Author Topic: New .243 Superlight Range Report UPDATE bait on the range (Read 2084 times)

petemi · « **on:** September 27, 2012, 05:13:20 AM »

I sent a NV 2005 frame up to Brian for a .243 Superlight barrel. Frame and barrel came back beautifully blued with a target trigger. I mounted a 4x32 Bushnell Banner which proved to be not enough scope for the rifle, so I paid a visit to my friend M. J. Pike at Dukes Sporting Goods in Newberry MI. I came home with a Bushnell Trophy 3-12x40 mounted on medium Burris Zee rings. After boresighting, shortly after dawn and before the wind came up, I sighted in at 50 yards with 85 gr. Sierra Gameking BTHPs over 41.0 gr. RL7 for a chronyed 3109 fps. The ballistics tables told me an inch high at 50 yards with this load was zeroed at 248 yards with a max point blank range of 291 yards. At 50 yards, the rifle was putting every shot within a nickle...one ragged hole. I then moved out to 300 shooting at freshly painted 20 lb propane tank. I fired 5 shots off sand bags from the hood of my truck putting them all in a 3.5 inch circle an inch or so low. I could hear the hits on the tank and see the one inch scar on the paint thru the scope set on 12 power.

The question now comes up: How can you have so many "Favorite" Handis?

Thank you again, Brian56.

Pete

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2012, 05:17:14 AM »

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2012, 07:53:07 AM »

I hear you Peter.... Spread the love around. Just like your children, you don't show more love to anyone, and you sherly do love them all!

Great report! The more I shoot that little bullet to better I like it! I'm still and forever will be conserved if something steps out at 25-50 yards... Is it gonna stay togather enough to human sly harvest the animal....

CW

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2012, 09:12:21 AM »

I don't intend to hunt deer with the .243. I put this rifle together primarily to use on a DNR Wolf Control Permit. They tell me the largest they've tagged was under 100 lbs. I figured the 85 gr. Game king would be enough. At 300 yards it still has over 2200 fps. and over 900 ft/lbs., and a wolf isn't heavy boned or thick skinned. However, the next batch I load will be with the 100 gr. SBT for the higher BC and possibly better penetration.

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2012, 10:06:48 AM »

NO issues at all out at 200 or beyond. Heck probably 130-40 and beyond vel will be down.this bullet acts just like the best deer bullets at about 2500fps and below to probably 1500 or so! It's that 3000 &+ that worries me!!

But most of that is more from recovery/humanly quick kill stand point. I don't put as much constern when hunting varmints. To me if they crawl off into a hole, that means I don't have to bury them!!!

Have fun Peter sounds like you have a dandy med range rifle there. It really is a excellent bullet for long range work!!!!

CW

gendoc · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2012, 12:32:11 PM »

pete thats great news

you can trust tha 24&3 much farther than has been mentioned.

we have many, and have been tested and certified out to 400 meters.
my sako model 75varmit and j2's jarret beanfield mod 70 puts them kiyot down way out there....

its all in handload'n and knowledge of your shoot'n iron, as you know.

we do not shoot whitetail with this caliber. we have our reasons..........

44 Man · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2012, 01:03:35 PM »

Darn it Pete! Just when I think I am happy with the Handi's I now own, you go and throw in another one I'll have to buy! Glad it is working so well for you. Get some of them critters! 44 Man

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2012, 01:17:49 PM »

Nice one Pete!
Don't underestimate the 85 gr bullets they will do a fine job at any distance you need.Every year there are thousands of deer killed with them and a bunch of coyotes too.By the way, your load almost duplicates my favorite load for the 250 Savage (85 gr vs 87 gr for the Savage, same velocity).If you can see it, hit it , it will kill it.
George

petemi · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2012, 04:52:11 AM »

This morning, I Scotch taped six clay birds to a 1 x 3 ft. cardboard box and bunjied it in place at 300 yards I set up a better rest and fired one shot at each. I thought all were misses. I drove up there and two birds were hit on the edge at 3 o'clock and broken, the tape was holding the pieces on, and the other four had bullet holes within about an inch from the edge at 3 o'clock. I clicked left three and smashed all of them with six shots. One thing of note, I didn't give the barrel much time to cool between shots. The first round of six shots had all of them within a relative 2 - 2.5 inches maximum. I can't tell you the exact POI on the rounds that took them out. The holes in the box were too big.

So ends my fear of a .243 that won't shoot......this one does. Not that Brian could have had anything to do with it

Look out Mr. Canus Lupus

and thank you again Mr. Johnson.

Pete

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2012, 07:16:37 AM »

Way too go Pete, looks like Mr. Wolf better watch his path around your place! DP

ironglow · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2012, 07:29:23 AM »

That's great shooting, Pete! Even though I can't get the same results, mine are good enough for deer/bear. It holds good for first 3 shots..and the most I ever used on a deer was 2..and that just for "insurance". Although I plan on using my new Ruger American (.308) for big game season, I'll be carrying the H&R .243 in my vehicle regularly, even when not specifically hunting..

JRW209 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2012, 10:28:43 AM »

It's great to hear about the accuracy of your 243. I don't see the super lite barrel on the accessory page. Is it a special item? Still available? Thanks
JW

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2012, 11:50:58 AM »

Give H&R a call toll free (866)776-9292, they may have discontinued it, but still may have some in stock, it was available with and without sights, part #FSY5 slick barrel (scope mount only), and #FSL5 drilled and tapped for scope with sights, be sure to ask for Lisa Walters.

Tim

rdlange · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2012, 12:44:48 PM »

Oh... not again..! I just found 6 boxes of 243 stashed, and now a double dose of "I need one". Well, if I succumb to temptation, I know who to thank for it.

Did the barrel come with sights?

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2012, 12:14:52 AM »

You've got the perfect excuse to get one.........do we really need a reason??

No sights. For me, they'd be about useless at 300 yards...........come to think of it, for me, they'd be useless at 25

I haven't been able to use iron sights in 20 years.

Pete

petemi · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2012, 05:48:44 AM »

Bait on the range. I found a fresh road killed 4 point about 10 yards off the road on my north pasture. Killed last night, ravens and coyotes had already been at it. I think this evening I'll set up the bench on the back porch and the .243 and I will watch the sun go down

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2012, 06:19:37 AM »

Quote from: petemi on October 01, 2012, 05:48:44 AM

Bait on the range. I found a fresh road killed 4 point about 10 yards off the road on my north pasture. Killed last night, ravens and coyotes had already been at it. I think this evening I'll set up the bench on the back porch and the .243 and I will watch the sun go down

Pete

I have done this too Pete. If you want more than one night on the bait, wire it to a tree. Otherwise it will not be there. At least around here it would. Not be!!

Good luck!!
CW

petemi · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2012, 10:08:28 AM »

I think I've got the carcass too close to the targets and berm. The coyotes' air recon wing, the ravens and vultures are spooky about coming in. They circle, but won't come down. If nothing happens this evening, I'll move it away a bit at dawn tomorrow.

The dead deer I found last week and posted about in the Michigan forum stayed in place until it was just a skeleton. Are you sure you don't have in CT what we call here "Tall Coyotes". After all, a cougar that passed within seven miles of my house was killed by a car in CT.

Pete

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2012, 11:59:58 AM »

It's supper time and the air wing is on the target.....about a half dozen vultures. We'll see what dusk brings.

Pete

ihookem · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2012, 02:14:08 PM »

Petemi, did you shoot any 100 gr bullets yet. I wonder cause I have a 243 super light and never shot well at all. I never shot anything but 100 gr and hear the superlight is not fond of 100 gr.

petemi · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2012, 02:28:45 PM »

No, it's new and I've only shot the 85 gr. BT. Saturday morning, I did have one group of three at 300 yards I could cover with a quarter I doubt if I could do that again if I live to be 1000

They are very accurate out of this rifle. Normal groups are 2 -2.5 inches at that distance......minute of wolf or coyote. I know Brian56 did some fine tuning to the frame and barrel before he shipped it back. I never intend to hunt deer with it, so I'll probably stick with that bullet. I just have other "deer rifles" I prefer. They're medium and big bore.

The vultures left about 6:30 and no Yotes showed up to take their place. I quit at dark. Perhaps better luck in the morning.

Pete

bikerbeans · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2012, 12:48:43 AM »

Great Shootin' Pete!

I bought my wife a 243 SL for her birthday and I loaded up 87 grainers with a 60% charge of H4895. Not a 300 yrd yote gun but she can break a clay pidgeon with it every shot. Glad to here you don't have a hot barrel problem, my wife's gun is only used out to 100 yards max so I don't know what heat does to this one.

If you get a chance to meet up with Wiley C., tell him I said "Hi".

BB

bikerbeans · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2012, 12:52:31 AM »

it ain't cheap, but you can still but a complete 243 SL

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_351/products_id/89094/New+England+SB2-SY5+SUPERLIGHT+SYN+243+++YOUTH

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #23 on:** November 24, 2012, 06:24:24 AM »

I bought one in .223.

I'm hoping it is the 1/12 twist, as I'd like to shoot some Cast out of it.

Spanky · « **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2012, 12:46:43 PM »

Quote from: nanuk-O-dah-Nort on November 24, 2012, 06:24:24 AM

I bought one in .223.

I'm hoping it is the 1/12 twist, as I'd like to shoot some Cast out of it.

I just bought a new 223 SL for my wife and it's a 1 in 9 twist.

Spanky

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** November 24, 2012, 01:39:34 PM »

Quote from: nanuk-O-dah-Nort on November 24, 2012, 06:24:24 AM

I bought one in .223.

I'm hoping it is the 1/12 twist, as I'd like to shoot some Cast out of it.

If it's an ejector it's likely to be 1:12", an extractor will likely be 1:9", but all bets are off cuz they didn't make em one way or the other all at once, took em several model years to make the change over in twist and ejection/extraction.

Tim

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #26 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:08:17 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on November 24, 2012, 01:39:34 PM

Quote from: nanuk-O-dah-Nort on November 24, 2012, 06:24:24 AM
I bought one in .223.

I'm hoping it is the 1/12 twist, as I'd like to shoot some Cast out of it.

If it's an ejector it's likely to be 1:12", an extractor will likely be 1:9", but all bets are off cuz they didn't make em one way or the other all at once, took em several model years to make the change over in twist and ejection/extraction.

Tim

mine's used, so I'll run the serial number, and put a rod into it to see! Also should be easy to check for an ejector.