Good varmint/coyote loads with a .243?

[stinnett1981]

Just left the gun shop today with a new Rem 700 .243 with a 9.125 twist 26 inch barrel that I bought for my dad. Gonna bring the old man coyote hunting with me. He hasnt gone in 30+ years.

Need a good varmint load. Thinking about the 58g and 75g Vmax. Which is better over all...accuracy, ballistics and impact on the critter? Not gonna save the pelt on the coyote. Just wanna watch em drop! Got alot of coyote where we deer hunt and we think they are killing alot of the fonds. Need the deer population to grow. I also see nosler makes some bullets between those weights too? Any and all info is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[tbeasley]

I was gonna suggest 75gr VMAX.. They flat out shoot with every .243 I've loaded for.
I use the following for 75gr VMAX
40.0 Varget
2.254-2.255 on .24 Caliber Stoney point Gauge.

Good luck & y'all have fun

 

[CPorter]

Inside 300 yards the performance of the 58 and 75 is close. The 75 gr will get you more penetration but the 58 gr works fine. I use it on neck shots for deer and so far all have dropped in their tracks.

 

[WyleWD]

In my experience with the 243 & coyotes.... the 75gr Vmax is THE way to go. Followed closely by the 70gr NBT. Both have shown great accuracy in my 243's. N550, R-17, 4350, WW760, and R-15 powders all seem to work just fine depending upon what primer, case, and twist rate you're using. So a little experimenting and load development on your rifle should answer that question for ya. Good Luck and let us know what works for you. WD

 

[5spd]

The 55g nosler/58gr vmax & 65g vmax will lay them flat out to 400 yds in the .243.
I use the 65g vmax in front of W760 in mine.

 

[stinnett1981]

How about varget with the 65 and 75 grain Vmax? I read some people say that's a good combo. I have lots of varget.

 

[WyleWD]

How about varget with the 65 and 75 grain Vmax? I read some people say that's a good combo. I have lots of varget.

I'm personally not a big fan of it...... but if you have it and knowing that others do have good luck with it...... try it. WD

 

[stinnett1981]

Im gonna start out with the 75 grain V-max and try out some Varget. If that dont work im gonna get some W760. I read alot more bad than good about the 58 grain V-max :-\ Hopefully the 75 V-max shoots sub MOA! Hopefully the gun shoots sub MOA in general :-X

 

[K22]

I've always had my best success with the heavier varmint bullets in the 243. My favorites are the Sierra 85 BTHP, Hornady 87 Vmax, Sierra 80 Blitz (might ruin fur if that's a consideration).

The best powder for me has been IMR 4350. Recently tried some Varget because I ran out of 4350 and it shot well with the 87 Vmax (.3 to .6 moa) out of a sporter weight rifle.

My favorite primers are Federal 210 match.

PS: A great white tail bullet I've used is the 90 grain Nosler - sub 1/2 moa accuracy with IMR 4350.

 

[DIBBS]

I tried the lighter boolitz- 55 to 70 grain in a .243, and while they kill good at closer range, the wind pushes em sideways a bit when you're taking a poke at a couple hundred yards. I ended up using Sierra 85 BTHP, and hornady 87 grain spitzers (pre V-max boolitz) IMR 4350 and 210's. Then I rebarreled to an 8 twist and now use 95-107 grain bullets out of a .243Ackley Improved ;D

 

[xdeano]

I agree with the 85g HPBT match, or the 85g spitzerBT, or the 87g match, for fur that is. They all do a very decent job. I try and stay away from the ballistic tips in the 243 for fur as they have a tendency to expand at the wrong time. On a side shot they start expanding about 3/4 of the way through and blow a hell of a hole out the off side. You're going to want something that just mushrooms for a small exit on the off side. I've also shot several with a 100grn spitzer bt and have had some of the smallest holes.

just my opinion.

xdeano

 

[stinnett1981]

Ive done alot of research the past few weeks about the .243. I read that IMR 4350 and medium to heavy bullets is hands down awesome in the .243. I have read alot of mixed reviews about the lighter bullets. I mean alot! More bad reviews than good about anything lighter than 65 grains. I guess I wouldnt say bad, just not as good as the 65 grainers and up. I been told to try 7-8 different powders too. But everybody says to use IMR 4350 with anything heavier than 80 grains. I will try the 65, 75 and 87 grain V-max bullets. Definitely IMR 4350 with the 87 grain V-max!

 

[stinnett1981]

I agree with the 85g HPBT match, or the 85g spitzerBT, or the 87g match, for fur that is. They all do a very decent job. I try and stay away from the ballistic tips in the 243 for fur as they have a tendency to expand at the wrong time. On a side shot they start expanding about 3/4 of the way through and blow a hell of a hole out the off side. You're going to want something that just mushrooms for a small exit on the off side. I've also shot several with a 100grn spitzer bt and have had some of the smallest holes.

just my opinion.

xdeano

I dont care if it blows a hole the size of texas through them. The more damage the better! I wanna see them explode!

 

[CPorter]

Here is the optimal barrel time load via Quickload assuming a 54 gr case capacity
Try using 42.1 gr of Varget with the 75 gr AMax at 7.210 COAL. Should run about 3398 fps and ~58,000 psi. its a bit warm, near the limit so work up.

If that node is too hot drop down to 38.5 grains for ~3154 fps and 45300 psi


I try loading .4 grains on either side in .2 gr increments and shoot groups to see if my data matches.

If you want to blow it up try the Speer TNT in 70 grain, thinner jacket and pay attention to the maximum speed listed for it or it may blow up before it hits.

 

[Khoffer2525]

I have the exact same set up as you are talking about. I use 38gr of varget with the 75 gr vmax and get right around .5 Moa with it. Seated at around 2.71. Works for me.

 

[1holeaddict]

I shoot 4 243win's. 3 of them i shoot 105amax and RL22 with great accuracy and the last one eats 87vmax's in front of H4350. I have no experience with lighter weight bullets. I have never tried anything lighter than a 87grainer.

 

[stinnett1981]

I shoot 4 243win's. 3 of them i shoot 105amax and RL22 with great accuracy and the last one eats 87vmax's in front of H4350. I have no experience with lighter weight bullets. I have never tried anything lighter than a 87grainer.

What twist are your 4 .243's?

 

[RJinTexas]

My favorite 6mm bullet for hunting coyotes, hogs and deer is a 105gr Amax. It's has worked very well from as close as 100yds out to 680yds which is my longest coyote kill with my 6x47 Lapua. Being that the .243 has just slightly more powder capacity I see no reason why this combo shouldn't work for you. Most yotes I've shot have piled up where shot, none hit in the vitals have ran beyond 25yds from the location where they were shot. The accuracy of the Amax bullet far surpasses the Vmax bullets and it's terminal damage is extensive. I've shot thousands of 75 & 87 Vmax's in the p-dogs fields and yes they work well but not a well as Amax's do on bigger varmints or game. Enjoy your hunt with your father.

RJ

 

[birdog]

RJ is right about the 105 A-Max. I lung shot a coyote with one and he never
flinched.
Now for lighter bullets, I use H-380, a ball powder that meters through a Harrels
like a dream. Meters perfect and very good accuracy. I've use it in 58 up to 87.

 

[Tom Brush]

I shoot the .243 in a Striker pistol. I use Nosler 70 gr. BT. It shoots consistantly under 1/2" with Varget. This is with a 4X pistol scope. Velocity in 20 degree weather has been 2900 fps.

Tom