.243 shoots .5 @ 100 yards- 6" @ 200?

[mattri]

Stevens 200 .243, not an expensive rifle but one that shoots very, very well.

3 touching is common and will shoot .5 all day long with Sierra 100grn Game Kings .002 off the lands over 35grns of IMR4064 in Win brass with CCI200s. Have shot this load many times with very consistant results at 100 yards.

Want to use this as a hunting load so wanted a 200 yard zero. Moved the target out to 200, same bench, same rest, same load, perfect conditions. Groups were all over the place, 4-6".

What gives? Bullets left clean holes, don't appear to be tumbling. I shoot out to 350 and 500 yards all the time with my .270 and get way better groups than that.

 

[DCRYDER]

Id have to guess that the 100 grainers are on the ragged edge with your twist rate. id bet a shorter lighter bullet will do much better. id try some 85gr gamekings.

 

[LHSmith]

Perhaps a Possible Parallax Problem.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies. Will try a lighter bullet. Scope has the prlx knob on the side, it's set at 200.

 

[MARK25-06]

its only 1in9.25 wont shoot 100gr. 95 is tops 87 is better MARK25-06

 

[Neale]

Your twist shouldn't be the problem. I shot 105 amax in my savage .243 same tw as your stevens and I'm pretty sure the same length (22"). With a mild load of h4350 38.5gr it was fine, shot them out to 1300y, was sub moa at 1000y.

 

[mattri]

35grns of IMR 4064 is pretty mild as well. Ad yes it is the same barrel.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Powder charge is to lite.

 

[mattri]

Starting to wonder that myself. I'll work up some new loads and see how it goes.

 

[Taildrag15X]

Perhaps a Possible Parallax Problem.

Thanks for the replies. Scope has the prlx knob on the side, it's set at 200.

Just because the numbers say it's 200 doesn't mean it is....the numbers are only there for reference only, not written in stone that it's dead on.

 

[mattri]

To check I move my eye and see if the crosshairs move right?

 

[LHSmith]

To check I move my eye and see if the crosshairs move right?

Yes, but do this with the target at a known range.

 

[mattri]

It was the load. Went to the range this morning with a couple of bumped loads. 37grns of IMR 4064 was the winner. It needs a little fine tuning now but its a place to start.

 

[w123driver]

I had nearly same situation with recently acquired Mauser (1-10" twist, 23" long Douglas barrel, med. sporter contour). I loaded 95 gr. Hornady SST on 44 gr RL22. Had 0.8" groups consistently at 100 yards but at 200 yards all over the place. Same results with other 95 grainers. Than I tried 85 gr Sierra HP GK (should have started with this bullet) and it shoots honest MOA at 200yds. (43 gr of IMR 4350). I think it is twist rate.

 

[mattri]

It could be. Have to load up some more rounds and see what they do at longer ranges.

 

[xtightg]

My .243 has been driving me crazy I tried various VLD and heavier projectiles.
Found it did not like 100 and 105 grainers, 90 and 95 gr were marginal.
Ended up with
85 gr Sierra GameKings
45.5 gr AI2209 (H4350)
2,202 AOL
210 Federal Primers
3160 FPS
20" barrel
1 : 10 Twist
Almost one hole at 100 yards ;D