.243 Velocity Loss

UncleDoc

New member
Probably going to get some flack about this being the wrong category for this question, but here goes anyway. I load my own stuff so it is pretty much tailored to the specific rifle. I am looking at a new Remington Model Seven in .243 Winchester with a 20" barrel. Is it fair to say that I will lose about 50 fps per inch of barrel from published velocity? And if that is the case does that reduction negate the use of a .243 versus a .223 for coyotes? I know many prefer the .243 for dogs and others the .223 but I like the larger diameter. What say you?
 
I wouldn't think 50fps per inch, but 25-30 for sure. Depends on the powder. A .243 with 20" barrel will still stomp any .223 in killing power.
 
I would guess 30ish fps per inch depending on powder. As stated 243 and 223 are night and day difference. The bigger bores are more forgiving on a shorter barrel. I would load for accuracy and not worry about a hundred and twenty feet a second. Any 243 load is going to wreck a coyotes day.
 
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I would strongly agree with the others that your velocity loss will probably only be 20-30 fps per inch.
With regard to 243 vs 223 its not just the velocity. If you use a 70 bullet you are talking approx 40% more lead hitting your target and the caliber is bigger which means you will have larger wound channels. A 70g Nosler BT will make a mess out of a coyote regardless of the barrel length. Hope you are not saving hides.
 
My last AXMC 243 barrel that got close to the end of its life I cut down 2” at a time from 26” to 20” running H4350 and 105gr Berger Hybrids and it was right on 25fps per inch the whole way.
 
Not .243 but just ran a 20" and 16" over the chrono today. Both barrels are 1 in 8 twist, 5R rifled, stainless, .223. Exactly 25 FPS per inch difference. The 20" averaged 3225 and the 16" was 3125 average. Same lot of ammo used for both. Ten shot average for both.
 
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There are a pile of different variables that will affect the speed difference. Rifling plays as big of a role as anything but powder will also vary. Faster powders such as varget with the same load may show a smaller gap. But on the average between my yote rig which is 26 inch and my wife’s 20 inch I see around 275-325 FPS difference. I’m with you on the being a fan of the.243 for dogs. I’ve got a load that shoots 4200 with no pressure signs with 55’s with that 26 inch tube. Getting 3800 out of her 20 has been a bit more difficult. So from my experience you’re not going to lose a pile until you stretch it’s legs with lighter stuff.
 


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