58g. .243 through a 1-10 twist.
- Thread starter MPFD
- Start date
dan newberry
New member
MPFD,
Basically, the fast twist will stabilize the light, short bullet just fine for short and intermediate distances. So there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get good accuracy inside 250 yards or so.
The problem happens when you put too much spin on the light bullet for long range work. If it's spinning too fast when it arcs over (after it passes the midrange trajectory) it will resist the axial change necessary to allow it to continue flying point first into the wind. It will actually, at least for a certain period of time, be pointing upward but descending--not a good situation.
This is why you will see these bullets fired from 9 twist .243's do fairly well inside 200 to 250 yards, but the MOA will really spread out by 300 yards. By 400 yards, you're lucky if you can keep them inside MOA (4 inches).
This happens because these bullets are overstabilized as they cross the midrange trajectory, and this imparts some wobble... which opens up the group.
You will hear folks claim 400 yard 1/2 MOA accuracy from 55's and 58's from their 9 twist .243's (most factory .243's are closer to 9 twist than 10, by the way)... but these guys are lying. I can take a 12 twist 22-250 and cut their groups sizes in half at 400 yards, shooting a .22 cal 55 grain bullet. The only way to get a .243 to hang with a 22-250 at 400 yards is to get a slower twist barrel for the .243, or go to a longer, heavier bullet.
But I'm pretty certain if you'll seat the 58's at an OAL of 2.595 inches (this is the Hornady factory length too, by the way) and use a good powder charge, such as 39.8 grains of IMR 3031 in Winchester brass... they'll perform pretty well inside 250 yards or so.
Dan
Basically, the fast twist will stabilize the light, short bullet just fine for short and intermediate distances. So there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get good accuracy inside 250 yards or so.
The problem happens when you put too much spin on the light bullet for long range work. If it's spinning too fast when it arcs over (after it passes the midrange trajectory) it will resist the axial change necessary to allow it to continue flying point first into the wind. It will actually, at least for a certain period of time, be pointing upward but descending--not a good situation.
This is why you will see these bullets fired from 9 twist .243's do fairly well inside 200 to 250 yards, but the MOA will really spread out by 300 yards. By 400 yards, you're lucky if you can keep them inside MOA (4 inches).
This happens because these bullets are overstabilized as they cross the midrange trajectory, and this imparts some wobble... which opens up the group.
You will hear folks claim 400 yard 1/2 MOA accuracy from 55's and 58's from their 9 twist .243's (most factory .243's are closer to 9 twist than 10, by the way)... but these guys are lying. I can take a 12 twist 22-250 and cut their groups sizes in half at 400 yards, shooting a .22 cal 55 grain bullet. The only way to get a .243 to hang with a 22-250 at 400 yards is to get a slower twist barrel for the .243, or go to a longer, heavier bullet.
But I'm pretty certain if you'll seat the 58's at an OAL of 2.595 inches (this is the Hornady factory length too, by the way) and use a good powder charge, such as 39.8 grains of IMR 3031 in Winchester brass... they'll perform pretty well inside 250 yards or so.
Dan
Dan Newberry knows his stuff. I've used the information on his website to come up with some incredibly accurate loads. My personal favorite for .243 is a 70 grain nosler ballistic tip with around 42 grains of Varget with a CCI BR2 primer. This is in Winchester brass. This is at nosler's max and above Hodgdon's, so be careful, and start about 10% low. If you're looking for a fur bullet try Hornady's 75 grain hollow point. I haven't handloaded this bullet, but I shot several coyotes with hornady's factory load and it was very easy on fur. If you're already loading the 75 grain V-Max you could likely just substitute the 75 grain HP and your problem will be solved.
Layoutman
New member
Quote:
You'll probably ignore this, but I'll post it anyway... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Try 39.8 grains of IMR 3031, and seat the bullet DEEP into the case... for an OAL of 2.595", case head to tip of bullet.
Then let us know how things go.
Dan
Amen Dan
IMR 3031 is a great powder for 243. I shoot Nosler 55 grain BT's pushed with 39.0 grains of IMR3031 (just look for the PINK on the label!)
You'll probably ignore this, but I'll post it anyway... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Try 39.8 grains of IMR 3031, and seat the bullet DEEP into the case... for an OAL of 2.595", case head to tip of bullet.
Then let us know how things go.
Dan
Amen Dan
IMR 3031 is a great powder for 243. I shoot Nosler 55 grain BT's pushed with 39.0 grains of IMR3031 (just look for the PINK on the label!)
hogwire
New member
OK, my .02, a 55 or 58 gr. bullet in .243 is a very short bullet regardless of twist. It is going to take a lot more tweaking and searching to come up with a one holer for these bullets unless you're lucky. Of course some barrels just shoot everything better. My Savage m12 223 1N9 will shoot 40 and 45 gr. bullets at least as well as the heavies with some 1-hole groups. My 22-243 Middlestead barrel on the same receiver. (Shilen) takes quite a bit of load workup to shoot everything except 77 gr. SMK's, Every load of them I've tried shoots very accurately. It's a 1N8 twist. Of course the speed of the bullet in the Middlestead probably has a lot to do with it also. It will shoot 55 gr. BT's over 4200 fps without high pressure signs. In the midd., it seems the faster I push them the more accurate my loads get. What am I getting at?, does fast twist affect short bullets? Well yes and no, every time I think I figure this out up crops a very accurate load that I didn't think should shoot that good. Some people say you can't overstabilize a bullet and some say shorties don't shoot good with a fast twist. From my somewhat limited but a lifetime of experience I have decided they're both right, doh!!! You're probably gonna be on your own with this one. While it doesn't hurt to get feedback from others your barrel may be 1 of a kind! Just my limited and somewhat biased opinion. lp BTW, how many rounds you got downrange with your .243? I read somewhere they're good for about 1200 or less if you keep the barrel little warm.
Have you tried any Reloader 15?
Have you tried any Reloader 15?
Last edited:
Quote:
Quote:
You'll probably ignore this, but I'll post it anyway... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Try 39.8 grains of IMR 3031, and seat the bullet DEEP into the case... for an OAL of 2.595", case head to tip of bullet.
Then let us know how things go.
Dan
Amen Dan
IMR 3031 is a great powder for 243. I shoot Nosler 55 grain BT's pushed with 39.0 grains of IMR3031 (just look for the PINK on the label!)
SR3031 works well for 70 grain bullets. I use it with a 70 Nosler BT in my 22" barreled Savage. I found that I could go up to around 3450 fps., before accuracy started falling off. I tried several different powders, but only SR3031 gave me good accuracy, low extreme spreads and grouped well in cold and in hot temps. Some of the slower powders, like SR4350, gave extreme spreads more than 100 fps. Even my favorite in the .22-250 (SR4064) didn't perform particularly well with that bullet in the .243.
But, to provide a margin for use in higher temps, I settled on a SR3031 load going 3425 fps.
Quote:
You'll probably ignore this, but I'll post it anyway... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Try 39.8 grains of IMR 3031, and seat the bullet DEEP into the case... for an OAL of 2.595", case head to tip of bullet.
Then let us know how things go.
Dan
Amen Dan
IMR 3031 is a great powder for 243. I shoot Nosler 55 grain BT's pushed with 39.0 grains of IMR3031 (just look for the PINK on the label!)
SR3031 works well for 70 grain bullets. I use it with a 70 Nosler BT in my 22" barreled Savage. I found that I could go up to around 3450 fps., before accuracy started falling off. I tried several different powders, but only SR3031 gave me good accuracy, low extreme spreads and grouped well in cold and in hot temps. Some of the slower powders, like SR4350, gave extreme spreads more than 100 fps. Even my favorite in the .22-250 (SR4064) didn't perform particularly well with that bullet in the .243.
But, to provide a margin for use in higher temps, I settled on a SR3031 load going 3425 fps.
slickshot223
Member
Try faster powder with the lighter bullets, my 6 BR shoots 55 gr into one hole, using 4227, However it is too fast for the 243!!
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
This thread is over 14 years old.
I get it Bob, but it's still a relevant cartridge.
I see where you're coming from and respect all of the hunting that you do which is usaually accompanied with amazing pictures.
I haven't loaded for my .243 for years so I may be out of line with this post.
If you've got some starting loads for the .243 with light projectiles I know that I would appreciate them. I've got a few loads that I'm happy to have survived.
I see where you're coming from and respect all of the hunting that you do which is usaually accompanied with amazing pictures.
I haven't loaded for my .243 for years so I may be out of line with this post.
If you've got some starting loads for the .243 with light projectiles I know that I would appreciate them. I've got a few loads that I'm happy to have survived.
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
55gr bullets work great in my Savage 1:9.25 twist. I push them 4000 fps with IMR 8208 XBR. Here's a video of me shooting out to 850 yards with 55gr NBT's.
The lead free version shoots great. 100 yards here.
The lead free version shoots great. 100 yards here.
Willy Brotz
New member
Originally Posted By: dan newberryMPFD,
Basically, the fast twist will stabilize the light, short bullet just fine for short and intermediate distances. So there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get good accuracy inside 250 yards or so.
The problem happens when you put too much spin on the light bullet for long range work. If it's spinning too fast when it arcs over (after it passes the midrange trajectory) it will resist the axial change necessary to allow it to continue flying point first into the wind. It will actually, at least for a certain period of time, be pointing upward but descending--not a good situation.
This is why you will see these bullets fired from 9 twist .243's do fairly well inside 200 to 250 yards, but the MOA will really spread out by 300 yards. By 400 yards, you're lucky if you can keep them inside MOA (4 inches).
This happens because these bullets are overstabilized as they cross the midrange trajectory, and this imparts some wobble... which opens up the group.
You will hear folks claim 400 yard 1/2 MOA accuracy from 55's and 58's from their 9 twist .243's (most factory .243's are closer to 9 twist than 10, by the way)... but these guys are lying. I can take a 12 twist 22-250 and cut their groups sizes in half at 400 yards, shooting a .22 cal 55 grain bullet. The only way to get a .243 to hang with a 22-250 at 400 yards is to get a slower twist barrel for the .243, or go to a longer, heavier bullet.
But I'm pretty certain if you'll seat the 58's at an OAL of 2.595 inches (this is the Hornady factory length too, by the way) and use a good powder charge, such as 39.8 grains of IMR 3031 in Winchester brass... they'll perform pretty well inside 250 yards or so.
Dan
I’ve seen bullet shaped holes in my targets before. I thought it was from to slow of a twist? I mean a heavy for caliber projectile, in a barrel that had slow twist rifling, like older made rifles. Like a 60 grain bullet in a 22 long rifle. Some lightweight, fragile varmint bullets seem to self destruct in a fast twist. We know 100% copper bullets are longer than lead bullets with copper jacket of the same weight. And they need a faster twist on the longer bullets. I guess I never knew you could over stabilize a bullet. I realize it’s an old post. I’m old too, and still try to learn. A bullet pointing upwards as it’s coming into the target seems like it’s not stabilized at all. Unless this post was referring to the bullet transitioning from transonic to subsonic?
Basically, the fast twist will stabilize the light, short bullet just fine for short and intermediate distances. So there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get good accuracy inside 250 yards or so.
The problem happens when you put too much spin on the light bullet for long range work. If it's spinning too fast when it arcs over (after it passes the midrange trajectory) it will resist the axial change necessary to allow it to continue flying point first into the wind. It will actually, at least for a certain period of time, be pointing upward but descending--not a good situation.
This is why you will see these bullets fired from 9 twist .243's do fairly well inside 200 to 250 yards, but the MOA will really spread out by 300 yards. By 400 yards, you're lucky if you can keep them inside MOA (4 inches).
This happens because these bullets are overstabilized as they cross the midrange trajectory, and this imparts some wobble... which opens up the group.
You will hear folks claim 400 yard 1/2 MOA accuracy from 55's and 58's from their 9 twist .243's (most factory .243's are closer to 9 twist than 10, by the way)... but these guys are lying. I can take a 12 twist 22-250 and cut their groups sizes in half at 400 yards, shooting a .22 cal 55 grain bullet. The only way to get a .243 to hang with a 22-250 at 400 yards is to get a slower twist barrel for the .243, or go to a longer, heavier bullet.
But I'm pretty certain if you'll seat the 58's at an OAL of 2.595 inches (this is the Hornady factory length too, by the way) and use a good powder charge, such as 39.8 grains of IMR 3031 in Winchester brass... they'll perform pretty well inside 250 yards or so.
Dan
I’ve seen bullet shaped holes in my targets before. I thought it was from to slow of a twist? I mean a heavy for caliber projectile, in a barrel that had slow twist rifling, like older made rifles. Like a 60 grain bullet in a 22 long rifle. Some lightweight, fragile varmint bullets seem to self destruct in a fast twist. We know 100% copper bullets are longer than lead bullets with copper jacket of the same weight. And they need a faster twist on the longer bullets. I guess I never knew you could over stabilize a bullet. I realize it’s an old post. I’m old too, and still try to learn. A bullet pointing upwards as it’s coming into the target seems like it’s not stabilized at all. Unless this post was referring to the bullet transitioning from transonic to subsonic?