Can it be done? See the impact in scope with a .243?

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Blakeinator

New member
Ok firearms experts...i wanna build a semi-auto predator gun that i can see impact in scope...is it possible?

Being in Canada i have few choices on semi-autos and i'd like to stay with a .243 if possible anyhow? I'm thinking about a browning bar and hoping that with the reduced recoil of the semi-auto gas action and some sort of magna porting or muzzle brake i'll be able to see impacts and or the least amount of possible gun movement after the shot for fast follow up stuff or doubles etc.?

I don't want to use weight if i don't have too. Do you think it can be done with some sort of porting etc.? I don't know much about muzzle brakes or porting etc. I just see the odd report about muzzle brakes making 300 win mags feeling like .243's and thats when i thought about making my .243 hit like...well...nothing at all really? And thats when it dawned on me a semi-auto would help too. Besides, i've wanted to try a browning bar in .243 for awhile now...i guess i'm just looking for another excuse to nudge me into it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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With the right muzzle brake, probably yes.

I've shot a T/C Encore in pistol configuration chambered in 300 Win Mag. From the bench it stayed flat, never came up off the rest. It was a custom porting. The owner said that the porting actually worked better as the load got hotter. The load I shot in it was pretty hot, but I don't think it was his max load for the gun.
 
Here's something to consider. With a semi-automatic you are dealing with more than the muzzle jump or blast/recoil, you also have to consider the action. The automatic working of the action can knock your sight picture around a bit as well.
 
BTW, if you go the ported route you need to accept that hearing protection is mandatory, even while hunting.
 
Excellent, where do i go to learn more about the options? Are there specific muzzle brakes you buy and have installed? Is there a who's who of such a product to consider? Or is it custom porting of the barrel the way to go? Any tips on where to look for more info about this sort of thing?

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I had these guys put a brake on my 257 wby mag. It greatly reduced muzzel jump and felt recoil. Quite LOUD though. They do nice work and in a tmely fasion. I would not port it, the barrel is ruined if you don't like it. If you don't like the brake you can lop the barrel or remove it and put on a thread protector.http://www.muzzlebrake.com/
 
Hey Caknuk putting a muzzel brake on a rifle Hurts the Ozone layer! Did they teach you that in grade school?Especially if you put a Vias on your rifle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
You should be able to buy the BAR with the BOSS system on it. I think its a great system and the recoil in my .280 A-Bolt is reduced enough that I can sometimes see the impact of the round.... This should eliminate any research you need to do. In addition, with this system, you can put the boss "CR" on and shoot the gun without hearing protection without your ears bleeding...
 
I have a KDF break on a 300 RUM and it recoils like my 243 but you will definitely need hearing protection when shooting it. I've noticed the faster bullets(125 bt's at 3950fps) realy make a crack compaired to the 3000fps ones comming out of the muzzel so the varmint weight bullets are probably going to be extremely loud out of a 243.
 
Awesome info and tips guys. Thanks a bunch. I see the point about not putting holes in your barrels because of not being able to change it. I forgot about that boss system, must go read up on that...should be a great fit and a one stop shop then.

B /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
With my KDF you can unscrew it and rescrew on a threaded cap. This break will tame recoil WAY BETTER than the boss system and will run around two hundred bucks installed with the replacement cap. Its just alot louder than the boss system. Pros and cons.
 
You can see the bullet impact through the scope of a 17 HMR. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Haven't noticed you on the forum for awhile Blake, hows the huntin' up north this year??

As for the .243, I'd imagine it could be done, escpecially with an auto, and even if it doesn't you'll still have a new gun. Good luck!
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious yet...

Your scope power, which is directly related to field of view, is going to be a very important consideration.

I hit a groundhog at 755 yards last fall with my .243 bolt gun. I have a fixed 10 power scope on that rifle, and I was able to see the first shot (a miss!) hit about a foot over him on the hillside. Then I held under and squeezed off another shot when he came back up and I saw this bullet hit him. Even saw him do an somersault in the air... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

If you're going to insist on 20X or higher, I think you'll have a lot more trouble seeing the impact, due to limited field of view.

Too, depending on what range you're shooting, if the rifle hasn't dropped back down from the recoil arc, you might need even lower mag (and more FOV) to see the impact.

Dan
 
Quote:
You can see the bullet impact through the scope of a 17 HMR. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Haven't noticed you on the forum for awhile Blake, hows the huntin' up north this year??

As for the .243, I'd imagine it could be done, escpecially with an auto, and even if it doesn't you'll still have a new gun. Good luck!



Ha, will see, wasn't paying attention on the last two i got with hmr but huntin has been good, we've got about a dozen or so this fall already, i got one at 20 yrds runnin hard at me with a shotgun and a bunch with the .243 and the two with the hmr. We got 3 on sunday...1st time we've been able to get out in a couple weeks.

On the guns i'm just thinkin outloud. Two reasons i wanna see the impact...okay maybe 3. 1. In case of miss on a long shot to judge holdover on the next, 2. Faster to that second shot as your still on the coyote....and 3. because i'd like to see it hit em....cause i'm sick like that i guess? The .17 is fun, will be using it about 1/4 of time over winter i suppose. Should have some interesting stories come spring.

Thanks for all the tips guys.

B
 
Learning how to shoot with both eyes open also helps. Shot an antelope at over a 1000 yards with my braked 300 RUM and was able to see both shots. The first was about 15ft high and the second one I saw tilt him sideways hitting it behind the front shoulder. It was awsome! If you are shooting long distance you have time to recover a little to observe shot placement.
 
The integral compensators that I am using on my builds let you "see" the hit even with the .25 WSSM. I was out west shooting last year with the WSSM and saw almost all the hits. I was using a fairly high-power scope, which makes it a little more difficult, but saw 90% of the action anyway.

The compensator doesn't reduce recoil very much, but it does take all of the muzzle jump out. The recoil is turned into a straight-line push.
 
243ME..I sure hope your last post was an attempt at humor. If not, 1000 yards shots at game are totatlly unacceptable IMO.
 

When shooting crows with my 243 ADL I see
parts flying through the air. I sometime see the dogs
Fall. No brake. It should work fine.


 


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