.243 as a long range choice?

[RUGER]

I have a friend at work that is wanting to buy a new rifle and he hates recoil.
In fact he refuses to even fire a .300 win mag. :)

Anyway, he really likes the Browning X Bolt rifle and he is considering buying one.
He is kinda torn between several calibers but he is leaning heavily towards the .243

Rifle will be used for "maybe" a coyote if the chance presents itself but will mostly be fired at paper and other assorted targets like steel, water jugs etc.

I know the rifle, optics and ammo will play a big part in what kind of "groups" he can achieve but overall what is the longest realistic range, in terms of yards, would you expect a .243 to be accurate?

Or does the caliber even matter?
I guess I asked that right?

I guess I am asking, if the rifle, ammo and optics (and shooter) are capable, would the .243 be accurate out to say, 1,000 yards?

 

[MUP]

I think the 7-08 would shoot a tad flatter than the .243, thus being able to reach out a little farther ballistically speaking that is, and being very similar in recoil to the .243.

 

[TNRifleman]

There are guys on here with much more knowledge and experience than me but for targets and paper punching, a .243 as a caliber will work quite a ways out. I would have him look at the 6.5 CM if he doesn't reload because the recoil is negligible and there are really good factory options in match grade ammo.

Accuracy will be more dependent on his gun setup (including optics), his ability and his ammunition. However, if I was looking at a rifle for longer range targets, I would want something with a heavy barrel and heavy stock. Is he looking at a standard x-bolt or one of the varmint models?

If the rifle is really accurate at 100-200 yards, the rest is really math and doping the wind in terms of hitting targets.

 

[Jcalder]

If he reloads and can get the proper twist a 243 with heavy bullets would be great. Obviously twist would come into play


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[markwondi]

I'm a 6mm fan, however most production rifles do not have the proper twist rate for the high BC bullets available.

I would recommend the 6.5 Creedmoor all day over the 243 for this application.

 

[DaveB]

6.5 twist is I think 1:8

243 is 1:10 sometimes 1:9.something.

The rub is getting a 243 with a faster (say 1:8) twist in factory mode.

Gonna have same problem with 7mm08, have to be very careful what you get.

Then again, while all this seems unreasonably complex, the fact is long distance shooting is a complex undertaking. That is, if you want to be half way serious.

For example, MUP is knocking steel at I think 500 yards with an essentially stock 300WSM. Step up to Mr. Big and he wants 3 shots at 400 yards to cloverleaf (well nearly) because 1 minute of angle at 1000 yards is 10 inches which means YOU MISSED.

Enjoy the complexity because hearing the gong from 600 yards is an exceptionally great experience.

 

[Hunter 257W]

It all depends on how serious he is about long range shooting. Does he really literally mean he wants to shoot at 1,000 yards or just "way out yonder"? I'm more of a "way out yonder" type myself. Don't really care to try 1000 yards. I don't care for adjusting the scope for every shot nor do I want a reticle that looks like the instrument panel on some space ship from the future. I prefer super high velocity with the resulting flat trajectory then zeroing for max point-blank-range so I can just aim where I want to hit and shoot. All you have to do with that method is learn what that Max range looks like and stay within that. Of course most of the time that means less than 350 yards so if you need/want more than that, you got to do something different. Guessing at holdover will go to at least 400 yards.

It costs a lot of money to have a custom rifle built to shoot the longer than normal bullets that have high ballistic coefficients and it isn't practically unless you are truly serious about it.

 

[MUP]

I really like doing more with less. With that said, I had less than $200 in my 300WSM, with factory Simmons scope that came on it, and was hitting just a tad over MOA at 600 yds with it, with handloads that is. I have since added a new to me better scope with BDC marks for elevation clarity, and hope to sneak under MOA now at that distance. Still under $350 with it. :mrgreen:

 

[Lost Lake]

JMO, but a standard twist 1:10 will be plenty accurate farther than most guys will shoot at game. Mine has been really accurate out to 400 with 100 grainers poking along loaded down to only 2750fps.

There will always be shooters who can wring one out farther than that, but man, that's a long poke.

 

[BobTail]

Pass on the 243. There are far better options.

The 6.5 Creedmoor was initially designed as a long range cartridge. I own one and they are an amazing rifle. But, as has already been said, buy quality components if you expect quality results. When you stretch out past 100-200 yards a quality rifle and scope is a must.

Then there is the 7mm-08. Another quality cartridge. My son owns one that is extremely accurate at 500 yards. We haven't shot past that.

Both of these cartridges allow for "long-for-caliber" bullets with BCs over 600 in some cases. This is extremely important if you are seeking long distance accuracy.

These 2 would be my choices based on your statement that the owner was concerned about recoil.

HTH

 

[TNRifleman]

Have him look at the Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I picked one up and it is scary how good this rifle is. Should be somewhat similar in price to a mid-road X-Bolt

 

[mr.big]

I have an 8 twist Krieger bbl chambered in 243 and throated for 105 VLD orange box that I will put up against the 6.5 Creedmoor at 1,000 yards anytime,,run the numbers through JBM or Shooter and see what I mean,,the 105 VLDH at 3200 fps is a lot flatter and holds at least as good in wind as the 6.5 140 2800 fps load,,

you can get better factory ammo for the 6.5 but if your serious about 1,000 yards you wont be shooting factory ammo long,,

Sierra just dropped a new 110 Match king for the 6mms that is supposed to be even sleeker than the 105 VLD and the new 115 DTACs are coming on strong also,,

dont take someone with a 243 for granted,,they will shoot and shoot well,,

 

[mike243]

I just looked at Federal loads for the 243 and the 6.5 creedmore ,the 243 has less drop to 950y with factory ammo YMMV :tu:

 

[Stingray]

Have him look at the Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I picked one up and it is scary how good this rifle is. Should be somewhat similar in price to a mid-road X-Bolt

Good words here, I bought a ruger American predator in 6.5 creed, loading 120 BTs over varget. Shoots tight groups and low recoil

 

[mr.big]

my 243 bbl shoots the 105 VLDH and 41.5 grs H4350 at 3200 fps,,it shoots 1 inch groups at 300 yards and from a 100 yard zero takes 21.5 MOA elevation adjustment to be on at 1,000 yards,,you can see in the pics how it is throated for the 105 next to the 6mm BRDX case,
the round plate is 10 inches and is at 1,025 yards,,my best string on that plate was with the 243 bbl hitting it 16 times in a row and 18 out of 20 shots total that day,,

 

[TNRifleman]

my 243 bbl shoots the 105 VLDH and 41.5 grs H4350 at 3200 fps,,it shoots 1 inch groups at 300 yards and from a 100 yard zero takes 21.5 MOA elevation adjustment to be on at 1,000 yards,,you can see in the pics how it is throated for the 105 next to the 6mm BRDX case,
the round plate is 10 inches and is at 1,025 yards,,my best string on that plate was with the 243 bbl hitting it 16 times in a row and 18 out of 20 shots total that day,,

I get what you are saying but you are talking about an extremely customized rig designed to shoot a specific bullet at long distance versus an off the shelf Browning. You gun will probably do better than 99.9% of all guns out there regardless of caliber so it would not be a great representation of the average capability of the caliber.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

my 243 bbl shoots the 105 VLDH and 41.5 grs H4350 at 3200 fps,,it shoots 1 inch groups at 300 yards and from a 100 yard zero takes 21.5 MOA elevation adjustment to be on at 1,000 yards,,you can see in the pics how it is throated for the 105 next to the 6mm BRDX case,
the round plate is 10 inches and is at 1,025 yards,,my best string on that plate was with the 243 bbl hitting it 16 times in a row and 18 out of 20 shots total that day,,

I get what you are saying but you are talking about an extremely customized rig designed to shoot a specific bullet at long distance versus an off the shelf Browning. You gun will probably do better than 99.9% of all guns out there regardless of caliber so it would not be a great representation of the average capability of the caliber.

I entirely disagree. The question was concerning what the cartridge is capable of versus other cartridges. Mr.Big has shown you exactly what the CARTRIDGE is capable of. OP stated the guy is likely to buy an X-Bolt regardless of which caliber and wanted to know if 243 was sufficient as opposed to say 30-06. Mr.Big showed it is.... for punching paper anyways.

 

[TNRifleman]

Yep and he is shooting a 1 in 8 twist barrel that will stabilize heavier bullets. The Browning is a 1 in 10 so it is not a true comparison. My first post on this thread clearly says that a .243 can punch paper and targets at long range no problem. I just don't believe it is the best option in an off the shelf production rifle.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

Yep and he is shooting a 1 in 8 twist barrel that will stabilize heavier bullets. The Browning is a 1 in 10 so it is not a true comparison. My first post on this thread clearly says that a .243 can punch paper and targets at long range no problem. I just don't believe it is the best option in an off the shelf production rifle.

The same could be said about the x-bolt 308 having a 1/12 barrel as opposed to a 1/10. I guess we are crossed because you are stating that the x-bolt is not the best option for an off the shelf target rifle, at which we entirely agree. I took the question as asking if 243 would be a good choice. Obviously there are better choices but they come at a price, and OP said he wanted little recoil. If he is buying an x-bolt and demands light recoil then he is going to be hard pressed to find a cartridge IN THE XBOLT that will shoot better than the 243 WITH LIGHT RECOIL. I would venture to say the accuracy limitation will be in the rifle and the shooter more so than the restraints of the cartridge, even with the 1/10.

 

[MUP]

As an aside, I'm going to be working on a load for my daughter's little Rem Mod 770 in .243 this spring. I'll post up details when I get some results. Right now it's an MOA shooter, most of the time, at 100 yds with factory Corlokt ammo, 100 gr. Just no real consistency with factory ammo as most could probably agree on.

 

[BobTail]

I just looked at Federal loads for the 243 and the 6.5 creedmore ,the 243 has less drop to 950y with factory ammo YMMV :tu:

When shooting long range there's more to the game than bullet drop. :tu:

But only those that have shot at long distance would know that.

 

[mr.big]

the 95 VLD made to shoot in factory 9 1/8 twists doesnt give up alot to the 105s and will get you way out there with the extra speed you can get from them,,

 

[mike243]

I just looked at Federal loads for the 243 and the 6.5 creedmore ,the 243 has less drop to 950y with factory ammo YMMV :tu:

When shooting long range there's more to the game than bullet drop. :tu:

But only those that have shot at long distance would know that.

How many matches have you won? or competed in? :tu: I just know whats accurate with factory loads and not having to dope the drop leaves more time to dope the wind and bullet ,I have never competed but at 55 year of age and 12 years of military service I have fired a few rounds from a lot of weapons :poke: :rotf: long as some body's burning powder its all good

 

[BobTail]

Matches won? None. Competed in? Probably 50 or so. And I usually place. So you can take your sarcastic attitude and shove it. :poke: Just because I know what it takes to shoot at distance didn't deserve that type of response from you. I do it regularly and know what it takes for a rifle to be adequate at long range.

55 years old don't mean squat. I'm 62 and I'm still learning. And I've fired a few rounds myself. Knowing what factory ammunition does (as you said) isn't even scratching the surface when you start shooting 500 yards in competition. Not even marginally. Between my son and I we shoot 100-200 rounds every week, and more if it is a match weekend.

Burning powder and counting rounds means little or nothing unless there is a purpose for the time spent.

 

[Deer Assassin]

7 saum 195 berger as fast as you can get it

 

[mike243]

It's a shame you are that old and haven't learned yugo

 

[Urban_Hunter]

 

[backstraps]

I would say it really depends on what the OP considers long range. First he is looking at a factory box rifle, and granted imho he can get to some long ranges with a box rifle, but narrowing the selection down to "low recoil" I think he is looking at the correct caliber for sure.

I just started last year playing with a low budget plinker. I started with a box rifle on clearance (rem 700 .243 adl) 299.99 I swapped the trigger out for a factory remmy x-mark pro, added some rings and bases, lapped the rings, then topped with a budget scope. A new in the box old stock Simmons whitetail hunter scope. Not much to do with the factory plastic stock, except drill it out fill it up, and bed it (I couldve swapped the stock out with a BC etc, but this is a budget rifle :) )

Now I plan on using this rifle to hunt hard for coyotes and wanted to be able to hunt without "scratch worry" another reason for a budget project.

SO I have developed a couple rounds for shorter distance coyote hunting 250 and under


I have tried to stay with an actual hunting bullet for load testing so far, Looks like Nos 100gr Partition with H4130 is getting there. I am still around .790" @ 200 with it but nothing super impressive yet to report. RL17 and RL19 are working really good too. Velocity at 2950-3070 with the 100gr partition

But since the OP was curious about long range I havent shot this one pass 500 yet, but the partitions will ding 8" steel at 500
So I cant say what this pencil barrel, slower twist will do out beyond that yet, but time and testing I think the .243 will serve him well

 

[mike243]

Also reading comprehension,low recoil to me means 100g bullet or less,that limits calibers right off the bat and a 25/06 has some great ballistics's but recoil with factory loads aint light,sure you can load any round down but a full house load will normally out perform a load that's been slowed down to tame recoil.the 6mm/243 combo has a combination that's hard to beat for all around accuracy IMO,that's not to say its the best deer round out there because its not but it is a great do it all cartridge with low recoil.Also my last post on this thread :stir: ,

 

[gunhuntr]

What kind of barrel life can you expect from a 243?