Howa 1500 .243

[tonker]

I have the above rifle, I also load my own for this and my .222.

Now this is where I open a can of worms. I load from 58grn vmax for fox. 85/95gr nosler partition 85gr sierra 95gr hornady sst and have used 95gr

winchester silvertip and have tried any amount of others.

My Rifle seems to like the higher weights of most loads in the manual for accuracy, but with speed comes damage.

Now for the foxes, I don't worry about damage, but with the Roe it very often costs me the front end.

I shot a Buck that I was asked to get about a week ago, and although going in behind the shoulder and hitting the far shoulder on exit, I lost the whole front end through bruising, that was with an 85gr nosler partition over 42 1/2 n160.

Now the 243 is what I have, I know there other calibres, but that is not an option, I have to find a load that works in mine, has anyone with a Howa found a load that works in theirs please. should I go 100grn or heavier? will this stabalize?

Should I go with a lighter load and not group as well, If anyone has had the same problem can you throw me a few pointers please.

Whilst I like reloading, it all costs money. If I can get hold of a load that works in a similar rifle as a start, I have something to go on my theory is go bigger and slower, but am expecting to get shot down in flames.

Thanks for reading and any replies, thanks in advance.

[steve d]

I have the same gun in the heavy barrel and use Winchester Power Points, 100gr, have done since i got it from new and have never done any damage like you state, granted i only shoot about 50 Roe a year with it and its not a home load, but maybe worth a try?

[6.5x55SE]

I personally don't use a .243. But i would slow the speed down on the chosen Projectile also if you can get them to group in your Rifle step up to 105gr Projectile also possibly a Round Nose Projectile.

For years i used a. 25-06 with 120gr Nosler Partition and NEVER had a issue like yourself with Roe CWD or Muntjac. Good luck 👍

[Vince Green]

Have you tried the privy bullets? They don't appear to have the explosive expansion of the American bullets you are using.

[eddoakley]

How "bad" does the grouping get if you change bullet?

Realisically a 4" group is sufficient. (Dsc shooting test and all that) so a 2" group should be fine and surely that's achievable with most bullets?

I don't reload and have always used 100gr factory rounds through my howa. 243 and never found one that wouldn't shoot 1" groups if I do my bit.

Never had much meat damage either. Lost confidence in federal powershock when they didn't seem to expand very well but never had excessive damage from any bullet.

 

Edd

[Redgum]

I was having the same conversation with a lad in the gun shop a few weeks ago, he had abandoned using his 243 on fallow because of excessive meat damage, even with 100gr bullets. I have shot munties, Roe and fallow with 243 and never really lost a front end. Sometimes I will loose the opposite shoulder on a munty on exit if animal isn't dead straight and the bullet clips a rib on the way in but saying that I have a real sweet load for 55gr in 223 and that does little damage. I also tend to use 308 for fallow as most of my fallow shooting is woodland and I like a good blood trail while sometimes the 243 doesn't exit. I use sierra s/p bullets in all my loads and find them excellent. You may find 100gr prohunters or gamekings will work, that's what I use with n160 in my Tikka which I think is the same twist as your rifle. Guess the only problem with working up a load is having to buy 100 bullets at a time, you ever up Gloucester way and you can have some to try.

[iain]

Simple, either use 100 grain bullets or step up a calibre