243 Accuracy with 58gr bullets

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Blantz23

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I do not own a .243 but rolling around the idea. What kind of accuracy can I expect if I use 58gr bullets for ground hogs? Current shoot 22-250 and 223 and super pleased with them. Just looking to add to the Arsenal.
Thanks
 
Just depends on the particular barrel you get. Just like any other chamber/barrel, some bullets shoot good and others dont. Ive shot the 58s but not in a 243 and as stated, they are a good bullet.
 
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If your going to move up in caliber how about moving up in bullet weight also, to a 70 NBT or my favorite 87 grain v-max. Bucks the wind better for those LOOOOONG shots on ground pigs.
 
Originally Posted By: 3DHUSKERIf your going to move up in caliber how about moving up in bullet weight also, to a 70 NBT or my favorite 87 grain v-max. Bucks the wind better for those LOOOOONG shots on ground pigs. Only if you measure the difference with calipers. The actual difference is very minimal. I used to think like you too, until I ran the ballistic charts. You don't see much windage difference until you get up to the 105s and especially the 115s. But the different between 55/58 and 70 or 87 is very small out to 500-600 yards.
 




That is the weight that I have been using in my 243 for coyotes. My Savage Axis loves them in the factory loaded Winchester VarmintX. Does anyone know what bullet Winchester is using in these rounds?
 
I have had better luck with the 60gr sierra's than I have with the 55-58gr bullets out of both of the 243's that I have. And one is on it's second barrel. I also tried them in a farmer/friend rifle. I could not get them to shoot well with hand loads. Switched to the 60gr and all is well. My go to bullet for the 243 is 70gr NBT over Imr4831. It will group great out of every rifle that I have tried it in.
 
I shoot the 58's in my 243. They have worked very well for me on coyotes usually not exiting and just a caliber size entry. In fact, I shot a big bobcat yesterday and didn't get an exit. The bullet struck him just behind the left shoulder and broke the right shoulder, but I wouldn't say that is typical using it on cats. Anyway I'm loading them over 42 grs. of AR-Comp using a CCI 200 primer and getting about 3,800 fps out of a 22" barrel on my calling rifle. It has proven very accurate but my longest coyote kill was only 315 yds. with it so I can't attest to how it would do at longer ranges.
 
I shoot 58 grain Max's out of one of my 243's. It's chronographing a little over 3750 fps using W760 powder. I could push it a little faster, but the accuracy is exceptional, so I'm not messing with it. They will flat dab kill a coyote.
 
Every .243 I have owned shot the 58 V-max really well. But if you have a 22-250 your going to shoot 55 grainers with less powder and just as fast.

I see the purpose of the 243 at that point would be to shoot 70 to 87 grain bullets for more knock down power at a decent velocity for flat tragectory, less wind drift, and longer range.

If its just for ground hogs I would look at a 24" or maybe 26" fast twist ( 1 in 8) barrel and shoot something like the 87 grain vmax with the higher BC for less windrift. Usually the 58 Vmax have a lower BC than the .224 55 grain bullets.
 
Compare the following loads out to reasonable hunting distances on a ballistic table, and you'll see many of the "high BC" myths debunked at hunting distances.

55 NBT @ 3950 fps
87 Vmax @ 3100 fps

Out to 500 yards, the 87 Vmax drifts only 3" less in the wind (87 Vmax = 22" vs 55 NBT = 25"). That's pretty similar.

But the 87 drops significantly more, by about 50%. (87 Vmax = 46" vs 55 NBT = 31"). The 55 shoots laser flat compared to the 87.

Summary: Out to 500 yards, the lighter 55 NBT has a very significant flat trajectory advantage over the heavier 87 Vmax, and the wind drift difference is minimal enough to be insignificant. The 55 NBT holds it's own. The 70gr bullets don't offer much other than more ft lbs energy at impact like the 87. If you're shooting past 500 yards regularly then you likely aren't using either the 55 or tbe 87 gr bullets, you're using other bullets with significant wind drift advantages at longer range like the 105 or 115.
 
Good point Dog. The .243 won't drive the heavier higher BC bullets fast enough. Nothing wrong with the .243 or 55 grain bullets.

I will say that my 25 caliber 75 grain V-maxs at 3700 feet per second are pretty much a match for those 55s.
 
Im also a big fan of the 58 vmaxs. I have a 20 inch barreled 243 and it shoots the factory hornady superformance just as good as i can reload for it. You can buy two boxes of factory ammo for 50 bucks and as long as you dont shoot at 1 coyote 6 times your good to go.
 
Dang guys you might have just talked me out of the .243. Was just rolling around the idea of adding another gun and thought it might be nice to go with a 6mm dia. I can't hunt deer with a rifle (have a '06 if I ever did get a chance) so pretty much shoot varmits and predators. Maybe I will spend the extra money and trick out my .223. Why does this have to be so addicting? Haha
 
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Originally Posted By: Blantz23Dang guys you might have just talked me out of the .243. Was just rolling around the idea of adding another gun and thought it might be nice to go with a 6mm dia. I can't hunt deer with a rifle (have a '06 if I ever did get a chance) so pretty much shoot varmits and predators. Maybe I will spend the extra money and trick out my .223. Why does this have to be so addicting? Haha

Why have you been talked out of the 243?
 


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