the help guys. The 7mm page shows that the 284 has 4 inches less drift at 1000 than the 243. So that's not really the reason right? More of the barrel life thing?

It is both drift and barrel life.

4" less drift is huge to me. When you consider how many 9's would have been 10's or 10's would have been X's over the course of a shooting career - 4" means a lot.

The .243 will also have half the barrel life of a .284. That comes from experience with both - not BS. I'm getting 1700 to 1800 out of my .284 barrels and less than half of that when I was shooting my .243 - in fact more like 800 - 900 with the .243 and 100 grain+ bullets.

yep i used my 243 for bench and the odd f open with 105gr bullets .. it was stuffed by 1000 rounds so i replaced it with a 6BR barrel and kept the 243 barrel for hunting

 

[SDDasher]

If you want to know the capabilities of a .243 contact John Whidden. He knows a thing or three about them.

 

[rafale]

Yes john Whidden had a lot of success and records at 1000 yds with the 243 !

Michel