.243 Ballistic Tips ?

T

TnEncore

New member
I've have always shot the 55gr BT's but thought about trying the 70gr BT's. Im putting together a long range coyote rifle and was wondering if the 70's are better than the 55's at ranges over 300 yards and beyond ?
 
Just the fact that they are heavier will help some in the wind. I have shot both in my 6mm remington, There is a pretty big difference in POI at 100 yards, for me it was about 6.5" The 55's being higher of course.
 
I shoot the 55 grain ct ballistic tips and i also shoot 70gr bthp. The poi was about 4.5 for me. If your not shooting in high winds i would stick with the 55 grain bts.
 
I've shot the 70gr, and 95gr BTs in my 6mm and the 95s really outperform the lighter bullets past 300 yds. Never tried anything lighter than 70gr though. But as a rule a heavier bullet with a higher BC, will outperform a lighter, faster bullet at long range. Plus it will of course buck the wind better. I settled on 85gr Sierras and thats the only bullet I shoot in my 6mm now. One load for everything from gophers to white-tails /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
Last edited:
I'm shooting 55 grain Nosler ballistic tips for coyotes out of two different 243's and am very pleased with performance out to 400 yards. Further than that is simply to far for me to maintain consistent accuracy on a six inch target zone of most of our small western coyotes. (getting old sucks) I load 85 thru 95 grain bullets for deer hunting, but again 400 yards is about a max range.

Most folks get different mileage with the 243 and it seems a broad range of bullet weights work well. It depends really on what your gun shoots well. Some 243's simply don't do well with those super light 55's.

Lots of folks talk about those long over 500 yard shots, but very few folks really have the rifle and scope setup's to make that consistently possible. I know that even with my Rem VLS heavy barrel and a 6 by 24 power scope it's tough for me under field conditions to keep six inch groups at 500 yards and I've tried.

There are certainly guns and marksman out there that can do that, but most aren't shooting 243's their using larger calibers such as the 308, 7mm's or 6.5 by 284's that are designed for that kind of long range use with long highly efficient bullets also designed to hold velocity's at longer ranges. Lots of standard scopes will start running out of elevation before you can crank in enough clicks once past 500 yards and those shooters use special bases with more elevation built into the base.

Best I can say is find a place where you can shoot those ranges and try several different bullet weights. Even though those light bullets scream at closer distances the heavier bullets tend to hold up better once past 500 yards and arn't effected by the wind near as much.

I like the way the .243 caliber 55 Nosler's at 3950 fps kill coyotes and ground squirrels and their accurate in my guns, but I'd look at a heavier boattail bullet for really extended ranges.
 
I shoot the 70 gr Blitzking BT's out of my 6 mm and really like their performance up to 300 yrds. Really hard on the fur though. I couldn't buy them last week so I ended up buying the next closest thing, the 70gr Nosler BT but haven't shot them yet. Sorry I can't comment on 500 yrd shots because I never take them. Too far for my capability. I need some more practice. Under 300 yrds or so, their dead.
 
Im shooting 75gr. remington accutips (varmint load) out of my t/c encore 243 WIN. and they couldnt shoot any better out to 300 yards. But i agree they may not be needed so much if you dont deal with high winds, or unless you want something left out of your yote. These are a little bit mean on fur. Just need to shoot em and see what they do. My gun just seems to shoot these better than anything i have shot.
 
Last edited:
I like the 75 grain v-max's for up to 500 yards in my 243 savage. A little wind wont bother them enough to make you miss. Farther than that I am working up a load for the 105 A-max's with Retumbo powder. Long range accuracy depends not only on your rifle being set up correctly, but in having a bullet that can make it to the target. The farther out you go, the more heavier bullets come into play for accuracy...but heck what do I know...just mho. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
My rifle loves 70g BTs but their extremely hard on the fur. Every other shot makes fist size holes in and out and always gives a DRT performance. Its like hitting them with Thor's hammer. The farthest shot I took with my rifle using these bullets were 350 yards on a Coyote. I caught it across the bottom of the belly and it literally gutted it on the spot. Close counts with this bullet. They shoot almost as flat as the 55 grainers as well. I'm pushing 3650 fps out of my 26" barrel and had it sighted in 1.3" high at a 100 yards when I shot the coyote above. I just placed the cross hairs high on its back.
 
Thanks for the opinions guys. I guess I will start with the 55 grainers since I more of them than the others and see how they shoot. Then try the 70's if the 55's don't shoot well enough.
 
I don't know where you are hunting, so whether or not ricochets are a problem is an unknown. However, where I hunt it is. I tried the lighter bullets out of my Savage, and even the 75 grain Vmax, but settled on the 70 grain BT. I couldn't get good enough accuracy with the lighter bullets and had to go to the 85? grain VMax to begin to get decent accuracy out of the Hornady brand. I don't know why the Nosler 70 grain was considerably more accurate, (perhaps the jacket is harder?) as others seem to do well with the Vmax bullets in that caliber. But, I have never seen a ricochet with the 70 grain BT.
 
I tried the 55gr v-max out of a buddy's remington 700 243. Not good, just would not hold a group. Went back to the 75gr v-max and can easily take crows out of trees at 250 yards.Longest bird shot was at 316 yards (lasered). I think that is good considering the kill zone size. Terminal effect with these are INCREDIBLE not to mention entertaining.Imagine a nine iron opening up a feather pillow on full swing!!!
 

I just picked up a Ruger Target in .243 and it loves the Barnes 85Gr.TSX.It will be my whitetail and Coyote load for sure,The first time out it was doing half inch groups at 100 with 5 shots.:)I used to hunt Woodchucks with a Rem Mod 7 in .243 when I was 16,I am 52 now and waited WAY too long to get back on the .243 bandwagon.;-)The Barnes TSX bullets seem to shoot good in all my rifles.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top