.243 loads for precision shooting

[Lefty Trigger]

I have been tossing around the idea of getting into precision shooting (600yds and less) and after talking with a few people about whats involved I decided that my current rifle would be good to start out with. It's a Winchester model 70 Coyote Light .243 with 24inch barrel 1:10 twist. I was told that twist rate is not ideal but it would be fine to start with if the proper bullet is picked. Not knowing where to start I decided to stay under 95gr for bullet weights, went with Hornady V-max 75gr and 87gr. My powders on hand are Varget, IMR3031, IMR4064. Any suggestions for a starting load or just ladder up?

 

[boltgunluvr]

Of the powders and bullets you have stated.....the 87 gr with 4064. I'm assuming it's IMR.

 

[Iowa Fox]

The first time I shot a factory 1-10 243 to 1000 I used the 87V max over IMR3031 using charges out of a reloading manual. I'm still trying to figure out how it shot so well to 1K. Either my shaky old hands or the wind blew them into several good 5 shot group that day. I tried the 75 Vmax but they didn't shoot nearly as well as the 87 at distance past about 250.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

The first time I shot a factory 1-10 243 to 1000 I used the 87V max over IMR3031 using charges out of a reloading manual. I'm still trying to figure out how it shot so well to 1K. Either my shaky old hands or the wind blew them into several good 5 shot group that day. I tried the 75 Vmax but they didn't shoot nearly as well as the 87 at distance past about 250.

Thanks that good to hear, I have been told my rifle is useless above 600yds for precision shooting. I have yet to try it out that far so I'm kinda in the dark on all this.

 

[Shawnba67]

Thanks that good to hear, I have been told my rifle is useless above 600yds for precision shooting. I have yet to try it out that far so I'm kinda in the dark on all this.

Stop talking to the people that tell you such nonsense. You are the main ingredient.
You will learn a lot and have a lot of fun with that rifle.

 

[SSL]

I can't speak for the 87-grain VMAX , but I have had really good luck with both the 75-grain VMAX and the 80-grain Nosler BT Varmint. Best powders for me so far are AA2700 and H4350. No real difference in accuracy between the two.

 

[shadrac]

mine likes 87 grain berger vld

 

[SSL]

Stop talking to the people that tell you such nonsense. You are the main ingredient.
You will learn a lot and have a lot of fun with that rifle.

Exactly. Work with what you have and learn. Why invest good money in the "perfect " rifle for a purpose that you might find isn't your cup of tea? Shooting what you have will help you to determine what you need/want if you choose to continue. Best of luck.

 

[slm9s]

Lots of people hace tried to do what you're trying to do. Search here and snipers hide. Find the slipperiest bullet that your rifle will stabilize.
The head guy at GAP used the 243 for awhile in matches...

 

[KMart]

If you can't get an 85/87 grain bullet to shoot well with IMR4064 in a 243, you don't have a powder problem.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Stop talking to the people that tell you such nonsense. You are the main ingredient.
You will learn a lot and have a lot of fun with that rifle.

This holds true to every aspect of life. Most people are defeated in their minds before they can try something. In most cases it costs nothing or very very little to try something new if you proceed with caution and fore thought. The most you will be out is a little time. At my age time & health is more valuable than money now, Lol.

 

[johnfred1965]

I use my 243 for varmints. It will shoot the 70gr Btip or BK at minute of prairie dog out to 700 yds. These aren't exactly target bullets, but hey, if they shoot, why not?

 

[Rodney]

I’ve had great luck with the 75 v-max’s and 4064. My rifle has a 24 inch 1 and 10 twist barrel also. Varget would probably work good too with the lighter 6mm bullets. Haven’t tried the 87 grain, but heard they are good and should stabilize in a 1 and 10 twist. Good luck with your load development. Each gun is different so I don’t think my load data would help.

 

[tuttlefarm]

My load was 87 gr V-max with 37 grains of IMR 4064. This shot very well.

 

[K22]

I know nothing about 600 yards shooting however I've been shooting the 243 since the late 60's and have hunted a bunch of critters with it.

Here's what I learned: IMR 4064 or Varget for bullets 85 grains and under; IMR 4350 for bullets over 85 grains. IMR 4895 will also work quite well with light bullets, i.e. 80 grain and under.

The best combo I've used is the 85 grain Sierra BTHP with IMR 4064 or Varget. IMR 4350 will work with this bullet also. This bullet is very accurate in my rifles (I have 4 - 243's). This bullet shoots like a match bullet and can be used as an all around bullet for hunting with the 243, good on deer / varmints / predators.

With the 10" twist the 90 Nosler BT with IMR 4350 is very accurate if you're looking for a heavier bullet for the 10" twist.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Thanks for all the kind words of advice, clearly joining this forum was a good place to start. I have been around guns since I was old enough to handle one and my first rifle was a pre-war 7mm Mauser my dad "sporterized" back in the 60's. Last time I fired a rifle was in 1982 until recently I purchased a Mossberg MVP-LC in .223/5.56 and have been doing some distance shooting with that. When a few friends started talking me into the precision shooting thing I went and watched them shoot at very small metal animals place very far out and thought "I got to get in on this". Most everybody I spoke to told me to get a 6.5 Creedmoor or don't waste your time but the old timers said to just get a .243 to start with to see if you even like it. The .243 seems way easier (and cheaper) to find reloading stuff for it. Most of my initial cost was the scope, Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 milrad and second was the new rifle, Winchester 70 Coyote Light. All of my local ranges to shoot around me are max 300yds. but there is one near FortWayne, Indiana that goes to 1000 and also Thunder valley in eastern Ohio. I hope to be ready come spring to at least try a few local contests.........