What's our some of you guys favorite 243 AI loads for coyotes?

S

skinnerworldchamp

New member
I recently purchased a Custom Rem 700 243 AI with a 24 inch 1-10 twist Douglas barrel. It has a HS precision stock and the only loads I have shot through it our the ones that came with the gun which our Win brass with 48 grains of H414 and Fed primers with a 70 grain Nosler Balistic Tip. They shoot pretty good out of the gun and our going 3673 FPS ...but I have 6 other types of 6 mm bullets I would like to give a try just to see what they can do. Here is a list of the other bullets I have

1. 70 gr Blitskings 2. 68 gr Match Burgers 3. 87 gr V max 4. 58 gr V max 5. 65 gr V max 6. 75 gr Hornady HP 7. 55 gr Blitskings.

I like the weight of the 70-75 grain bullets for wind drift purposes but most shots our going to be inside of 350 yards so the lighter bullets our still a option. This is my calling rifle mainly used for coyotes.

I just thought I would give you guys a chance to chime in on some loads that worked well for y'all. Any info is appreciated ! Thanks Skinner
 
I can't comment on the AI version, but I love 58 VMax (or ZMax) in my 243 Win. It's fast and works quite effective on coyotes. It's a 22-250s ballistic twin. Especially out of an AI. I think with the AI, I'd look at the 65 gr VMax. That would be great, and with the AI, you can still get some good speeds, and a little more wind bucking.
 
I have a 1/9 twist Hart and it really shines with 105/90 Bergers and H4350. It shoots the 87gr. V-Max pretty good also.
 
pahtr760 is right on in his recommendation. You might get away with the 58 grainer on your smaller Texas coyotes.
 
Thanks for the info so far guys it gives me a starting point at least. I know one thing those 58 grainers our going to be some fast and flat shooting bullets if I'm getting 3673 FPS out of the 70 grainers!
 
The hornady 75 grain vmax or HP work like a sledge hammer on coyotes. 75 grain is my favorite weight for any of the 6MM offerings because they are typically the flattest to 600 yards. After that the 87 grainers work well. (I usually avoid the VLDs for coyotes). I think overall you will be happiest with the 70-87 grain bullets if you live in a windy area.
 
Seth - I am bumping 4000 with a 55gr NBT out of a straight 243 using H4895. Only lost 1 coyote all year with that combo.
The rifle shoots the 58 vmax a little better than the 55's but the speed is way better with the 55's.

Got a 12 twist 243AI barrel coming. Going to see if I can bump the 55's up to 4200.

Also had real good luck with 87gr vmax with good speed using R17 in the straight 243.

The 243AI that I already have has a 8 twist and likes both the 87 vmax and the 105 Amax over H4350.

Stay after them
Kelly
 
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I have been studying my Speer reloading manual and have decided that the 85 grain speer boat tail spitzer is the best coyote bullet. The Alliant site shows that a stiff load of RL-17 will launch that bullet out there at 3400-3450 fps. The high BC of this bullet transforms the .243 into a trajectory that allows a point blank range of 300 yards on coyotes. With the scope set for one inch high at 100 yards, it is only 5.7 inches low at 300 yards.
 
Guys that's some great info. Me and Venatic " David Stroud" our going to load up some bullets tommorrow night and head out to the range on fri and give them a try .... I'm leaning towards the 70-75 grain bullets but I'm going to try some 68 grain burgers too. We have H4350 and VV N 150 as well win 760. I havent tried the reloader powders yet might check into them.

Kelly what kind of barrel life can you expect shooting those 55 grainers at 4000 FPS ??? I have some 55 and 58 grainers I can try out but figured the 70-75 grainers would buck the wind better and give me longer barrel life.

Rich your info sounds very solid and I'll look into that load as well. Thanks for all the input one things for sure this rifle should be a coyotes worst nightmare .... Lol
 
12" twist, I shoot the 70g Noslers with 48.5g of H414, Rem brass, and CCI 250 primer at 3850 out of a 29" barrel. Change the primer to a Win mag and go to 50.5g of H415 and I am at 4030 fps, tiny, tiny groups.

I am not changing noth'en!
 
[Kelly what kind of barrel life can you expect shooting those 55 grainers at 4000 FPS ??? I have some 55 and 58 grainers I can try out but figured the 70-75 grainers would buck the wind better and give me longer barrel life.


Seth - I don't know how long it is going to last. When I won it last January in a local contest, my thoughts were to see just how long it would take to burn out the barrel, so I figure I have 800 rounds down it so far. My plan was always to make it an AI. Anyway after shooting it and killing with it, I liked it so much I bought another sav model 10 predator with the accustock just like it. It shoots real good also.

Here is the pic of the last 5 shots I made with at 500 yards about 10 days ago.

DSCN0107.jpg


speed kills.

Sighted in at 250 with the 55's the 243 is +1.3@100 +1.2@200 -2.2@300 -10@400

Chris got one on film I smoked at 430 with it.

Catch you later
Kelly
 
Originally Posted By: skinnerworldchampGuys that's some great info. Me and Venatic " David Stroud" our going to load up some bullets tommorrow night and head out to the range on fri and give them a try .... I'm leaning towards the 70-75 grain bullets but I'm going to try some 68 grain burgers too. We have H4350 and VV N 150 as well win 760. I havent tried the reloader powders yet might check into them.

Kelly what kind of barrel life can you expect shooting those 55 grainers at 4000 FPS ??? I have some 55 and 58 grainers I can try out but figured the 70-75 grainers would buck the wind better and give me longer barrel life.

Rich your info sounds very solid and I'll look into that load as well. Thanks for all the input one things for sure this rifle should be a coyotes worst nightmare .... Lol
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I typed my above post from memory and was a little off on the velocity. Alliant shows the following as max load in standard .243 43.7 grains of RL-17 gives a velocity of 3316 fps. The B.C. of an 85 grain boat tail is about .40, while a 55 grainer in .243 is only about .23. I think Nosler has a 55 grainer with a higher B.C. though. I will check that out and be right back. Stay tuned. Edited to add---OK, the B.C. of a Nosler 55 grain B.T. is .27. I will check my manual for bullet drop of .27 and be back soon.
 
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Last report I got was he is running the 55's at around 4200
out of a 6X284 and had no complaints.

Not saying this bullet is a be all end all, but it works pretty well. Also neck shot a couple of cat during a contest and the buyer did not dock me any on those.
He graded pretty hard.

I think the cup is thicker on the NBT verses the vmax.
Never cut one, but from what I seen it hold together pretty well. Got some 65gr Berger BTHP's waiting on the new AI barrel. Going to shot what runs best.
kj
 
I'm sure glad were figuring all this out I'm going to have my new 243 LBC custom AR coming pretty soon and that's a whole other can of worms to load for.... Lol ... I might just set one up for the 55 grainers and the other for 70-75 grainers.

Kelly I had one of those Savage model 10 predators with the accu stock and max 1 camo in 22-250 and it shot very well with 55 grain V max. Also nice group at 500 yards in the above post. Kelly what powder our you planning on trying in your new 243 AI barrel ?
 
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Originally Posted By: skinnerworldchampGuys that's some great info. Me and Venatic " David Stroud" our going to load up some bullets tommorrow night and head out to the range on fri and give them a try .... I'm leaning towards the 70-75 grain bullets but I'm going to try some 68 grain burgers too. We have H4350 and VV N 150 as well win 760. I havent tried the reloader powders yet might check into them.

Kelly what kind of barrel life can you expect shooting those 55 grainers at 4000 FPS ??? I have some 55 and 58 grainers I can try out but figured the 70-75 grainers would buck the wind better and give me longer barrel life.

Rich your info sounds very solid and I'll look into that load as well. Thanks for all the input one things for sure this rifle should be a coyotes worst nightmare .... Lol

Seth since I know you I will go ahead and tell you in advance that I do have Reloder 17 and Reloder 19 and also have H4895 that Kelly mentioned as well. You are covered....
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I just hope nobody says they are using "Magic Pixie Dust".Cause I keep all that for myself!
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Well guys, a bit more studying of this issue tells me that the 55 grain Nosler B.T. has an inch or so less drop at 300 yards than my much advertised 85 grain Speer boat tail. My 85 grainer would have more whomp and stomp, but for coyotes the little 55's have plenty of kill in em. Kelly Jackson likes the 55,s in his .243 and he would not steer a man wrong.
 


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