Beginning 1000 yard setup

[Tulie]

I'm new to this site, well fairly anyway after reading and only posting a couple of times. Anyway, I currently have a 243 that has been used for 600 yard matches but would like to set something up for 1000. My 243 right now has a medium weight barrel and does well to the 600 yard range with Hornady 105 Amax bullets and a healthy dose of either 4831 or 4350.

What I would like to do is set something up for 1000 yard targets with an occasional 600 tossed in. It will be a target setup only. What I would like to get some feedback about is this:

Is a 300 WSM the way to go over say a 308. I know barrel life is an issue.
Is a 6.5/284 really worth any required headaches getting into.
Would I be better off just going with a heavy barrel and sticking with what I have and if that's the case how about some ideas so I can get a fast enough twist to stabilize even heavier bullets.
Is the 243 really wearing out barrels in under 1200 rounds?
Any other caliber suggestions? Please no wildcats though as I'm not ready to bite off that much just yet.

One last one, I'm also not going to bite off a Nightforce scope so how about some suggestions for some decent mil dot 30mm tube scopes in what I guess the serious shooters would consider the low end price range. Sightron? Burris of some sort? Stick with a Leupold? Super Sniper?......

Thanks ahead of time!

 

[Dubya]

Hey Tulie,
You did not mention the length of your barrell or the twist rate.
If the barrell is 26 in. or longerwith an 8 or 9 twist,8 is better) think about going to a 6BR-6BRX or 6mm Dasher. All you need is a reamer and a set of dies.
Any of those mentioned will get you to 1,000 yds with no problem,
with 105-107 gr. Berger/Lapua/Sierra bullets
All you have to do is get a standard blue print job done on your action and have the chamber reamed.
Good Luck,
Gary.

 

[Tulie]

Thanks for the info. My barrel is 26 inches and I believe a 9 twist. It might be a 9.25 and it will stabelize the 105 Amax but I doubt it will do anything more.

One more question: Is the main reason the 243 isn't all that popular for the long range matches that it is tough on barrels or is there something else? Wouldn't you expect about the same life from the 300 short mag or is it a little better balanced? Although I don't mind recoil very much less would be better for this situation I would believe.

 

[Dubya]

There ar a number of calibers that are known as barrell burners
and the .243 is just one of them. There are some in the 6.5mm
,like 6.5x284) but with the 6.5x284 the accuracy is so good people are willing to sacrifice a barrell after 1000 to 1500
rounds, I shot a 6mmx284 for a couple years and had to re-
chamber it and re-crown it after about 900 rounds and got another 600 rounds of good accuracy with it. Depends also on how you take care of barrell.
Anything that's a take off from the 6mmBR you will get as many as 3 to 4000 rounds with, that's why I suggested it. 29 to 33 grains of powder in a 6BR improved compared to 40 to 43 grains in .243 = less powder that does same or better with same bullet weight. Use less powder, have longer barrel life.
Good Luck,
Gary.

 

[Rtheurer]

Hey Tulie

What type of paper punching are you doing? F class, Bench rest, or Prone with a sling? To me this matters, as the weight of the rifle and the way it is fired matters. For example a Large calibre rifle would be OK for bench rest would be fine for me as it would not beat the living you no what out of me. F- class also I would limit to a 7mm personally as thats as much recoil as I can handle off a Bypod or front rest,or 308 FTR). Now prone with a sling is a whole nother beast. when you strap that Leather sling on and make the rifle one solid firing platform with your body for 30 rounds it can get rather uncomfortable and unruley.

I have several freinds that shoot the 7 rsaum with great success and they shoot really well. I dont think I could do it with out creating any unwanted habits in the prone position.

You can make them all shoot well and there is some great bullet choices out there nowadays along with some good powders too.
Man remember when you loadded up your 308 or 30'06 with a 180gr Match king and away you went to the range, Wow what a change from those days.

RT

 

[Tulie]

I'm in NM and the current range has a 600 yard match a couple of times a month. This is your choice, rest, bi-pod or bag for the front and bag for the rear off the ground. During certain times of the year we have 1000 yard matches in the southern mountains and this is the same sort of setup.

I generally am not really bothered by recoil but am sure it would get old after a while with some of the larger ones. I am curious about some of the short mag stuff though and with a heavy enough setup it should boot you too bad. I'm really wondering why the 243 or the 243 AI aren't more popular and why the short mags aren't either. I'm guessing and somebody please tell me, it must be barrel life as an issue. I have heard that the 7mm bullets are good these days as of course are some of the others but what about 25 cal bullets?

Yeah, I do remember loading the -06 up and thinking you could do anything with it. Take it to the range and brag and then take it out for hunting. Those days are way gone now though!!!

 

[Tulie]

Lynn,

Thanks for all the info. My concern and maybe it's unfounded is that a fixed scope that high of power will really be hard to use when it gets warm out here. Mirage is tough even during the cooler months on a warm day. Got any suggestions for a variable scope?

A buddy of mine loves the 6BR and has one set up for his son and is currently getting one for himself. I think I'd still stick with the 243 but you are right on with the twist. I didn't know a good length though and will look that direction. What about the 243 AI? Seems like small effort for a pretty healthy return.

What I have now has a very good,worked on but not to 2 oz) trigger and a decent laminated stock, or at least the smith and I think so. By the way, I currently am using 105 Amax and some older Berger 80 grain that I had around for the 600 yard stuff.

 

[Tulie]

Lynn,

Yeah, I do understand the math and I also know that higher velocity seldom equates to better accuracy. I just like the faster bullets so to avoid drive and drop quite as much. I need to clock mine again but the last time I did with some H4831 and the 105 Amax it was right around 2950 if I remember correctly. I'm trying out some Lapua brass now so will see if that helps.

My stock is not square on the front but is pretty flat so that's not really a problem I don't think. I do think my barrel is too light for this type of appliation and when it goes away it will be replaced and will go with a fast twist as you suggested.

My trigger is right around 16-18 oz right now if I remember right and it seems okay to me. Guess that's considering my hunting triggers are around the 3.5 lb mark so it seems light. Might try to lighten it up a bit.

True too about the scope and generally with a variable up to 20 or 24 I figure I would be shooting it at the top end anyway. Hey, a question though, I've been reading some of the Super Sniper series of scopes, are they a viable option? Especially since they are 30 mm tubes, lots of internal adjustment, mil dot and seem to be getting good reviews. Obviously not as good as some but their cost is a lot less too. Fixed 20 and fixed 16 are available.

 

[Tulie]

Lynn,

I've run 4350 through this one but don't remember the results right off the top of my head. I will for sure go with a 28 inch in the future as that seems to be the general concensus and guess I'll figure out if I want to go with the AI or a straight 243 at that time.

The buddies that I have that are shooting the 1000 yard matches have used anything from a Weaver V16 to Burris Signatures and Fullfields to some of the nicer scopes although none of us has jumped deep enough to get into a Nightforce yet. I am a little concerned about a fixed with mirage but can get a better scope for less money so am leaning that way. I believe something in the 20-24 power at the higher end should work okay for me right now.

Thanks again for all the input and have fun with your toys!