Twist rate for 243?

[hillsider69]

I am looking at getting a new 243, most likely an improved or custom weapon and being in the UK our gov / police will only allow me two guns. One is 17 hmr and the at the moment the other is a Tikka m590 22-250. I have to shoot small roe deer in my young woodland; quite often at up to 300m plus. The 22-250 is well over the edge for this, both power wise and wind drift (its windy in Scotland most of the time). Often I have to walk away knowing that I can not be 100% sure on a clean kill at that range, or even half that. Much of my shooting is across valleys and so its not possible to tell what the real wind speed is.
What I am hoping to do is get an accurate 243 and higher BC ammo. Did think of heavy loads in the 22-250 but the twist rate is only 1:14, too low. Is there any point in looking at bullets over 100gn or should I be trying a lighter load (see comment later)? If so what would be the best twist rate? Most seem to be 1:10 and I have read that at least 1:9 is needed for the heavier bullets. If I get a 1:9 barrel is that going to be a problem with lighter say 70-80 gn bullets?
At up to 180 m on a still air day I find the tikka 22-250 very good. I am using 55gn Federal soft point bullets and aim point is 3 inches above and in front of the heart. That hits the thin part of the scapular and assures full disruption taking out the aorta and 9 times out of 10 a drop on the spot. What would be a good equivalent bullet in the 243?  My Fisrt concern is getting the bullet there AT THE RIGHT SPOT considering that there is nearly always a cross wind, secondly that it does a fast drop on the deer. These animals are coming in from surrounding (un shot) conifer woodlands and I am unable to follow up onto that land to retrieve game for a number reasons that I would not like to put in print!
There is a lot of public access in the area, remember that in Scotland the law says that you can now walk more of less where you want. The gov' has removed the "private" out of property.  I could get a 260 rem instead of the 243 but think that there would be more lead passing thru' and thats not good with public access!
HELP, my minds been dancing on this one for some time!

[flintlock]

Remington 700s have a 9 1/8 inch twist...I have sighted in 3 of these for buddies in the past couple of years...They all grouped both the 85gr Sierra HPBT and various 100gr bullets fine....

My favorite bullet for ranges over 150 yards is the Federal Premium 85gr Sierra HPBT...Inside of that range I have had good luck with the Remington 100gr CoreLokts, the Custom Hornady 100gr InterLokts and both the Federal Premium 100gr Sierra SPBT and 100gr Nosler....

On lung shots deer run between 30-75 yards...If I need to drop them on the spot I take the high shoulder shot (bullet through the shoulder blade) or if within 50 yards a lower neck shot.

Through the years I have tried almost all the factory loadings, except the 95gr ballistic tips and the new 95gr Federal Fusio, my rifle just didn't group the Fusion as well as I wanted and I felt the 85gr BTHP would do anything the ballistic tips would do....

I have killed about 30 deer with the 85gr and 80 with the Remington CoreLokts, these are the bullets that my gun groups the best but any of the above are very good bullets and will drop a deer with the high shoulder shot.

btw...The beauty of the Federal Premium, 85gr loading is that I can sight in 2 1/2 to 3 inches high at 100 yards and I'm about 2 1/2 to 3 inches low at 300...

[deltecs]

I am looking at getting a new 243, most likely an improved or custom weapon and being in the UK our gov / police will only allow me two guns.  I have to shoot small roe deer in my young woodland; quite often at up to 300m plus. The 22-250 is well over the edge for this, both power wise and wind drift (its windy in Scotland most of the time). Often I have to walk away knowing that I can not be 100% sure on a clean kill at that range, or even half that. Much of my shooting is across valleys and so its not possible to tell what the real wind speed is.
What I am hoping to do is get an accurate 243 and higher BC ammo.  Is there any point in looking at bullets over 100gn or should I be trying a lighter load (see comment later)? If so what would be the best twist rate? Most seem to be 1:10 and I have read that at least 1:9 is needed for the heavier bullets.

I live in Alaska and have used the .243 Win extensively on game including deer, caribou, goat and even a black bear or 2.  I don't recommend the .243 for bear, but given the right circumstances does an ok job.  I use 100 gr Nosler partition or 105 gr Speer almost exclusively and have used them on long shots over 300 yds.  The wind in Alaska can be a most contrary and I find the heavier bullets to buck it better.  All my rifles have a 1:10 twist.  The lighter bullets in 85 gr shoot well but the 100+ gr shoot better.  5 shot groups with the holes completely inside .75" at 100 meter measured range.  This is using a Ruger International Mark 1 with the stock out to the muzzle and a 18.5" barrel.  I have no hesitation using the 100+ gr bullets on deer size game out to 300+ yards using these flat base bullets.  Sighted at 2.5" at 100 meters gives me a 10" drop at 350 yards.  I try and get closer if the range is farther than that. 

[Val]

You may want to consider going with a 25-06. It puts out a round with more muzzle velocity , therefore less bullet drop and less wind affect due to the shorter flight time and a bit heavier bullet (I use 120 grains pellets with mine). It's a great round for deer and even larger game. It's a mild kick compared to a 30-06.

[Val]

Some muzzle velocity data for your consideration:

.243 100 grain pellet=2872 fps
         70 grain bullet=3256 fps
These are chronographed muzzle velocities from my older tang safety Ruger with a 22" barrel

25-06 120 grain bullet=3008 fps
         100 grain bullet=3167 fps
These are chronographed muzzle velocities from my Savage 110FP 25-06 with a 24" barrel

[Jim n Iowa]

I shoot a 243 Parker-Hale, it has a 1:10 twist, and it handles 70-87gr bullet very well when I do my part. My gun tends to copper foul easily. Any longer (heaver bullets) will group poorly. A 243 or 6mm with a 1:9 twist would be the ticket for heaver bullets, but still handle the others.

Jim

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

   

I am looking at getting a new 243, most likely an improved or custom weapon and being in the UK our gov / police will only allow me two guns.

     Excuse me but where does it say this in Law?

     Home Office guidence says that when the numer of firearms reaches 12 consideration should be given to an Alarm system. It does not say a specific number of firearms that can be possessed. I also live in the UK and have plenty more than two rifles. Heck I have four .270 Win chambered rifles alone.

     You need to get expert advice and be prepared to fight for your rights. After moving counties I have just had a two year fight to get some things sorted out and am still fighting to get what I want fully.

[Jim n Iowa]

You need to read the Post.

[Jim n Iowa]

Sorry, I did not read your post correctly, will have to get upgrade my brand of Gin.
Jim

[Brithunter]

Hi Jim,

    That's OK. I think the reason for the interest in a .243 is again Police pressure. The law in respect of Deer Shooting says:-

Minimum calibre .240" with minimum bullet weight of 100 Grns producing minimum 1700 ft lbs muzzle energy with a minimum velocity of 2450fps for all but Roe Deer. A .22 centre fire may be used for Roe deer with a minimum muzzle velocity of 2450fps and 1100 ftlbs muzzle energy using minimum 50 Grns bullet weight.

    This is for Scotland only as in England and Wales the bullet weight is not specified and there is no minimum muzzle velocity and at present .22 centre fires rifles are not legal for deer shooting although the law is about, or supposedly about, to be changed to allow their use for Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer. No mention of Roe deer though.

    The Police love that word Minimum so push applicants towards using a .243" even though actually in English language it's still illegal becanse calibre is size of bore not bullet diameter and a 6mm or .243 is actually of 0.236" so is actually 0.004" undersize so  really is illegal! However as the Police have no real clue about things relating to shooting what can one expect?

[iiranger]

Back when the .243 came out there was quite a flap... .243 WCF had a 1 in 10 twist while the .244 Remington has a 1 in 12. The .243 would shoot 100 grain bullets, pointed bullets o.k. which is what the deer hunter wanted.  The .244 would not shoot the 100 grain pointed bullets satisfactorily and even with "massage" (i.e. the re name to 6mm Remington with a 1 in 9 twist) hasn't equalled the .243 popularity with its regular 1 in 10 twist... .244 would shoot 100 grain round noses fine. Oh wellll... Some argue that the 6mm Remington is a better "alll around" cartridge... longer neck is often mentioned... Your money, your call. Making .243 cases from .308 keeps it popular... (with cheap skates)

You speak of a custom rifle. Fine. Most commercial bullet brands in USA stop at 100 grains and there are some "game bullets" that are 90 grains. 1 in 10 is fine for these, points and all. The competition crowd have to try heavier bullets, key word here it "try." ... And they build rifles around there latest guesses. 1 in 9 is good too. No it will not hurt you much with lighter bullets. If the bullet is "unbalanced", less quality, the faster twist will make this show up faster. If the bullet is good... And there is a discussion of the killing power of a bullet spinniing faster. Forward motion is lost rapidly to air resistance. Rotational motion is not lost nearly so fast. So if you wish to go 1 in 8 or faster... The Swedes have been quite happy with their 6.5 Swede Mauser which I believe is 1 in 7.5 or so in inches. benchrest.com has lengthy articles by top flight barrel makers. You might care to consider what they have to say.

Swage.com has a list of bullet makers that will make you whatever you are willing to pay for. You might want to try "semi pointed" for more weight and and acceptable length. There is a 70 grain .224 used in US on deer, very semi pointed. Winchester has a 64 grain too, more pointed. Otherwise, rebarreling your .22/250 to .243 should not be a great problem... It is a balancing act and you need to be happy. luck.

[IOWA DON]

I have a 6mm-06 with a 1-in12 twist. I load 70-grain Nosler balistic tips to 3900 fps and they shoot accurately. I shot a few deer with them but they do not make exit holes and sometimes the deer run 50 or 75 yards. I tried some heavier bullets but the new 90 to 100 grain bullets of copper or with plastic tips are long and apparently need a faster twist to stabilize for good accuracy. They shot real bad! Anyway, If one wants a .243 for deer shooting now days with the state-of-the-art bullets I would go with a faster twist like 1-in-10 or 1-in-9.