243 bullet weights

[gixer1]

After discussing 243 bullet drop with Dave and Alex in another thread I decided to go out and shoot so 75grn's just to see what the difference was between them and my usual 100grn SP PPU's, (see picture with the 2 rounds side by side) i'm by no means a target shooter - most of my shooting is foxes and stalking.

 

The below was done off a bipod on the bonnet of the truck.

 

I set up a target at 100yards first and fired 2 x 100grn - you can see on the shoot n c target they are the bottom 2, i then fired 1 x 75 grn BT - just to make sure it was on the target and it hit about 1/4" higher just to the left.

 

I then set upa target at 300 yards (which was checked with RF by a friend the other day) and marked a scale in inches, it was shooting up hill slightly but i'm not sure how much difference that would make.

 

I fired 3 100 grn SP first with the yellow tape as the POA and you can see the 2 shots at around 9" drop and what i thing was a pulled shot at around 13 1/2", I then fired 3 x 75grn BT's at the same point and you can see the 3 impacts at arpound 2 1/2 - 3 1/2" drop with a drift to the right slightly (again this is probably me not the rifle!)

 

the ballistics software I have is Winchester and so only shows winchester ammo but it has 100grn SP's at 12.4" drop at 300yards and 75's at 7".

 

Certainly not scientific but interesting to see the different drop on the bullets and how the rifle seemed to like them, not sure what twist rate my rifle is ( a weatherby vangaurd ) or which bullet would be more suited to that twist - although it has shown that with the 75gr BT's you could pretty much shoot straight at a fox (setting the crosshairs on it's back or just above) whereas with the 100's you would certainly need hold over!

 

I did want to try 55grns but could not get hold of any, I will give the PPU 90 grn's a try when the local RFD gets them in but at the moment i only have the 100's and the 75's a friend gave me to try.

 

Shame the PPU's only come in 100's and 90's as they are extremely cheap at £11.80/20 as i would have liked to give the 75's or 55's a try at that price.

 

Regards,

 

Gixer

[kent]

Remember the drop is the easy bit in longer range shooting, the hard bit is the windage call and accurate ranging and getting the accuraccy 1" at 100 don't nessasary equate to 3" groups at 300yds in the real world -300yds being the test of how well your gun and ammo shoots in the field. Don't waste time with 55 grners the 75 will prove better for fox the lighter 6mm's 55 grn bullets are for the .22 cals realy

[pavman]

Remember the drop is the easy bit in longer range shooting, the hard bit is the windage call and accurate ranging and getting the accuraccy 1" at 100 don't nessasary equate to 3" groups at 300yds in the real world -300yds being the test of how well your gun and ammo shoots in the field. Don't waste time with 55 grners the 75 will prove better for fox the lighter 6mm's 55 grn bullets are for the .22 cals realy

 

 

with you up to a point, Hornady 58 grain V Max is a cracking Fox load in my 243 Tikka Varmit as most of my stuff is up to 200-250 yards and not much beyound (small fields) the 75's do buck wind better i have to agree

[al4x]

thats pretty impressive with the 75 grainers, if its still should be devastating on pretty much any you can see thats seriously flat shooting

[DaveK]

Thanks for that Gixer. I really like 75 grainers through mine.

[Devon Fox]

with you up to a point, Hornady 58 grain V Max is a cracking Fox load in my 243 Tikka Varmit as most of my stuff is up to 200-250 yards and not much beyound (small fields) the 75's do buck wind better i have to agree

 

 

Same gun - same rounds 58 g's flat pack them well & truly!

[gixer1]

thats pretty impressive with the 75 grainers, if its still should be devastating on pretty much any you can see thats seriously flat shooting

 

I thought that too, extremely flat and very little drift (there was a slight breeze) it's just a shame the supply I have of 100's is £11.80, the cheapest factory for 75's is £28!!! and to be honest i don't really want to start reloading at the minute due to time...(and the fact I have been told it becomes addictive!!)

 

 

Thanks for that Gixer. I really like 75 grainers through mine.

 

 

I will do the test again just to ensure the data is a bit more reliable and repost when this is done, i'm also keen to see if there is a big difference with 90's as i can get these (PPU's) cheap too!

 

Regards

 

Gixer

[al4x]

I thought that too, extremely flat and very little drift (there was a slight breeze) it's just a shame the supply I have of 100's is £11.80, the cheapest factory for 75's is £28!!! and to be honest i don't really want to start reloading at the minute due to time...(and the fact I have been told it becomes addictive!!)

 

 

I don't think its addictive if you're normal

 

If you're someone who always thinks they can inprove on things then yes I guess so but if you can find one load that works in your gun and just use it then its not.

[garyb]

I use home loaded 75gn V-max's in my 243

 

Not had a runner yet... Wind beyond 150yards is your biggest problem.

 

I've got some 55grn Sierra Blitzkings to play with, I will be at the range with the 308 sometime this week, so may well give the 55 grainers a test of paper and see.

 

Obviously the faster they travel, the more barrel wear one can expect.

Edited September 13, 2010 by garyb

[gixer1]

Is there any general rule on what twist suits which weight of bullet? basically as I have a weatherby (which i think is a 1-10" twist ) can it be said it would suit a heavier or lighter load in 243?

 

Regards,

 

Gixer

[al4x]

Is there any general rule on what twist suits which weight of bullet? basically as I have a weatherby (which i think is a 1-10" twist ) can it be said it would suit a heavier or lighter load in 243?

 

Regards,

 

Gixer

 

 

from that I can conclude you'd be fine to take up reloading perfectly normal were you the sort to get obsessed by reloading you'd have all your guns vital stats tattooed on your brain along with having bought it to fire specific weight bullets

[garyb]

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.rifle-...wist-rates.html

 

How do you know what rifling twist is right.

 

A good rule of thumb is that the heavier and longer a bullet is, the faster the rifling twist rate needs to be to stabilize it in flight, therefore a lighter shorter bullet needs a slower rifling twist rate to give proper bullet spin for correct flight.

[gixer1]

from that I can conclude you'd be fine to take up reloading perfectly normal were you the sort to get obsessed by reloading you'd have all your guns vital stats tattooed on your brain along with having bought it to fire specific weight bullets :blink:

 

 

[kent]

with you up to a point, Hornady 58 grain V Max is a cracking Fox load in my 243 Tikka Varmit as most of my stuff is up to 200-250 yards and not much beyound (small fields) the 75's do buck wind better i have to agree :blink:

 

Yep i don't doubt it, thing is how do you rate a load. Terminal effect? Windage? drop? or just plain old accuraccy? People all use something different sometimes for good solid reason sometimes on a whim. I personally use 95grn Nosler b/tip for both Fox and deer, the shots can be long but i know the dope calls well and i don't have to faff around with changing zero etc. Most .243" 's will shoot 75's better but that don't mean them all