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243 Varmint Rifle

Since I got a double order of 12 twist Prefit blanks, maybe 243 would be a fun test. I have the standard 243 Sammi it looks pretty short. If anyone wants to do some testing I'll give you a discount. That would be fun. :)
A very generous offer. Many years ago Dan Dowling put together a .243AI with a 12 twist Hart barrel for me after many discussions. My only wish afterwards was that the throat was shorter. The rifle shot 55gr bullets with crazy speed and ridiculous accuracy, but I was limited to a very small list of bullets that would reach the lands and still have enough bullet in the neck….
 
A very generous offer. Many years ago Dan Dowling put together a .243AI with a 12 twist Hart barrel for me after many discussions. My only wish afterwards was that the throat was shorter. The rifle shot 55gr bullets with crazy speed and ridiculous accuracy, but I was limited to a very small list of bullets that would reach the lands and still have enough bullet in the neck….

Honestly, why do varmint bullets have to reach the lands? My tests show that many of the varmint bullets shoot best jumped quite a ways.
 
Well, I already have some of those lol. I have a ton of 55's and 70's that were intended for another rifle that I never did. I have rifles that shoot midweight 6mm Bergers, 87's, 88's. And a 6X47 for 108 Elite Hunters. I have the parts for a 6BRA and 1000 80 grain Bart's. I've just always wanted a 13.5 243 with a short fb for varmint bullets. 20.5" Krieger with an HS Precision stock and dbm to be specific. One of those rifles that gets stuck in your head that may only make sense to you lol.
If you’ve always wanted one just build it. Sounds like a fun build. Probably shoot great.
 
Honestly, why do varmint bullets have to reach the lands? My tests show that many of the varmint bullets shoot best jumped quite a ways.
In that rifle, that’s how they shot best…I’m not saying that it is a must for every rifle, but I went through enough testing to learn that the 55gr bullets shot best with a slight jam. In that rifle I ended up sticking with the 70 tnts for more bullet in the neck, but they were second best.

MQ1
 
For many years I have shot zero freebore 243 Winchester and 6 Rem with 60g sierra, 70g of all kinds, 62-68g Benchrest bullets, and 80g sierra BT Blitz. Accuracy with the bullet just kissing the lands or .003 off results in tiny, tiny groups.

The zero free bore does add to barrel life, make no mistake about it.

If you feel like you just GOT to have some free bore, then .020 is plenty. The 55g Nosler is a superbly accurate bullet, BUT it loves to just barely touch the lands or just barely off the lands.
 
Same experience with a 700vls wanted to use 70 grain ballistic tips, couldn’t get it to shoot them, tried the Berger 87gr vld’s, they shot crazy tight for me
Yes sir. As I said earlier, the 55’s shot. But you could flick them out of the case with the only depth that shot.

I’m also considering a 6-250 instead. I’m sitting on a lot of 4895 and it wouldn’t be that much slower than the 243, and more efficient.
 
The 6-250, is an, "Antique" but, is, "almost" as good as, the 6 XC !
GOOD Norma and Peterson Brass,. PLUS, Forster Dies, are available for,.. the 6 XC !
H-4895 will push, descent BC, 65 -75 grain Bullets,.. along,.. Nicely !
I shoot 80 grain Berger F B Varmint bullets into, TINY Clusters in My 1-7.5 Tw, 6 XC ( Just a bit, Slower @ 3,250 FPS for good accuracy,.. in a fast twist )
 
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Don't forget to pick up, some FORSTER Dies to Match, the Brass as, I get Less than, .002 TIR of, Bullet Run-out with, the Forster Dies and my "Cheapie", 6 XC Rifle, shoot's, One Hole group's in, the 2's and 3's with, 107 gr. SMK's.
Yes sir I typically size with Forster and seat with an Arbor. But I want to go 6-250 if I can. I am bothering Peterson about making 22-250 brass constantly.
 
?? WHY ??
IF, the 6-250 was THAT "Good", there'd be,.. NO, 6 XC
The slightly sharper shoulder of, the 6 XC = Less Trimming & Better Barrel Life / powder burn and, the long Neck on the XC makes for, a greater amount of, Bullet seating,.."Movement".
David Tubb,.. "Passed Up",.. on, the 6-250, a long, LONG Time, ago for some,.. obvious reason's.
Norma, 6 XC Brass is,.. very Good,.. IMO .
But you,.. "have at It",.. and,.. good luck !
 
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If you want to be a little different, do a zero freebore 12 twist 6SLR. The 55 should still sing, and your throat may last a bit longer…

MQ1
I would love an SLR to shoot 87-90's. That'd be serious. I have a buddy trying to talk me in to a 243 Catbird lol.
 
I would love an SLR to shoot 87-90's. That'd be serious. I have a buddy trying to talk me in to a 243 Catbird lol.
It’s funny, but I have on hand a .243AI, 6x47 Lapua, and have owned a number of very good shooting plain Jane .243 that I’ve sold or changed caliber for good reason that had nothing to do with the effectiveness or simplicity of a .243.

Then I had another action that I did not want to let go of, and of all things I ended up having it setup with a 6 SLR, but throated for >100gr bullets and an 8 twist. It is sad that I’ve yet to do any load development with the 6SLR outside of forming a couple pieces of brass to verify how freaking easy it is. Kids and family have kept putting it on the back burner, but I anticipate it will do very well.

I‘m not one to compromise. If you are intent on the lighter 55 and 70 grain bullets for your project, I’d stick with a 12 twist and zero freebore. With the SLR, you’d have a wonderfully longer neck, and if by chance you wanted to shoot a bigger varmint bullet at a more medium game animal, I’d buy a couple hundred of the Berger 80 grain varmint bullets and feel confident that it would poke a very accurate and vitally deep hole through any deer out there. I’ve shot them enough through my straight .243s that you’ll always find a couple unopened boxes of those on my bench. I would also look for some H380 to give a try for the 55s...I had no expectations when I gave it a try with the lighter bullets, but wow…just wow…the accuracy and speed were surprising to say the least...like a big Swift.

Have fun with your decision

MQ1

MQ1
 
I did a 6cm couple years ago for my 82 year old father to reduce recoil for him. REM CDL stock bartlein barrel 700 action. Figured I’d get some factory Berger with the 95 classic hunter with lapau brass to reload with. It shot so good I just ordered more factory ammo. He shot several deer with it. Longest was 230yard. He said “they just run allittle ways and fall over “.
 

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