Author Topic: Got the little ol 243 Handi out today. (Read 1024 times)

statelinerut · « **on:** July 22, 2007, 01:05:49 PM »

And I need to shoot more

I can only shoot 85 yards in my back yard, but it gives me a little area to fling some led. I am using those felt front rear bags from Walmart and I hate em. We have the sand bags and bench at the lease but this had to do for today. After firing 3 to get her warmed up

, I shot this 3 shot group with 1 minute in between shots. Not to bad I think for not shooting her in 6 months. I know, I should be ashamed for neglecting her that way and I have no excuse $:-\$

Exactly an inch. This gun will shoot .75 with a good solid bench and sand bags.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:16:39 PM »

statelinerut · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:18:59 PM »

And yes Tim I was running the Fusion 95's down her. I figured you probably already knew that, but just thought I would mention it

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:20:37 PM »

I didn't think you shot anything but, and I don't blame ya, they shoot excellent, no reason to shoot anything else!!!

Tim

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:21:28 PM »

Nothing wrong with that. I hope to get my 243 scoped this week. Then I can get to the range this coming weekend. Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:25:03 PM »

Quote from: statelinerut on July 22, 2007, 01:18:59 PM

And yes Tim I was running the Fusion 95's down her. I figured you probably already knew that, but just thought I would mention it

Can you tell me more about these 95 grain fusion bullets. Just wondering why you like them so much. I need to find some good ones for my 243. Dale

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:31:58 PM »

Here's some links for ya Dale, I've only shot paper with it, I'll leave the terminal performance reports for Statelinerut.

Tim

http://www.chuckhawks.com/federal_fusion_ammo.htm

http://fusionammo.com/home.html

statelinerut · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:32:55 PM »

They may have a more specific term for it but I call it pre-expanded. They are built to begin expansion upon entering the deer better than the normal bullet. I can tell you this, every whitetail I have shot has had a complete pass thru. Not saying that is the most important thing, but it completely expands and does a number on thin skinned animals such as the whitetail. It is like they just cant go anywhere when it hits. Lights are out. I have taken two decent bucks and they where done right there. I also never shoot for the shoulder. All have been lung shots.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:37:44 PM »

Lung shots!!

Very little meat wasted compared to a shoulder shot.

Tim

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:40:35 PM »

What kind of distance did you shoot them at? Dale

statelinerut · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:43:19 PM »

I have taken I think 20 deer with this round and the average is 75 yards. I hunt the thick stuff. The longest was on the 8 point I got last year at about 110 yards.

I did take this ol gal two years ago at 185 yards. She never knew what hit her.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:49:59 PM »

Nice.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:51:33 PM »

Here's the 8-point!!

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,104903.msg1098293561.html#msg1098293561

statelinerut · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:56:53 PM »

If you want to see heavy though. I shot this jacked up 7 two years ago at about 80 yards. Went in behind the far right back rib and exited between his front shoulders. I could hardly get him on the 4 wheeler he was so heavy. Got him out of the gene pool though

Fusion put him down. He tried to get back up, but just couldn't muster the strength. It was 12 degrees when I shot him.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2007, 02:03:33 PM »

Stateline I know you heard it before but nice buck. Dale

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2007, 02:06:17 PM »

Some really good shootin and great pics, too!!

So much for the 243 bashers!!!

Tim

statelinerut · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2007, 04:40:50 PM »

On a serious note, I shoot the 243 because why take the extra recoil from a larger caliber when not needed. If a hunter can take the time to get proficient with his firearm he does not anything bigger than a 243 for the whitetail in my part of the country. Am I saying I do not like recoil? It is not that I don't like it, it is that I shoot my rifles a lot during the hunting season and at the bench a heavy recoil caliber can get pretty rough. I firmly believe in shooting a rifle that is easy to shoot and effective for the game you are pursuing. Now if I was strictly hunting gas lines and long ranges I would probably go with the 25-06. Still a very mild recoil and very effective to 400 yards. That is farther than I am comfortable with shooting a whitetail. I like it up close and personal.

If you take high percentage shots, that to me is the vitals, you will have a higher percentage of harvests. Hunters that use bigger calibers just in case they have to take a less than marginal shot, I believe should not be taking that shot to begin with. A wounded deer is a wounded deer, and with a bigger caliber it is just a bigger hole on a bad shot.

I am not saying hunters that use larger caliber rifles are wrong, that is just my preference.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2007, 05:24:11 PM »

I do understand exactly what you are saying. I do agree that any well placed shot will kill anything you are shooting at. I just prefer something of a larger caliber for white tail. I Will be hunting fields for them this year on a couple farms that I have been hunting Groundhogs this summer. The shots I would be making in these fields could be as far as 400 yards. I am in the process of setting up the 280 for this. I would not want to do that with a 243. I think for my conditions a 280 or a 7mm-08 or a 30-06 or a 25-06 would be minimum requirement for this task. The 243 may be fine under your conditions. I just have different conditions. Dale

Mac11700 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:34:26 PM »

Quote from: DALESCARPENTRY on July 22, 2007, 05:24:11 PM

I do understand exactly what you are saying. I do agree that any well placed shot will kill anything you are shooting at. I just prefer something of a larger caliber for white tail. I Will be hunting fields for them this year on a couple farms that I have been hunting Groundhogs this summer. The shots I would be making in these fields could be as far as 400 yards. I am in the process of setting up the 280 for this. I would not want to do that with a 243. I think for my conditions a 280 or a 7mm-08 or a 30-06 or a 25-06 would be minimum requirement for this task. The 243 may be fine under your conditions. I just have different conditions. Dale

Dale:

No offense...but...What ammo are you planning on using in your 280?...Factory ammo in it leaves a-lot to be desired for these ranges since most of it is downloaded to start with...Hand loading with much better B.C. bullets and boosting the velocity up on it would be really advantageous...other wise those possible 400 yard shots may prove more difficult than you can ever imagine..

Mac

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:53:40 PM »

While handloading does allow some advantages, it's not entirely necessary, there are too many folks that don't handload that get along just fine with factory ammo, so I wouldn't worry too much about it if you're bound to factory ammo for now, but as Mac said, those 400yd shots aren't easy to begin with.

The Remington 140gr Accutip provides ample energy at 400yds for deer.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=PRA280RA

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/premier_accuTip.asp

As does the Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip ammo.

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/comparerifle.aspx?multiadd=U0JTVDI4MC0xLTE=&action=3&ctype=1&atype=1

Federal offers several premium bullets in their ammo to include the 140gr Nosler Accubond at 3000fps and 140gr TSX at 2960fps, both from a 24" barrel, so the 26" 280 Handi barrel will give you a tad more!!

http://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics/Ammo_Search.aspx

Tim

Mac11700 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2007, 07:55:23 AM »

The problem with factory spec's is that they usually don't give what they show for them...

so if you have access to a chronograph...use it before you go hunting at the temps it will be close to...Hot summer days can raise velocities by 100-150 fps...cold weather is just the opposite...checking it at the temp your hunting at is the way you will know what it is really doing... ...FWIW...if I were to use the 280...and was planning on a 400 yard shot...I certainly would try some of the Federal 140 gr. Accubonds or the Winchester Supreme 140 grain Silver Ballistic tips at this distance and see how the do...you'll need to practice anyway....Just don't shoot them on the same day with out cleaning the rifle completely between them...The Lubalox on the Winchesters will mess with your accuracy of any non-coated bullet if shoot in a barrel that has it in it...Shoot them after you clean your barrel...I've found it takes about 5-10 shots on a clean barrel depending on how rough it is to begin with for accuracy to settle down...On my prepped barrels it settles down in 3-5 shots when clean...

Mac

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #21 on:** July 23, 2007, 11:40:46 AM »

Mac and Tim thanks for the advice. I have been thinking of those Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip ammo. I have had good luck shooting all Winchester ammo in the Handies so far. I think I will give them a try and see how they shoot. I will also probably try the Remington 140gr Accutip and see witch shoots best. As far as 400 yard shots that would really be the limit. Ireally do not expect to shoot that far but it could happen never know. Dale

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2007, 11:48:33 AM »

As Mac suggested, shoot at that range from a bench and/or bipod and then imagine what it would be like in the field, then you'll have a better idea of what you would be capable of if and when the opportunity presents itself. You would also learn exactly what your rifle does with that ammo at that range, IE how much drop there is and how accurate it is.

Tim

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2007, 12:09:16 PM »

Tim I do know what it is like to shoot at these distances. I have confirmed Groundhog kills this year at well over 300 yards with the 204 off a bipod. I will be taking the 280 to the range for some practice with it but I pretty much plan on hunting these Whitetails like I have the Groundhogs this year. I plan to sit in the field with a bipod on the 280. When some other hunter spooks one into the field that will be my chance. The only real problem with this plan is I think they will probably be running and not just walking across the field. Dale