IS THE 243 & 243AI THIS GOOD AT FIGHTING THE WIND?

[Ranger188]

It's been at least 6-7 years ago. Maybe more.

 

[Bill Norris]

It's been at least 6-7 years ago. Maybe more.

O K That's good to know. Thanks

 

[Ranger188]

What twist are you running for them?

 

[Bill Norris]

1 - 7.5 26 "

 

[Dos XX]

John Widden has had success with .243. Read the part about the velocity he is running the 105 VLD's at.

https://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/john-whidden-shares-championship-secrets/

 

[Bill Norris]

John Widden has had success with .243. Read the part about the velocity he is running the 105 VLD's at.

https://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/john-whidden-shares-championship-secrets/

Absolutely, and he attributes these successful speeds to the barrel he was using. Copied this from John's article.

Importantly, John explained that it takes the right hardware to run the heavy 6mm bullets at high velocities. Bullet blow-up is a risk. John told us: “At the velocities I’m running the 105gr VLDs in the 243s, barrel brand selection is really important. You absolutely have to shoot a barrel that is easy on bullets to run these velocities. To avoid bullet blow-ups at these speeds, you can’t shoot barrels that have the tallest and sharpest rifling, such as you find with some cut-rifled barrels. I’m still shooting the thin-jacket Berger VLDs. I haven’t even switched to the thick-jacket bullets. To do this you need a rifling solution that is kinder to the bullet. The point I’m trying to drive home is that barrel selection is a very important factor. If my barrels didn’t work we would have smoked a lot of bullets. But that’s not the case with the Broughtons. I haven’t blown up a .243 bullet through a Broughton barrel.”

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Was reading the article here on the site about the 243 & 243AI and wondering if anyone might have first hand real world experience with the comparison drop/drift chart below? George Gardner in the article spoke about how well his 243 fought the wind and was superior to the Rem 260 & the Tubb 6XC as well. The writer went on to say with 115 gr. DTAC bullets, the .243 rivals the 6.5-284 ballistically out to 1000 yards.

Comparative Ballistics (Drop from 100yd Zero, Drift in 10 mph Crosswind)

Cartridge	Bullet	Vel FPS	300yd Drop/Drift	600yd Drop/Drift	1000yd Drop/Drift
.243 AI	115 DTAC	3200	8.32″ | 4.08″	57.15″ | 17.57″	218.6″ | 54.8″
.243 Win	115 DTAC	3120	8.97″ | 4.24″	60.82″ | 18.25″	232.3″ | 57.0″
6XC	115 DTAC	3040	9.67″ | 4.41″	64.82″ | 19.01″	247.2″ | 59.5″
6mm Dasher	105 Berger VLD	3030	9.92″ | 4.85″	67.33″ | 21.24″	262.7″ | 67.4″
6mm BR	105 Berger VLD	2920	10.91″ | 5.08″	73.33″ | 22.35″	286.0″ | 71.4″

I have been shooting this load for the last I don't know probably 5-6 years or so on anything from steel at a mile to LR hunting and cleaned many a 1000y F-Open target.
The drop at a 1000y should be around 190 ish inches and drift is probably close to something like 46"

28" SLR
108gr ELD M
VV N160
3230fps

I had a load that i wanted to use for LR hunting that send a 105gr VLD at 3350fps with VV N560 as well but I didn't want to risk blowing bullets up while hunting. Up to now the ELDs have held together but I have a feeling they are going to start coming apart at some point, I have a great shooting load at 3120fps as well that I might use to slow them down a bit

I want to relook the 115gr DTacs again this year but I have a feeling that at 3200fps out of that 243AI in the table its going to do allot better in the real world then the numbers its showing at 1000y on paper, even that XC shooting a 115gr DTac should be doing better in the real world unless its allot dryer and higher where we shoot

One of my shooting partners shoots 28" and 30" 6.5-284s and they cant just leave the 6 in the dust, he is planning on moving over to Bergers 153gr Hybrids now so well see how that goes

 

[ebb]

Right next to the 6.5-294 on the overbore chart, so figure out your load quick.

 

[nmkid]

Have ODCR build ya a 243 AI...

I did!

 

[Bill Norris]

I have been shooting this load for the last I don't know probably 5-6 years or so on anything from steel at a mile to LR hunting and cleaned many a 1000y F-Open target.
The drop at a 1000y should be around 190 ish inches and drift is probably close to something like 46"

28" SLR
108gr ELD M
VV N160
3230fps

I had a load that i wanted to use for LR hunting that send a 105gr VLD at 3350fps with VV N560 as well but I didn't want to risk blowing bullets up while hunting. Up to now the ELDs have held together but I have a feeling they are going to start coming apart at some point, I have a great shooting load at 3120fps as well that I might use to slow them down a bit

I want to relook the 115gr DTacs again this year but I have a feeling that at 3200fps out of that 243AI in the table its going to do allot better in the real world then the numbers its showing at 1000y on paper, even that XC shooting a 115gr DTac should be doing better in the real world unless its allot dryer and higher where we shoot

One of my shooting partners shoots 28" and 30" 6.5-284s and they cant just leave the 6 in the dust, he is planning on moving over to Bergers 153gr Hybrids now so well see how that goes

Please update us with your results once you get a chance to re-try the 115 gr. DTACs.

 

[Bill Norris]

I have been shooting this load for the last I don't know probably 5-6 years or so on anything from steel at a mile to LR hunting and cleaned many a 1000y F-Open target.
The drop at a 1000y should be around 190 ish inches and drift is probably close to something like 46"

28" SLR
108gr ELD M
VV N160
3230fps

I had a load that i wanted to use for LR hunting that send a 105gr VLD at 3350fps with VV N560 as well but I didn't want to risk blowing bullets up while hunting. Up to now the ELDs have held together but I have a feeling they are going to start coming apart at some point, I have a great shooting load at 3120fps as well that I might use to slow them down a bit

I want to relook the 115gr DTacs again this year but I have a feeling that at 3200fps out of that 243AI in the table its going to do allot better in the real world then the numbers its showing at 1000y on paper, even that XC shooting a 115gr DTac should be doing better in the real world unless its allot dryer and higher where we shoot

One of my shooting partners shoots 28" and 30" 6.5-284s and they cant just leave the 6 in the dust, he is planning on moving over to Bergers 153gr Hybrids now so well see how that goes

Finally got a chance to chrono my 243AI with the 115 DTACs and they are poking around at 2948 fps so I have some room to ease on up in powder.

 

[Clous]

Mine shoots 115 DTAC’s at 3185 fps with RL25 in a 30” Broughton.

 

[Rtheurer]

Lets toss another 6mm into the Ring. the 6mm Creed. After having a 243, then 243 AI ( Slow twist for Coyotes so not what we are talking about here) then what the 243 Should have been the 243 Super Long Range AKA SLR a 243 with 6XC Neck and Shoulder dimensions. Then the 6mm Creed. The SLR and 6mm Creed will sling a 105 class bullet out at 3300 to 3400fps from a 30" barrel with the right selection of powders. HOwever shooting the 109gr Berger Hybrid i had to throttle back from 3200fps to 3100fps to find a wider more gentle load for match shooting.
Seems the Creed is right there with the 243 and 243 AI and it has Lapua Brass available and better supported right now for precision type shooting vs plinking or hunting.
Just some thoughts.

 

[4xforfun]

Anyone here got a 243 with a 115g up to 3120 fps?
@Rob01 has shot one for years, he might know.

IDK, but the 6BR at 2920 with 115's has got me scratching my head!!