GC
Well-known member
Foxhunt,
Congrat's on your new rifle! I think you'll like it as a hunting and field gun. An update on my post above. I've had a chance to work up a load with my favorite bullet for the .243, the Sierra 85 gr. BTHP. I have found my Model Seven Predator to be finicky about what it will shoot well. It shot a lot of 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" groups. A max load of IMR-4064 under that Sierra will put three into a tight little triangle about 1/2" - 3/4" and when I add two more shots for a five shot string they will just cut under the magic 1" mark. With my limited load developement so far I'll say the gun will shoot, you just have to find the right combination.
I hope it is as lucky in the field for you as mine has been this past weekend. I took mine deer hunting for whitetails here in the Ozarks. The weather was pretty bad Saturday, 30+ mph winds and fairly cold too, around 37*, some spitting snow and rain. I smoked a doe with my new Remington M7 Predator .243 and handloaded Sierra 85 gr. BTHP at over 3,100 fps. I have a bonus tag for an antlerless deer and with a new rifle... well I had to! She field dressed about 110 lbs and will be fine eating. When skinned she looked like a corn fed fat calf on the gambrel hook, just larded up and in fine shape. She was looking at me from about 80 yards playing sneaky peek in the timber. I shot her right under the chin and the world was jerked out from under her. Zero meat loss! It has been plenty cold and she has been hanging, I processed her today (Monday).
I saw two more does Sunday morning and passed them for the good size buck I know is roaming this section of forest. Later in the morning I killed a big coyote with the new rig. The coyote came off the gutpile from the doe I shot Saturday and was trotting through the timber around 100 yards away as I slip hunted a big hollar. I lip squeaked and I guess he never heard me, he just kept trotting along. I swung him him and picked a hole as he was going through it and hit him through the lungs. As you would expect - instant kapow. The wife surprised me with this gun as a "just because" gift and I gotta tell ya, it is two for two in the field and I'm liking it.
Congrat's on your new rifle! I think you'll like it as a hunting and field gun. An update on my post above. I've had a chance to work up a load with my favorite bullet for the .243, the Sierra 85 gr. BTHP. I have found my Model Seven Predator to be finicky about what it will shoot well. It shot a lot of 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" groups. A max load of IMR-4064 under that Sierra will put three into a tight little triangle about 1/2" - 3/4" and when I add two more shots for a five shot string they will just cut under the magic 1" mark. With my limited load developement so far I'll say the gun will shoot, you just have to find the right combination.
I hope it is as lucky in the field for you as mine has been this past weekend. I took mine deer hunting for whitetails here in the Ozarks. The weather was pretty bad Saturday, 30+ mph winds and fairly cold too, around 37*, some spitting snow and rain. I smoked a doe with my new Remington M7 Predator .243 and handloaded Sierra 85 gr. BTHP at over 3,100 fps. I have a bonus tag for an antlerless deer and with a new rifle... well I had to! She field dressed about 110 lbs and will be fine eating. When skinned she looked like a corn fed fat calf on the gambrel hook, just larded up and in fine shape. She was looking at me from about 80 yards playing sneaky peek in the timber. I shot her right under the chin and the world was jerked out from under her. Zero meat loss! It has been plenty cold and she has been hanging, I processed her today (Monday).
I saw two more does Sunday morning and passed them for the good size buck I know is roaming this section of forest. Later in the morning I killed a big coyote with the new rig. The coyote came off the gutpile from the doe I shot Saturday and was trotting through the timber around 100 yards away as I slip hunted a big hollar. I lip squeaked and I guess he never heard me, he just kept trotting along. I swung him him and picked a hole as he was going through it and hit him through the lungs. As you would expect - instant kapow. The wife surprised me with this gun as a "just because" gift and I gotta tell ya, it is two for two in the field and I'm liking it.